“He’s always been a good hitter and I think over the course of the last two years, 20, he’s been excellent against both lefties and righties.”Īfter Brandon Crawford reached on a throwing error and Wilmer Flores drew a walk, the Giants added onto their lead when Mike Yastrzemski attempted to check his swing on a 2-2 changeup from Avila. “He’s just a good hitter,” Kapler said of Ruf. Ruf only started for the 21st time against a right-handed pitcher this season, but Kapler said pregame that he and first baseman Wilmer Flores earned the right to play over Kris Bryant on Friday because of the consistency they’ve demonstrated at the plate in recent days. The Giants struck almost immediately against Padres starter Pedro Avila as the second batter in their lineup, Ruf, hit a 110.6-mile per hour laser into the left field bleachers for a solo home run. So we’ve just got to take care of our business.” “But I think we’re on the side right now where they’re probably more frustrated with us because we’re ahead and we keep winning. “It’s frustrating seeing that when we’re winning and they’re winning,” DeSclafani said. A scenario in which San Francisco loses its final two games to the Padres while the Dodgers win their last three against the Brewers would force the teams to play a Game 163 on Monday at Oracle Park to determine the division champion. “It’s cool and fun, but it’s a soft focus on what’s happening in Los Angeles with the Brewers and the Dodgers and a sharp focus on what we have to do,” Kapler said.īy winning on Friday at Oracle Park, the Giants guaranteed they will finish their 162-game schedule at least tied for the NL West division lead. in the sixth inning as Buster Posey watches, Friday, Oct. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 1: San Francisco Giants 3rd baseman Evan Longoria tags out the San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis, Jr. The Giants matched the 1904 New York Giants for the most wins in franchise history as starter Anthony DeSclafani tossed five scoreless innings, Darin Ruf hit a first-inning home run and the Giants’ lineup manufactured enough offense to help the club secure a seventh consecutive victory. “It’s pretty simple, straightforward for us and that was our expectation all along.” “We’re just expecting to play a meaningful game tomorrow,” Kapler explained. The Giants hung around the ballpark in case a late slip-up in Los Angeles allowed for a delayed party at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, but a Dodgers team that’s won eight consecutive division titles put the finishing touches on its 104th win to stay alive in the division race. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 1: San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval, who earns the save in the Giants 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres, shakes hands with Buster Posey, Friday, Oct. The Dodgers had just come back from a 5-1 deficit to take a 6-5 lead over the Brewers and were still playing at the time rookie Camilo Doval recorded his third save in four days, which dropped the Giants’ magic number to win the NL West to one. SAN FRANCISCO - As the Giants wrapped up their franchise record-tying 106th victory of the season at Oracle Park on Friday night, there were no dogpiles in the middle of the diamond or champagne celebrations in the clubhouse.Ī 3-0 shutout victory of the Padres inched the Giants (106-54) closer to their first National League West crown since 2012, but it did not clinch the division for Gabe Kapler’s club.
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