Jul 26, 2020
A pair of Giants rookies and timely hits from a lineup loaded with right-handed bats helped manager Gabe Kapler secure his first win with his new club Saturday.
After his unconventional strategy for deploying pitchers came under fire --both from opposing manager, Dave Roberts, and his own veteran starters-- Kapler and the Giants picked up a crucial win Saturday and will have an opportunity to split the series on Sunday Night Baseball.
Right-hander Logan Webb and lefty Caleb Baragar shut down the Dodgers by combining for six innings of one-run ball while first baseman Darin Ruf, second baseman Wilmer Flores and third baseman Donovan Solano all contributed key hits in Saturday's victory.
The Giants were outscored by a combined total of 17-2, but with a new look lineup against Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood, San Francisco found immediate success. Kapler's club scored at least one run in the first four innings of the game and helped give its young pitchers a much-needed cushion.
Kapler entered the matchup after fielding criticism from Roberts for waiting until hours before first pitch to announce his starter in each of the last two games, but exited it ensuring his team would avoid a sweep against the National League West favorites.