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‘Sluggish’ Giants might need some cereal

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Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports


The Giants have a few hours to kill in between games of a doubleheader.

Maybe a few cereal boxes to crush, too.

Gabe Kapler said his team was “sluggish,” and the Giants “came out without the most enthusiasm that we’ve had all year” in a 2-0, seven-inning loss in Washington in Game One of Saturday’s doubleheader.

You know what energizes a lot more than a fiery speech? Sugar.

“When I walked in the clubhouse today, there were boxes of kids cereal lined up on one of the tables, like Cap’n Crunch and Lucky Charms and things like that,” Kapler said over Zoom. “So we’re hoping that there’s some magic in there.”

The Giants’ offense has been less magically delicious and more rotten through the past three games, in which the Giants have totaled four runs. In two games against Washington, one a bullpen game and Saturday’s including five innings from Erick Fedde, the Giants have struck out 20 times and walked zero.

Saturday’s biggest culprit was Brandon Belt, who struck out three times and is now 0-for-11 in three games, still getting his rhythm fresh off the IL. Their 2-3-4-5 hitters — including the just-activated Mike Yastrzemski — went 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts.

So Yastrzemski, Buster Posey, Belt and Brandon Crawford can raid the cereal stand. It’s a bit of levity for a team that is pretty beaten-up and must be tired.

“I think we didn’t come out of the gates very strong,” said Kevin Gausman, who threw four innings of two-run ball. “But that’s going to happen, especially with knowing that we have two games today.”


Gausman was not bad but allowed multiple earned runs in a start for the first time since April 13. He was removed as Kapler sought offense and not because his hip, or anything else, was bothering him.

He allowed a home run to Kyle Schwarber — “I was trying to throw a fastball up and in and … pretty sure it’s middle-middle, and he doesn’t miss those pitches.” — and a second on a long drive from Josh Harrison that became a double when Yastrzemski lost it in the Washington sun.


A curious play involved LaMonte Wade Jr., with no outs, in a 3-1 count and Gausman on first, laying down a bunt that went for a sacrifice. He was aiming for a hit.

“I thought it was a great play — obviously, Wade can probably execute that bunt a little bit better,” Kapler said. “It wasn’t called, it was on his own, which we definitely encourage when the defense has shifted that dramatically on you.”


The Giants flipped catchers after the first game, activating Curt Casali and optioning Chadwick Tromp. Casali likely will start the second game.

Tromp did a nice job, appearing in three games and going 4-for-9 with a home run.


Conner Menez will be starting the second game for the Giants, matched up with just-called-up Jefry Rodriguez.