Bryce Eldridge has certainly made an impression, especially after last night, which marked a standout moment in his rookie season with the Giants. The 21-year-old first baseman kicked off the game with a bang during an 8-2 win over the Rockies, a crucial matchup as San Francisco headed into the final series before the All-Star break.
Eldridge managed to hit a slider—not just any slider, but one that was letter-high—and with his towering 6-foot-7 frame, he sent it sailing at an impressive 166.7 mph, landing in McCovey Cove.
This marked his eighth homer of the season and also the 109th splash hit by the Giants since the opening of Waterfront Stadium in 2000. It was, interestingly, his first home run of the year.
That solo shot tied up the game, and soon after, the Giants began adding runs. Casey Schmidt, Rafael Devers, and Willie Adames all contributed with two RBIs apiece. After a frustrating previous game where they didn’t manage a hit for eight innings, they stepped up to the plate with 13 hits, including four that drove in two runs during the fifth inning, giving them a 4-2 lead.
Schmidt kicked off the scoring with his 18th home run, putting him in a tie for the team lead with Devers, who had his own contributions. Adames also got in on the action, hitting his 15th home run to widen the gap to 8-2.
And, amidst the home run excitement, let’s not overlook Schmidt’s first walk since May 24, ending a remarkable streak of 172 at-bats, which had been the longest in the majors.
The Giants’ pitching also shone through, with Carson Whisenhunt going for 5 2/3 innings, adding competition for spots in the rotation as the second half of the season approaches.
What It Means
A loss would have put the Giants in a precarious position, risking a tie for last place in the National League West. They had entered this series neck-and-neck with the Rockies, but they were trailing in the loss column, so winning these games was crucial.
Who is Hot
Meanwhile, Whisenhunt seems to be solidifying his case for a rotation spot as the trade deadline approaches. The 25-year-old left-hander has given up just two runs in his two major league starts this season, and last night was particularly impressive, racking up 15 whiffs and four strikeouts, with a notable eight coming from his changeup.
However, he still needs to tighten up his game, issuing four walks during his outing, even though he allowed only two hits following a two-run homer by Willi Castro.
Who is Not?
It’s hard not to feel for Adames, who has been struggling recently. He did manage to connect for a home run, but before that, his performance was subpar; he had just four hits in his last 23 at-bats, marred by two strikeouts and a popout with the bases loaded. Plus, he’s been dealing with back spasms that affected his gameplay, causing him to stumble and fall behind second base.
To the Next
The Giants are looking to secure consecutive wins for the first time since their last homestand on June 27 and 28 against the Braves. Notably, they’ve enjoyed success in Robbie Ray’s last eight starts.
