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.

SF Giants: Three Takeaways From the Reds Series

2. Evan Longoria is turning back the clock

Since Evan Longoria joined the Giants in 2018, he has been a hair below average at the plate with a 99 OPS+. With that being said, Longoria has still proven to be a valuable contributor by having one of the better gloves at the hot corner.

The right-handed bat is off to a hot start this season and that continued into the Reds series. In Monday’s game, Longoria went hitless in four at-bats, but he made great contact in the process. He recorded a lineout (95 MPH EV) and two flyouts (102 MPH EV and 105 MPH EV) with these last two outs traveling a combined distance of 751 feet. That is a tough way to go hitless, but baseball can be like that sometimes.

The results were not great, but the process was sound. He returned the next day and gave the Giants a much-needed jolt. Before they could even step to the plate, San Francisco had to combat a four-run deficit.

In recent seasons, a four-run deficit may have seemed insurmountable but this Giants team is gritty yet again. Longoria singled in the first inning and scored on a Brandon Crawford two-run home run.

He stepped to the plate again in the sixth inning with the Giants down by one run and he made sure that no one could catch this fly ball:

On Wednesday, the 35-year-old worked a walk and scored to give the Giants an insurance run. On the year, the righty has slashed .316/. 381/.658 with four home runs and eight RBI in 38 at-bats. Similar to Austin Slater, Longoria has struggled to create lift in his swing, but his average launch angle currently sits at 19.1 degrees. This has been an encouraging start to the season for the third baseman.