Logan Webb will try to extend his hot stretch into July when he takes the mound for the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Friday night in Denver.
Webb (5-5, 3.09 ERA) went 3-1 with an 0.71 ERA in five starts in June.
It was a sharp turnaround for the veteran right-hander, a National League All-Star the past two seasons who was 2-4 with a 5.06 ERA after eight starts this year.
Webb most recently blanked the Atlanta Braves on one hit over seven innings last Saturday in a 5-0 victory. It was the second time in the month that he one-hit an opponent over seven innings, accomplishing that feat on June 3 in a 1-0 win against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“Like waffle fries from Chick-fil-A,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said of Webb’s most recent performance. “Really, really good.”
Webb’s latest effort was even more notable considering he battled the flu the day before facing the Braves.
“In my career, I’ve pitched pretty well when I’m not feeling great, so this added to that,” Webb said.
Before surging last month, Webb had a mediocre performance against the Rockies on May 29 in Denver. He allowed one run and three hits over 4 1/3 innings of an 8-6 loss in which he did not receive a decision.
Before that performance, Webb had missed the prevision 3 1/2 weeks with right knee bursitis.
Webb has been successful against the Rockies in his career, going 11-3 with a 2.94 ERA in 20 appearances (19 starts).
San Francisco also will look for outfielder Heliot Ramos to stay hot at the plate in the series.
Ramos has played four games since missing 37 with a right quadriceps strain. So far, he’s 4-for-14 with a triple and two home runs.
He tripled, homered and drove in two runs in a 6-4 win at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, helping the Giants salvage the final contest of the three-game series.
“He looks stronger,” Vitello said of Ramos. “However, he handled that time off was phenomenal. As he’s gotten back into it, I think he’s been full steam ahead.”
The Rockies, meanwhile, earned a split of their four-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins with a 14-4 win on Thursday afternoon.
Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman took Thursday off after blasting his 27th home run of the season in a 6-3 win on Wednesday. That feat was overshadowed by teammate Mickey Moniak, who came within a single of hitting for the cycle, and Miami catcher Joe Mack, who hit a pinch-hit, inside-the-park home run.
Goodman wasn’t sure his towering blast would clear the left-field fence on Wednesday, but when it did it tied him with Larry Walker for the most home runs through 87 games in franchise history.
“It’s been borderline historical,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It’s been unbelievable.”
The Rockies plan to start right-hander Ryan Feltner (2-2, 4.42 ERA) in the series opener. He went 0-1 in five starts last month with a 4.00 ERA.
Feltner most recently allowed one run and five hits in six innings of a 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
He has made six starts against the Giants in his career, going 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA.
–Field Level Media
