Two teams that have benefited from a recent youth infusion will meet when the visiting San Francisco Giants begin a three-series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
Luis Matos, Heliot Ramos and Marco Luciano have provided a welcome spark for San Francisco, which extended its winning streak to a season-high four games on Sunday after completing a three-game series sweep of the Colorado Rockies.
Ramos homered in Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Rockies to help the Giants record their first series sweep this season. Matos and Luciano have also excelled since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento earlier this month.
“Anytime these guys start out in Triple-A and get a chance in the big leagues, they’re inspired,” San Francisco manager Bob Melvin said. “The energy is there right away and we’ve seen it from every one of these guys. That filters into the feeling of the team. … It’s been refreshing.”
Pittsburgh has experienced similar results since promoting starting pitcher Paul Skenes and second baseman Nick Gonzales from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Skenes struck out 11 batters over six no-hit innings in his second major league start on Friday, while Gonzales continues to impress after struggling in his first stint with the Pirates last season.
Pittsburgh is beginning a six-game homestand after taking three of four from the Chicago Cubs over the weekend. Gonzales singled in two runs in Sunday’s 3-2 win and went 5-for-16 with a home run and four RBIs in the series.
“He’s had really consistent at-bats,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “I mean, big two-out base hit today. He went down to Triple-A, he worked on his swing, he worked on the path and I think we’re seeing the benefits of it since he’s been back in the big leagues.”
Left-hander Martin Perez (1-3, 4.86 ERA) will get the start for Pittsburgh in the series opener after giving up nine runs — including five home runs — over five innings in a 10-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers last Wednesday.
“He was just in the heart of the plate the entire game and then the changeup wasn’t as effective as it’s been previously,” Shelton said. “He left a couple of them up. And when you leave changeups up, they’re going to get hit.”
Perez, 33, has given up a total of 16 earned runs across 15 1/3 innings in his last three starts.
The Giants’ Matt Chapman is 7-for-20 against Perez, who has gone 1-1 with a 2.33 ERA in three career starts versus San Francisco. He allowed one unearned run in six innings in a no-decision against the Giants on April 27.
San Francisco will counter with right-hander Logan Webb (4-4, 3.03), who tossed six scoreless innings in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers last Wednesday. Webb settled in after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning.
The 27-year-old Webb has pitched at least six innings in seven of his first 10 starts of the season. He is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in two career starts against Pittsburgh.
–Field Level Media