AP photo: San Diego Padres left fielder Melvin Upton Jr falls while trying to chase down a base hit by Giants hitter Buster Posey in the sixth inning on Thursday night at Petco Park

On the Major League Baseball podcast with Tony Renteria On one of the windiest days in AT&T Park memory the San Francisco Giants who were getting ready to host the Chicago Cubs for a three game series on Friday night the winds whipped the flags at the park so much that there was some violent popping letting you know that the outfielders were going to have the challenge of chasing pop ups all over the place. The hitters will have a battle to try to go deep if the wind keeps the ball in the yard. The wind was so strong it reminded you of the old Candlestick Park days.

The Giants have extended their streak to eight wins and the team is running hot right now. The Giants nearly got three straight completed games after Madison Bumgarner (Tuesday) and Johnny Cueto (Wednesday) went the distance, on Thursday night against the San Diego Padres starter Jeff Samardzija went eight innings but was lifted. The Giants offense of late has been providing some cushion for the pitchers and that has allowed them to pitch with confidence.

The Oakland A’s  rightfielder Josh Reddick broke his thumb on a slide while trying to steal second base and he’ll be replaced on the roster by Jake Smolinski. Reddick will be on the 15 day DL after he slide head first into the bag at second breaking the thumb, after completing the slide Reddick hollered in pain and also on the slide was kicked in the head by a leaping New York Yankees Starlin Castro who tried to avoid the barreling Reddick who was overcome from pain from the broken thumb.

Tony Renteria does the MLB podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com