Giants shutout Royals, 9-0

LaMonte Wade, Jr. and Matt Chapman went yard twice in the Giants’ blowout win over the Royals.

The San Francisco Giants shut out the Kansas City Royals today, winnings 9-0.

Landen Roupp had another strong start, allowing just three hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Spencer Bivens followed that up with two scoreless innings as well, allowing just two hits, striking out two. And Tristan Beck impressed even more with two hit-less innings of his own.

Let’s talk about LaMonte Wade, Jr. for a minute. This man saw three pitches from Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer in the first and fourth innings. He sent two of them out of the park. While both were impressively hit, the second might have been even more majestic than the first.

Wade hand-delivered the Giants and Roupp a two-run lead, before passing the baton to Matt Chapman. Almost before Jon Miller and Hunter Pence could finish admiring Wade’s second home run, Chapman got in on the action and hit one of his own. Only his first of the game, of course, because he had to keep the fun going.

Just like Wade, Chapman came back a couple of innings later in the sixth and got things going with another solo home run. Unlike Wade, though, this one was not a no-doubter though it was once again the most interesting to watch. In fact, it didn’t seem like it was going to leave the yard at all until it did. Chapman hit it with a low golf-swing and Miller’s call sounded like a routine fly out. Until it just kept going. And going. And going straight into what looked like the Giants’ bullpen warmup area.

Michael Conforto kept things going with a double after that, followed by a single from Tyler Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald saw yet another of the many sliders he’s been seeing lately, but this time he sent it on a straight shot to right field, allowing Conforto to reach third easily and knocking Singer out of the game.

Carlos Hernández entered to face Grant McCray, who reached on a fielder’s choice. Conforto broke towards home and the throw also went home, putting Conforto into a rundown that he could not get out of. However, that allowed Fitzgerald and McCray to reach third and second respectively.

Donovan Walter took a pitch off of his knee to load the bases for Curt Casali. The excellent base-running during Conforto’s run-down paid off as Casali singled to score both Fitzgerald and McCray. Once again, this looked like a routine out; a pop fly that looked like it was going to be caught by MJ Melendez…until it wasn’t. Melendez pulled up just short, unable to get to the ball as it landed about a foot ahead of him. He played it well after that, but the delay and the speed of Fitzgerald and McCray meant there was never a chance.

Mike Yastrzemski slammed the door on the Royals after that by getting in on the home run fun and hitting a three-run shot to right to give the Giants their seventh, eighth, and ninth runs of the game.

Even though the Giants may be eliminated from playoff contention, games full of dingers and fun will always be appreciated in my book.