Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
If Bruce Bochy’s retirement lasts all of a few weeks and he indeed jumps to the Padres — which is not likely — games like Saturday’s exemplify why he would want out.
Way too many walks (seven). Not enough traffic on the bases, and double plays that kill any potential rallies. Veterans who look too veteran. Rookies who look too rookie.
Through 15 innings in Atlanta, the Giants scored as many runs as their fans did. They scored in the seventh but not again, dropping a second straight game at SunTrust Park on Saturday, this one 8-1, the culprits a wild Johnny Cueto, inconsistent bullpen and a consistently poor offense.
There is a slim chance Bochy would indeed take the Padres’ job, which opened Saturday when they fired Andy Green. Speaking to reporters in Atlanta, Bochy said he didn’t want to talk about the speculation, which is not a flat no.
Flat is exactly how the Giants looked, even with a rearranged lineup a day after they were officially eliminated from the playoff hunt.
The new lineup pieces were not fully to blame, with Austin Slater, temporary first baseman, 2-for-4, Joey Rickard 1-for-2 and Cristhian Adames 2-for-3 with their lone RBI. Jaylin Davis blended right in with the remaining lineup staples, unable to perform in a lineup that too often flat-lines.
They could do little off lefty Max Fried, who went 5 1/3 scoreless innings with a curveball the Giants (74-81) could not figure out. The Giants got seven hits but no walks, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. They put two on with one out in the first, but Evan Longoria (0-for-4) grounded into a double play. They put two on with one out in the fifth, but Mauricio Dubon (0-for-4) grounded into a double play. It took Adames singling in Kevin Pillar in the seventh for the Giants to break their bagel streak, but one run isn’t enough on days the starting pitcher is wild and bullpen is spotty.
Cueto was never going to be perfect coming off Tommy John surgery, though he would have had you fooled after his first 10 scoreless innings of the season. The streak stopped at 11, as the 33-year-old couldn’t find the plate in the second inning — control and consistency are always concerns with pitchers making their returns from Tommy John.
Cueto walked Francisco Cervelli and Austin Riley before Billy Hamilton doubled and Fried grounded out, totaling two runs. After Cueto walked Ronald Acuna Jr., Adeiny Hechavarria smacked a two-run double, the lead was 4-0, and the game was over in the second inning.
Cueto lasted four innings, in which he only allowed two hits but walked five and struck out five.
Dereck Rodriguez’s two-inning stint was blemished by Cervelli’s two-run homer, and Sam Coonrod had a hiccup in the seventh, Adam Duvall blistering a 427-foot two-run shot to center.
Sunday is the Giants’ final road game of the season before Bochy’s alleged final homestand. The Giants will have to win out if they want to avoid a losing record. There is not a great chance Bochy curtails his retirement this early, but these are the games that he won’t miss.