After series of trades, Giants ride efforts of Logan Webb, Jung Hoo Lee to victory

ARLINGTON, Texas – Down a player after trading six men off the roster in less than 24 hours, the new-look San Francisco Giants, notably younger, charged right into action Monday night against the Rangers. 

The Giants might be entirely settled at second, in the outfield, in the rotation or the bullpen but with ace Logan Webb at his best and Jung Hoo Lee driving two balls out of the park, they downed Texas 5-1 at Globe Life Field. 

Manager Tony Vitello credited Webb with keep things under control and providing leadership even as longtime teammates were getting shipped out around him. 

“What he did today was incredible,” Vitello said. “He’s the first one here today and all throughout his routine – because I walked by him different times, either on the phone or grabbing people and it was pure chaos around him. But it was anything but (for Webb) on the field. He was in command once again. … It’s hard not to find yourself being a fan during the game at times, just because he takes ownership of the game and he kind of draws you in, and I think he does that with his teammates, too.”

Webb was outstanding, setting the tone by striking out the side in the first and eight in all; he walked one in his six scoreless innings and while he was more subdued after the game than he usually is after a win, Webb credited rookie catcher Daniel Susac and the defense for their work.

Lee was just as instrumental, with three hits, including homers in the third and the eighth innings, and he provided a sacrifice fly and stole a base. Lee  also made an extraordinary catch after losing Joc Pederson’s flyball in the lights in the fifth, going into a slide and somehow snaring the ball just as it was about to hit the turf.

Giants 5, Rangers 1

a-grounded out for Wynns in the 7th. b-grounded out for Lopez in the 9th.

E: Duran (4), Nimmo (4), Wynns 2 (3), Seager (5). LOB: San Francisco 7, Texas 8. 2B: Duran (20). HR: Lee (7), off Quantrill; Lee (8), off Gray; Duran (13), off Beck. RBIs: Basabe (6), Lee 3 (43), Duran (59). SB: Langford (8). SF: Basabe, Lee.

Runners left in scoring position: San Francisco 4 (Gilbert, Adames 2, Furman); Texas 4 (Lopez, Carter, Pederson, Nimmo). RISP: San Francisco 1 for 6; Texas 0 for 7.

Runners moved up: Osuna. GIDP_Cauley.

DP: San Francisco 1 (Adames, Basabe, Devers).

Inherited runners-scored: Hentges 1-0, Sanmartin 1-0.

ABS Challenge: Lee (Strike-Confirmed); Webb (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Webb (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Peoples (Ball-Confirmed); Hentges (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Díaz (Strike-Overturned to Ball).

Umpires: Home, Dan Iassogna; First, Adrian Johnson; Second, Louie Krupa; Third, Adam Beck.

T: 2:51. A: 23,736 (40,000).

“There was a lot going on today when I got to the clubhouse,” Lee said with Justin Han interpreting, “but for sure, as a baseball player you try to get locked in and and pay attention on what’s going on in the game. I feel like that’s how we got that good result today.”

Lee hadn’t paid attention to the occasional rumors that other teams might be targeting him for a trade, and he emphasized he’s exactly where he wants to be.

“The Giants gave me the chance to come here to the major leagues and they gave me that contract,” he said. “If I’m going to see any success in the league, I want it to be with the Giants. I just want to see how far this can team go.”

The lineup looked a little unusual after the trades of Luis Arraez and Heliot Ramos, though keep in mind that third baseman Matt Chapman and super-utility man Casey Schmitt are on the injured list. Nate Furman made his first big-league start – and he was leading off and in the DH spot. Susac was batting fifth for the first time.

The Rangers chipped in, too, with five errors, including two in the second to hand San Francisco two runs, the second scoring on a sacrifice fly by Osleivis Basabe, starting at the second base spot held down by Arraez for the first four months of the season. 

The Giants now have five players with less than two years of service time – and seven rookies on their roster. The trades left them with the third youngest roster in the majors after the Nationals and Cardinals, at 27.3 years old nearly two years younger than last year’s average. This seems perfect for Vitello, fresh off a long and successful college coaching career.

“I think he finds a way to connect with all of his players, but obviously, given his background, he’s dealt with a lot of younger players and he’ll get that opportunity with a lot of these kids at some point,” general manager Zack Minasian said after the team’s day of whirlwind deals. “It’s a lot of talent and I think he’s looking forward to it as these guys push their way to the big leagues over time.”

Vitello said he relishes youthful energy – but that can come with any age, he’s found.

“I’ve had to do it a lot, work with young guys and the energy,” he said. “To me, it’s more about youthful energy and then more about our coaching staff learning each other.”

In particular, he and director of pitching Frank Anderson, who came with Vitello from Tennessee, are “seeing what this is like. It’s different. You can watch it on TV. You can talk to people, but you’ve got to live it out, I think get real life experience –  and then it’s up to the whole group to solve puzzles.”

Ezequiel Duran was 4-for-4 including a solo homer in the ninth for Texas. 

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This article originally published at After series of trades, Giants ride efforts of Logan Webb, Jung Hoo Lee to victory.

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