Logan Webb, the San Francisco Giants' ace and National League Pitcher of the Month for June, endured a difficult outing Friday night, allowing a career-high 11 hits and seven earned runs in a 15-3 defeat to the Colorado Rockies. The game, played at Coors Field, saw Webb's shortest start of the season since his return from the injured list.
Colorado's offense attacked Webb early, with leadoff hitter Jake McCarthy hitting a first-pitch sinker for a home run. By the time Webb's outing concluded after three innings, the Rockies had amassed 11 hits against him. The Giants' pitching struggled throughout the game, with relievers Matt Gage and Ryan Walker allowing seven runs in the fifth inning. McCarthy hit a grand slam during that frame.
The Giants began July with a dispiriting loss to one of the National League's struggling teams. Their upcoming schedule includes a series against the Seattle Mariners, who hold a winning record, but the team's performance against the Rockies raises concerns about their ability to capitalize on a less demanding stretch of games.
Despite the team's struggles, there were defensive highlights for the Giants. Casey Schmitt, playing his natural position with Matt Chapman sidelined, made a highly praised defensive play in the second inning. On a sharply hit grounder, Schmitt backhanded the ball, stepped on third base for a force out, and threw across the diamond to first base for a double play. This play was described by Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming as "one of the greatest plays I’ve ever seen."
Webb's performance marked a stark contrast to his recent dominant stretches. He had previously allowed 11 hits or seven earned runs in separate outings, but never in the same start. This outing was statistically comparable to an early-career start against the Cardinals where he surrendered eight runs. Despite Coors Field's reputation as a hitter-friendly environment, Webb had historically performed well there, holding one of the lower ERAs among starters at the venue over the past five seasons.
The Giants are set to continue their series against the Rockies on Saturday, with Robbie Ray scheduled to start for San Francisco against Colorado's Tomoyuki Sugano.