I have such a hard time with this loss because it’s a close one. Having lost six of their last seven, I almost would have preferred a 4-0 shutout and that was that. To score three in the fifth inning gave me way too much hope (still not a lot but more than none) that they could do SOMETHING.
Tyler Samaniego is now an opp. That was a digusting outing. How do you set the table so poorly for Brayan Bello to crush it? Chad Tracy said himself postgame they’re really still trying to figure out this opener
situation because it does not look pretty right now.
I can’t blame the offense for doing nothing—they outhit the Guards 11 to 10—but not doing anything meaningful outside one inning. Willson Contreras did lead off the ninth with a single…which the offense did nothing with to finish this one out.
Onto a Sonny Saturday.
Studs
Brayan Bello (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 5 K)
What is it with Bello not starting but sheerly dominating as of late?
Marcelo Mayer (2-for-4, 1 RBI)
His batting average is slowly creeping up from a .213 low a week ago, .225 now after this one. His defense is still as solid as ever shifting back to SS, the bat needs to catch up.
Micky Gasper (2-for-4, 1 run)
I don’t think he’s a Major League catcher but he’s better than Connor Wong at this point! Nice ABS challenge for Gaspar, and a really nice double in this one.
Duds
Tyler Samaniego (1.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)
YOU HAD ONE JOB. Samaniego was literally called up from Worcester to open in front of Bello with Whitlock going on the IL. It was all Samaniego’s failings in the first inning that led to this loss.
Play of the Game
Congrats to Brayan Bello on his 500th career K!
