Snake Pit Sim Season: 3/31

The lnieups for this game were not quite as expected. Vitual Lovullo decided to give Carson Kelly the night off. That was probably past due anyway, so not a big surprise. What was a bit surprising was that Mike Yastrzemski was in tonight’s lineup despite reports that he was day-to-day with a severely bruised elbow. Clearly Yastrzemski felt fine after batting practice and managed to talk Virtual Kapler into letting him play.

Innings 1-3

Over the course of the first three innings, the Diamondbacks managed a pair of walks while the Giants’ only base runner came via a lone single. That covers everything of substance in for first third of the game.

SF 0 - AZ 0

4th Inning

With one out in the inning, Austin Riley slapped a single. He was followed by Wilmer Flores who tagged Robbie Ray for a double. Riley took third on the play but was held up there. With runners on second and third, with one out, Yastrzemski strode to the plate. That elbow sure didn’t seem to be bothering him as he took Ray deep on a 1-0 pitch to give the Giants the lead. Ray responded by striking out the next batter and inducing a groundout to end the inning.

*****

With two out, Christian Walker lined a single to right center. He was followed by Kole Calhoun. Calhoun hit a double to center field. Dave McKay’s work as a base running coach was on full display. Walker ran aggressively from the moment the ball struck the bat and managed to just beat the throw home. On that throw home, Calhoun took third base, just making it in under the tag. Unfortunately for Arizona, Nick Ahmed was unable to bring Calhoun home.

SF 3 - AZ 1

5th Inning

Once again, Ray found trouble after getting two quick outs. Billy Hamilton swatted a solo home run off of Ray. This was followed by a single by Posey before Ray finally finished off the Giants in the fifth.

*****

Stephen Vogt led off the Arizona half of the fifth. After quickly being retired, that made it one out with Ray’s spot in the order due up. Despite Ray having thrown only 75 pitches, Virtual Lovullo made the move to pinch-hit for Ray and sent Josh Rojas to the plate. Rojas worked an eight-pitch single to right. He was followed by Starling Marte who flew out to right field. With the count 1-1 on David Peralta, Rojas stole second base. Peralta grounded out to end the inning.

SF 4 - AZ 1

6th Inning

Hector Rondon came on to pitch for Arizona. A single by Yastrzemski was all that happened.

*****

Ketel Marte led things off by drawing a base on balls. He was followed by Eduardo Escobar. The Diamondbacks kept the base running pressure on when Escobar hit a single up the middle. Marte went first-to-third on the play getting in ahead of Hamilton’s throw. This proved to be a key play in the inning, as Christian Walker then grounded into a double play. However, starting from third, Marte was able to score on the twin killing. Calhoun followed up the play with back-to-back doubles to right field, scoring Calhoun. Vogt then grounded out to second to end the inning.

SF 4 - AZ 3

7th Inning

Rondon struck out Donovan Solano. Kapler elected to have Drew Smyly hit for himself. The move paid off as he drew a four-pitch walk. That brought an end to Rondon’s night as Virtual Lovullo turned the ball over to Kevin Ginkel. Ginkel stymied the Giants and got the Diamondbacks back in the dugout.

*****

Ildemaro Vargas struck out on three pitches leading off the inning as a pinch-hitter for Ginkel. Starling Marte then lined a double to right center. Then Virtual Lovullo made a bold move, lifting Peralta for pinch-hitter, Tim Locastro. Despite getting the righty-lefty match-up at the plate, Smyly was able to retire Locastro on a fly out. This brought up Ketel Marte who tripled, scoring Starling Marte. Escobar followed up by working a base on balls. This brought up Christian Walker with runners on the corners. Smyly, still not bothered by the righty-lefty match-up induced an inning ending fielder’s choice 5-4.

SF 4 - AZ 4

8th Inning

Yoan Lopez was brought out to pitch the eighth inning. He promptly walked Austin Slater on four pitches. This brought up Wilmer Flores. On the first pitch to Flores, Lopez sent the ball to the backstop, allowing Slater to take second and taking the double play out of order. Flores then hit a routine grounder to Ahmed at second. With one out and Slater on second, Yastrzemski came to the plate and cracked a triple into the right center, scoring Slater. Lovullo had seen enough. He called on Alex Young to restore order. Young began by intentionally walking Longoria. Then he induced a lazy pop-up behind second and a groundout to third to end the inning, stranding Yastrzemski at third.

*****

Calhoun led things off with a walk, finally bringing an end to Smyly’s night. This brought Tylker Rogers on to pitch. Ahmed struck out swinging. Vogt then looped a single to right. Calhoun took third on the play. Carson Kelly came on to pinch-hit. He tagged a 1-1 pitch at 101.9 mph down the third base line, but Longoria made a terrific diving stop to his right and managed to throw Kelly out at first. Calhoun was unable to score on the play. Starling Marte then flew out to end the inning.

SF 5 - AZ 4

9th Inning

Merrill Kelly struck out two Giants in pitching a clean frame.

*****

Eduardo Escobar drew a one-out walk, but that was the only noise by Arizona in their final at-bats.

Final Score: SF 5- AZ 4

The player of the game was Mike Yastrzemski, though honestly, Drew Smyly managed to do just enough to keep the Diamondbacks from getting the key hit. Also, the play of the game has to go to Longoria, who saved the game for the Giants with his diving stop in the eighth. The Diamondbacks are at it again tomorrow when Madison Bumgarner will take the mound against his former team.