Dylan Smith slams door on Tigers in ninth

The Giants were hoping for a two-inning save from Smith in a 3-2 game, but they didn’t get it, mostly because of poor infield play. Joshua Báez led off the ninth with a routine grounder to short, but Christian Koss slipped and made a weak throw, resulting in a single. Thomas Saggese then hit a grounder up the middle that a diving Osleivis Basabe got a glove on but couldn’t corral. The Cardinals went on to tie the game on a walk and a sac fly, but Smith probably won’t be hurt by the result, especially after the Giants went on to win in extras.

The Giants gave him two runs to work with tonight. Smith surrendered an RBI single to Nick Gonzales to start his inning, but he then retired three in a row, striking out two. Smith blew his previous save chance last Wednesday, but he still seems like the favorite for saves in San Francisco.

Smith allowed just one hit and didn’t walk anyone. The save was his third of the season, and he has two of the Giants’ three this month. San Francisco’s bullpen has been a sore spot all season as nine different relievers have earned at least one save. Caleb Kilian leads the unit with eight, but Smith looks like the best bet for ninth-inning chances right now. That said, opportunities could be scarce if this remains a committee like it’s been all year.

The blown save was the product of a walk, a wild pitch and then a single through the right side of the infield. Rafael Devers probably could have gotten to it, but he instead retreated back to first, thinking that Osleivis Basabe had the easier play. Basabe, though, deflected it into the outfield while trying to make a diving attempt. In truth, neither infielder had much shot of turning it into an out, but both should have been capable of keeping the ball in the infield and preventing the runner from scoring from second. Smith is probably still the clear favorite for saves in San Francisco, but it’d be for the best if he doesn’t blow another chance right away.

Winn has the numbers of a closing candidate for the Giants, but manager Tony Vitello has bypassed him for that role at every opportunity. It looks like that’s happening again here after both Erik Miller and Caleb Kilian were traded today. The Giants didn’t need a closer tonight up while 5-0 in the ninth, but we’re guessing the job is Dylan Smith’s to lose.

The Red Sox sure are burning a lot of talent here. Miller is quite good and under control for three years after this one, but giving up a long-term regular for a left-handed reliever is quite a loss of value. Mayer is currently on the shelf with an arm injury and might not be much of a factor this year, but he should be the Giants’ second baseman next year and he remains very much an option at short if the club could find a taker for Willy Adames. Miller’s fantasy value disappears with the deal, since he won’t be a candidate for saves in Boston. With the Giants shedding both he and Caleb Kilian, Dylan Smith is probably their favorite for saves at the moment.

Smith struck out Michael Conforto and then got a couple of easy popups in his third appearance since being called up last week. He’s probably still behind a few guys in line for saves in San Francisco, but with no one else really stepping up, everyone is worth watching at the moment.

Smith gets the nod to return to San Francisco’s relief corps to replace injured lefty Matt Gage (knee). The 26-year-old recorded two outs during his season debut last month after coming over from the Tigers in a trade back in March. He’ll operate in low-leverage spots for the Giants.

Smith was up with San Francisco for Sunday’s game against the Pirates and would up recording a pair of outs in his season debut. The 25-year-old was acquired from the Tigers in a small trade back in late March.

Smith, 25, will get his first chance for the Giants after registering a 2.13 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 15/8 K/BB ratio over 12 2/3 innings in his first nine appearances at Triple-A Sacramento. Given the current state of the Giants’ bullpen, Smith could work his way into high-leverage opportunities if he continues to pitch like he did at Triple-A.