SAN FRANCISCO — The last time Blake Snell took the mound at Oracle Park, he flirted with a perfect game across seven brilliant innings. Snell wouldn’t make another true run at that historical feat, but on a chilly, overcast Saturday afternoon, the left-hander was every bit as dominant — and more.
Snell set a new career-high with 15 strikeouts over six scoreless innings as the Giants beat the Rockies, 4-1, in the first leg of their doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Oracle Park, becoming the first Giant with that many strikeouts in a game since Tim Lincecum in July 2009. San Francisco needs as much going right as possible to creep back into the playoff conversation, and with his performance in recent weeks, Snell is unquestionably going right.
“He was a Cy Young Award winner last year for a reason, doing stuff like this,” said manager Bob Melvin.
Snell became the sixth pitcher in Giants history with 15 or more strikeouts in a game, joining Lincecum, Jason Schmidt, Gaylord Perry, Carl Hubbell and Christy Mathewson. Along with the strikeouts, he induced 30 swings-and-misses, the most he’s had in a single start in his career. Of those 30 whiffs, Snell induced 14 with his curveball, which, appropriately enough, is also the most he’s had in a single start in his career.
most swings & misses in a game, Giants under pitch tracking (2008, including playoffs):
2010 NLDS G1 Tim Lincecum: 31
Today Blake Snell: 30
7/13/13 Tim Lincecum: 29
7/21/24 Hayden Birdsong: 27
7/9/22 Carlos Rodón: 27— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 28, 2024
Snell set the tone for his afternoon by striking out Ezequiel Tovar, the Rockies’ leadoff hitter, on three pitches. He would punch out two batters apiece in the first and second; three in the third and fourth; and two in the fifth. Snell walked Tovar to begin the sixth, but proceeded to strike out the next three batters he faced. Snell’s final pitch of the day was, appropriately enough, a curveball in the dirt that Kris Bryant had no chance of hitting. As he walked off the mound, Snell received a thunderous standing ovation.
The left-hander, whose previous career-high in strikeouts was 13, said he wasn’t trying for strikeouts early on. That mindset would shift towards the end of his outing.
“Last couple innings, I was really trying,” Snell said with a smile. “When I went out for the sixth, I was well-aware of what I was trying to do.”
Snell had a rocky beginning to his tenure in San Francisco, hitting the injured list twice in the first half and underperforming whenever he did take the mound, a product of having a reduced spring training. But in recent weeks, Snell has looked the part of a reigning Cy Young Award winner. Over his last four starts since coming off the injured list, Snell has allowed two earned runs across 24 innings (0.75 ERA) with 30 strikeouts to seven walks. For as good as Snell has been, he believes there’s another level for him to hit.
“I’m starting to have more confidence, understanding how to make adjustments quicker now,” Snell said. “I’m getting there, as weird as that is to say. I still feel like I have more to improve on. I will say the curveball is the best it’s been for a while.”
Snell’s recent stretch of excellence has resulted in his name circulating in trade rumors ahead of the July 30 deadline. In the midst of his ninth major-league season, Snell knows what’s required for those talks to quiet down.
“Just got to win,” Snell said. “We win and I ain’t going nowhere. At least, I believe that. I’ve seen crazy things happen.”
In theory, the Giants have a blueprint to catapult themselves back into the mix for one of three Wild Card spots. Robbie Ray made his season-debut earlier this week, and Alex Cobb should be doing the same next week. The Giants also have one of the easiest schedules in baseball the rest of the way, their next four series being against teams that are currently under .500 (A’s, Reds, Nationals, Tigers).
“I like where we’re at,” Snell said. “I like the rest of the schedule as well. I think it could be a really fun last couple of months. Just got to win.”
Fitzgerald hits latest homer, rookie continues impressing in Game 2 win
While a cold San Francisco evening prevented several fly balls from reaching the seats, Tyler Fitzgerald bested the elements with a solo home run in the eighth inning — his eighth in his last 10 games — as San Francisco beat Colorado, 5-0, in the second game of the doubleheader.
Hayden Birdsong followed Snell with a dazzling encore, tossing five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. Through six starts, the 22-year-old has a respectable 2.97 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 30 1/3 innings.
Baumann designated for assignment
Prior to the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Giants designated right-handed reliever Mike Baumann for assignment.
In a corresponding move, right-hander Spencer Bivens was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
San Francisco acquired Baumann on Sunday after he was designated for assignment by the Mariners. In his Giants debut on Friday, Baumann allowed two earned runs and recorded two outs.
