Wednesday’s game looked like it might not happen, then looked like it might be an all-timer.
Turns out neither came to fruition as the Giants and Rockies ended up taking the field following a one-hour rain delay, and Logan Webb’s five innings of no-hit work wouldn’t last beyond that.
Both teams certainly played like they weren’t all that interested in braving the elements, with Wednesday’s game clocking in at two hours and 40 minutes, the Giants getting the best of the Rockies 6-1 for their third straight win. Much of that had to do with the dominance of Webb, who ripped through the Colorado lineup, needing just 66 pitches to retire 16 hitters.
It’s arguably the best Webb has looked this season. He pounded the corners to the tune of five strikeouts and no walks.
Webb was eventually pulled in the sixth after giving up his first and only hit. He might not admit it, but the hit probably made manager Gabe Kapler breathe a sigh of relief.
Kapler has stated that Webb will be on a pitch count in his last few starts, so as to be mindful of his career-high workload now that the Giants are firmly out of the playoff picture. It sure looked like Kapler was going to stick to that even if Webb hadn’t given up a hit, considering he had two pitchers in the bullpen while Webb was absolutely dealing.
One can only imagine the meltdown an already frustrated fanbase would have had if Kapler had taken away the possibility of a memorable moment.
If Kapler would have pulled Webb on a no-no, it may have been the right move, considering Webb had to rest for an hour after getting ramped up due to the delay. The optics would have been bad, but Kapler is the type to not allow for that type of elevated injury risk.
At this point in the season, the results mean less than what individual players show they might be able to bring next season. Brandon Crawford is a player who could absolutely use a hot finish to what has been a disappointing year, one that came after arguably his best as a big leaguer in 2021.
Craw looked like that 2021 version on Wednesday, both at the plate and in the field. The shortstop went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He also made an incredible diving play in the fifth inning to save a hit, at a time when Webb hadn’t given one up. It was enough to get the gears turning and start looking up if there’s ever been a no-hitter at Coors Field. Congrats, Hideo Nomo.
Crawford also had a fantastic sliding catch in the ninth.
LaMonte Wade Jr., Joc Pederson, and Austin Wynns also had two hit nights. Wilmer Flores, who recently signed an extension, was the most impressive, going 3-for-4. Overall SF outhit the Rockies 15 to five.
Luckily, the often shaky bullpen held up following Webb’s departure, with Alex Young and Scott Alexander looking especially good in the later innings.