‘Had a great first day’: DeJong (HR, 4 RBIs) propels Giants
PHILADELPHIA — Veteran shortstop Paul DeJong spent his whole profession within the Cardinals group earlier than being dealt to the Blue Jays on the 2023 Trade Deadline, a transfer he admittedly discovered a bit jarring. The 30-year-old didn’t get a lot likelihood to settle in with Toronto, as he was designated for project after going solely 3-for-44 (.068) with 18 strikeouts over 13 video games.
“It’s been interesting,” DeJong mentioned previous to the membership’s collection finale at Citizens Bank Park. “I feel like I gained some experience about moving around and joining a new team. I think that will help me in joining this group.”
DeJong already appears to be dealing with his newest transition higher than his first. He made a powerful impression in his Giants debut, going 3-for-5 with a two-run residence run and 4 RBIs to assist San Francisco overcome a fourth consecutive blown save from All-Star nearer Camilo Doval and rally for an 8-6 win over Philadelphia in 10 innings.
The Giants handed a 5-2 result in Doval within the backside of the ninth, however the 26-year-old flamethrower couldn’t shut the door, issuing back-to-back walks to Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner earlier than surrendering a game-tying three-run homer to Bryce Harper that despatched the sport to further innings.
Doval has allowed six runs (5 earned) over 3 1/3 innings in his previous 4 appearances, however DeJong helped bail him out with a clutch hit off Phillies nearer Craig Kimbrel within the high of the tenth. With Casey Schmitt at second as the automated runner, Patrick Bailey walked and Wade Meckler reached on a hit-by-pitch to load the bases for DeJong, who lined an 0-2 fastball from Kimbrel to middle area for a go-ahead two-run single.
“It’s hard to put into words,” DeJong mentioned. “I’m just so happy to be out there and contribute for this team. I just had a great first day. It just feels right. I’m thankful for the opportunity, and [I’m] happy it worked out for me.”
The Giants (66-61) are a half-game again of the third National League Wild Card spot. They additionally took the season collection with the Wild Card-leading Phillies (69-58) by a 4-2 margin, incomes the tiebreaker within the standings.
“Obviously, we all saw that game was played like a playoff game,” supervisor Gabe Kapler mentioned. “We used basically everybody, and in fact, [we] used some pitchers that we didn’t expect to use or that we wanted to use, because that’s what the game called for. I think it’s going to be like that moving forward. Every game is going to really matter, and we’re going to fight and scratch and claw to get where we want to go.”
DeJong, 30, didn’t report an extra-base hit in his short-lived stint with the Blue Jays, however he regained his energy stroke in his second at-bat with the Giants, launching a 1-0 fastball from Phillies right-hander Michael Lorenzen out to left area to increase his new membership’s result in 4-0 within the fourth inning.
DeJong ought to have a possibility to maintain contributing to San Francisco’s playoff push down the stretch, as he’s anticipated to fill in for Brandon Crawford, who’s sidelined with a left forearm pressure. A 2019 All-Star, DeJong batted .233/.297/.412 with 13 residence runs over 81 video games with the Cardinals this season earlier than being traded to the Blue Jays, who wanted a short-term substitute following an harm to two-time All-Star Bo Bichette.
Despite his powerful offensive stretch with Toronto, DeJong nonetheless represents a possible improve for the Giants, who entered Wednesday twenty fifth within the Majors with a .636 OPS out of the shortstop place this 12 months. DeJong additionally stays elite with the glove, and he flashed his sturdy protection within the fifth inning, ranging into the opening to make a backhanded seize on J.T. Realmuto’s grounder earlier than spinning and firing to second base to report the forceout.
“I don’t think he could have come up any bigger throughout the game,” Kapler mentioned. “The defense will probably go less talked about, because there was a home run in there and a huge base hit late in the game. But the defense was equally important.”
While the Giants could have discovered an answer to their shortstop void, they continue to be on the hunt for solutions in relation to Doval, who has seemed removed from his dominant self lately.
“What I see going on with him right now is the game is moving fast, which is not uncommon for a guy in his position,” Kapler mentioned. “He’s got some big-game experience, but that doesn’t mean that you feel right in every situation. I think right now, he’s struggling with his pitch mix, he’s struggling with baserunners a little bit. This is the right time for all of us to rally around Camilo and remind him of how good he is. It’s certainly not the time to abandon ship.”
