The SF Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Saturday night, improving to 79-82 on the season. In manager Kai Correa's first victory since he became interim manager on Friday, the Giants utilized seven rookies in the starting lineup and another rookie out of the bullpen to defeat the best team in the National League West. With the end of the season around the corner, several youngsters showed flashes of their potential.
Beck capped off his rookie campaign with his best outing of the season. He allowed one earned run on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts across five innings pitched. While the Dodgers may not have anything to play for in terms of playoff seeding, manager Dave Roberts still had all the team's A-list bats in the lineup. Beck was still effective.
Beck made three appearances against the Dodgers this season, posting a 2.08 ERA with eight strikeouts and one walk across 13 innings pitched. Beck has pitched in plenty of low-leverage situations this year, but he's proven to be more than just
The Giants were hesitant to give Beck an opportunity to pitch in a traditional starter role all season long. It's probably the biggest critique fairest critique of recently fired manager Gabe Kapler's decision-making this season. Nevertheless, Beck finished the season with a 3.92 ERA (3.99 FIP) with 65 strikeouts and 21 walks in 85 MLB innings pitched. He proved he belongs on an MLB pitching staff and has shown flashes of mid-rotation starter potential. That will likely make him a part of the Giants roster in 2024, but it could also make him intriguing to teams looking to trade offensive pieces to acquire some young pitching from the Giants.
On the offensive end, it was another young player the Giants have seemingly been hesitant to give opportunities to that gave them an early lead. Center fielder Tyler Fitzgerald (Giants Top 13 Prospect), who was developed primarily as a shortstop, was consistently one of the organization's best hitters at Triple-A this season. He racked up his second consecutive 20-20 season. Yet, the Giants passed up on calling up Fitzgerald despite a revolving door of players at shortstop, second base, and center field this season.
The Giants finally called up Fitzgerald last week. He has looked comfortable defensively in both center field and the infield. He has also showcased some pop. After Fitzgerald's first-career home run barely got over the left-field wall at Dodger Stadium last weekend, he took an 0-1 hanging curveball from Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw out of the park on Saturday night. It was a no-doubter off the bat, traveling 414' to left-center field with a 102.5 mph exit velocity (a new MLB career-high).
The Dodgers tied things up in the top of the fifth inning against Beck, who allowed a one-out double to David Peralta before Mookie Betts recorded an RBI single. However, the Giants offense managed to bounce back.
Austin Slater and Luis Matos worked lead-off walks against Kershaw in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners, Wilmer Flores hit a ground ball to Max Muncy that he was unable to field. Not only did Muncy fail to record an out on the play, but it also allowed Slater to score the go-ahead run.
Rookie reliever Ryan Walker replaced Beck in the top of the sixth and worked around a hit and a walk in two shutout innings pitched. Then, Correa passed the baton to the Giants' two best relievers, Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval. Rogers breezed through the middle of Los Angeles' order in the eighth. Then, Camilo Doval retired the Dodgers in the ninth, which ended when rookie catcher Patrick Bailey threw out Chris Taylor attempting to steal second base. Doval recorded his 39th save of the season.
The SF Giants will return to the ballpark one final time this season on Sunday afternoon. In their final contest of the regular season, and possibly franchise icon Brandon Crawford's career , the Giants will send Kyle Harrison to the mound against righty Bobby Miller. First pitch at Oracle Park is scheduled for 12:05 PM Pacific.
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