HOUSTON -- Anthony DeSclafani took on the stopper role for the struggling Giants on Tuesday night, firing eight scoreless innings to help San Francisco snap its four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
DeSclafani allowed only three hits, walked none and struck out three in his longest and best outing of the season. The 33-year-old right-hander improved to 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA over six starts while helping to save the Giants’ bullpen, which had been taxed after a challenging two-game Mexico City Series over the weekend.
“DeSclafani was attacking everybody,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “It was first-pitch strike after first-pitch strike. Even when he wasn’t recording strikes, he was all around the zone. Incredibly efficient. Obviously gives us a chance to push that pitch count up into the 105-plus range. That’s always something we’re looking for from our starters. Just give us a chance to let you go. We needed that. It was big for the club. Big morale boost, for sure.”
DeSclafani’s pitch count stood at 91 through seven innings, but he jogged back out for the eighth and retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a two-out infield single to Yainer Diaz that deflected off his right foot. Kapler and head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner came out to check on DeSclafani, who didn’t even throw a warmup pitch before returning to the mound to face No. 9 hitter Jake Meyers.
“It was the best I’ve seen [in] his eyes,” Kapler said. “It was like, ‘Ready, I’m definitely taking that hitter.’ It’s more precautionary, but it was nice to see the conviction. Basically telling us, ‘I’ve got this.’”
“I just knew I really wanted to finish that inning,” DeSclafani said. “I didn’t want to end the game on that play. … I knew some guys weren’t feeling good today. It’s been a long road trip. I wanted to go deep for us.”
Meyers bounced DeSclafani’s 109th pitch past the latter’s outstretched glove, but it was hit right to second baseman Brett Wisely, who threw to first for the final out of the inning.
“He threw well tonight,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “He kept the ball down, kept the ball away, he was dotting the outside part of the plate with his slider. He didn't even break a sweat tonight.”
Closer Camilo Doval worked a 1-2-3 ninth to convert his fourth save and seal the Astros’ first shutout loss of the year, setting up a rubber match in Wednesday’s series finale at Minute Maid Park.
Joc Pederson and Blake Sabol both delivered RBI hits off Houston right-hander Hunter Brown to help back DeSclafani, who is reestablishing himself as one of the Giants’ top starters after missing the bulk of last season due to right ankle surgery.
Oddly enough, DeSclafani said he didn’t feel too great at the beginning of his outing, but he made an adjustment to shorten his arm action about halfway through the start, which he believes helped propel him to pitch deep in the game.
He ended up retiring 19 of the first 20 batters he faced and threw 70 of his 109 pitches for strikes, showcasing his ability to consistently fill up the zone and gain count leverage against opposing hitters. After issuing only three walks over 38 innings this year, DeSclafani now ranks second in the Majors in walk rate (0.71 BB/9), trailing only the Mariners’ George Kirby.
“It’s really, really impressive,” catcher Joey Bart said. “He’s all over the zone. I think he’s been like that every start, especially tonight, going through that lineup and attacking, attacking, attacking. He’s pitching with a lot of confidence. I think everyone can see that. It’s a blast when guys on the mound are coming out attacking, putting guys away, making good pitches and putting the pressure on them. It’s a lot easier to hit 2-0, 3-0, than it is 0-1, 0-2. The credit is to him. He’s been unreal for us this year, and it’s a lot of fun.”
DeSclafani leaned heavily on his breaking ball to stymie the Astros, who entered Tuesday with the fifth-worst batting average against sliders (.195) in the Majors. Forty-nine percent of his pitches were sliders, an offering that has held opposing hitters to a .191 average this year.
“The slider is a problem,” Bart said. “He’s pitching in on guys’ hands now. He’s really fearless. … I love the fire he’s bringing. I haven’t really seen this level of excitement and fire out of him that he’s bringing this year. I love it. I feed off it. Everyone feeds off it. Obviously he won us that game tonight.”