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Behind Rafael Devers, Giants seek series sweep of Angels
The Giants hope Rafael Devers continues to vent the frustration of a recent slump on Los Angeles Angels pitching when the interleague opponents complete a three-game series Sunday afternoon in San Francisco.
The hosts have opened the set with a pair of wins, a 7-6 walk-off victory on Friday night before a 9-2 romp the following afternoon.
Coming off a 3-for-24 trip that had him spinning in a 3-for-30 slump over a 12-day skid, Devers had a hand in both wins over the Angels that came in the wake of a five-game losing streak.
The slugger bounced what was later ruled an RBI single over the left-field fence to end Friday’s dramatic win, then three at-bats later cleared the barrier on a fly for a lead-extending home run in Saturday’s blowout.
In two days, he’s gone 5-for-8 with four runs, a double, two home runs, seven RBIs and a walk. The homers equal his total from the previous 13 games, while the RBIs are one more than he had over that same stretch.
Teammate Luis Arraez, who has five hits in the two wins, still was in amazement during a postgame television interview on the field Saturday.
“Raffy is the best hitter in this league,” Arraez said. “He’s got his approach. He can do a lot of damage. He plays hard every day.”
Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters shortly thereafter that it’s unfair to draw conclusions when a proven hitter is in a slump.
“If you give the guy a whole body of work, it’s going to show up on paper who Raffy is. And if you just go off a month or a couple of weeks, it depends where you catch him at,” Vitello said. “Overall, (this is) Raffy being Raffy, if you will.”
Devers has batted just four times in his career against right-hander Jose Soriano (8-6, 3.43 ERA), the Angels’ scheduled starter on Sunday, and has never hit the ball past shortstop. Then again, he has walked twice and been struck out once aside from the groundout.
Soriano hasn’t allowed a home run in any of his last four starts, a stretch in which he’s gone 0-2 despite a respectable 3.91 ERA. He’s winless in his last six starts overall, watching his record slip back toward .500 after opening the season 5-0.
A popular name in trade discussions, Soriano understands these are important times for both himself and the Angels, who find themselves once again looking to the future.
“I know I’ve had a tough time. But the last couple outings, I feel like I started getting back and that’s the goal,” he told reporters earlier in the week. “Trying to get back to where I was in the beginning (of the season).”
Soriano has faced the Giants just twice in his career, both times in relief, throwing two innings of scoreless ball without getting a decision.
He likely will be opposed by left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (2-0, 3.38), who is scheduled to be promoted from Triple-A to make his third big-league start of the season.
Whisenhunt, 25, has never faced an American League opponent.
–Field Level Media
