SAN FRANCISCO – In many ways, Johnny Cueto was the easy choice to start the Giants’ home opener in 2021. He is an artist on the hill and works best in front of an audience, which covered the scene for an unforgettable Friday afternoon at Oracle Park.
The always entertaining Cueto throws 8 2/3 overs of one run ball, and Brandon Crawford adds a double run to carry the Giants to a 3-1 win over the Rockies in their first game ahead of their San Francisco fans since 29 September 2019.
Cueto allowed just four hits, hit seven and walked one in his longest outing since 2016, becoming the first giant starter to make a winning decision this year.
“I thought it was a good outing as I saw Johnny,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. ‘Just completely in control of every situation. Perfectly synced with [catcher] Buster [Posey]. Just an excellent, daring, efficient performance. ”
Cueto caught him in a pitcher duel most of the afternoon with the left-handed Austin Gomber of the Rockies, who stimulated San Francisco for six innings before Crawford finally cut the pointless tie.
After just one shot and two runs through the first six innings against Gomber, the Giants managed to chase the 27-year-old south leg back into the seventh when he made a few walks to Darin Ruf and Buster Posey with one out. Rockies manager Bud Black then brought in right-hander Tyler Kinley, who hampered another step to Alex Dickerson to load the base.
That led to Crawford, who drove a 1-2 move from Kinley into the gap right-midfield to give two runs and give the Giants their first lead of the afternoon.
“It was definitely special,” Crawford said. ‘Just out there with fans in the crowd, back home and a big hit in a big situation. It was all pretty special, and it was a lot of fun. ”
Cueto scored an exclusion in the ninth inning, but he gave Chris Owings a lead triple, which succeeded on a sacrificial fly to reduce the Giants’ lead to 3-1. Kapler then ran out to the hill to investigate Cueto and drew angry fans who wanted to see the 35-year-old veteran turn in a full match.
“This is not the first time I have been yelled at, I promise you,” Kapler said laughing. “I understand that. The fans wanted to see Johnny complete that game. I wanted to see Johnny complete that game. Everyone in the excavation wanted to see Johnny complete that game.”
Kapler was closer to Jake McGee to be ready to go in the bull, but he decided to stick with Cueto and give him the opportunity to record the last two games.
“He asked me how I was feeling, and I told him I was feeling well,” Cueto said in Spanish. ‘He told me he had his approach ready, and he talked to Posey, who said I should take the ball and keep going. [First baseman Brandon] Belt said the same thing, then I went up the hill again. ‘
Cueto retired Ryan McMahon on an outing, but then conceded a single to Trevor Story on his 118th field, which asked Kapler to bring in McGee, who beat Sam Hilliard in three places to end the game.
Giant starters have now thrown at least five overs and conceded no more than three runs in each of the club’s first seven games, lowering the starting squad’s ERA to 2.28. Cueto’s startup is particularly encouraging, as he recorded a career high of 5.40 a year in 2020, his first full season of Tommy John’s surgery. He plans to bounce back as he enters the final guaranteed year of his contract with the Giants.
“It was one of my best starts since late because last year it did not go too well for me,” Cueto said. ‘I’m going to keep working as usual. There’s still a lot of baseball left, so I just have to keep doing what I do. ”
After his debut in Seattle last week in Seattle, Cueto said he was looking forward to sitting in front of the fans again as he released the energy of the crowd during his outings. It showed Friday afternoon when Cueto used his brand shimmies – including a triple shimmy to knock out CJ Cron to finish seventh – to disrupt hitters’ timing on the board and provide quality entertainment for the fans.
“I think there’s a little entertainer aspect to Johnny, and I think that’s a good thing because he backs it up,” Black said. ‘I think he likes being out there. I think he likes the big stage. He is animated. I think the thing that matters most is that he throws and he competes. He knows what his job is, and I think it’s good that he does it with a little flair. ‘