SAN FRANCISCO — Every starting pitcher has an obvious goal: get outs, prevent runs, pitch as long as possible. Within that framework lies a more abstract goal: set the tone. Even in a lost season, there is still a tone for Logan Webb to set.

It’s no secret that the Giants’ roster has been decimated in recent weeks following a flurry of trades and a series of unfortunate injuries. The bottom five of Saturday’s lineup — Osleivis Basabe, Drew Cavanaugh, Turner Hill, Buddy Kennedy and Christian Koss — was one of the more obscure sequences of names in recent memory. Most on this roster aren’t established major leaguers, but players scratching and clawing for staying power.

Webb, who tossed six innings of one-run ball in the Giants’ 7-1 win, doesn’t have those same concerns. He’s a three-time All-Star in his prime. He’s long secured generational wealth. There isn’t much for Webb to play for over the next six weeks aside from individual accomplishment. Yet still, there is that abstract goal:

Set the tone.

“We got a lot of, in general, young spots all over the place, including our coaching staff, to be honest,” Webb said. “If you can set the tone with how you go about your business every day — not just the day you throw or play, but also how you do your work and how you treat people around here, I think that’s a big thing.”

The numbers from Webb’s outing against Colorado on Saturday said plenty. He struck out seven batters and didn’t issue a single walk, trimming his ERA to 3.50 and his FIP to 3.16. Webb has already won NL Pitcher of the Month once this year, and he’s setting himself up for a second bid after surrendering just two runs over his first three starts (0.90 ERA, 20 innings) in August.

The third of Webb’s seven strikeouts was the 1,100th of his career, and the Giants celebrated the “milestone” by briefly flashing a graphic on the scoreboard. Webb appreciated the gesture, but the brief celebration caught him off guard.

“I was a little confused by that, to be honest,” Webb laughed. “I saw it on the board, and I was like, ‘No way they’re going to do this right now.’ Then, some clapping. I think it messed up [Connor] Norby a little bit. He was like, ‘What’s going on?’ I’m like, ‘No, just get in the box.’ … There was no significance to it. I didn’t even know it was going to happen. Hopefully, there’s some better milestones further down the road. I don’t think that was like a tip your cap moment.”

Webb threw only 80 pitches before being pulled, the result of being struck by a comebacker in the right shoulder/back area by Brett Sullivan. He finished the fifth following a brief meeting with head trainer Dave Groeschner, then went back out to complete the sixth. Despite his efficient pitch count, Webb started to tighten up and manager Tony Vitello ended his day a little early.

For San Francisco’s (51-72) younger players, the takeaway from Webb’s outing on Saturday shouldn’t be his ability, but his adaptability.

Webb, one of baseball’s best groundball pitchers, has long relied on his sinker. Entering play, Webb’s most-utilized pitch was his sinker (29.7%). His least-utilized pitch is his four-seam fastball (12.7%), the offering he’s kept in his repertoire through the years. Against the Rockies, Webb flipped the script.

The right-hander’s 24 four-seam fastballs were the most he’s thrown in a single start since April 2021. His five sinkers were the fewest he’s thrown in a single start since … also April 2021. Webb also mixed in his third fastball, throwing 19 cutters.

Webb’s success after implementing a drastic change of plans could serve as a teaching moment for the Giants’ youngsters.

“I think I saw yesterday that it’s 18 guys with less than two years of service time on our team,” Webb said. “I’ve been here for a while. … I’m not Hunter Pence, I’m not going to be the most vocal guy, but I can do it with how I work each day and go out there and try to set the tone with how I do things. That’s a valuable thing as well.”

One Giant who barely even has two days — let alone years — of service time is outfielder Turner Hill, who made his major league debut after being called up on Friday. With about 20 to 30 friends and family members in attendance, Hill went 0-for-3 but kickstarted the Giants’ six-run fourth inning with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly.

“It was everything I expected,” Hill said. “The nerves, the excitement, everything you can imagine. It was an awesome feeling.”

“To come up in that situation with the bases loaded and the crowd’s cheering — they know it’s only his second at-bat — to keep his heart rate to where it looked like he was pretty under control was impressive,” Vitello said.

Among the youth, there was also center fielder Drew Gilbert, who went 3-for-4 with a homer (his sixth) and a walk while driving in three runs. Rookie Bryce Eldridge drove in a run as well, while Carson Seymour tossed two scoreless innings of relief, and rookie Dylan Smith secured the win with a scoreless ninth.

Eldridge, Gilbert, Hill, Seymour and Smith are among those in the clubhouse who have played a good chunk of games at Triple-A Sacramento this season, a reminder of their inexperience. They all stand to benefit from not just watching this franchise’s ace on the field, but how he goes about his business off of it.

“He’s always prepared relentlessly, so I don’t think he can prepare more or work harder, but I think he’s made some adjustments in his preparations,” Vitello said. “He’s even worked with us on doing that. I don’t think it’s anything crazy or insightful, but just in conversations with him. For all these young guys that we have … he’s a great example of how to prepare, and how preparation can turn into confidence.”

Up next

Blade Tidwell (0-0, 2.78 ERA) will look to continue impressing as the Giants play the final game of their nine-game homestand before their two-city road trip to Cleveland and Boston.