Rookies give glimpse into future as Giants celebrate Brandon Crawford’s past

Kyle Harrison looks like Giants' future with Brandon Crawford (maybe) saying goodbye

SAN FRANCISCO — The crowd at Oracle Park rose to their feet to celebrate Brandon Crawford, the last player standing from the Giants’ bygone championship era. Minutes later, Kyle Harrison and Casey Schmitt made cases to be the Giants’ future.

Good vibes couldn’t overcome bad offense and the Giants lost the final game of the season to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-2, on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park. Los Angeles took the 7-6 edge in the head-to-head series between the two rivals and the Giants finish the season 79-83.

Much like his debut so far, Harrison’s Game 162 start against the Los Angeles Dodgers wasn’t pretty, but showed promise. He hit three Dodgers with pitches, but held the NL West champions — rolling out all their starters — hitless through five innings.

A tough Dodgers lineup got Harrison’s pitch count up with extended at-bats. He was at 93 pitches by the end of the fifth inning, but had four strikeouts and induced weak contact. Only DH J.D. Martinez and third baseman Max Muncy got hard contact off Harrison.

John Brebbia relieved Harrison for the sixth inning and allowed the Dodgers’ their first hit to the first batter he faced, Smith, and walked Muncy before leaving the game. Taylor Rogers gave up RBI singles to Kolten Wong and Outman. Then Kiké Hernandez broke it open with a three-run home run to make it 5-0.

The Giants treated Game 162 as a goodbye to Crawford, whose contract expired after the game ended. Fans packed the ballpark flashing signs thanking the hometown kid for his 13 years in a Giants uniform. He was reinstated from the 10-day IL for the final game and batted leadoff for the second time in his career. Interim manager Kai Correa said the decision was to get Crawford the opportunity for as many at-bats as possible. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and was taken out of the game to a standing ovation in the top of the ninth for Luciano.

Crawford’s mini-me stole the show.

Dodgers hot pitching prospect Bobby Miller held the Giants to one hit, a Blake Sabol single, in his four innings. It was the Giants’ only hit until Casey Schmitt hit a solo home run off Ryan Pepiot. He hit a second home run in the eighth inning. Schmitt and Marco Luciano are vying to be part of the Giants’ starting infield next season year if Crawford doesn’t re-sign with the only team he’s ever suited up for.

Harrison had some help defensively, including a diving catch by Mike Yastrzemski in right field to rob James Outman of a hit in the second inning. He also got in his own way. Harrison hit Freddie Freeman and Will Smith in back-to-back plate appearances in the first inning and, in the fourth inning to the Dodgers’ ire. Later, Harrison hit Chris Taylor in the knee with a slider and Taylor writhed in pain on the ground, but remained in the game.

Harrison finishes his rookie debut with a 4.12 ERA in seven big league starts. The Giants didn’t score more than two runs in any of the final eight games.