Giants' Taylor Rogers searches for command after nightmare outing vs. Dodgers
Rogers left searching for command after nightmare outing originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants have 151 games to go, and it's unlikely that any of them will provide the absurdity that was seen during a matchup between Taylor Rogers and Freddie Freeman in the sixth inning Wednesday night.
Rogers threw 15 pitches to Freeman, 11 of which were fouled off. The plate appearance ended in a walk, but only after Freeman provided souvenirs to a good portion of the lower deck by fouling off nine consecutive pitches. The battle ended one of Rogers' worst nights in the big leagues and left him searching for answers about his command, but a couple hours later, he was at least able to turn to some gallows humor as he tried to digest it.
Asked about pounding the zone and watching Freeman foul off so many of his sinkers and sliders, Rogers noted, "It felt pretty good considering my first three hitters."
Those first three hitters all walked, one on a pitch clock violation. Freeman did, too. All four scored and the Giants never recovered, falling 10-5 and losing their first series of the year against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
The pivotal moment was Rogers vs. Freeman, and it was one that was painful for the left-handed relievers' teammates to watch in the clubhouse. Every pitcher has been there before. There is a point where you have nothing left to turn to and just hope that a line drive is hit right at somebody. Given how on-time Freeman was, a walk was maybe the best result, but that just kept the line moving.
Max Muncy homered two batters later, picking up his second of the night, fourth of the series and 25th against the Giants. That left Rogers, one of the front office's big additions in the offseason, with an 18.90 ERA. Through five appearances, he has walked six and given up a couple of homers.
"Usually when a pitcher is having difficulty getting through innings, getting outs, it's about command," manager Gabe Kapler said. "I do think there have been times when Tay has had better stuff but I don't think that's what this is about right now. He's just struggling to find the zone consistently.
"That was a tough one, obviously. He just couldn't throw strikes and when he was able to throw strikes, Freeman put a tremendous at-bat on him and forced him to get in the zone over and over and over, which he did, and he just wasn't able to finish. Obviously, that was a Freeman win. Before that, I think was where the challenges were coming in. He just wasn't able to find the strike zone."
Rogers said he felt pretty good at the start of his outing, but he walked pinch-hitter Trayce Thompson and then got hit with a pitch clock violation before he could deliver a 3-2 pitch to Chris Taylor. Rogers said he shook once and then "there wasn't time" to beat the clock.
"Then, you're in the fight," he said.
Mookie Betts also walked and Freeman capped his epic plate appearance with his second of the night. A sacrifice fly and Muncy's homer broke the dam.
It was a particularly disappointing loss because of how it started. The Giants scored three early runs off Clayton Kershaw and Darin Ruf brought positive vibes to the dugout with an RBI double in his first at-bat back. But Alex Cobb was wobbling on the other side, fighting what he described as his worst command as a Giant, and eventually, it all started rolling the other way.
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Michael Conforto was removed because of left calf tightness and Bryce Johnson suffered a concussion on a spectacular catch up against the wall in center that saved a couple of runs. After Rogers departed, John Brebbia allowed a homer and Ross Stripling did the same.
Rogers said the nightmare appearance would make it hard to sleep, but he would try to pinpoint what he needs to do to fix his command. The Giants are counting on him to regularly pitch in the late innings and need him against left-handed hitters like Freeman, but first, on the day off, Rogers has another task.
He dumped his glove in a dugout trash can and thought he might have to order a new one. A Giants employee had actually fished it out during the game, but given how rough this outing was for all involved, some items might be better left in San Francisco as the team heads back out on the road.
