What we learned as Fitzgerald, Chappy and Webb fuel Giants’ victory over Nats originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants are in the midst of their easiest stretch of the season, but sometimes the schedule lies. The Washington Nationals were 10 games under .500 entering this series, but in recent years, they have given the Giants everything they can handle.
The Nationals beat the Giants in Washington D.C. last year and have won two of three at Oracle Park earlier this season, but on Monday, the Giants kept the momentum going with a 4-1 win at Nationals Park.
Logan Webb had a second consecutive strong start and was supported by Tyler Fitzgerald’s Daily Homer and a three-shot bomb from Matt Chapman. The bullpen took home the bottom of the inning as the Giants got back to .500 for the first time since June 1.
They’ve missed seven straight attempts to get back to .500, but now they’re rolling and the timing couldn’t be better.
FitzMagic
Since July 20, Fitzgerald has hit multiple home runs at Oracle Park, Coors Field, Dodger Stadium and Great American Ball Park. He wasted no time in getting the Nationals Park home run out of the way.
The opening explosion came on the second pitch of the game, a low sinker by Patrick Corbin that was hit 416 feet to left. This placed Fitzgerald in very select company.
The 26-year-old is the fourth shortstop to hit 11 times in 17 games, joining Alex Rodriguez, Trea Turner and Troy Tulowitzki, who have made at least three All-Star teams. You can’t hit 11 home runs in less than three weeks.
Fitzgerald became the seventh Giant to do so, according to MLB’s Sarah Langs, and the list is filled with Hall of Famers. He joined Mel Ott, Walker Cooper, Willie Mays, Jim Ray Hart, Willie McCovey and Barry Bonds.
Happy Chappy
Chapman hit a slow ball from Corbin in the third, opening the game. The three-run outburst was his 18th of the season, extending his team’s lead and putting him ahead of last year’s total in Toronto.
Chapman has quietly been one of the best players in the National League and entered the day eighth in the league in FanGraphs version of Wins Above Replacement. He has been the third most valuable third baseman in the big leagues.
The Blake Snell option has received most of the attention, but Chapman also appears headed toward a fascinating decision. He can opt out after each season of his three-year, $54 million contract, and while he’s happy to be back in the Bay Area and playing for Bob Melvin, the contract wasn’t exactly what he was looking for in free agency.
Chapman’s situation should be easier for the Giants to navigate than Snell’s. They have avoided long-term contracts for pitchers under Farhan Zaidi, but Chapman is the type of player they would feel comfortable committing to, and they could always add years to his existing contract if he felt like it. to test the market again.
Webb Jewel
Coming off his second career loss, Webb looked like he might try again, and it looked like a lock he would get through seven. But Keibert Ruiz took a lot out of his arm with a 13-pitch walk with two outs in the sixth, and Webb couldn’t get out of the inning.
Webb was pulled with runners in the corners, but Ryan Walker came in and trapped both runners. In his last two starts, Webb has allowed just one run in 14 2/3 innings.
