SAN FRANCISCO - I had a fair amount of time to think about the Strickland v. Harper on my drive home, and my main takeaway is this: The Giants got shut out for the second time in four days.
Don't let a couple of punches wipe away the end result Monday. When all was said and done, the Giants had dropped another game in lifeless - if you take out the fight - fashion. They left nine on base while losing 3-0, wasting one of Matt Moore's best days as a Giant.
Facing the best lineup in the National League, Moore allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked none for the first time since April 10.
"I'll be honest, I never try to walk someone," Moore said of his aggressive approach Monday. "It was just being able to get in a good rhythm and it's getting back to having command of all your pitches."
Buster Posey thought Moore's cutter was especially lethal against the Nationals, who lead the majors with 277 runs. The Giants, on the other end, rank 29th at 179.
The big story from yesterday was obviously the fight. Here's Hunter Strickland's side. Here's what Bryce Harper had to say.
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There haven't been a whole lot of fights like that in recent memory, so it's hard to guess at exactly what the commissioner's office will do. The one that comes to mind in terms of mound-charging and hatred is Zack Greinke and Carlos Quentin, but that wasn't nearly as violent. Quentin got suspended for eight games; Greinke didn't get suspended at all, but he broke his collarbone and missed two months.
Rougned Odor also got eight games for clocking Jose Bautista and the late Yordano Ventura got nine for a fight with Manny Machado, but Ventura was a starter, and their suspensions take into account how many starts you'll miss.
That seems to be the range we're looking at with Strickland, somewhere in the six-to-eight ballpark, given that he's someone who is available every day. There is, however, a growing feeling within the game that punishments need to be increased, and it's possible Strickland is hammered because of the three-years-later nature of the pitch.
--- Eduardo Nuñez said his vision was still blurry today and he wasn't available to pinch-hit. It wouldn't be a surprise at all to see Nuñez placed on the DL today. Orlando Calixte was still around after the game.
--- Christian Arroyo, who turned 22 today, snapped an 0 for 21 with a double off the third-base bag in the third inning, but he's far from the only Giant slumping. Joe Panik has just one hit in his past six games
--- I'm not sure the Giants get Strickland off the field without Mac Williamson grabbing his legs, the sign of a man who grew up with plenty of brothers. But it wasn't a great day for Williamson overall, with two strikeouts and a rare move in what would have been his third at-bat. Bochy pinch-hit Michael Morse for Williamson. That's right-handed bat for right-handed bat, something you don't see often. Morse struck out. With Hunter Pence back as soon as this weekend, it's not hard to guess at the roster move.
--- From the minors, Chris Shaw hit his first homer in Triple-A last night. He's 6- for 21 with a homer and three doubles in five games. A nice start for the left fielder.
