Logan Webb Goes the Distance in 1-0 Shutout

Photo by: Robert Edwards (USA Today Sports)

It’s no secret Logan Webb is both the Giants ace and workhorse, having pitched 126 innings already and hunting the 200 innings mark before the end of the year. He proved it on Sunday, firing on all cylinders, and going the distance for the first time in his career, with an impressive stat line: nine innings pitched, scattering seven hits, and ten strikeouts.

As holds true for many of his starts, the run support for Webb was extremely limited. This season, the Giants have averaged about 3.18 runs per game in his starts. Sunday was no different, as the only run that crossed the plate was thanks to a J.D. Davis solo shot in the fourth inning.

The lack of run support for Webb has led to frequent comparisons to Matt Cain, who endured the same luck over the course of his career. Obviously, it doesn’t represent Webb’s true value to the team and what he’s done for the Giants’ pitching staff. For the most part, he’s done it all year, pitching late into games and leaving limited work for a hard-working bullpen.

Despite the lack of run support, Webb kept the Rockies hitters off-balanced all day. Even when he allowed hits, he found ways to work around them. The Giants solid defense played a huge role, especially when the ball was hit on the ground in the infield.

Early in the game, Casey Schmitt, filling in for the injured Brandon Crawford at shortstop, made it appear as if there’s no defensive tradeoff. To end the Rockies' half of the second inning, he fielded a ground ball between the third and short positions with a smooth backhand and off-balanced throw. At second base, Brett Wisely took a hit away from Kris Bryant on a ground ball up to middle, backhanding it and throwing it on the run to first base. The Giants infield even turned an unconventional three-six-one double play to end the sixth inning.

As for the outfield, an accurate throw from Mike Yastrzemski to nab Jurickson Profar from stretching a single into a double on the first play of the game really set the tone for the slick defense the rest of the game.

The Oracle Park crowd gave Webb one last push as he emerged from the dugout at the beginning of the ninth inning. In response, he struck out the side in dominant fashion, exactly how any pitcher would dream of completing the game.

The Giants ended the homestand on a very high note, with hopes to carry the momentum past the break. When the Giants get back from the break, they will face an up-and-down Pirates team in Pittsburgh for a three-game set before heading to Cincinnati to take on the NL Central-leading Reds.

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