PHILADELPHIA — Veteran shortstop Paul DeJong spent his whole profession within the Cardinals group earlier than being dealt to the Blue Jays on the 2023 Commerce Deadline, a transfer he admittedly discovered a bit jarring. The 30-year-old didn’t get a lot likelihood to settle in with Toronto, as he was designated for task after going solely 3-for-44 (.068) with 18 strikeouts over 13 video games.
“It’s been attention-grabbing,” DeJong stated previous to the membership’s sequence finale at Residents Financial institution Park. “I really feel like I gained some expertise about transferring round and becoming a member of a brand new staff. I believe that can assist me in becoming a member of this group.”
DeJong already appears to be dealing with his newest transition higher than his first. He made a robust impression in his Giants debut, going 3-for-5 with a two-run house run and 4 RBIs to assist San Francisco overcome a fourth consecutive blown save from All-Star nearer Camilo Doval and rally for an 8-6 win over Philadelphia in 10 innings.
The Giants handed a 5-2 result in Doval within the backside of the ninth, however the 26-year-old flamethrower couldn’t shut the door, issuing back-to-back walks to Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner earlier than surrendering a game-tying three-run homer to Bryce Harper that despatched the sport to further innings.
Doval has allowed six runs (5 earned) over 3 1/3 innings in his previous 4 appearances, however DeJong helped bail him out with a clutch hit off Phillies nearer Craig Kimbrel within the prime of the tenth. With Casey Schmitt at second as the automated runner, Patrick Bailey walked and Wade Meckler reached on a hit-by-pitch to load the bases for DeJong, who lined an 0-2 fastball from Kimbrel to heart area for a go-ahead two-run single.
“It’s exhausting to place into phrases,” DeJong stated. “I’m simply so blissful to be on the market and contribute for this staff. I simply had an ideal first day. It simply feels proper. I’m grateful for the chance, and [I’m] blissful it labored out for me.”
The Giants (66-61) are a half-game again of the third Nationwide League Wild Card spot. In addition they took the season sequence with the Wild Card-leading Phillies (69-58) by a 4-2 margin, incomes the tiebreaker within the standings.
“Clearly, all of us noticed that recreation was performed like a playoff recreation,” supervisor Gabe Kapler stated. “We used principally everyone, and in reality, [we] used some pitchers that we didn’t count on to make use of or that we needed to make use of, as a result of that’s what the sport known as for. I believe it’s going to be like that transferring ahead. Each recreation goes to essentially matter, and we’re going to combat and scratch and claw to get the place we need to go.”
DeJong, 30, didn’t report an extra-base hit in his short-lived stint with the Blue Jays, however he regained his energy stroke in his second at-bat with the Giants, launching a 1-0 fastball from Phillies right-hander Michael Lorenzen out to left area to increase his new membership’s result in 4-0 within the fourth inning.
DeJong ought to have a chance to maintain contributing to San Francisco’s playoff push down the stretch, as he’s anticipated to fill in for Brandon Crawford, who’s sidelined with a left forearm pressure. A 2019 All-Star, DeJong batted .233/.297/.412 with 13 house runs over 81 video games with the Cardinals this season earlier than being traded to the Blue Jays, who wanted a short-term alternative following an damage to two-time All-Star Bo Bichette.
Regardless of his robust offensive stretch with Toronto, DeJong nonetheless represents a possible improve for the Giants, who entered Wednesday twenty fifth within the Majors with a .636 OPS out of the shortstop place this 12 months. DeJong additionally stays elite with the glove, and he flashed his sturdy protection within the fifth inning, ranging into the opening to make a backhanded seize on J.T. Realmuto’s grounder earlier than spinning and firing to second base to report the forceout.
“I don’t suppose he may have come up any greater all through the sport,” Kapler stated. “The protection will in all probability go much less talked about, as a result of there was a house run in there and an enormous base hit late within the recreation. However the protection was equally vital.”
Whereas the Giants might have discovered an answer to their shortstop void, they continue to be on the hunt for solutions relating to Doval, who has regarded removed from his dominant self just lately.
“What I see happening with him proper now’s the sport is transferring quick, which isn’t unusual for a man in his place,” Kapler stated. “He’s received some big-game expertise, however that doesn’t imply that you just really feel proper in each state of affairs. I believe proper now, he’s struggling along with his pitch combine, he’s combating baserunners just a little bit. That is the best time for all of us to rally round Camilo and remind him of how good he’s. It’s definitely not the time to desert ship.”