Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
Willy Adames got the last word against his former team Thursday afternoon, hitting a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning that Christian Yelich didn’t catch as the San Francisco Giants rallied to beat Milwaukee 6-5.
Three innings earlier, Matt Chapman did something no one else in MLB has done this season to pull the Giants within striking distance.
In the fifth inning, Chapman launched Brewers reliever Abner Uribe’s 100.4 mph fastball 411 feet into center field for a two-run home run, cutting the Giants’ deficit to one run and making a bit of history in the process.
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It was the first home run hit off a pitch of at least 100 mph in MLB this season. Even Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, known for his quick hands and even quicker bat speed, hasn’t done it yet. Ohtani, though, is one of seven players to hit a home run on a pitch between 99 and 99.9 mph.
“I know for him it was probably chill,” Adames said of Chapman’s feat. “But for the whole team, it’s been insane. He’s been hitting the ball really well; he hasn’t had a lot of luck getting the hits, but it’s very impressive going dead center here.”
Furthermore, Chapman is the second Giant in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008) to hit a home run on a 100-plus mph pitch. Heliot Ramos became the first in September against San Diego Padres reliever Robert Suarez when he scorched a 100.2 mph fastball into McCovey Cove for the first Splash Hit by a right-handed hitter. Ramos knows just how hard it is to make that kind of contact on three-digit heaters.
“Just trying to be on time and be in a good space to try to see the ball,” Ramos said. “Honestly, the main thing is being on time because guys are just throwing hard and you have to be ready for it.”
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Before Ramos’ historic water shot, the last Giant to hit a home run off a pitch at least 99 mph was Kevin Pillar on a fastball thrown by then-Padres reliever Robert Stock in 2019. After that, the only other Giants since 2008 to hit a home run off a 99 mph fastball are Brandon Crawford and Michael Morse in 2015 and Aubrey Huff in 2011.
To win bunches of games at Oracle Park, the Giants determined that airtight defense and pitching would be the cornerstones of their roster. But for a second time in the series, a sloppy defensive inning nearly did them in.
The Brewers’ big fourth inning against starter Landen Roupp began with a Joey Ortiz single. Milwaukee went into small-ball mode, advancing him to second on a groundball. Roupp’s wild pitch moved Ortiz to third. After Vinny Capra walked, nine-spot hitter Eric Haase put more pressure on the infield defense with a bunt toward Chapman at third. First baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. — who was backtracking to the bag — couldn’t get a glove on Chapman’s throw, allowing two runs to score as Milwaukee took a 4-2 lead.
With Roupp out of the game for reliever Spencer Bivens, catcher Sam Huff managed to catch Brice Turang stealing third base to end the messy inning. Roupp gave up five runs (four earned) over 3⅔ innings and had more walks (three) than strikeouts (two).
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Jung Hoo Lee’s MLB-leading 11th double scored Mike Yastrzemski for the Giants’ first run in the first inning, and Yastrzemski came back with a solo home run in the third inning.
For a second night in a row, Camilo Doval came in for the save opportunity in the ninth. After issuing a leadoff walk, Adames and Chapman came to the mound to calm Doval down. Though he gave up a two-out single, Doval then retired Rhys Hoskins for his fifth save. Ryan Walker, the closer, was in need of a day off and manager Bob Melvin has said he will go between Walker and Doval in the ninth inning depending on availability.
Briefly: By taking three of four from Milwaukee, the Giants (17-9) improved to 7-3 at home. … The Giants have won eight games when trailing by at least two runs this season, most in MLB. … San Francisco’s stretch of playing 17 consecutive days continues Friday night when Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers come to Oracle Park for the first of three games.
