It was an intriguing day, though not nearly as exciting as all the home runs and steals that Giants fans saw on Sunday.  There were some hitting struggles on both sides to start the game, but the runs came later, and of course, the game ended in a tie.  And although Marco Luciano did not come to the plate, he was involved in one of the game’s deciding plays.

One interesting note about today’s game.  The Giants went on a shopping spree for minor league pitchers, and picked up a number of ex-Diamondbacks in their pitching free agents.  For whatever reason, Kapler put up three ex-Diamondbacks in a row against their old team.  James Sherfy and Silvino Bracho each played in Arizona last season, while Anthony Banda played with Arizona in 2017 and earlier (he was with Tampa Bay more recently).  The results were mixed, as Sherfy was hit hard, but Bracho and Banda had solid innings.

Impressions

Logan Webb – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO – It took 11 pitches, but Webb struck out his first batter of the game swinging with a changeup.  Got a hard grounder to second for the next out.  The third batter hit a double to center off the fielder’s glove.  He finished off the inning with a swinging strikeout on a breaking ball.  For his second inning, he got a swinging strikeout on his fastball to open the inning.  The second batter hit a routine groundout to shortstop.  The final batter hit a groundout to first.  Fastball: 94 MPH

It was a great impression for Webb, who struggled to get the first batter out, but came back to have control the rest of the way, even working around a double that went off of Wade’s glove in center field.  Webb is very much a dark horse to make the rotation, just because of all the options, and that Webb has actual options, but more outings like this could give him the edge for the 5th rotation spot.

Jason Vosler – 0-4, 1 SO – In his first at-bat, hit a fly ball out to left.  In his second at-bat, he popped up in the infield.  In the third at-bat, he struck out swinging.  In his final at-bat, with runners on second and third, hit a hard grounder to second base, and the runner was thrown out at home.  Took second base on defensive indifference.  Defensively, Vosler was playing first for the first time this spring.  He fielded several plays of some difficulty in the game with no problems.  He played 67 games there over his minor league career.  He moved to third late in the game, but was able to handle tough plays there right away after the move.

It was a rare bad game for Vosler at the plate, though he was still squaring up two of the three times he put the ball in play.  The bigger note was Vosler was at first base, further proving his versatility after playing second yesterday.  Vosler has played first in the past at times, as many third basemen do, so his fine performance there was not a surprise.

Dedniel Núñez – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO – His first batter hit a high bouncer to first, for the putout. He got a one-pitch out with the next batter grounding it to shortstop.  His third batter hit a line drive down the left field line, but it was caught on a nice play.  Fastball: 95 MPH

It was a pretty pedestrian outing for Núñez, but it was efficient, and that is something they want to see from him.  He still has an inside track for a bullpen spot, but it’s not guaranteed.

Shun Yamaguchi – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO – He got the first batter with a strikeout swinging.  The second batter grounded out to first.  The third batter, Stephen Vogt, hit a high drive that hit off the top of the wall for a triple.  After the triple, came back to strike out the next batter swinging on three pitches.

I mentioned that Webb is a dark horse for a rotation spot, but Yamaguchi is the dark dark horse.  He did give up a hit that would’ve been a home run in most ballparks, but he also looked dominant when he got those strikeouts.

James Sherfy – 1.0 IP*, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO – Got a swinging strikeout on a slider from his first batter.  His second batter lined a triple to right-center field.  Sherfy walked the next batter on four pitches.  During the next batter, Sherfy threw a wild pitch that put runners at second and third.  The next batter lined a double that hit off the wall in left, scoring two runs.  He walked the next batter, but got a strikeout looking for the second inning.  The inning was ended with two outs.  Fastball: 96 MPH

It was a step back for Sherfy.  After the triple, Sherfy seemed to be a little shaken, giving up a walk and a wild pitch, and that was taken advantage of for the double that scored both runs when he poured a strike down the middle.  He did show off that strikeout stuff before and after the trouble, though.

Top Prospects

Marco Luciano – Pinch ran for Bailey in the ninth.  Got to second on an error, and then took third on a passed ball.  From third, ran home on a ground ball to second, but was thrown out at home.

The Giants top prospect just came in the last inning as a pinch runner, but still got involved.  In the final play, radio announcer Joe Ritzo mentioned that Luciano froze a little before making his break for home, having to check to ensure the ball wasn’t caught.  It was still a close play at the plate.

Patrick Bailey – 1-1 – Got up to the plate in the eighth, but had no result since Wyatt was picked off.  When he got a second chance at his at-bat in the ninth, he singled a fastball back up the middle for a single.  He was pinch-run for by Marco Luciano.

Will Wilson – 0-2, 1 SO – Grounded out on a high bouncer to third base in his first time up.  Struck out swinging in his second at-bat.

Hunter Bishop – 0-1 – In his only at-bat, bounced a ball to first, and was thrown out.

Others

Jaylin Davis – 0-3, 3 SO – Struck out swinging in his first at-bat, being thrown three straight changeups.  His second at-bat was also a three-pitch strikeout, and he again struck out swinging on a low changeup.  In his third at-bat, struck out on a foul tip.  Defensively, made a good play on a low line drive, reaching across his body to catch it on the run near the foul line.

LaMonte Wade Jr. – 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 SO – In his first at-bat, he hit a high pop fly to shallow right for the out.  He struck out swinging on three pitches in his second at-bat.  In his third at-bat, he had a runner on second and hit a sharp single through the left side hole, getting the RBI.  He stole second  Defensively, had a little trouble on a line drive in the first inning, with a double tipping off his glove.

Jay Jackson – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 SO – Got a flyball to left field for his first out, but gave a 4-pitch walk to the second batter of his inning.  The next batter hit an infield pop-up taken by the third baseman.  The next batter hit a lazy flyball to right on the first pitch to end the inning.

Anthony Banda – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO – Got a groundout to first from his first batter faced.  The second batter he faced was on a strikeout swinging.  The third batter hit a sharp grounder to first to end the inning.

Chadwick Tromp – 0-2, 1 SO – Struck out on three pitches in his first at-bat, swinging on the changeup.  In his second at-bat, swing at the first pitch that went to the warning track in left for an out.  Defensively, blocked a pitch in the dirt in the ninth, and the runner on first attempted to steal second.  Tromp threw him out at second.

Silvino Bracho – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO – Struck out the first batter he faced on a changeup swing and a miss.  The next batter grounded out quickly to second base.  The next batter hit a fly ball to center on the first pitch.  Bracho threw only six pitches in the inning.

Joe McCarthy – 0-1 – In his first at-bat, hit a fly ball out to left field, where the D’Backs’ Jake McCarthy (Joe’s brother) caught it for the out.

Logan Wyatt – 1-1, 1 2B – Lined a ball past the second baseman and into the gap that went for a double for his first time up.  However, he got picked off of second for the final out.

Daniel Alvarez – 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 SO – His first batter was a groundout to third base.  He walked the next batter on four pitches.  The runner was eliminated trying to steal second when Alvarez threw a pitch in the dirt.  However, Alvarez walked the next batter.  The next batter singled to left.  He got the final batter on a called check swing on his slider.

Luis Alexander Basabe – 0-1 – In his only at-bat in the ninth, Basabe lined a grounder to third, but the fielder got it cleanly and threw him out.