The San Francisco Giants spent the latter half of the year tumbling headfirst down the standings, forgetting how to hit the ball, and watching their bullpen blow any games they managed to keep close. It’s somewhat fitting that their season ended with a great big fart of a collapse.
San Francisco controlled the game for eight innings tonight. Postseason hero Conor Gillaspie went 4-for-4 and Matt Moore struck out 10 while allowing two hits. The Giants were fine throughout the middle of the game. Their problems began in the ninth inning.
Bruce Bochy pulled Matt Moore to start the inning and it immediately went to shit. Kris Bryant singled off of Derek Law. Bochy pulled Law. Javier Lopez walked Anthony Rizzo. Bochy pulled Lopez. Sergio Romo’s slider did that thing where it didn’t slide, instead morphing into a 76 MPH meatball for Ben Zobrist. He hit a double, prompting Bochy to pull Romo. Will Smith then gave up a two-run single to pinch hitter Willson Contreras. It took those four San Francisco pitchers to record a single out, and it came on a Jason Heyward bunt. The box score from this inning is incredible. The Giants well and truly blew it.
Aroldis Chapman then made short work of the newly shaken Giants hitters. The Giants’ Even Year magic is dead. The Cubs are moving on.