SF Giants: Three Takeaways From the Reds Series

The SF Giants took the series from the Cincinnati Reds with a 3-0 victory in the rubber match of a three-game series on Wednesday.

SF Giants: Three Takeaways From the Reds Series

1. Tommy La Stella is the perfect leadoff hitter

When the Giants signed Tommy La Stella to a three-year, $19 million contract this past winter, it seemed like one of the more sensible fits in recent memory. The Giants needed a left-handed bat who could play all around the diamond and La Stella checked off those boxes.

So far, it has been a great match. The left-handed hitter has been typically used against right-handed pitching and he has proven to be a tough out. He collected four hits in eight at-bats against Reds pitching while being a spark plug.

On Tuesday, he notched three hits, including a double, while helping the Giants to a 7-6 victory. On Wednesday, he added another hit that almost led to a timely insurance run.

With Curt Casali on second base, La Stella slashed a line drive to right field but he may have hit it too hard. The right fielder unloaded a throw to home plate with Casali seemingly sliding under the tag. However, replay review confirmed that Casali’s foot did not touch home plate before the tag, so the call was overturned.

In ten games, the 32-year-old has recorded seven hits in 20 at-bats with two walks and two runs scored. It is a small sample, but La Stella has been as advertised. Furthermore, he played a key role in helping the Giants nab the series victory.