San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Cobb works against a San Diego Padres batter during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Alex Cobb volunteered to start Tuesday on short rest, pitched better than anyone could expect, and lost anyway.
It was a fitting end to Cobb’s tough-luck 2022 season.
Cobb allowed one run over five innings, but the Giants were outhit 14-4 and lost to the Padres, 6-2.
With one game left to play this year, the Giants will either finish 81-81 or 80-82.
The expectations were high when Cobb flashed an uptick in velocity this spring — he continued to sit at 96 mph Tuesday night — and he managed to exceed them, even if the play behind him often let him down. His 3.73 ERA in 28 starts was solid for a middle-of-the-rotation starter, but his 2.88 FIP (fielding independent pitching) was elite.
“I still think we catch the ball a little bit better behind him in the middle of the year, and his numbers are even better,” manager Gabe Kapler told reporters in San Diego. “I thought he did a really nice job for us and look forward to every start next year.”
No matter what happens with Carlos Rodón, whom Cobb slotted in for after he was shut down, the Giants will be excited to pencil Cobb into their rotation next season. He is under contract for $10 million, with a club option for 2024, a deal that looks like a bargain for the Giants after Cobb’s work this year.
Jharel Cotton, one of a number of arms auditioning for bullpen roles next year, relieved Cobb in the sixth inning and allowed the Padres to widen a 1-0 lead to 5-0. Cotton allowed the first two batters to reach, threw a curveball in the dirt that advanced them into scoring position, and allowed a double to Ha-Seong Kim that drove them in.
Cobb allowed seven hits but scattered them over five innings.
Cotton allowed four hits — and two walks — and recorded two outs in the sixth. He was reliever by Luis Ortiz, another right-hander making his case to be a part of next year’s bullpen, who escaped the jam and tossed a clean inning of his own. Cole Waites served up a solo shot to Wil Myers in the eighth that made it 6-2.
The Giants had one hit when Cobb left the game after the fifth inning.
When LaMonte Wade Jr. walked to lead off the eighth inning, he was the Giants’ first base runner since the first inning, and Mike Yastrzemski followed with their second hit. An errant throw by Kim, the shortstop, on a double play ball by Ford Proctor allowed Wade to score and ensure the Giants wouldn’t be shut out.
Rookie outfielder Bryce Johnson slapped a single into left field — his second big-league hit — to drive home Yastrzemski for their second run of the eighth.
The Giants brought the tying run to the plate, but Thairo Estrada grounded out to end their best chance.
Between Estrada’s single in the first inning and Wade’s walk to lead off the eighth, Padres starter Sean Manaea and reliever Robert Suarez combined to retire 20 consecutive Giants hitters.
The Giants have lost their last seven meetings with the Padres and fell to 5-13 in the season series.
Notable
- Rookie Ford Proctor, who primarily plays second base, made his major-league debut behind the plate in the eighth inning, taking over for Austin Wynns with Joey Bart already serving as DH. Proctor can play every infield position but also catches, reminiscent of Craig Biggio — and another prospect in the Giants’ farm system, Brett Auerbach.