SF Giants reliever gains legend status, and potentially closer role, with fiery outing

The SF Giants won a fiery game against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon. Tensions were running high from the night before when JT Brubaker and Spencer Steer got into it and things escalated further when Landen Roupp plunked Steer early in the game and the Reds retaliated by hitting Willy Adames.

Things boiled over after the game as Erik Miller struck out Sal Stewart, who terrorized San Francisco in the first two games of the series, and Stewart took exception to Miller's celebration which included some choice words and led to the benches clearing. Miller gained legend status as he pointed at Stewart and several other Reds players and directed them to return to their dugout.

That's what you want to see out of a closer. Nerves of steel.

Erik Miller may be the new SF Giants closer after clutch outing

Miller needed an outing like that because he entered Thursday's game with a 7.20 ERA after a couple of rough outings against the New York Mets a few weeks ago.

He came into Thursday's contest trying to preserve a three-run lead in a game that the Giants absolutely had to have. Things have been going the wrong direction for the team and it was starting to feel like the wheels might fall off but Miller came in and, while he did issue a walk, he struck out Dane Myers, Elly De La Cruz, and Stewart to end the game.

De La Cruz and Stewart are two of the best hitters on the Reds so for Miller to punch both of them out is truly impressive.

While the bullpen is currently in a state of flux for the Giants, it's hard not to think Miller has dibs on the ninth innings after what he did on Thursday. To not only strike out all three guys to secure a win but to then show that sort of swagger and fearlessness that is a prerequisite for closers is something that everyone on that team and coaching staff took notice of.

Miller is one of the few true high-leverage arms the Giants have in their bullpen along with Ryan Walker. Guys like Keaton Winn, Matt Gage, and Caleb Kilian look like they are growing into that role, but Miller has been in the heat of battle before and has proven he can get the job done in some tough spots.

He's usually been a seventh or eighth inning guy and Thursday was actually the first save of his big league career, but he has now proven he can handle the ninth inning so expect him to record a lot more saves this season.

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