San Francisco’s Brandon Crawford became the first major leaguer in 41 years to get seven hits in a game, with the last of them coming in the 14th inning and lifting the Giants to an 8-7 win at Miami on Monday, keeping their nose in front in the race for top spot in the National League West division.
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It’s the first time in almost 41 years that an NL player has had seven hits in a game – the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Rennie Sennett did it in nine innings vs. the Cubs – and only the fifth time overall in the majors a player has had seven or more hits in a game. It just so happened that, after managing the San Francisco Giants in more than 1,500 games, his rare game away came on the same night that shortstop Brandon Crawford achieved one of the rarest single-game feats in Major League Baseball history.
He allowed both his runs in the first inning, with Giancarlo Stanton providing the key hit when he muscled a broken-bat double over the head of left fielder Angel Pagan. He went 7 for 8 instead of 7 for 10, he had two extra base hits instead of just one, and he drove in the game winning run.
Sure, I care and I want the club to do well but I don t think I get stressed out.
In Minneapolis, Tyler Duffey pitched six effective innings and the hosts took advantage of two misplays by Houston center fielder Carlos Gomez in a three-run fifth. The Giant never got their hitting going and the pitching was left on their lonesome.
Posey drew a leadoff walk and raced to third on Crawford’s fifth hit, a single.
The San Francisco Giants look to leave South Florida with a win against the Miami Marlins.
Manager Bruce Bochy, who returned to manage after spending Monday in the hospital with an irregular heartbeat, insists it was a regular off-day for Posey.
I ve always said that this game will humble you quickly. The Marlins got to Moore for a pair of runs in the first inning and 46 pitches over two frames, but that was the brunt of it.
“Relievers don’t get measured on wins and losses for the most part, but to be out there in a game like that and be able to throw the final pitch and stamp my name on a win like that – it was just a gutsy, gritty game”, Kontos said. Not to be overlooked was Travis’ teammate, Edwin Encarnacion, who was 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs.
San Francisco threatened in the 13th when Crawford hit a one-out triple off Dustin McGowan (1-3).
“We came up with a plan, ” Mattingly said. Suzuki tipped his helmet to fans in appreciation before grounding out in his only at-bat.
“Crazy” was a good word for all that transpired over 5 hours, 34 minutes in a game that began Monday night and ended at 12:45 a.m. EDT Tuesday.
Giants: Pence (eye) fouled a ball off his eye on Saturday. Koehler is 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA over his last four starts. The Giants, who only have five quality starts in 22 games since the All-Star break, were on the doorstep of clinching a losing road trip with two games still to play.
“We’re just not firing on all cylinders right now with our lineup, ” Bochy said.
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Giants: LHP Matt Moore (7-7, 4.04 ERA overall) makes his second start with the Giants on Tuesday after being acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay.
