Gausman appreciative of pen’s rescue
the game, an eventful 72 win, allowing one hit and one walk and striking out six. Those who toiled so well: Zack Littell, 12⁄3 innings; Jarlin Garcia 11⁄3 innings; and Dominic Leone, Jay Jackson and Jake McGee, an inning each.
The Giants bullpen has a 3.27 ERA, second best in the National League (and third in MLB overall), despite having only one member, McGee, making over $1 million.
“We probably have the most bangforyourbuck bullpen in the entire league,” Littell said.
One major standout of late is lefty Garcia, who got the win Monday and who has allowed only three runs over his past 191⁄3 innings while striking out 24.
“I think what has separated him is that, first, his stuff has been great,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “Second, I think he’s just attacked with his fastball, with all of his pitches. He’s thrown a lot of strikes. He looks fearless out there.”
The most grateful person for such a staunch bullpen Monday was Gausman, who was off his game a little after seven days off and unable to make a little mechanical adjustment he said he needed.
“They’ve been unbelievable,” he said. “I mean, they have been all year, but they really picked me up right there. To come in and shut down that lineup, especially the way that they were swinging it against me, that was the biggest thing. That was the reason why we won the game.”
Six innings is a challenge for any bullpen to handle, but Littell said the Giants’ relievers relished the opportunity in the tight game in a packed stadium.
“The guys out there really love pitching in any game, and especially in a series like this where there’s just so much on the line,” he said.
They also wanted to pick up Gausman, who’s been the Giants’ top starter all season and who just returned from emergency family leave after going home to Louisiana, where his wife, Taylor, had been hospitalized with pregnancy complications.
“For Gaus to have gone what he’s gone through the last week or so and go out there and give us what he did was was pretty incredible,” Littell said.
Littell had a light moment in the game, facing recent Giants reliever Jimmie Sherfy, who was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers last week. He got him to ground to first, where LaMonte Wade Jr. made a good play to knock the ball down and get it to Littell covering.
“I bet his phalanges are probably hurting a little bit
after that swing,” Littell said. “That’s actually the first pitcher I’ve ever thrown to him, so it was definitely really interesting. When he stepped in, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s kind of a different feel.’ That was a lot
of fun. I hope his phalanges are OK.”