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ST. LOUIS–As the season winds down, the book on the 2018 Giants is almost ready for publication.
Some of the chapters focus heavily on injuries and others on the team’s offensive failures. While the end of the plot has yet to play out, the paragraphs written about what’s transpired in St. Louis this weekend will focus on the promise of the future and concerns of the present.
While young Giants continued to showcase their potential Saturday, a veteran under contract for two more years served up the walk-off home run in a 5-4, 10-inning defeat.
For the second straight day, right-hander Mark Melancon took the loss as he threw a hanging breaking ball that Cardinals right fielder Tyler O’Neill crushed over the wall.
“If I execute that pitch, then I’m comfortable with it,” Melancon said.
Melancon didn’t execute and it cost the Giants a chance to snap a nine-game road losing streak against National League Central teams.
May 26 (Chicago) was the last time the Giants beat an NL Central club on the road, and that came before rookie Dereck Rodríguez joined the team. Rodríguez started Saturday’s game in St. Louis, firing six innings of two-run ball before disaster struck in the bottom of the seventh.
After Rodríguez walked Cardinals third baseman Jedd Gyorko on four pitches, veteran catcher Yadier Molina slammed a game-tying two-run homer to snap an impressive streak for the rookie pitcher. Prior to allowing four earned runs Saturday, Rodríguez had surrendered three runs or fewer in 16 straight outings including 15 starts.
“It doesn’t matter the situation, he goes after hitters,” Joe Panik said. “He has a presence on the mound. Almost just a calmness.”
Panik became the eighth different Giants player to start at first base this season, making his professional debut at the position Saturday against Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright. A slew of injuries wiped out the Giants’ first base depth, so Panik played there for the first time since his T-ball team needed his services.
Manager Bruce Bochy said he wanted to load his lineup with lefties against Wainwright and play Panik and Alen Hanson at the same time, so the duo formed the starting combination on the right side of the infield.
Panik produced like a first baseman at the plate, piling up three hits and adding a walk in Saturday’s defeat.
“You’ve got to get creative,” Bochy said. “Our first baseman is down. We really don’t have a first baseman right now.”
With Brandon Belt, Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval and Ryder Jones all sidelined due to season-ending injuries, rookie Aramis Garcia has earned most of the starts at first base over the last week. After finishing 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Friday, Garcia moved from the corner of the infield to behind the plate so he could catch Rodríguez in St. Louis.
Garcia grew up a Cardinals fan, but disappointed the home crowd at Busch Stadium by picking up four hits including a two-run single that pushed the Giants ahead 4-2 in the top of the seventh. Prior to Saturday, no rookie had recorded four strikeouts and followed with four hits in their next game since Andre Ethier of the Dodgers accomplished the feat July 2-3, 2006.
“That’s just the beauty of baseball, right?” Garcia said. “You have nights like that and you just go home and remind yourself that you get to come back tomorrow and do it again.”
A Florida native, Garcia split time catching with Rodríguez on the same travel ball team as 13-year-olds. Both players have long admired Molina, but their appreciation for the Cardinals catcher developed in different ways.
“It was crazy, I honestly don’t even know what to say, it was surreal getting to face him today,” Garcia said.
If Molina continues playing through the end of his contract, Garcia could have several more opportunities to face him as he’s establishing himself as a regular contributor for the Giants. Though Garcia began the season at Double-A Richmond, he’s ending it in San Francisco where he’s opened his career with 14 hits in 38 at-bats.
Garcia could carve out a spot as a backup catcher on next year’s Opening Day roster, which will certainly feature Rodríguez who emerged as the Giants’ best player in 2018. While Rodríguez will have a final chance to close his rookie season on a high note against the Dodgers, he couldn’t help but express frustration at the way his day ended.
“He’s one of the best,” Rodríguez said of Molina, a friend of his father Ivan’s. “He knows what he’s doing. I’m sure he knew a curveball was coming.”
