© David Kohl | USA TODAY Sports
When the Giants finished up their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, it seemed like it might be a chance to build momentum. They had the struggling Reds coming up next. But that was far from reality, as the Giants lost 11-4 on Sunday to be swept by the Reds.
The blowout followed a 7-1 loss the night prior and failed to provide any cause for optimism. After a six-inning shutout performance in his last outing, Andy Suarez had his worst outing of the year.
After two shutout, no-hit innings to start the game, Suarez imploded and failed to finish the third. He allowed seven hits, seven runs (five earned) in 2 2/3 innings before Ty Blach replaced him. His ERA ballooned to 4.68 with the poor outing.
The highlight of the game was undoubtedly Chase d’Arnaud’s debut pitching performance in the eighth. D’Arnaud is the Giants’ go-to utility man and has now played every infield position this year except for catcher. In a game where Reds batters tormented Giants pitchers, d’Arnaud secured a shutout inning through three fly balls, allowing just a single in the inning.
Giants Position Player Pitching, part 2 featuring @chasedarnaud pic.twitter.com/O7Rytwkqeg
— Carmen Kiew (@carmenkiew) August 19, 2018
The only Giants pitchers to leave the game without relinquishing a run were d’Arnaud and Hunter Strickland, who was making his second appearance since his return from the 60-day disabled list yesterday. He was placed on the disabled list June 19 after punching a door and fracturing his right hand.
Ty Blach allowed six hits and two earned runs in the same 2 2/3 innings that Suarez had before Strickland replaced him to secure two outs. Ray Black followed Strickland, allowing three hits and two earned runs in an inning of work.
One of the lone bright spots for the Giants was Steven Duggar. The rookie center fielder had a pair of doubles and scored a run in the sixth inning for the Giants in an otherwise poor game for the team. Duggar and Gorkys Hernandez were involved in creating the Giants run-scoring chances in the second and seventh innings.
Duggar drove Evan Longoria to third base before Hernandez scored Longoria on a sac fly in the second inning. In the seventh, Duggar doubled again with two outs and scored while Hernandez reached on a freak play.
After a seemingly traditional grounder to shortstop, the ball ripped through the back of Reds first baseman Tucker Barnhart’s glove. After Hernandez reached, Hunter Pence hit a double to score Hernandez and give the Giants their third run of the game.
D’Arnaud also provided more traditionally, doubling home Joe Panik in the ninth to give the Giants their fourth run.
With the loss, the Giants (61-64) drop to three games below .500 for the first time since June 18.