Tyler Fitzgerald’s 12th home run of the season, one off Patrick Corbin that easily cleared the left field wall in Washington, was special for several reasons.
Yes, the first-inning blast was the first lead-off home run of Fitzgerald’s young career.
But it was also his 11th homer in his last 17 games, putting Fitzgerald in historic company the Giants defeated Washington 4-1.
Since 1901, the only other shortstops to hit that many home runs in such few games are Alex Rodriguez, Troy Tulowitzki, and Trea Turner. And now, Tyler Fitzgerald.
“I was just trying to slow it down and get a good fastball to hit, and he threw it right where I wanted it,” Fitzgerald said on the KNBR radio broadcast after the game.
Behind Fitzgerald’s blast 30 seconds into the game, the Giants (57-57) defeated the Nationals, 4-1. For the first time since May 31, San Francisco reached the .500 mark, remaining in striking distance of a wild card spot.
Fitzgerald’s hitting prowess has been one of the pleasant surprises of what has been an up-and-down season for the Giants.
“Nothing goes on forever like this, but I think he can be a productive big-league hitter and he’s settling in at shortstop too,” manager Bob Melvin told media after the game. “He’s playing with a ton of confidence.”
The campaign has featured hot-hitting stretches, cold streaks, poor pitching, uneven fielding and a rash of injuries that have necessitated shuffling the lineup.
But through most of that, excellence from pitcher Logan Webb (9-8) and a losing record have been two constants.
Webb’s great play remained unchanged in the Giants victory.
After throwing a complete game shutout against the Oakland A’s, Webb took advantage of a 4-0 lead – sparked by Fitzgerald’s home run – to speed through five innings.
Webb went 5 ⅔ innings, allowing just four hits and striking out four. Keibert Ruiz gave him trouble in the sixth, drawing a 13-pitch walk, but he was otherwise excellent.
But while Webb was his usual outstanding self until a rocky sixth inning, the team’s ever-present losing record was shown the door after nine innings.
After rookie phenom James Wood singled in one run against Webb with two outs and another runner was able to get on, manager Bob Melvin pulled Webb.
Ryan Walker came in and got Alex Call to fly out to rookie outfielder Jerar Encarnacion on a slider to get out of the jam.
Encarnacion also impressed with his bat, going 2 for 4 as the Giants racked up nine hits compared to Washington’s six.
Fitzgerald’s lead off home run gave all-star Webb an early cushion, and then San Francisco’s steady starter enjoyed even more run support in the third inning.
With runners on the corners, Matt Chapman belted Corbin’s slow slider into the stands with a 409-foot home run that left his bat at 108 mph. It was Chapman’s third straight game with a homer, and his first home run in Nationals Park.
“Everything is right in front of us, and we’re excited and we want to keep it rolling,” Chapman said.
Camilo Doval saw his first action in eight days and captured his 21st save of the season by striking out the side.
Undefeated rookie Hayden Birdsong (3-0, 2.97 ERA) is expected to start Tuesday’s game, and then Blake Snell (1-3, 4.29 ERA) should make his first start since throwing a no-hitter on Friday.
Injury updates
Pitcher Tristan Beck threw a bullpen in Arizona, and is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.
Wilmer Flores, suffering from right knee tendonitis, travelled to Los Angeles to undergo what the team described as a Tenex procedure on his right knee.
Pitcher Tyler Matzek is scheduled to throw a 20-pitch live BP as he works through a left elbow strain, and Keaton Winn will continue to rehab through his right elbow inflammation in San Francisco.
