What we learned as Ramos’ hot streak continues in loss to the Angels originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – heliot ramos is the hottest hitter in the Giants lineup. The problem is that he doesn’t get much help from anyone else.
Ramos homered for the second straight game, along with a pair of strong doubles, and drove in all three of San Francisco’s runs during their 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels Saturday afternoon at Oracle Park.
Once again, the Giants had trouble meeting men on base. They stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the first, stranded a runner on second in the second, failed to score after loading the bases in the fifth, and then stranded two more players in scoring position during the last four innings.
right fielder Mike Yastrzemski sent a jolt of energy through the crowd of 36,235 when he made a tremendous diving catch to steal Mickey Moniak of a hit in the sixth. Early in the game, Moniak hit a solo home run off the Giants starter. Keaton Winn.
Winn didn’t pitch poorly, but remained winless since April 27.
reliever Ryan Walker (4-3), who had not allowed a run in 29 of his previous 35 starts, took the loss after allowing an unearned run in the seventh.
One night, after hitting a three-run homer as part of a five-run eighth inning, Ramos picked up where he left off. He crushed the 3-2 straight of Patrick Sandoval for his eighth home run of the season, tied for the team lead.
Ramos failed with a comeback in his second at-bat, hitting a double down the third base line to drive in Curt Casali in the fifth and hit a double leading off the seventh.
Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s game:
RAmos keeps rocking
Ramos is the hottest and most consistent hitter in manager Bob Melvin’s lineup and he proved it again when he homered off Angels starter Patrick Sandoval in the first inning. It was Ramos’ second explosion in as many games and his team-leading ninth overall this season.
After a groundout in his second at-bat, Ramos rallied again when he hit an RBI double down the left field line in the fifth and then added a ground-rule double in the seventh. Ramos later struck out looking for the final out of the game.
Since his call-up from the minors in early May, Ramos has been on fire. He has reached base safely in 30 of the 34 games he has played, while his 30 RBIs are the most in the National League since his return to the majors. Ramos also leads the Giants in RBIs for the season even though he did not play in the team’s first 37 games.
Better Winn but still no W
Winn pitched much more effectively than in his previous four starts, an encouraging sign for a Giants rotation that has been in flux for much of the season.
Aside from the fifth inning, when the Angels scored twice and forced Winn to throw 21 pitches, the San Francisco pitcher was efficient as he worked his way through the lineup.
Winn has struggled to fill out the order for the second time, but that wasn’t a big problem against the Angels. This time it was the third time that gave Winn the most trouble.
Winn threw 91 pitches in six innings and allowed five hits and three runs. He struck out six and walked two, but was able to give the bullpen the breathing room it really needed.
Casali’s costly mistake
With Patrick Bailey Having the day off after a night game, Casali took charge of reception and The Angels They benefited from that when they scored the go-ahead run in the seventh.
Halos’ first hitter Nolan Schanuel He drew a walk with two outs and attempted to steal second. Casali’s throw went to center field on an error. That allowed Schanuel to move to third where he easily scored. Luis RengifoSingle with two outs.
Casali has only thrown out one of 11 runners who stole a base this season, and the longer that trend continues, expect opposing teams to try to exploit that part of his game.