SAN FRANCISCO — It had been 43 days since Johnny Cueto last threw a complete game. It came against the Padres, just like his other two have, but Cueto he was overdue to record all 27 outs in a start. So on Tuesday, Cueto confided in Santiago Casilla, the backbone of a troubled bullpen. He said it was time to throw another complete game.
It would be his fourth, a figure that would lead all major league pitches. It would likely be his 13th win, more than any other arm in the National League. It would put an exclamation point at the end of a remarkable first-half, which admittedly has gone better than any in the organization expected.
Against the Rockies on Wednesday night, it all happened.
“He’s just been Johnny every time he’s been out there,” Brandon Belt said. “He’s been the guy I saw for the past four years with the Reds.
“When he goes out there and does his thing, I don’t know if there’s many teams that can beat him.”
The Diamondbacks are the only team that has, and opposing teams are 2-16 when Cueto’s pitched. The Dodgers won the second game, a start Cueto allowed two earned runs over eight innings. But the Rockies (38-46) joined the majority of other teams, falling victim to Cueto (13-1, 2.47 ERA) and the Giants (54-33), 5-1. The right-hander won his 10th consecutive game, and is the first Giant with 13 wins before the All-Star break since John Burkett in 1993.
Wednesday’s complete game was emblematic of the longevity and efficiency Cueto’s shown all year. He now leads the major leagues with 131 1/3 innings (10 1/3 innings more than the next closest pitcher), and his 2.47 ERA is the fourth-best mark in the NL. He’s everything he’s been asked, even singling in his first at-bat after failing to get down a bunt, and the Giants can credit a large portion of their major-league best winning percentage to their second ace.
“It’s the workload that he’s carried for us,” manager Bruce Bochy said when asked about Cueto’s value, “getting deep into games. This guy’s done it all and gone beyond what we thought. That’s how good he’s been.”
He breezed through the first three innings on 28 pitches, but nearly doubled that total in the fourth. Cueto loaded the bases with one out, and started carving away at Trevor Story. The right-hander worked an 0-2 count to the Rockies shortstop, and got exactly what he wanted on a 1-2 cutter.
A groundball went to right to third base, but Grant Green was a beat too slow on his exchange at second to give Cueto his third double play of the evening. It was the only noise the Rockies made. Their bats fell silent as Cueto retired 13 of the next 14 hitters.
That brought him through the eighth inning, which he finished with 110 pitches. He was creeping up on his season-high pitch count of 119, but Bochy had no intention of pulling him. Cueto emerged from the dugout to a standing ovation as he warmed up for the ninth inning, and ended matters only eight pitches later.
“He seems to have an extra gear,” Buster Posey said. “He does a nice job of pacing himself at the start of the game where he’s got enough left in the tank to finish it off.”
As the Giants celebrated Cueto’s masterpiece with handshakes and high-fives, the starters tucked their cap and glove under their left arm. It was a celebratory jab at Cueto, who takes his hat off after finishing every inning.
Every Giant on the field did it all at once, but Cueto did it nine times on Wednesday night. Just like he predicted.
“I like it,” Cueto said of his teammates’ gesture. “I like to see that they’re able to do that so I can relax.”
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Despite a 5-5 record in the last 10 games, the Giants’ 54 wins are more than any other team. They’re 21 games over .500 even with injuries sinking their outfield, infield, starting rotation and bullpen. It’s not lost on the players how remarkable of an 87-game run it’s been.
“It doesn’t surprise me with this team,” Belt said. “It just tells you how special this team is to be able to come out here with the guys we have down and out of our lineup. For the younger guys to step in and play those important roles and succeed in those roles, it’s been awesome to watch. I don’t say that as a cliché, it really has been awesome to watch.”
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With two outs in the eighth inning, Posey took off for second base. It was a bit of a surprising move, given both the score and how long Posey had been catching. But he successfully stole his fifth base of the season, slotting him behind team leaders Matt Duffy and Denard Span (eight each), and Angel Pagan (seven).
“Third on the team?” Posey asked. “Sweet.”
Interestingly enough, Posey agreed that his legs stay a bit fresher with Cueto on the mound. He works an extremely quick pace to most hitters, and he’s certainly had his fair share of short innings this season.