Month: August 2023

Giants Unload On Padres 7-2; SF’s Yastrzemski slugs a HR with two RBIs

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San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski, right, celebrates with third base coach Mark Hallberg after hitting a home run during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (70-64) took on the San Diego Padres (62-73) Thursday night starting a four game series and having had some successful games they kept it going with a 7-2 win at Petco Park in San Diego.

The Giants have a lot on their plate right now. While they are in second place in the NL West and trail the Los Angels Dodgers by 14 games, the Dodgers are not their problem right now. It’s more like the Phillies, the Cubs, the Reds , the Marlins and the Diamondbacks.

Six contenders all vying for a wild card spot. San Francisco has been struggling for awhile now. It wasn’t really that long ago that the Giants trailed the Dodgers by a single game. So the Giants have some work to do and it needs to happen sooner rather than later with roughly 29 games left in the regular season.

Thursday game recap: San Francisco went into this game with purpose and determination. Neither team scored in the first two innings but the Giants were first up on the board in the third inning scoring not only early but often. When the dust had settled San Francisco had a 6-0 lead. The Giants hit a slew of singles in the inning.

Joc Pederson singled LaMonte Wade Jr. home for the first run of the inning taking a 1-0 lead and the hits just kept on coming. Mike Yastrzemski singled Thairo Estrada home. Joc Pederson scored on a Padre error followed by another single, a bunt single off the bat of Wade Meckler and Yastrzemski scored.

Blake Sabol got another run on the board when he doubled and J.D. Davis scored. They would finish off the inning when Casey Schmitt sacrificed and Meckler scored for an amazing offensive inning leading 6-0. San Francisco would add one more run when Mike Yastrzemski homered in the fifth inning, a solo shot and a 7-0 Giants lead.

Through four innings the Padres were looking for their first hit. Starting pitcher for San Francisco Jakob Junis went four innings not allowing a single hit with three strikeouts. Sean Manea would relieve Junis in the fifth inning.

Through six innings the Padres had only managed two hits. Manea did get into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the sixth loading the bases. Manea made the pitches when he needed to striking out Garrett Cooper for the third out of the inning and it was on to the seventh inning.

The Padres got a couple of base runners in the bottom of the eighth inning threatening to deny the shut out. San Diego did get on the board in the inning, a single run. Garrett Cooper doubled and Juan Soto scored for a 7-1 Giants lead.

Scott Alexander came to the mound to try and close out this game. The Padres were able to score one run but that would be all they got. San Francisco will be back on the field in game two Friday night with first pitch at 6:40 PM.

Starting pitchers for San Francisco TBA and for San Diego Michael Wacha (10-2 ERA 2.84) first pitch 6:40pm PT.

Aces snap two game losing streak, beat Mystics, 84-75

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Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson (22) guards Mytics’ Elena Delle Donne (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay on Thursday, August 31, 2023. (Shawn McCullough/Sports Radio Service)

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces got back on the winning track with an 84-75 win over the Washington Mystics at Michelob Ultra Arena.

“We got tired of losing,” said forward A’ja Wilson. “It feels like we have lost 30 in a row.”

Wilson led the Aces with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

“My teammates just found me in spots,” said Wilson. “I was just going with the flow and my teammates helped me.”

Chelsea Gray scored 21 points, while guard Kelsey Plum registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

“She [Plum] has multiple ways to impact the game,” said head coach Becky Hammon. “She was just dicing people and had all the right reads tonight.”

The Aces recently have struggled, losing three of their last five games.

“Us going through this roller coaster of games and weathering the storm, helps us to get ready for playoffs,” said Wilson.

With the win, the Aces improved to 31-6 on the season heading into their next game at home on Saturday against the Seattle Storm.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 46.8% from the field.
Las Vegas went 10 for 28 from three-point range.
The Mystics out-rebounded the Aces, 37-33.

Game Starters:

C – 41 Kiah Stokes
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Candace Parker, Out – Foot

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s open series against Los Angeles Angels at Coliseum Friday night

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears will get the start against the Los Angeles Angels on Fri Sep 1, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s returned home from a seven-game road trip to Chicago and Seattle. The A’s won three and lost four. They split the four-game set with a Chicago White Sox team in turmoil. The Sox fired their team’s president and general manager.

The A’s lost two games to the red-hot Seattle Mariners. Two of the games were very competitive. The A’s won 3-1 on Tuesday and lost 5-4 on Wednesday. The A’s will host another troubled franchise, the Los Angeles Angels, for three games starting Friday night.

The Angels had high hopes at the start of the season. Their roster includes two superstars, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. Trout, a three-time AL MVP, has lost playing time the last couple of years due to injury. Trout, again his year, has been hit with another injury.

Trout suffered a broken hamate bone and has not fully recovered. He is due back on September 15th. Shohei Ohtani, the most remarkable player in baseball, also suffered an injury. Ohtani is both a pitcher and a designated hitter.

Ohtani is in line for another AL MVP and Cy Young awards. However, it is unlikely that Ohtani will win the Cy Young trophy as he suffered an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament, and he will not pitch again this year.

Ohtani, as a designated hitter, leads the American League with 44 home runs and has driven in 95. Ohtani had Tommy John surgery a few years ago, and no decision has been made regarding a second surgery.

The Angels made news yesterday as they placed six players on waivers. Two of the six came to the Angels at the trade deadline. It was clear that these moves were a salary dump. Five of the six players were claimed by other teams.

The Cleveland Guardians claimed pitchers Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore, and Reynaldo Lopez. Giolito came to the Angels from the White Sox at the trade deadline. The Cincinnati Reds claimed outfielder Hunter Renfroe. The other player placed on waivers, Randal Grichuk, was not selected by another team and remains with the Angels.

The A’s are 2-5 against the Angels this year. The A’s met the Angels in the opening series of the 2023 season. The teams have yet to meet since April 27th. A lot of things have happened to both teams in that interval.

The A’s are in the midst of a rebuild. Their starting rotation is a work in progress. The A’s have used Kyle Muller, Hohan Harris, and Mason Miller in the rotation. Muller has been with the A’s and the Tripe-A LAs Vegas Aviators this year.

The same goes for Harris. Miller was injured and may return to the club in September. The current rotation of Luis Medina, Ken Waldichuk, J.P. Sears, Paul Blackburn, and Zach Neal is a study of mediocrity. Neal is the only pitcher with a winning record. 1-0. Hardly sensational.

The A’s bullpen is also a work in progress. A’s closer, Trevor May, has been reliable. Austin Pruitt did a good job but is out for the season with an injury.

There are some bright spots on the A’s roster. Rookie second baseman Zack Gelof has played well. Gelof has hit ten homers in his short time with the A’s. His average has dropped slightly, but he is a good hitter and has done well at second base.

Catcher Shea Langeliers does not hit for average, but he has hit four homers in his last six games. He is on track to finish the season with 20 or more home runs. First baseman Ryan Noda has a great eye at the plate. Noda is a leader in the league by drawing walks and has a good on-base percentage.

Outfielders Esteury Ruiz and Lawrence Butler have played well. Ruiz leads the AL in stolen bases. Ruiz stole two bases Wednesday against the Mariners. He has stolen 53 this season. Butler hit his second big league home run in the loss to Seattle on Wednesday.

Butler is 22 years -old and has a tremendous upside to his game. Third baseman Jordan Diaz is another player who looks to be with the A’s for a while. Outfielder Brent Rooker is having a career year, and the A’s will want to keep him on the roster.

The Angels will send Patrick Sandoval to the mound Friday night to face the A’s. Sandoval is 7-10 with a 3.95 ERA. The A’s will counter with J.P.Sears. Sears is having a tough season. His record is 2-11 and a 4.80 ERA. Sears has given up too many gopher balls this season. He is among the leaders in home runs allowed with 31. Sears pitches well for about three innings before the roof caves in on him.

Some Angel players who will perform this weekend were missing from the roster at the start of the season. Nolan Schanuel will be at first base. Schanuel has played ten games and is hitting. 324. Mike Moustakas will be at third base, filling in for the injured Anthony Rendon. Rendon, signed as a free agent after 2019, has been a disappointment.

It will be interesting to see if the A’s can win the series this weekend. The Angels are going to finish in fourth place in the AL West. The A’s will be in last place in the division. A’s skipper Mark Kotsay always has his team primed to play their best irrespective of the place in the standings. The Angels’ manager, Phil Nevin, also wants his players to give 100%. It will be interesting to see how the series goes this weekend.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: M’s hot August nights do in A’s in Seattle; A’s host Ohtani and Halos Friday at Coliseum

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Oakland Athletics’ Lawrence Butler hits a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners to score Jordan Diaz during the second inning at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Wed Aug 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Sometimes there’s no stopping the Seattle Mariners and August 2023 just so happened to be the M’s hottest August they’ve had in their franchise history ending with a series 5-4 win at T Mobile Field on Wednesday afternoon.

#2 The Mariners have been going so well they ended up 21-6 and the A’s were fortunate to even win the second game from the M’s on Tuesday night 3-1.

#3 The A’s didn’t have a bad road trip going 3-4 taking two out four games against the Chicago White Sox and winning one game from the M’s. The A’s are competitive but they did run into a hot Mariners team.

#4 The Mariners starter Bryce Miller went six inning against the A’s giving up seven hits and three earned runs. The M’s used three relievers behind Miller for the one run win.

#5 A’s open up a three game homestand against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum starting pitcher for the Angels Patrick Sandoval (7-10) and for the Oakland A’s JP Sears (2-11 ERA 4.80) first pitch 6:40pm PT

Join Jerry Feitelberg for the A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Reds Encarnacion-Strand Bay Area native does a homecoming on Giants with the bat

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Cincinnati Reds’ Christian Encarnacion-Strand Bay Area native from Pleasant Hill, right, hits a two-run home run is congratulated by Elly De La Cruz (44) in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 You can’t keep a good man down the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon at Oracle Park coming off that one hitter loss thrown by San Francisco Giants starter Alex Cobb on Tuesday the Reds came back on Wednesday and were not relenting in game three of the series as Christian Encarnacion-Strand belted a home run and got three RBIs as the Reds defeated the Giants 4-1.

#2 Encarnacion-Strand who comes from Pleasant Hill CA was pleased to see so many of his friends, family, neighbors, and fans to support him on his visit to San Francisco.

#3 Giants pitcher Logan Webb had a struggle against Cincinnati Reds hitters, Elly De La Cruz and Luke Maile had two hits, and Hunter Greene out pitched Webb.

#4 Greene had a great outing for the Reds going 5.1 innings and striking out six batters. It was his third win and first win since June 17th to defeat the Giants. Greene gave up three hits and had help from his bullpen as the Reds used five pitchers.

#5 Giants open a four game series in San Diego against the Padres at Petco Park on Thursday night starter for the Giants has not been announced and for the Padres Pedro Avila (0-1 ERA 2.63) first pitch 6:40pm PT.

Stephen Ruderman was filling in for Michael Duca who does the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

John Brebbia escapes trouble in first rehab outing & other minor league notes, as River Cats top Isotopes 6-2

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Sacramento Rivercats were swinging for extra runs and catcher Joey Bart played a big part in the win over the visiting Albuquerque Isotopes at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento on Wed Aug 30, 2023 (@RiverCats photo)

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023

Sutter Health Park, West Sacramento, California

Albuquerque Isotopes 2 (29-24 2nd Half), (56-72 Season)

Sacramento River Cats 6 (22-31 2nd Half), (56-71 Season)

Win: John Brebbia (1-0)

Loss: Justin Bruihl (5-3)

Time: 2:44

Attendance: 3,533

By Stephen Ruderman

SACRAMENTO–John Brebbria, Heliot Ramos and Joey Bart all played a part, as the Sacramento River Cats snapped their three-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Albuquerque Isotopes at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento.

Kai-Wei Teng made the start for Sacramento; and despite giving up a run in both the first and second innings, he settled down nicely, and set down 13 of the final 15 men he faced. In total, Teng walked one, and struck out seven over six innings of work.

The play of the night came with one out in the top of the sixth inning, when Isotopes’ shortstop Coco Montes hit a deep fly ball to left-center field that Trenton Brooks and Tyler Fitzgerald converged on, but neither were able to catch. Fitzgerald crashed into the wall, and Brooks threw to the shortstop, Johan Camargo—who accepted an assignment in Sacramento after being designated for assignment by the Giants on Aug. 23—and Camargo fired a strike to the plate to nail Montes.

Heliot Ramos, who was once again sent down to Sacramento on Tuesday, continued to stay hot in Triple-A, as he hit a leadoff home run to right-center field in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the River Cats on the board for not just the game, but for the series. Joey Bart then singled with one out to knock Isotopes’ starter, Tanner Gordon, out of the game. Camargo singled off the left-hander, Justin Bruihl with two outs, but Armando Alvarez flew out to right to end the inning.

John Brebbia, who had last appeared in a game for the Giants on June 16 at Dodger Stadium, was brought in for the top of the seventh inning in his first rehab outing. Brebbia surrendered a leadoff single to Aaron Schunk, and walked Jonathan Morales to get into early trouble.

Brebbia then got Isotopes’ catcher, Willie MacIver, to hit a chopper back to the mound; Brebbia threw to third to get the lead runner, Schunk, but third-baseman, David Villar, threw the ball away trying to turn the 1-5-3 double play. That put runners on the corners with one out, but it was no trouble for Brebbia, who struck out the next two men he faced.

Bruihl came back out for the bottom of the seventh with Albuquerque up 2-1. Donovan Walton hit a soft line drive to the shortstop, Montes, to start the inning. Tyler Fitzgerald reached on an infield single, and then Bruihl walked Brooks and Ramos to load the bases, which spelled the end of the night for Bruihl.

The Isotopes then brought in the right-hander, Chance Adams, who walked David Villar, and that tied the game. That brought up Joey Bart, who last played in a major league game on May 17, and who has struggled in Sacramento. Bart then hit a towering grand slam to the back of the clubhouses beyond the left field fence to give the River Cats their first lead of the night, and cap off a five-run bottom of the seventh for Sacramento.

Erik Miller came in, and he pitched a quick and quiet top of the ninth to close it out.

Keaton Winn, who is 0-6 on the season, will make the start in game 3 of the series tomorrow night.

Controversial penalty gives Galaxy 3-2 comeback win over Earthquakes in Classico

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San Jose Earthquakes forward Cristian Espinoza dribbles past Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Diego Fagundez at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday AUG 30, 2023. (Nico Burgueno-El Show International)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — A controversial penalty call spoiled an exciting game.

The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-2 on two second half goals, including the penalty kick, in the 98th installment of the California Classico on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose have lost two matches in a row since coming out of the League’s Cup match. Los Angeles are unbeaten in its past seven matches.

Los Angeles (7-10-7-28 points) drew first blood in the 16th minute. Raheem Edwards sent a long ball down the right wing where Tyler Boyd won the race to the ball. Boyd made a move around Jonathan Mensah before firing a shot from just inside the box past ‘Quakes goalkeeper Daniel for his team leading sixth goal of the season.

The Galaxy controlled the pace of play for the first 28 minutes of the match with an 80-20% advantage of possession as the Earthquakes played back on their heels. San Jose’s first shot attempt didn’t happen till the 28th minute.

The momentum of the match turned quickly just a minute later in San Jose’s favor. Off a corner kick Christian Espinoza had a give and go with Jamiro Monterio. Espinoza’s shot attempt deflected off of the head of Lucas Calegari and past Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond for an own goal.

San Jose (9-9-8-32 points) gained its first lead of the match two minutes later in the 31st minute. Monteiro got low inside the box before centering a feed into the middle where Jeremy Ebobisse chipped the ball high into the net from point-blank range for his eighth goal of the season.

It didn’t take long for Los Angeles to score the equalizer out of halftime. Riqui Puig made San Jose pay for falling asleep in its defensive zone. After receiving the ball from Edwin Cerillo, the Galaxy captain dribbled down the middle of the pitch unmarked before burying a right footed shot from just beyond the box past Daniel for his fifth goal of the season in the 50th minute.

San Jose conceded a penalty in the 58th minute when Edwards drew a penalty inside the box when he was knocked down by Miguel Trauco.

Dejan Joveljic converted the penalty in the 61st minute with a high shot into the middle of the net for his third goal of the season to give Los Angeles its second lead of the match.

The match was not one to write home about for referee Lukasz Szpala and his crew as there were numerous one-sided calls by Szpala that went against San Jose, especially in the second half.

San Jose thought they had tied the game in the 90th minute but the play was ruled offsides by the assistant official.

The Earthquakes had two back-to-back scoring chances in the first minute of stoppage time to score the equalizer, but Espinoza’s shot attempt from long range along the right corner hit off the crossbar and the subsequent rebound went just wide to the left side.

Bond made four saves on five shots on goal in earning the win. Daniel made two saves on four shots on target in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with 11 corner kicks. Los Angeles had seven.

The attendance for tonight’s match was 16,224.

The Galaxy lead the all-time series 43-33-18.

The Galaxy is unbeaten in its last four road matches versus San Jose, its longest unbeaten run in Classico.

Los Angeles is 5-1-4 in its last 10 matches.

Espinoza has scored eight of his 12 goals at home. Only LAFC’s Denis Bouanga has scored more goals (9) at home.

UP NEXT: San Jose hosts Minnesota United on Saturday 9/2 at 7:30pm at Pay Pal Park.

Pac 12 podcast with Michael Roberson: Shooting on UNC campus delays Cal-Stanford vote into the ACC

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Law enforcement and first responders gather on South Street near the Bell Tower on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus in Chapel Hill, N.C., Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, after a report of an “armed and dangerous person” on campus. (AP News photo)

On Pac 12 the podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 Michael, Cal, Stanford and SMU were close to getting that invite to the ACC but the vote was postponed last Monday due to a shooting on the UNC campus?

#2 There have been ACC teams that have complained about their TV deal which runs through the 2036 season ACC school is out $30 million less per year then the SEC and Big Ten.

#3 Do you see Cal and Stanford going into the ACC as a boost to the ACC’s TV package? Nothing like adding the fifth largest TV market to your repertoire?

#4 The Bears and the Cardinal are want the same revenue share, Stanford has a strong financial backing and Cal doesn’t have the same financial backing like a Stanford taking that in consideration would the ACC still add Cal to the conference?

#5 What about the non revenue sports do you see them being included in the ACC with football and basketball?

Join Michael Roberson for the Pac 12 podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Mariners’ two-run rally in seventh sends A’s down to another loss 4-3 at T Mobile

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Oakland Athletics’ Lawrence Butler rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run to score Jordan Diaz against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at T Mobile Center in Seattle on Wed Aug 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s hoped to stop the powerful Seattle Mariner offense Wednesday afternoon. The A’s beat the M’s Tuesday night. The A’s pitchers held the Mariners to four hits. Could the A’s do it again? The Mariners did not have Julio Rodriguez in the lineup on Wednesday. The 22-year-old superstar was out with discomfort in his left foot.

The answer to the above question was no, and the A’s could not beat the M’s for a second straight game. Oakland tried hard as they went ahead 4-3 when they scored a run in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately for Oakland, the Mariners scored twice in their half of the seventh to go ahead 5-4. The Mariners bullpen held the A’s scoreless in the last two innings of the game to win 5-4.

The A’s plated three runs in the top of the second inning. A’s third baseman, Jordan Diaz, singled to get the rally going. Mariners’ starter, Bryce Miller, struck out catcher Carlos Perez for the first out. Miller was now pitching to centerfielder Lawrence Butler. Butler hit his second career home run.

There was no doubt about the ball going out of the park. The ball left the bat at 109 miles per hour and landed 431 feet away in the right-centerfield seats. The ninth hitter in the lineup, Esteury Ruiz singled. Ruiz stole his 52nd base of the season and went to third on M’s catcher Cal Raleigh’s throwing error. Ryan Noda doubled to drive in Ruiz with the A’s third run. Oakland leads 3-0 midway through the second inning.

The Mariners tied the game in the bottom of the third. A’s starter Zach Neal retired the first two hitters. Neal walked Eugenio Suarez. Cal Raleigh doubled to put men on at second and third. To get out of the jam, Neal would have to retire Teoscar Hernandez for the third out. That did not happen. With one swing of Hernandez’s bat, the game was tied. For Hernandez, it was his 23rd bomb of the season.

The A’s broke the tie in the top of the seventh. Justin Topa was now pitching for Seattle. With one out, back-to-back doubles by Aledmys Diaz and Esteury Ruiz produced Oakland’s fourth run. Ruiz stole third. Teoscar Hernandez caught Ryan Noda’s fly ball to shallow right field.

Ruiz tagged, and the play at home was close. The home plate umpire called Ruiz safe. The Mariners asked for a review, and the call was overturned. The A’s led 4-3 midway through the seventh.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay summoned lefty Kirby Snead to pitch the seventh. The first two Mariner hitters were left-handed hitters. The strategy failed. Dominic Canzone led off the inning with a double. M’s DH Mike Ford singled, sending Canzone to third.

Snead walked Dylan Moore to load the bases with no out. Snead struck out Josh Rojas for the first out. M’s shortstop J.P. Crawford singled to drive in Canzone and pinch-runner Jose Caballero to put Seattle ahead 5-4. Kotsay brought in Dany Jimenez to end the M’s rally. Seattle leads 5-4 after seven.

The Mariners’ Matt Brash held the A’s scoreless in the eighth, and closer Anders Munoz set the A’s down to secure the win for Seattle.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 39-95. The Mariners improved to 76-57. The Mariners record for August is 21-6. It is the first time in M’s franchise history that the team has won 21 games in a month. The Mariners needed the win as the Houston Astros beat the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. The teams are in a virtual tie for first place in the AL West. The Texas Rangers lost to the New York Mets to fall one game behind the leaders.

 292,47 fans were in the park to watch the game. The attendance for the three-game series was over 110,000. When teams win, people will show up. Put a good product on the field, and the fans will come.

The A’s are off on Thursday. Oakland will host the Los Angeles Angels for three games starting Friday night. Friday’s starting pitchers for the Angels Patrick Sandoval (7-4 ERA 3.95), starting for the A’s JP Sears (2-11 ERA 4.80) a 6:40pm PT first pitch at the Coliseum.

San Francisco Giants Lose 4-1 To Cincinnati Reds Wrap Up Six Game Homestand At Oracle

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Cincinnati Reds’ Christian Encarnacion-Strand, right, hits a two-run home run in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – In a day game coming off of Alex Cobb’s almost no-hitter, the San Francisco Giants faced the Cincinnati Reds to complete their series and the Giants are wrapping up their six game homestand. Logan Webb takes the mound for San Francisco and Hunter Greene for the Reds. This game for the Giants was to hold a spot for the NL wild card, especially after the D-Backs loss the night before. 

 A pitcher’s duel between Webb and Greene for five innings as we saw a scoreless game with seven hits total, but in the top of the sixth, the drought ended as Spencer Steer and Eddy De La Cruz got on base from singles.

Smart baserunning play got the first run as De La Cruz attempted to steal second and Patrick Bailey tried to throw him out, but was unsuccessful and as the ball left Bailey’s hand, Steer was successfully home, 1-0 Reds.

The very next run came from an RBI single by Christian Encarnacion-Strand which scored De La Cruz, 2-0 Reds with one out. Webb escaped the inning with a beautiful double play where he stopped the ball on a dime, threw to second, and then a play at first, but the damage was done and in the bottom of the sixth for the first time in this game, the Giants played from behind.

They started this at bat with Casey Schmitt hitting a lead-off double and carried on with a Thairo Estrada single. This rally caused Cincinnati to make a pitching change and bring in Ian Gibaut, but the rally continued as a wild pitch, moved the lead-off Schmitt who was on third score at home and Estrada to second, 2-1 Reds. Gibaut was able to get out the inning, but the energy in the park was still high as we entered the seventh. 

The Giants decided to sit Webb down after six innings, seven hits, six strikeouts, and two runs, so they brought Ryan Walker in the seventh and he got back to back strikeouts, but after a single they switched him with Taylor Rogers to provide relief.

After the seventh inning stretch, the Reds brought in Fernando Cruz and he didn’t crack under the pressure, upholding that lead for Cincinnati. The eighth came and the Giants swapped one Rogers brother in for another as Tyler Rogers took the hill.

It looked Tyler Rogers was holding his own, but Encarnacion-Strand got his second RBI of the game with a two run shot to center field that scored De La Cruz making this game 4-1 Reds. 

The ninth inning started off with Luke Jackson shutting down the Reds to hopefully spark some type of comeback for San Francisco. Patrick Bailey was the leadoff guy and was walked, so the hopes for a comeback rally began to fill Oracle Park.

Yastrzemski popped out for the first out, but the energy was still hovering around the park. J.D. Davis grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out and that’s when fans began to try to beat the traffic. Wade Meckler being the last hope to keep this comeback alive and on a full count he was struck out and that’s the ball game, 4-1 Cincinnati. 

Even though the Giants didn’t sweep the series, they walked away with a series win and their homestand ended here. San Francisco has no time to think about this loss, because they find themselves headed to San Diego the very next day to face the Padres.

The Giants haven’t announced who will start in this four game series at Petco Park in San Diego, but they know they will face Pedro Avila (0-1, 2.63) of the San Diego Padres and hopefully the Giants can go in to the month of September with momentum to secure their spot in the playoffs.

Troy Ewers is a beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com