Month: May 2023

Giants Six Run Second Inning Rally Too Much Heat For Philly in 6-3 SF win

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San Francisco Giants’ Michael Conforto hits a three-run home run during the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon May 15, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO–In front of 23,819 baseball fans, the Philadelphia Phillies (20-21) played the San Francisco Giants (18-23) for the first game of this three game series. On the hill was Alex Wood (SF) and Conor Brogdon (PHI) and it wasn’t long before the bats came alive for both teams. The Giants didn’t waste anytime getting run support scoring six runs in the bottom of the second inning at Oracle Park for a 6-3 win over the Phils.

It was a heavy load of offense that came and went like a shooting star. In the first inning both teams combined for three hits, but no runs were scored. The second inning was where everything came alive. It started with the Phillies getting two runs off an Alec Bohm home run which scored Kyle Schwarber.

The park was’nt too happy about this, but they knew it was still an early game with a whole lot of baseball left and when it was Giants turn at bat, the orange and black didn’t disappoint. Casey Schmitt who came into this game hitting .458 started the rally off with a single and even though he’d come out due to Joey Bart’s fielder’s choice, there was no looking back for San Francisco.

Bryce Johnson would hit a single that brought in Bart 2-1 Phillies. After an error got Thairo Estrada on base, Michael Conforto would hit a huge three run home run to give the Giants the lead 4-2 and the bleeding wouldn’t stop there. A J.D. Davis double, Mitch Haniger single (which brought in Davis), and Brandon Crawford single (which brought in Haniger) made the game 6-2 and Oracle Park was louder than a Bad Bunny concert.

Even though it was early, the win probability was high for the Giants, but the question in the park was can the bullpen hold this together for another seven innings. The answer to that question was yes, but it wasn’t without a little drama. Jacob Junis would replace Wood after four innings and would only give an inning after giving up a run making the game 6-3.

Scott Alexander would come out of the bullpen and pitch one inning, but gave up no hits, so he did his job. In the eighth inning the Giants brought in Taylor Rogers and even though he secured two outs, Giants manager Gabe Kapler took him out and put in closer Camilo Doval to finish it off and he did close the door in the 9th inning it was a 1-2-3 quick getaway. The highlight was a beautiful Sportscenter top ten catch from J.D. Davis at third and after Lamonte Wade Jr. catches a foul ball at first, which ended the game. Giants win and Alex Wood leaves with the W.

Tuesday’s game of the series will see Zack Wheeler (3-2, 3.80 ERA) for the Phillies and Alex Cobb (3-1,1.70 ERA) for the Giants on the hill with a 6:40pm PT first pitch. SRS reporters Lewis Rubman will have the game recap and Tony the Tiger Hayes will have a “He was a Giant” feature.

D-Backs win 4th consecutive game defeat A’s at Coliseum 5-2

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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon, May 15, 2023 (AP News photo)

Arizona (24-28). 022 100 000. – 5 10 1

Oakland (9-34). 001 000 010 – 2. 4. 0

Time: 2:35

Attendance: 2,064

Mon May 15, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–On this day in 1899, the Cleveland Spiders fell to 3-20 after a 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The attendance at the game was all of 200.

On this day in 1962, the New York Mets won a 13 inning, four hour and 54 minutes long marathon under the lights at the Polo Grounds against the Chicago Cubs. The winning pitcher was Roger Craig. The attendance was 8,463, but there’s no record of how many of those hung around to the end.

On this day in 2023, the Oakland Athletics fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 5-2, before an intimate gathering of 2,064 paying customers who saw the team drop to 9-34.

Before game time, the A’s announced that they had reinstated Adrián Martínez from the 15 day injured list and optioned fellow right handed pitcher Zach Neal to their triple AAA farm team in Las Vegas.

It’s easy to make snide remarks about the Athletics; I was tempted to add, “and that’s your A’s highlight for tonight” to that last paragraph, but there are some hopeful signs among the current crop of Athletic players. The team’s game notes point out that going into today Ryan Noda was first among Major League rookies in on-base percentage and walks (27), fourth in OPS , tied for fifth in runs , tied for sixth in doubles and for seventh in three baggers and extra base hits (12), and was eighth in slugging .

That last is a category in which Brent Rooker led all of MLB> He also led the majors in OPS and ws tied for fourth in homers as well as being sixth in OBP. Esteury Ruizis the leader of the pack among rookies ML rookies in hits, doubles, stolen bases, and hit by pitches.

Drew Rucinski took the mound for Oakland with a record of 0-3, 8.16. When he left after 3-2/3 innings,his ERA had risen to 9.00 He’d thrown 89 pitches, 47 for strikes and yielded five runs, all earned, on six hits, two of them home runs, and five walks. He didn’t strike anyone out. The loss left him 0-4.

Nine year MLB and four campaign veteran of the Korean Baseball Organization, Diamondback starter Merrill Kelly, took a 3-3, 3.18 record with him to the mound. He was on his game tonight. His ERA fell to 2.92 over the course of his mound tenure, and at game’s end his won-lost record had improved to 4-3.

At one point, Kelly struck out five consecutive Athletics batters. His strike out total was nine. In his seven innings of work Kelly allowed only four hits, one of them for four bases. Only one of the two runs with which he was charged was earned. He threw 97 pitches, 70 for strikes

The Diamondbacks rattled their sticks early. Number nine hitter, Geraldo Perdomo lifted a hanging slider into the stairs behind the Oakland A’s Community Fund sign in right , bringing in Giant killer Dominic Fletcher from second, which he had reached on a lead off double, to grab an early 2-0 lead.

Lourdes Gurriel doubled the margin on another slider, a 2-2 delivery that carried over the NBC Sports California sign to the right of the 388 foot marker in center field. Corbin Carroll, who had led off the frame with a base on balls, scored before him.

Oakland didn’t get a base runner until there were two away in the bottom of the third. Nick Allen beat out Perdomo’s hurried throw on a grounder to third for a single and advanced to second when throw got past first baseman Pavin Smith. A Texas League single to right center by Ruíz made it 4-1.

But the momentum hadn’t shifted. A lead off walk to Perdomo in the top of the fourth was followed, one out later, by a seeing eye single that shortstop Allen chased down in right field while Perdomo motored to third. A broken bat sac fly to short by Carroll brought Perdomo in with Arizona’s fifth run. A walk to Gurriel, and Sam Long was on the mound for Oakland.

He got the last out on three pitches and remained in the game, somehow surviving a bases loaded game in the top of the fifth without yielding a tally and holding the Rattlers scoreless in the sixth. He gave way to Richard Lovelady, who retired the side in order in the top of the seventh. The newly returned Adrián Martínez performed his version of that feat in the eighth.

Jace Peterson made things interesting in the Oakland half of that frame with a lead off home run, his third homer of the year, a 409 foot no doubter to right center. Arizona now led,5-2 first base umpire then ejected Arizona’s manager, Torey Lovullo for arguing a check swing call, and then a walk to Díaz and a Nick Allen single, his third of the night, signaled the end of Kelly’s up to now successful start. Miguel Castro took over for him. He retired Ruíz , walked Noda, and ended the threat by getting Rooker to fly out to right.

The A’s had one more chance. Lefty Andrew Chafin came in to pitch the ninth. Aldemys Díaz pinch hit for Bleday and flew out to center. Langelieres flew out to left. Laureano skied out to right, and Chafin had earned his sixth save.

The D’backs will stick around the Coliseum for a couple of more days before both teams take to the road, Oakland departing for Houston, and Arizona decamping to Pittsburgh. Tomorrow’s, Tuesday’s, match up will feature Kyle Muller (1-3, 7.34)for the home team and Tommy Henry(1-1,4.43) for the visitors.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: 100s of jobs to be lost in Oakland as A’s head to Vegas; Legislature to vote on Tropicana site this week

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Las Vegas ballpark at night the home of the Las Vegas Aviators the Oakland A’s minor league triple A club. The A’s could end up sharing the Ballpark with the Aviators at the end of the 2023 season leaving the Oakland Coliseum (Las Vegas Ballpark photo)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 Amaury, One of the biggest concerns in the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas is the hundreds of jobs that will be lost, in talking with the other broadcasters, writers, radio and TV production staff, official scorers, MLB clock staff, front office staff, fans, concession staff, custodians, engineers, grounds crew, security, and many we haven’t named here that’s a lot of people out of work in bad economy.

#2 Bally’s Corp who struck a deal with the A’s to begin construction at the Tropicana site this summer this is all contingent on an agreement that needs to be reached this week in the Nevada Legislature that would fund part of the park for $395 million.

#3 The Wild Wild West location was looking promising that had 49 acres but the A’s didn’t want to pay the back taxes at that location and the cost was higher to build and move there to the tune of $500 million the Tropicana location looks like the sure thing and it was a place that the A’s were considering when moving to Vegas in the beginning.

#4 With the Tropicana location it’s just nine acres almost no room for the office space, the retail space, the condos that A’s owner John Fisher was consider putting in at Howard Terminal. With nine acres sounds like it’s just enough room for the ballpark only.

#5 Some critics are comparing this A’s season to last season of former defunct clubs like the Washington Senators who moved to Texas, the St Louis Browns who moved to Baltimore, Boston Braves who moved to Atlanta, who saw small crowds during the regular season and the Senators in their last game in1971 had fans riot in their last home game grabbing anything that wasn’t nailed down.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Stars-Kraken battle in elimination game tonight in Seattle; Will Ruff return as New Jersey coach; plus more

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Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle (7) scores as Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) and defenseman Esa Lindell (23) watch during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Saturday, May 13, 2023, in Seattle. (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup playoff podcast:

#1 It’s a thriller and a huge game tonight with the Seattle Kraken and the Dallas Stars who play for all the marbles tonight for the Western Conference second round. This is a real head to head with the series with the Kraken defeating the Stars in their last match up in game 6 in Seattle to stay in the series.

#2 The Stars are 3-5 in game sevens since moving from Minnesota in 1993-94 where they are 2-2 at home, the Stars lost last year’s game 7 to the Calgary Flames 3-2 at Scotiabank Saddledome.

#3 The Stars took that tough loss to the Kraken in game 6, 6-3 and forced a game 7, the Stars got a goal from Joe Pavelski his eighth of the post season but it was the turnovers that hurt the Stars in this last contest.

#4 The New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff may not know if he’ll be back next season but Ruff did lead the Devils to their best season in 41 years going 52-22-8 a 49 point improvement from last season. It also was the first time that New Jersey had qualified for the playoffs since 2018.

#5 Taking a look at some possible draft picks for the San Jose Sharks, as you know Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli are not joining the Sharks in the draft. However taking a look at some draft possibilities Will Smith, Leo Carlsson, or Matvei Michkov. How would one of these players be of a big help for San Jose?

Join Marko for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff podcasts heard Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Bill for A’s funding to Nevada Legislature this week

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A rendering of what the Oakland A’s Tropicana ballpark would look like from the outside. If the Nevada legislation approves the $395 million needed to build the ballpark construction would start as early as 2027 (photo from @SportingTrib)

Bill for A’s funding to Nevada Legislature this week

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

(Monday May 15, 2023)

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics and Ballys Corporation struck a deal that will enable the A’s to build a park on a portion of where the Tropicana Las Vegas property is located. That property expected to be demolished this summer.

“The Tropicana has been a landmark of Las Vegas for generations, and this development will enhance this iconic site for generations to come,” Bally’s president George Papanier stated in the news release. “We are committed to ensuring that the development and ballpark built in its place will become a new landmark, paying homage to the iconic history and global appeal of Las Vegas and its nearly 50 million visitors a year.”

The Tropicana is one of the oldest Hotel-Casinos in Las Vegas. — one of the oldest operating casinos in the city — Bally’s president hinted at demolition in his statement, calling a potential ballpark a “new landmark” that would be “built in its place”: We are excited about the potential to bring Major League Baseball to this iconic location,” Athletics President Dave Kaval stated in the prepared release. “We are thrilled to work alongside Bally’s and GLPI, and look forward to finalizing plans to bring the Athletics to Southern Nevada.”

GLPI agreed to fund up to $175 million toward “shared improvements within the future development” of the property, in exchange for a rent increase. As of September 2022, Bally’s had agreed to pay $10.5 million annually as part of a 50-year lease agreement with GLPI.

Bill to the Nevada Legislature to be introduced this week: Nevada State Sen. Scott Hammond told Channel 13 Las Vegas that he has seen language for legislation, and that the public funding portion to build a stadium would total $395 million and include a tax district.

That legislation is expected to be introduced early this week, with enough time to get a deal done during this legislative session. Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred had maintained now for over a year that a move to Las Vegas by the Oakland A’s would be satisfactory for Major League Baseball since the A’s deal with Oakland was not a success, Manfred believes the A’s needed a new state-of-the-art baseball facility.

If the bill for funding is approved, next step will be to begin the construction of the park. If it doesn’t pass, then we will have another chapter of the A’s saga, but as of today, there is little doubt that the Oakland A’s now have bet “all their chips on the table” for Las Vegas.

Where will the A’s play while their new radium, planned to be inaugurated in 2027 is under construction still not certain, and even though the A’s own 50% of the Oakland Coliseum, there is a possibility that they could begin playing at Aviators Park in Las Vegas as soon as 2025, although that remains to be determined.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play talent on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Diamondbacks come calling at the Coliseum as A’s open three game series Monday night

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The Texas Rangers made a laugher out of game 4 of the four game series at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun May 14, 2023 (@Rangers photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Barbara, in a contest that saw the Oakland A’s (9-32) tie the score up against the Texas Rangers (24-15) in the bottom of the seventh inning 3-3 on a Shea Langeliers home run to left center it would be the last time in the game that the A’s had a shot at taking game 4 of this four game set from the Rangers.

#2 The Rangers opened up on the A’s in the top of the eighth inning scoring eight times when Jonah Heim singled to center scoring Adolis Garcia on a error to break the 3-3 deadlock going up 4-3.

#3 Leody Taveras hit into fielder choice that allowed Heim to score making 5-3 and the Rangers touched up A’s relief pitching.

#4 The Rangers would add four more runs which included Garcia who got up again belting a grand slam homer and put the Rangers up by eight runs 11-3 for their 24th win of the season and the Rangers lead the A’s in the AL West standings by 16 games.

#5 The A’s open up a new series on Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-Backs are going Merrill Kelly (3-3 ERA 3.18) as starter, the A’s will be going with Drew Rucinski (0-3 ERA 8.16) for a 6:40 pm PT first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Barbara Mason for the Oakland A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Galaxy too much for Earthquakes in 2-1 win in the California Classico

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Los Angeles Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic celebrates his goal over the San Jose Earthquakes in his team’s 2-1 win at Dignity Health Park on Sunday MAY 14, 2023. (Los Angeles Galaxy)

by Marko Ukalovic

The Los Angeles attacked and pressed their way to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in the 97th installment of the California Classico on Sunday evening at Dignity Health Park.

San Jose had its seven-match point streak snapped. Los Angeles snapped its two-game losing streak with just its second win on the season.

A scoreless first half featured both teams that tried to establish a physical presence with a combined total of 14 fouls in the opening 45 minutes. Los Angeles controlled the possession by a 57%-43 margin. The home team had the majority of scoring chances while San Jose tried counter-attacking only to turnover the ball on the final third of the pitch.

San Jose’s (5-4-3) best chance came early in the sixth minute when Christian Espinoza centered a ball over to Jeremy Ebobisse inside the box, but Ebobisse’s header attempt was easily saved by Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, who made his return from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss seven matches he suffered on March 18th.

Los Angeles (2-6-3) best came a minute later when Chicharito chipped the ball just wide right of the net past ‘Quakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.

The Galaxy drew first blood off a set piece in the 60th minute on a controversial play. Memo Rodríguez’s corner kick was headed in by Martín Cáceres for his first goal of the season. San Jose contended that Cáceres’ hand touched the ball before he headed the ball in, but referee Joe Dickerson ruled it a good goal.

“I think our performance was not good. We can play better than that. Our quality in the attacking third. We had more turnovers than we’re used to. It comes down to connections and quality,” ‘Quakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez said.

Los Angeles iced the game in the first minute of stoppage time when Dejan Joveljic, who had just come into the game substituting in for Chicharito, stripped the ball away from Jonathan Mensah and dribbled in on Marcinkowski before depositing the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the season.

San Jose spoiled Bond’s shutout bid in the final minute of stoppage time when Ousseni Bouda got behind the defense inside the box and buried a shot past Bond for his first goal of the season. It was too little too late for San Jose as time expired on the ensuing kickoff.

Bond finished the match with two saves on three shots to earn the victory. Marcinkowski made three saves on five shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with two corner kicks. Los Angeles had four.

The Galaxy lead the overall series 39-25-16.

Until tonight’s match, the away side had won four of the previous matches and San Jose has won five of the past nine matches down in LA.

Ebobisse had his goal streak in Los Angeles snapped as he had scored in all five previous road games (seven goals). He has scored eight goals in 11 matches vs LA.

UP NEXT: San Jose concludes its two-game LA road trip when they take on LAFC on Saturday 5/20 at 7:30pm at BMO Stadium.

River Cats win Mother’s Day thriller over Salt Lake 4-3 to get back over .500

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Sacramento River Cats celebrate a win and Mother’s Day at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Sun May 14, 2023 (Photo Credit to Ralph Thompson/River Cats)

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–The River Cats, twice down to their last strike, beat the Salt Lake Bees 4-3 on a walk-off nubber to take five of six in the series, as they have now won nine of their last 11 games.

Sean Hjelle took the mound for the River Cats, and pitched through jams in the first, third and fourth innings, as he pitched four shutout innings in total. Jake Lee started for Salt Lake, and his outing was more smooth sailing, as he pitched five shutout innings, giving up just a pair of hits, a triple and a double to Tyler Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald’s pursuit of the cycle was the lone drama early in the game, but it was ended by a pair of walks.

Cam Vieaux came in for the Bees in the bottom of the sixth, and pitched his way through a one-out walk, as he got Matt Beaty and Patrick Bailey on back to back strikeouts to end the inning. Vieaux struck out Shane Matheney to start the bottom of the seventh; gave up a single to Clint Coulter; and got Ford Proctor to fly out to center. Bees’ manager, Keith Johnson, then brought in the left hander, Gerardo Reyes, to face Will Wilson. Coulter stole second, and then Wilson hit a two-run home run to left to put the River Cats on the board.

Drew Strotman pitched three shutout innings, following Hjelle, and then the lefty, Chris Wright, came in for Sacramento in the top of the eighth. Wright got Michael Stefanic to pop out to start the inning; walked Jared Walsh; and then struck out Jo Adell for the second out. Trey Cabbage then came up, and hit a towering drive to right for his 10th home run of the year to tie it up. 

The River Cats loaded the bases off Reyes with nobody out in the bottom of the eighth, but Reyes struck out the side to get out of it unscathed.

The game remained tied at 2-2 going to the ninth, as Melvin Adon came in for the River Cats. Jared Oliva beat out a ground ball to short for an infield hit to lead off the inning, and then stole second on a botched hit and run. Zach Humphreys struck out swinging, and then pinch-hitter David Fletcher grounded out to third, which allowed Oliva to advance to third. Michael Stefanic then beat out a roller up the third base line, which knocked in Oliva to give the Bees the lead.

The bees brought in the major league veteran Jonathan Holder in the bottom of the ninth, who gave up a single to Will Wilson on the first pitch of the inning. Michael Gigliotti struck out swinging, and Cal Stevenson flew out to left-center, which left the River Cats down to their last out. Up came Tyler Fitzgerald, who down to his last strike, lined his second double of the game down the left field line, which got Wilson to third. 

The bees elected to intentionally walk Matt Beaty to load the bases, which left it up to Patrick Bailey. Bailey, also down to his last strike, hit a nubber off the end of the bat along the third base line that Bees’ third-baseman, Taylor Jones, booted, and Wilson and Fitzgerald both scored, sending the 6,044 fans at Sutter Health Park home happy.

Through it all, Melvin Adon got the win to improve to 1-1, and Jonathan Holder took the loss to fall to 0-4. The River Cats are now back over .500 at 20-19, as they will head to Reno to face the first-place Aces for a six-game series starting Tuesday.

Today’s game also featured the challenge version of the Automated Balls and Strikes System that Major League Baseball plans to implement next season. Jared Walsh of the Angels, who was here for a rehab assignment, was called out on strikes by home plate umpire, Tanner Moore, and spent close to 10 seconds arguing with Moore instead of requesting a challenge.

Today’s game was also the final one in Sacramento for the 29-year voice of the Bees, Steve Klauke, who is retiring at the end of the season.

A’s dominated at home by Rangers 11-3

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Photo courtesy of AP Photo/Jeff Chiu. Esteury Ruiz steals second base as Marcus Semien catches the ball.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- Mother’s day did not got in favor of Oakland against the Rangers as they fell by a final of 11-3.

JP Sears got the start against Andrew Heaney with Sears sporting a 0-3 record and a 5.27 era and Heaney having a 2-3 record and a 4.71 era.

The game got off to a rough start for Sears as Robbie Grossman got the Rangers on the board in the first inning with a two run homer on a fly ball to left field.

Oakland did find a response in the bottom of the second inning as Shea Langeliers singled on a ground ball that brought home Ramon Laureano.

In the third inning Adolis Garcia singled on a line drive to left field bringing home Marcus Semien bringing there lead back to two runs at 3-1.

Sears lasted until the sixth inning where he was replaced by Garret Acton who was making his major league debut. Sears finished the game with a stat line of 5.1IP, five hits allowed, two earned runs and six K’s.

Heaney was relieved after the sixth inning as Jonathan Hernández came in to replace him. Heaney finished with a stat line of six innings pitched, four hits allowed, one earned run, and nine K’s.

Hernández’s did not pitch great in the seventh inning as Langeliers homered on a fly ball to left center field tying the game at three.

Things were looking up for the A’s after tying the game up but the eight inning did not go well for the green and white.

It started with Jonah Heim singling on a live drive to center field bringing home Adolis Garcia. Then Leody Taveras grounded into a forceout that also sent Heim home as well.

With two outs already though it looked like the A’s could escape with only minimal damage with the score being 5-3. Sam Moll struggled to get that final out and cost the A’s another two runs bringing on Zach Neal to the mound.

Neal did not fair much better as Adolis Garcia hit a grand slam to left center field bringing the total runs in one inning to eight. That ended up being the rest of the damage but at that point the score was 11-3.

That scored ended up being the final as Hernández took home the win and Austin Pruitt took the loss.

The A’s next game will be tomorrow against the Diamondbacks at home and will start at 6:40 p.m.

Giants drop third straight game to Diamondbacks 2-1

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San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada, left, turns a double play while avoiding Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker, right, on a ball hit by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the first inning  at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sun May 14, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sunday, May 14, 2023

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Mother’s Day crowd at Chase Field was treated to a new age pitching duel that involved a combined total of seven hits surrendered by six pitchers. In the end, it was Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s run-scoring double in the bottom of the ninth that gave Arizona its third win in a row over the San Francisco Giants Sunday.

The win pulled the Diamondbacks (24-18) to within 2 ½ games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, while fourth-place San Francisco (17-23) is 8 ½ games off the pace.

In the Diamondbacks ninth, Christian Walker drew a walk from Giants reliever Tyler Walker (0-3) to lead off the inning, then Gurriel doubled down the left-field line, and, as the ball rattled around by the bullpen, a hustling Walker scored the game-winning run from first base.

“We generally play our defenders to the most likely spot the ball is going to be hit, based on spray charts,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “Sabol did everything he could to hit the cutoff man and have a play at the plate, but we weren’t able to convert.”

Gurriel’s 21st run batted in of the season made Miguel Castro (2-1) the winning pitcher. Castro, the fourth Diamondbacks hurler, retired the Giants in order in the top of the ninth, striking out Blake Sabol and Casey Schmitt in the process.

Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt struck out the side in the first inning and retired 11 of the first 12 hitters he faced until surrendering a solo home run to Michael Conforto in the fourth inning. It was Conforto’s seventh home run of the season.

Pfaadt, a fifth-round pick from Bellarmine University in 2020, struck out five, walked three and gave up only one hit – the home run by Conforto – in his five innings. Jose Ruiz worked the next two innings, striking out four without a walk, and Scott McGough threw a scoreless eighth.

“I just wanted to go out there and trust myself,” Pfaadt said. “That’s what we did today. Hopefully, we can get rolling after this.”

Arizona tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI double down the right field line by Josh Rojas. Geraldo Perdomo, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored from first.

Logan Webb gave the Giants a quality start, giving uo one earned run on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts in seven innings, while throwing 98 pitches. Tyler Rogers retired Arizona in order in the eighth before facing Walker and Gurriel in the ninth.

Webb worked out of an early jam in the first inning. After Ketel Marte was hit by a pitch with one out, walks to Corbin Carroll and Christian Walker loaded the bases. But Gurriel hit into an inning-ending double play.

The Giants return home Monday to start a three-game series with Philadelphia. Alex Wood (0-0, 2.45) will start Monday’s game for the Giants and Alex Cobb (3-1, 1.70) starts on Tuesday. No probable starter has been announced for the Wednesday contest.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: INF Brandon Crawford was activated from the 10-day injured list following Saturday’s game; INF David Villar was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento and RHP Luke Jackson was placed on a rehab assignment with Single-A San Jose. … Beofre going 0-for-4 on Sunday, INF Casey Schmitt hit safely in his first five games in MLB, batting .550 (two home runs, five runs batted in, 1.550 OPS). Schmitt’s 11 hits in his first five games is second-best in Giants history (since 1901), trailing only Jim Davenport with 12 in 1958, the Giants’ first season in San Francisco. … The Giants can become the first MLB franchise to reach 11,500 wins (including playoffs) with their next win. .,. San Francisco has hit 61 home runs through its first 38 games, third-best in MLB behind Tampa Bay (80) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (67). … The roof was closed on Sunday at Chase Field. Game time temperature was 97 degrees outside, 74 degrees inside. … The announced attendance was 26,267; time of game was 2 hours and 24 minutes.