What We Learned As Cobb, Conforto Fuel Giants’ Win Over Twins originally appeared nbc sports birea
Minneapolis – The second game of the Giants’ series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field was billed as a pitcher’s duel.
It included only two MLB pitchers who entered Tuesday with ERAs below 2.00 — Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (1.94) and Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray (1.64).
But on Tuesday night, Giants outfielder Michael Conforto was once again in the spotlight and led in San Francisco’s 4-3 victory. Conforto’s two-run blast in the seventh inning gave the Giants their first and only lead they needed.
The Giants, who were six games below .500 just eight days ago, are now 7-1 in their last eight contests and are back over the .500 mark for the first time since going 3-3 on April 6.
Here are three excerpts from the Giants’ victory at Target Field:
Conforto keeps crushing
Conforto is a man on fire.
The outfielder kept his hot streak alive Tuesday night with a 373-foot, two-run blast in the seventh inning, the Giants’ first hit of the evening. He doubled in the sixth inning to fuel a rally that finally woke up the Giants’ offense.
Conforto, who a home run on monday nightNow has 10 home runs on the season, with six in the last 12 games.
He is now just four dingers away from matching his total in his last full season in the big leagues after scoring 14 runs in 125 games with the New York Mets in 2021.
another quality start
Cobb, the Giants’ most stable starting pitcher this season, wasn’t his prime stuff on Tuesday night, but it was enough to keep the Giants close.
He made his fifth quality start of the season, allowing three runs on five hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings of work.
Cobb’s only mistakes ended up standing in the bleachers. with twin shortstops Carlos Correa scratched from the lineup Just 90 minutes before the first pitch, Twins designated hitter Byron Buxton took the starring role and threw a splitter in the first inning. Michael A. Taylor found the seats on a splitter in the fifth for a 3–0 lead.
But other than that, Cobb limited the damage. The Twins had only one opportunity with runners in scoring position the entire game, but Cobb survived by winning an eight-pitch battle and striking out Kyle Farmer in the fourth.
patient rally
The Giants’ offense failed to capitalize on their opportunities until it finally broke through in the sixth inning, and it took them time to do so.
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JD Davis drew a walk, Conforto doubled and Mitch Haniger walked to load the bases. After two pinch-hitters failed to do any damage, rookie catcher Patrick Bailey walked on four pitches to score San Francisco’s first run of the game. Bryce Johnson followed suit with a walk to bring home the second.
four walks, one hit and two runs. The Giants were still waiting for a big hit at the time, which they finally got thanks to a hot bat from Conforto.
