Something goes here on Giants inside refer
Arizona’s ace blanks Giants, gets best of Bumgarner
Prior to their 2-0 loss Saturday night, the Giants took a definitive step on the path they believe could lead them back into contention next season. GM Bobby Evans declared the club’s intent to pick up left-hander Matt Moore’s $9 million option.
Do the Giants have to fix their woeful outfield defense? Of course. Must they balance out a lineup that leans too far left and lacks power? Obviously. Do they need to get more athletic? Sure. Do they require another choice or two in the bullpen beyond internal options? Ideally, yes.
But for a team that is on pace to lose 100 games, the Giants have made it abundantly clear: a reunited and resuscitated rotation — the same faces you already know — must shovel the coal that will fuel any authentic hopes of a one-year turnaround.
And as Zack Greinke and the Arizona Diamondbacks reminded them yet again Saturday night, the Giants play in a division where it’ll be tough for starting pitchers to measure up.
Greinke held the Giants to two hits in eight shutout innings while getting the best of Madison Bumgarner in a pitcher’s duel. Paul Goldschmidt connected for a two-run home run against Bumgarner in the first inning as the Diamondbacks (87-62) nudged ever closer to the postseason.
It was a reprise of the pitching matchup from opening day. The upshot: at least the Giants don’t have to go back to the beginning and play this season all over again.
“The story was Greinke and getting two singles,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “That was the story of the night. He’s got good stuff, he works on the edges and when he’s hitting edges all night, it makes it tough on the hitter. And we’ve got some guys not swinging the bat well right now.”
Greinke even contributed a pair of doubles against Bumgarner. For the night, Greinke collected four total bases to the Giants’ two.
With all the worthy attention that the Cleveland Indians received while winning 22 consecutive games, it’s been easy to miss the fact that the Diamondbacks have won 20 of their past 25. Along the way, Arizona lowered its rotation ERA to 3.41 — dipping just below the Dodgers for the best in the National League.
It is easy to forget that the Diamondbacks lost 93 games last season. The Giants can only hope the same can be said of themselves at this time next year.
“That’s a big turnaround,” Bumgarner said. “I mean, we definitely knew they had a good team from the start. They put it all together, it seems like.”
Said Bochy: “They’ve got a good offensive team, too. Their rotation is really good. … They’re a different club. It starts with the pitching, though.”
A night after Robbie Ray struck out 10 in seven innings, Greinke was even better. He struck out eight, walked one and the only runner he allowed into scoring position reached on an error. It won’t get much easier with Taijuan Walker on Sunday, either.
Greinke has matched up five times against Bumgarner, either with the Dodgers or Diamondbacks, and Greinke’s team has won all five times.
Can a Giants rotation without any significant additions to the front four of Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Moore hope to measure up in the NL West next season, and shoulder the weight of a team that probably will be charged with winning lowscoring games once more?
Their left-handed ace thinks so. It certainly helps to have him back at full strength after his dirt bike accident and separated shoulder cost him three months of the season.
“I mean, I believe we’re way better than we’ve played this year,” Bumgarner said. “There’s a lot of variables, and I’m not trying to make excuses for anybody, but I definitely believe in the guys we have here regardless of what’s happened this year.”
The Giants played a clean game, at least. Shortstop Brandon Crawford made a series of athletic plays. He cut down Greinke trying to go from second to third on a ground ball. He also speared a sharp one-hopper and flipped to start a double play.
But the Giants lost for the 93rd time. They must go 6-6 over their final 12 games to avoid joining the 1985 club as the only 100-loss teams in franchise history.
• Moore is 5-14 this season and acknowledged he had his doubts about his future with the team before he saw Evans’ comments in the Los Angeles Times about choosing a $9 million option instead of a $1 million buyout.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about where I’m going to be next year,” Moore said. “I’ve had the type of season that myself and Bobby and the entire front office and the team wasn’t expecting.
“But understanding there’s now a vision with me being a part of turning the ship around and getting off to a better start next year, that gives me a lot of confidence heading into not only the last two weeks of the season but into the winter time. They didn’t have to make that decision for another six weeks or so.”
“Sometimes it’s good for a player to hear that a club wants him, and we want him,” Bochy said.