SAN FRANCISCO — Carlos Rodón’s sensible season reached new heights Sunday afternoon, eclipsing 200 strikeouts for the primary time in his profession and recording his ninth sport with double-digit punchouts over six shutout innings.
Rodón walked off the mound to a standing ovation and his warm-up tune, Alice In Chains’ “Rooster,” blaring over the Oracle Park loudspeakers after his 106th and ultimate pitch sailed previous the bat of Bryson Stott to flee probably the most risky of high-wire acts. With runners at first and third and no outs, he fired 98 mph on the letters previous Bryce Harper for No. 199; after loading the bases, he coaxed Jean Segura to swing via a low slider for No. 200.
A congratulatory message flashed throughout the middle discipline scoreboard, prompting the primary of the 41,189 available to rise to their ft. In a scene that might have been plucked out of any World Collection run or 107-win season, all of them remained standing for Rodón’s bases-loaded showdown with Bryson Stott, and Rodón struck him out, too. No. 201.
“I used to be fired up,” Rodón mentioned.
On a picture-perfect afternoon at Oracle Park, Rodón’s newest electrifying efficiency jolted power right into a sold-out crowd that seemed to be blissfully unaware of their group’s playoff standing. Regardless of Wilmer Flores’ walk-off winner within the ninth, sweeping the Phillies with a 5-3 win, the Giants stay eight video games behind them for the third and ultimate Nationwide League wild card spot.
Rodón needed to accept a no-decision after John Brebbia served up a game-tying, three-run house run to J.T. Realmuto within the eighth inning. That, nonetheless, solely arrange Flores’ heroics within the backside of the ninth.
Flores hooked a line drive down the left-field line, barely clearing the wall and the foul pole, for a two-run walk-off house run that delivered the win and the three-game sweep. It was Flores’ fifth profession walk-off homer and his eleventh game-ending RBI since 2014, tied for probably the most within the majors.
“I believed it was a reasonably gutsy effort by the group,” supervisor Gabe Kapler mentioned. ” … It was definitely led by Carlos. He set the tone for what it was going to be like.”
With 10 strikeouts Sunday, Rodón secured his ninth sport in double digits this season, matching Tim Lincecum’s 2008 Cy Younger marketing campaign for a San Francisco-era franchise report. His ultimate strikeout of Stott elevated him previous Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes for the Nationwide League lead, trailing solely the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole for probably the most within the majors.
With 201 strikeouts this season, Rodón grew to become the fourth Giants pitcher with no less than 200 of their first season with the membership. And with six extra begins left, he must have his sights on Sam Jones (209, 1959) and Tim Keefe (227; 1885), too.
Rodón joined elite firm on the shores of McCovey Cove with 200 strikeouts. Since this ballpark opened, Kevin Gausman, Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, Jason Schmidt, Jonathan Sanchez and Jeff Samardzija are the one gamers to perform the feat in a Giants uniform.
“I’ve by no means performed it. It’s a cool feat,” mentioned Rodón, who took house the lineup card and the “Ok” signal that hung in proper discipline signifying his two hundredth strikeout. “However there’s a handful of video games left, so let’s preserve going.”
Rodón’s efficiency was made all of the extra spectacular understanding that this time final yr, his shoulder was sporting down in his first post-surgery season, inflicting his velocity to dip. The fastball he threw previous Stott, his 106th pitch Sunday, registered at 98 mph.
“The importance of counting stats for me doesn’t actually inform the story of how good a participant is, nevertheless it definitely tells a narrative of how sturdy a participant is,” Kapler mentioned. “With Carlos inching towards the end line, that full season, you possibly can see it, you possibly can see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. This is a sign that he’s actually had a sturdy and constant and actually total spectacular season.”
The Giants, who had been as soon as battling with Philadelphia for the ultimate Nationwide League wild card spot, as an alternative needed to accept the function of spoilers with their sweep of the Phillies this weekend. They haven't misplaced in September however nonetheless path Philadelphia by eight video games.
“The environment was sensational all through this sequence,” Kapler mentioned. “To be the place we're within the standings and nonetheless see our followers come out and assist like they've, we speak about being the identical folks each time we come to the ballpark if the chips are down or if we’re successful quite a lot of baseball video games, that is what San Francisco Giants followers are and what they demonstrated as we speak.”
Rookie outfielder Bryce Johnson picked an opportune time to gather his first major-league hit, capping the Giants’ first scoring rally within the third inning.
Johnson, who took injured starter Alex Wooden’s spot on the roster, laced an 0-1 cutter into proper discipline with two outs and two on, driving house LaMonte Wade Jr. from second for the Giants’ third run of the inning. Austin Wynns, who labored a 10-pitch at-bat and singled house their second run, was thrown out at third to finish the body.
Johnson’s first time crossing house plate as an enormous leaguer got here on Flores’ stroll off, after he drew a stroll to start out the underside of the ninth, and mentioned the celebration at house plate was even sweeter than his first hit.
“Couldn’t write it any higher,” Johnson mentioned.
The ball, Johnson mentioned, was going to his mother and father. First, he needed to discover a place for secure maintaining whereas the membership embarks on a weeklong, three-city street journey via Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Chicago.
“I didn’t wish to take it with me, simply in case,” Johnson mentioned, smiling. “I’m undoubtedly going to offer it to my mother and father. They deserve it greater than anyone.”
Notable
- The Giants added extra upper-level depth with a waiver declare on Sunday. They added utilityman Jose Rojas after he was designated for task by the Angels. Rojas, 29, has seen motion at each infield spot however shortstop and each nook outfield positions and has a batting line of .277/.344/.524 throughout 4 Triple-A seasons however solely a .542 mark in restricted MLB motion. He additionally has an choice remaining after this yr, which means the Giants can cycle him between their bench and Triple-A Sacramento subsequent season in the event that they select. To make room on the 40-man roster, Brandon Belt was transferred to the 60-day injured listing. Belt, 34, had profitable knee surgical procedure on Saturday and received’t play once more this season.
