Four in a row
The Giants keep their win streak alive with a sweep of the Astros in Houston. They tagged Framber Valdez with a couple of homers early in the game and held on to win. Valdez is an extreme ground ball pitcher and does not give up many dingers but Wilmer Flores took him deep in the 1st and Luis Matos launched one in the 2nd. That’s the fourth for Flo and the first for Matos who started in place of Jung Hoo Lee. Heliot Ramos’ two-run double made it 5-0 after two. Valdez lasted five frames, walking four and whiffing nine. The Giants would strike out 16 times today and the Astros would add 14 of their own.
Landen Roupp had the strikeout stuff going (8 in 4+ IP) but like Alvarez he also had four bases on balls. Those ultimately hurt him and he left the game in the 5th. Randy Rodriguez gave up a hit that probably should have been caught (the Giants blew a pop up play, too) to make it 5-3 but then shut it down. His performance probably saved the day. Hayden Birdsong followed with two scoreless despite two hits and a walk. Tyler Rogers dominated the 8th and Camilo Doval closed out the 9th. LaMonte Wade, Jr., hitless in his first five games, pinch-hit in the 8th and smacked a homer to make it 6-3, giving the team a little breathing room.
It’s an impressive start to 2025. Last year the team one ONE road series (the last one of the season in KC). The home opener is Friday afternoon at 1:35 with Justin Verlander taking the hill.
Go Giants!
–M.C.
Source: http://raisingmattcain.blogspot.com/2025/04/four-in-row.html
