Cobb's start gives bats a chance, but missed DPs sink Giants

ATLANTA -- In an offensive slump since the beginning of July, the Giants reached a new low on Friday night with a 4-0 loss to the Braves in the series opener at Truist Park.

With manager Gabe Kapler serving a one-game suspension, it marked the ninth time the club was shut out this year and the first time since July 4 against Seattle.

“Obviously, we're all down right now, and then you show up the next day and you see that you're still in control of your own destiny,” starter Alex Cobb said. “And you get really excited and confident and expect to go out there and win the game, and then it seems of late that you'll lose the game and you just kind of go through that cycle. And it's not fun to ride that wave.”

The Giants (64-58) remained in second in the National League West and in sole possession of the second NL Wild Card slot with a half-game lead over the Reds and Marlins. With head-to-head records the first determining factor regarding tiebreakers in the standings, San Francisco is tied with Cincinnati, 2-2, with three games remaining between the clubs from Aug. 28-30.

Braves starter Spencer Strider kept the Giants in check, not allowing a hit until Wilmer Flores singled with one out in the fourth inning. It was the only hit Strider allowed as he faced the minimum in six of his seven innings and fanned 10.

One of Strider’s strikeouts ended San Francisco’s first opportunity to score in the fourth. With Flores on first and LaMonte Wade Jr. (a leadoff walk) on third, Strider finished the frame with a 97.4 mph four-seam fastball to Michael Conforto, who struck out on a foul tip.

“[Strider’s] fastball jumps, has really good carry,” Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “He threw to me, mostly off-speed my first at-bat. Obviously kept me off balance and not able to catch up to the fastball.”

The Giants had another chance in the eighth, when J.D. Davis was hit by a pitch from reliever Joe Jimenez to lead off the inning. Patrick Bailey then hit a line-drive single to right-center, but Jimenez struck out Crawford and induced a lineout from Thairo Estrada before he was relieved by A.J. Minter, who forced pinch-hitter Austin Slater to line out.

San Francisco's two hits Friday tied the club’s second-fewest in a game this season.

Alex Cobb, who had recorded an 8.04 ERA and allowed 20 hits (six homers) over three starts this month, opened Friday’s game by giving up back-to-back singles to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Michael Harris II, but he then struck out Austin Riley. The Giants could have had a double play to end the inning in the next at-bat, but Crawford could not secure the ball on a grounder from Matt Olson, allowing Acuña to score to put the Braves on the board first.

“It wasn't anything good, wasn’t anything terrible, but just really trying to compete, fill up the zone,” Cobb said. “Felt like I did that, for the most part, until probably that last inning, but gave up some hard-hit balls early and felt like I settled down a little bit after that. But obviously, not the outcome we're looking for.”

Cobb gave up a two-out triple to Harris in the second that set up Riley for an RBI double. But after that, the righty held Atlanta scoreless for the next three frames. He could have escaped the sixth unscathed, too, but San Francisco came up short on another double play.

With one out and runners on first and second, Acuña hit a ground ball to Davis at third base, and he threw out Nicky Lopez at second, but Acuña reached first safely. That extended the inning, forcing Cobb to exit at 103 pitches and enabling the Braves to get one final run across.

Despite allowing those four runs, Cobb threw 63 strikes -- the most since June 3 vs. Baltimore -- and did not allow a home run for the first time in his past four starts.

“I think the best way I would describe it is [that] he gave us a chance,” said bench coach Kai Correa, who served as the interim manager alongside pitching coach Andrew Bailey. “He's navigating a really tough lineup in the Atlanta Braves. And, yeah, he left some over the middle, but I felt like he settled in, gave us the length we needed.”

The Giants have lost nine of their past 12 games. As they continue a push to stay in postseason contention, they will need more chances like those Cobb provided -- and will need to convert more of those inning-ending double play opportunities.