Month: April 2025

San Francisco Giants starter Justin Verlander (42) deals to the Philadelphia Phillies line up in the last of the first inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Tue Apr 15, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Philadelphia Phillies (10-7) evened up the four game series at 1-1 with the San Francisco Giants (12-5) winning game two 6-4 at Citizens Bank Ballpark. San Francisco had a bit of a rally in the eighth inning hitting three straight singles with no outs bringing one run in. It was Jackie Robinson Tribute night and every ball player wore number 42 in this one.

The Giants only scored the one run in an inning with not much possibility of a rally. It was a tough night for both teams with some crazy wind involvement that made this game very challenging.

The Phillies hit two homers in this game while the Giants were unable to hit any long balls. The Phillies had ten hits, the Giants had eight. Trailing 2-0 early in the game, the Giants tied the game in the fourth inning and went on to take the lead in the sixth before Philadelphia took the lead for the remainder of the game.

Game recap: The Phillies got on the board in the second inning taking a 2-0 lead. The first run was a J.T. Realmuto solo home run to left center and the early 1-0 lead. They would expand that lead off a Brandon Marsh sacrifice fly allowing Max Kepler to score from third base for a 2-0 lead.

As in their last series, San Francisco had been doing a great job coming from behind. In the fourth inning the Giants tied up this game 2-2. Casey Schmitt singled both Chapman from third and Wilmer Flores home from second for the tie. Both Chapman and Flores had stolen bases to get into scoring position. The Schmitt single could not have been timed more perfectly.

San Francisco would take the lead briefly 3-2 in the sixth inning. Wilmer Flores grounded out and Jung Hoo Lee scored from third base; on top of the Phillies for the first time in the game. That lead did not hold for long as the Phillies went on to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth. They not only tied the game but took the lead by inning’s end 4-3.

J.T. Realmuto singled driving Kyle Schwarber home for the 3-3 tie. They would follow that run up with another run to take the 4-3 lead. Bohm singled Castellanos home as the sixth inning came to an end.

The Phillies relief pitching was doing a great job in the sixth and seventh innings. In the seventh inning Jordan Romano closed out the top of the seventh three up and three down. They would be looking for some insurance runs and they got right on task.

The first at bat Bryson Stott tripled with Trea Turner and Bryce Harper to follow. Turner grounded out to shortstop for the first out but slugger Harper knocked the Phillies second home run of the game out of the park, a two run homer, giving the Phillies a 6-3 lead going into the eighth inning.

The Giants started a rally in the eighth inning hitting three singles in a row with no outs. Heliot Ramos, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee all had hits. The Lee single drove Ramos home and the score was 6-4 in favor of the Phillies.

With one out San Francisco had runners at the corners. Wilmer Flores struck out and the Giants were down to their last out in the inning. Casey Schmitt almost hit a long one but came up just short, the ball caught deep in the warning track. San Francisco was oh so very close to taking the lead in this game.

San Francisco relief pitcher Spencer Bivens dismissed the Phillies three up and three down in the eighth inning giving the Giants a chance going into the ninth inning trailing 6-4. One of tougher pitchers in the league to hit came in to try and close for the Phillies Matt Strahm.

Mike Yastrzemski flied out, Patrick Bailey struck out and San Francisco was down to their final out. Tyler Fitzgerald popped out and that was the ball game the final score of 6-4 with the Phillies leveling the series.

Justin Verlander went 5.2 innings allowing eight hits and four earned runs walking three with only one strikeout. Relief pitcher Hayden Birdsong had a struggle allowing two hits, two runs, and one walk in the seventh inning.

Game notes: The Giants took on the Phillies in game two of their series Tuesday amid some very gusty conditions as a cold front blew through at the start of the game and dissipated as quickly as it came in. After a brief respite from the wind the gusty conditions came back and remained throughout the game.

This was another game with great attendance for Philadelphia 38,119 on Tuesday after Monday night’s game with 40,636 fans watching the Giants beat the Phillies 10-4.

The Phillies got a more productive game today with a two run win over San Francisco. Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo 5.1 innings, five hits and three earned runs, and struck out four hitters. Giants starter Justin Verlander had another tough start this time surrendering eight hits and four runs in 5.2 innings of work.

Game three in this four game series will get underway with first pitch scheduled for 3:45 PM PDT Wednesday. Robbie Ray will take the mound for San Francisco with a ( 3-0, 2.93 ERA). The Phillies are slated to start Aaron Nola with a (0-3, 5.51 ERA).

San Francisco Giants Landen Roupp delivers a pitch to the Philadelphia Phillies line up in the bottom of the first inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Mon Apr 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (12-4) got off to a great start in their series with the Philadelphia Phillies (9-7) winning game one 10-4. The Giants knocked three balls out of the park off the bats of Tyler Fitzgerald, Willy Adames and Mike Yastrzemski. Beside the home run, Fitzgerald had two additional hits and San Francisco had gotten off to a great start in this series.

Game wrap: It was a hot start for the home team as the Phillies took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Trea Turner doubled Bryson Stott home for the early 1-0 lead. They built on that lead off a Nick Castellanos single driving Turner home extending their lead 2-0.

The Phillies finished off the inning with another run when Max Kepler grounded into a fielder’s choice to third and Kyle Schwarber scored. With the 3-0 Philadelphia lead the Giants had some work to do and they got on it early.

San Francisco got going in the second inning after a quiet start in the first inning. The hit-a-thon got underway with a Wilmer Flores single driving Heliot Ramos home followed by Patrick Bailey grounding into a fielder’s choice and LaMonte Wade scoring on a Philly error.

With the score 3-2 in favor of Philadelphia, the home runs starting flying out of the park, the first one a Tyler Fitzgerald shot to left with Flores and Bailey on base. Their second home run of the second inning was an Willy Adames hit to right center, a solo, and the Giants had taken a 6-3 lead.

Neither team would score until the bottom of the fifth inning; a Philly solo home run off the bat of Nick Castellanos, and the Phillies continued to trail going into the sixth inning 6-4 but they had made up a little ground.

Giant pitcher Landon Roupp finished the game going five innings allowing six hits, four runs, three walks and eight strikeouts. Roupp was relieved in the sixth inning by Randy Rodriguez. Erik Miller took over on the mound in the seventh inning.

San Francisco created a little more breathing room in the the top of the seventh inning keeping the Phillies at bay and taking an 8-4 lead. Mike Yastremski hit the Giants third home run of the game with Tyler Fitzgerald on base.

San Francisco already had nine hits through seven innings. The top of the Philly batting order came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Brice Harper singled and a Castellanos walk gave the Phillies an opening with two outs.

The Phillies had left a lot of runners on base so far in this game and they continued on this path to close out the inning leaving Harper and Castellanos stranded. San Francisco relief pitcher Erik Miller had gotten out of a sticky situation going into the eighth inning.

Tyler Rogers came in from the bullpen taking over to start the bottom of the eighth inning. It was a Tyler Rogers kind of inning; three up three down and the Giants were three outs away from winning game one of the series.

San Francisco added to their lead in the top of the ninth inning. Mike Yastrzemski doubled Fitzgerald home and the Giants extended their already healthy lead to 9-4. Matt Chapman got another run batted in, Yastrzemski scoring, and with the lead 10-4 in favor of the Giants, the Phillies had one more chance in the bottom of the ninth.

San Francisco was three outs away from winning game one of the series. Camilo Doval closed the game with a three up three down inning to finish off the Phillies 10-4. The Giants are now 8-2 on the road.

Game notes: After winning their series over the weekend against the New York Yankees, the Giants were back on the field Monday taking on the Phillies. This series got underway in much more temperate conditions than in New York, a welcome relief for San Francisco and also welcomed by the fans.

The stadium was buzzing with 40,000 plus fans on a Monday night. The Phillies had lost their weekend series to the St. Louis Cardinals. In Monday’s matchup, the Giants sent Landon Roupp who pitched five innings and gave up six hits and four runs struck out eight hitters. For the Phillies Taijuan Walker pitched five innings, giving up six hits and four runs and five strike outs.

Giants and Phils do it again in game two of the series with starting pitcher for San Francisco starter Justin Verlander RHP 0-0 ERA 6.92 he’ll be opposed by the Phillies starter LHP Jesus Luzardo (2-0 ERA 1.50). First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:45 PM PDT at Citizens Bank Ballpark.