SAN FRANCISCO — Carlos Rodón’s brilliant season reached new heights Sunday afternoon, eclipsing 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career and recording his ninth game with double-digit punchouts over six shutout innings.
Rodón walked off the mound to a standing ovation and his warm-up tune, Alice In Chains’ “Rooster,” blaring over the Oracle Park loudspeakers after his 106th and final pitch sailed past the bat of Bryson Stott to escape the most volatile of high-wire acts. With runners at first and third and no outs, he fired 98 mph at the letters past Bryce Harper for No. 199; after loading the bases, he coaxed Jean Segura to swing through a low slider for No. 200.
A congratulatory message flashed across the center field scoreboard, prompting the first of the 41,189 on hand to rise to their feet. In a scene that could have been plucked out of any World Series run or 107-win season, they all remained standing for Rodón’s bases-loaded showdown with Bryson Stott, and Rodón struck him out, too.
On a picture-perfect afternoon at Oracle Park, Rodón’s latest electrifying performance jolted energy into a sold-out crowd that appeared to be blissfully unaware of their team’s playoff standing.
Yet, Rodón had to settle for a no-decision after John Brebbia served up a game-tying, three-run home run to J.T. Realmuto in the eighth inning. That, however, only set up Wilmer Flores’ heroics in the bottom of the ninth.
Flores hooked a line drive down the left-field line, barely clearing the wall and the foul pole, for a two-run walk-off home run that delivered a 5-3 win and completed a three-game sweep of the Phillies.
The Giants, who were once battling with Philadelphia for the final National League wild card spot, instead had to settle for the role of spoilers with their sweep of the Phillies this weekend. They have not lost in September but still trail Philadelphia by eight games.
With 10 strikeouts Sunday, Rodón secured his ninth game in double digits this season, matching Tim Lincecum’s 2008 Cy Young campaign for a San Francisco-era franchise record. His final strikeout of Stott elevated him past Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes for the National League lead, trailing only the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole for the most in the majors.
With 201 strikeouts this season, Rodón became the fourth Giants pitcher with at least 200 in their first season with the club. And with six more starts left, he ought to have his sights on Sam Jones (209, 1959) and Tim Keefe (227; 1885), too.
Rookie outfielder Bryce Johnson picked an opportune time to collect his first major-league hit to cap the Giants’ first scoring rally.
Johnson, who took injured starter Alex Wood’s spot on the roster, laced an 0-1 cutter into right field with two outs and two on in the third, driving home LaMonte Wade Jr. from second for the Giants’ third run of the inning. Austin Wynns, who worked a 10-pitch at-bat and singled home their second run, was thrown out at third to end the frame.
Until the third-inning rally, which was started by back-to-back walks taken by J.D. Davis and Thairo Estrada, the Giants hadn’t managed much of anything against Phillies starter Ranger Suarez. Wilmer Flores’ first-inning double was the only ball off their bats that reached the outfield, until Wade poked a single into left that scored Davis for the first run of the inning.
Notable
— The Giants added more upper-level depth with a waiver claim on Sunday. They added utilityman Jose Rojas after he was designated for assignment by the Angels. Rojas, 29, has seen action at every infield spot but shortstop and both corner outfield positions and has a batting line of .277/.344/.524 across four Triple-A seasons but only a .542 mark in limited MLB action. He also has an option remaining after this year, meaning the Giants can cycle him between their bench and Triple-A Sacramento next season if they choose. To make room on the 40-man roster, Brandon Belt was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Belt, 34, had successful knee surgery on Saturday and won’t play again this season.
