Author: Sports Radio Service

Kentucky Derby: Mystik Dan wins in a photo finish by a nose in close 3 horse finale

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Sierra Leone with jockey Tyler Gaffalione (2), Forever Young with jockey Ryusei Sukai, and Mystik Dan with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr at the finish line at Churchill Downs in the 150th Kentucky Derby Race at Louisville Kentucky on Sat May 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby was won by a nose by Mystik Dan in a spectacular photo finish on Saturday evening that was one of the most exhilarating in recent memory. Entering at 18-1 odds, Mystik Dan crossed the finish line just before Sierra Leone and Forever Young, who finished third in the Run for the Roses.

Mystik Dan and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. dashed along the rail and had a short lead while head-on with Sierra Leone and undefeated Japan-bred Forever Young.

Sierra Leone bumped Forever Young three times during the critical stretch, but jockey Ryusei Sakai did not claim foul. “Around the far turn, my horse was so game being up on the inside,” recounted Hernandez. “I came through a really tight spot and we kind of climbed up on top of the rail a bit. When he shot through that spot and was able to cut the corner and I asked him to go for it, he shot off. I was like, ‘Oh man, we have a shot to win the Kentucky Derby.’”

The crowd of 156,710 at Churchill Downs were held in suspense for afew minutes as stewards reviewed the finish – and finally announced Mystik Dan as the official winner. “This is unbelievable,” said Hernandez while still mounted on Mystik Dan after the thrilling finish. “That was the longest few minutes I’ve ever felt in my life, waiting for them to hang that number up… It’s hard to put into words.”

Mystik Dan ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03:34 and paid $39.22 to win. It was the 26th time in the history of the legendary race that it was decided by the length of a neck or shorter. Hernandez and trainer Kenny McPeek had won the Kentucky Oaks on Fridayalso at Churchill Downs.

They are the second tandem to win both. McPeek commended Hernandez on “an amazing job”. “I mean, just a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant jockey in-ride,” said McPeek even before the official decision was declared. “Brian’s amazing. Probably one of the most underrated riders in racing. But not anymore.”

Twenty thoroughbreds competed in the first leg of the Triple Crown, with Sierra Leone and Fierceness considered the early favorites. Sierra Leone returned $6.54 and $4.64, while Forever Young paid $5.58 to show. The second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on May 18.

Kentucky Derby 2024 final finishing order:

1. Mystik Dan

2. Sierra Leone

3. Forever Young

4. Catching Freedom

5. T O Password

6. Resilience

7. Stronghold

8. Honor Marie

9. Endlessly

10. Dornoch

11. Track Phantom

12. West Saratoga

13. Domestic Product

14. Epic Ride

15. Fierceness

16. Society Man

17. Just Steel

18. Grand Mo The First

19. Catalytic

20. Just a Touch

Jessica Kwong is covering the Triple Crown for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Baseball- Do not forget Joe Lacob

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Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob has expressed interest in purchasing the Oakland A’s and has an existing offer on the table to A’s owner John Fisher. Fisher has repeatedly said the A’s are not for sale. (file photo from author)

A’s Baseball — Do not forget Joe Lacob

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In this topsy-turvy world of the Oakland A’s regarding their relocation, many things have lingered like floating on air, like a basketball going up thrown by Stephen Curry for a 3-point basket. That is Mr. Joe Lacob, the owner of the Golden State Warriors, an NBA franchise evaluated today at over $8 billion. On July 15, 2010, owner Chris Cohan sold the Warriors to Peter Gruber of Mandalay Entertainment and his partner Joe Lacob for a then-record $450 million.

Mr. Lacob has had a standing offer to buy the Oakland A’s for years. Years ago, Lacob had a deal to buy the A’s, then owned by Stephen Schott, for $180 million. However, Bud Selig, then the commissioner, approved the sale to one of his friends and college fraternity brothers, Lew Wolff and John Fisher, in 2005.

Last week, it was announced that the Oakland A’s had hired Galatioto Sports Partners to track an investor (or several) for the $500 million needed to build the A’s proposed new ballpark in Las Vegas. According to sources familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly, that money could be exchanged for share/part ownership.

I believe that if Mr.Lacob bought the A’s, he would keep them in Oakland and find a way to build a new stadium for the team right here in Oaktown. How long can the “standing offer” to buy the A’s be there for the A’s owner(s) to take or decline?

Considering his steady good management, their success, and Joe Lacob’s community involvement with the Warriors here in the Bay Area, I cannot see anybody more qualified to buy the Oakland Athletics at this time and keep them in Oakland than Mr. Joe Lacob. And I believe that still could happen, maybe faster than you think.

And this is why I say to A’s world, “do not forget about Joe Lacob”.

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

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa: Canucks advance to second round edge Predators 1-0

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Nashville Predators left wing Jason Zuckers (16) tries to put the puck past Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) in the second period of game 6 in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Fri May 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 Mary Lisa, the Vancouver Canucks just edged the Nashville Predators 1-0 to take the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 4-2 and advance to the next round with a win in Nashville.

#2 The Canucks Pius Suter got the gamer at 1:39 in the third period it was the game’s only goal.

#3 The Predators had a shot to tie up the game at 33.9 seconds in the third when the Canucks Elias Lindholm got hit for cross checking Gustav Nyquist but the Predators couldn’t take advantage as they failed to beat Canucks rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs as time ran out and the Predators Roman Josi threw his stick on the ice.

#4 Silovs got a shutout in the elimination game for the Canucks on Nashville ice stopping 28 out of 28 shots in a tight game. No doubt Silovs was standing on his head in this one for the Canucks to advance to the next round.

#5 The Canucks in the next round will face off against the Edmonton Oilers who finished second behind the Canucks in the Pacific Division. The Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings to advance to the second round. These are both Canadian teams and there is little doubt this will be a big deal in this second round in this series as all of Canada will be paying attention.

Join Mary Lisa for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff playoff podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s gain ground in AL West now 1.5 games back of first place; Defeat Marlins 3-1 at Coliseum; Victory is Oakland’s 5th straight win

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) is congratulated by Abraham Toro (31) after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the fourth against the Miami Marlins at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri May 3, 2024 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Miami (9-25).        000 000 001.  1. 7.  1

Athletics (16-17).   002 100 000. 3. 5.  0

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 8,533

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics’ drive towards contention continued Friday night when they defeated another resurgent contingent for their fifth straight victory 3-1 over the Miami Marlins. The Marlins came to the Coliseum with a dismal 9-24 balance sheet but fresh from having swept a series for the first time all season, by taking h three straight games from the Colorado Rockies.

The A’s left the park at 16-17, extending their winning streak to five games, Tyler Nevin’s  hitting streak halted at nine.  He went 0-3 with  a hit by pitch.

JP Sears, the lefty who started for the A’s, has wavered between awfulness and excellence. His worst performance was his first, five earned runs on six hits in 3-2/3 inning on March 30. His best came on April 11, when he held the Rangers to one hit in 6-1/3 frames for his first win of the season. 

He was on his game Friday night, allowing four hits and a walk but nary a run, on 95 pitches,  62 for strikes, again over a 6-1/3 frames. He got the well earned win and reduced his ERA to 3.89.

Miami’s starting pitcher, Ryan Weathers, resembles a Marlin; he leaps to considerable heights but also descends into the depths. He ended last season with a six inning, shutout, two hit start against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Last Sunday, in his most recent start, the 23 year old southpaw also went only four innings but surrendered five hits and three walks but escaped with a no decision against the Nationals.

Entering Friday, he was 2-2, 4.55. After throwing 99 pitches, 30 of them balls, over a span of six innings, he surrendered three runs, all earned, on five hits, including a home run. He struck out five and didn’t walk anyone.

He brought his ERA down a smidgen  to 4.54 eventually was charged with his third loss against two wins. 

The action began just before the first pitch was thrown. Luis Arraez had been announced as the Marlins’ lead off batter. But he was pulled from the lineup at the last moment, and cleanup hitter Dane Myers inserted in his slot, with other changes up and down the lineup.  There had been rumors that Miami and San Diego were working on a trade that would have sent the infielder to the Padres.

This was their consummation. (Shades of. José Canseco learning in the on deck circle that he’d been dealt to Boston)! The Marlins got three prospects and relief pitcher Woo-Sok Go in exchange for the stellar second sacker.

The teams traded goose eggs for three and a half innings until Abraham Toro smacked a one out single to center and trotted home on Brent Rooker’s 440 foot blast over the NBC SportsCalifornia sign in left center for his six home run of the year and a 2-0 Athletics lead.

They added another tally in the bottom of the sixth on Max Schuemann’s two bagger off the right center field wall, which almost subcame to The Curse of the Leadoff Double, except that the speedy Ruíz beat out a two out ground to short that scored Schuemann, who’d been sacrificed to third by Darell Heraiz.

They picked up where they’d left off with Abraham Toro’s leadoff double against the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth. This time, The Curse of the Leadoff Double struck, and that was the only baserunner for the Athletics in that frame.  

Austin Adams got the last two outs for the A’s in the top of the seventh. Miichael Kelly got the first two in the eighth but yielded a single to right to Otto Myers and a base on balls to Bryan de la Cruz. He got an 0-2  count on Josh Bell and then hit with a pitch, clogging the basepaths.  The count went to  2-2 on Tim Anderson before he went down looking at the third strike.

Declan Cronin retired the A’s in order in the bottom of the seventh and eighth.

Lucas Erceg almost shut the fish down in order in the ninth.  With two out, Nick Gordon beat out a grounder to short. in spite of  a beautiful play by Hernaiz. Vidal Bruján then dropped a double into the left field corner that brought Gordon home and narrowed the gap. to 3-1. Then Erceg earned his second save of the season by getting Jesús Sánchez to ground out to third 

Saturday, afternoon, Paul Blackburn (2-1, 3.34) will take the mound for the Athletics while Trevor Rogers (0-4, 4.31) will do the same for Miami first pitch 1:07pm PDT.

Giants waste more opportunities, as Phillies get to Hicks to win series opener 4-3

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San Francisco Giants starter Jordan Hicks delivers to the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the second inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark on Fri May 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-18)

Philadelphia Phillies 4 (22-11)

Win: Matt Strahm (2-0)

Loss: Aaron Hicks (2-1)

Save: Jose Alvarado (6)

Time: 3:00

Attendance: 40,888

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense wasted more opportunities, and the Phillies got to the undefeated Aaron Hicks to beat the Giants 4-3 in the opener of this four-game wraparound series, as the Giants have now dropped three of the first four games of their road trip.

After dropping the first two games of their three game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Giants scored two runs in the seventh inning to salvage a game in the series yesterday. Now, the Giants were headed to Philadelphia to face the red-hot Phillies, who after winning the National League Pennant in 2022, and getting within a win of the pennant again last season, were off to a 21-11 start.

The Giants sent Jordan Hicks to the mound, and the Phillies went with Aaron Nola, who pitched a scoreless top of the first. As for Hicks, a reliever brought in over the off-season to convert to a starter, he has been off to a great start, as he entered tonight’s game 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA.

Hicks got Kyle Schwarber to fly out to center to start the bottom of the first inning. However, he ran into trouble when he gave up an infield single to Trea Turner and walked Bryce Harper with one out. Hicks then bore down, as he struck out Alec Bohm looking on four pitches, and he got J.T. Realmuto to ground out back to the mound to escape the inning unscathed.

Patrick Bailey and Matt Chapman walked to start the second inning, and after Mike Yastrzemski struck out swinging, Thairo Estrada doubled to center to knock both runners in. As for Bailey, he has taken a foul ball off his mask off the bat of Alec Bohm. After experiencing blurry vision following his walk and run, Bailey had to leave the game.

Hicks pitched a scoreless bottom of the second, which would have been a 1-2-3 inning had it not been for a one-out throwing error by Matt Chapman at third base. The Giants were in business against Nola again in the top of the third, as Michael Conforto and Tom Murphy, the latter of whom came in to catch for Bailey, singled to start the inning.

The Giants had runners at first and second with nobody out and were ready to extend their 2-0 lead, but Chapman grounded into a 5-3 double play, and Yastrzemski swung out swinging to end the inning.

It was another wasted opportunity for the struggling Giants’ offense, and it would prove to be a momentum switch. Schwarber reached on the second error in as many innings for Chapman. Turner struck out looking, but Harper drew his second walk to put runners at first and second for the Phillies with one out.

Bohm then came up and hit a ground ball into left field to score Schwarber and put the Phillies on the board. Realmuto walked to load the bases, and Brandon Marsh singled on a ground ball up the middle to center field to score two and give the Phillies the lead.

Nola threw a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, and Hicks set down the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fourth, but things would get tricky again for Hicks. Turner singled the other way to right and stole second, and then he scored all the way from second on a passed ball by Tom Murphy, which also happened to be ball four to Bryce Harper to make it 4-2 Phillies.

Phillies Manager Rob Thompson lifted Aaron Nola after just four innings for Matt Strahm, who pitched a shutdown 1-2-3 top of the fifth. Hicks was also done after four, as Sean Hjelle came in for the bottom of the fifth, and for Hicks, it was six up, six down in the fifth and sixth.

Mike Yastrzemski reached on a two-out error and got to second on a wild pitch by Seranthony Dominguez, who came in for the sixth, but the Giants wasted another opportunity. Orion Kerkering came in for the seventh and gave up three-straight singles to Nick Ahmed, Jung-hoo Lee and LaMonte Wade Jr. to load the bases with nobody out for the slugger, Jorge Soler.

It was another golden opportunity for the Giants, but Soler grounded into a 6-3 double play. Ahmed scored on the play to make it 4-3 and get the tying run to third, but it was a massive blow to the Giants, and Conforto flew out to right to end the inning with the Phillies still ahead.

Luke Jackson gave up a leadoff single to Realmuto to start the bottom of the seventh, but he retired the next three men in order. Jeff Hoffman came in for the top of the eighth, and threw a 1-2-3 innings while striking out the side. The submariner Taylor Rogers also struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth, though his inning was not a 1-2-3 innings like Hoffman’s was.

The Phillies brought in their closer, Jose Alvarado, who gave up a leadoff single to Thairo Estrada. Ahmed flew out to center, and Lee grounded out to short. Estrada, the tying run, advanced to second on Lee’s groundout to put the tying run in scoring position with two outs. Bob Melvin decided to have Wilmer Flores pinch-hit for Wade, but Flores struck out swinging to end the game.

At the end of the day, it was another tough loss for the Giants, who fall to 15-18. However, the Giants were two or three missed opportunities away from beating one of the best teams in Baseball in the Phillies in their park.

As frustrating as the Giants’ start to the 2024 Season has been, especially with an offense that has wasted many opportunities in the early going, they are a couple of bats away—whether it be midseason acquisitions, or two or three guys in the lineup getting hot—from having a solid offense to bolster a strong pitching rotation that will get even stronger as the season progresses.

It is frustrating for fans and for this writer, but I have confidence this team will eventually get it together at some point later in the season.

Anyway, the Giants will be back at it for the second game of this series Saturday night with Keaton Winn on the mound. First pitch will be at 6:05 p.m. in Philadelphia, 3:05 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

News and Notes:

According to Bob Melvin, Patrick Bailey is feeling better and is not going through concussion protocol. However, with head injuries, nothing is certain, and I would surely expect that the Giants will monitor him again when he gets to the park Saturday.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Marlins and A’s both coming off winning sweeps in tonight’s battle at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s pitcher JP Sears throws against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Thu Apr 11, 2024. Sears goes tonight Fri May 3, 2024 against the Miami Marlins at the Oakland Coliseum to open the three game series (AP file photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 The Oakland A’s are coming off a sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates and improved their won loss record to 15-17. The A’s come into Friday night’s ball game against the Miami Marlins with a four game win streak.

#2 What a difference it’s been for the A’s they started the season 1-7 and now they come into Friday night’s game with a four game win streak and looking to extend it to five.

#3 The A’s had started out with their success which goes back to their first road trip when they won series in Detroit and Texas and then on their second road trip they split a four game series in New York and won a three game series in Baltimore. The A’s came home to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates in the last series and host the Miami Marlins tonight at the Coliseum.

#4 The Marlins are coming off a three game sweep of the Colorado Rockies to improve their record to 9-24. The Marlins are last in the AL East and have struggled but once you get a taste of winning like the A’s have a team can catch fire.

#5 Game one of the series underway the Marlins are starting LHP Ryan Weathers (2-2 ERA 4.55) and the A’s JP Sears a lefty (1-2 ERA 4.64) both clubs coming off winning three game sweeps how do you see this one?

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter for 103.2 FM KHAI Honolulu

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s host Marlins tonight at Coliseum; Oakland hopes to extend win streak to five

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Oakland A’s starter Ross Stripling throws to the Pittsburgh Pirates line up, Stripling went six innings of perfect ball against the Pirates on Wed May 1, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Oakland are on a roll they have won four straight games going into tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins. The A’s have turned heads and have turned a corner having won series road games in April against the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and split a four game series against the New York Yankees. The A’s just swept the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 In the A’s last game against the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum, Oakland starter Ross Stripling was dealing pitching six innings, no runs, three hits and two strike outs. Stripling and five other pitchers combined in a four hit shutout of the Pirates.

#3 The A’s hit two home runs Wednesday afternoon Abraham Toro and Tyler Nevin that helped them beat the Pirates 4-0 it was the A’s first season sweep.

#4 Stripling had been struggling previous to the win on Wednesday he had a combined ten loses over this season with the A’s and last season with the San Francisco Giants. At least for Wednesday’s game he found himself on the winning side of a shutout in Oakland.

#5 The A’s host the Marlins tonight at the Coliseum. Starting for Miami LHP Ryan Weathers (2-2 ERA 4.55) for the A’s LHP JP Sears (1-2 ERA 4.64) first pitch 6:40 pm PDT. The Marlins have been struggling and are last in the NL East at 9-24.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s hope LA firm can find investors who can come up with $500 million for Vegas ballpark

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Rendering of the Sydney style Opera House ballpark that would take up nine acres at the old Tropicana Hotel and Casino location at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd. Construction is scheduled to start in April 2025 (Renderings from the Oakland A’s)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Oakland A’s have hired Los Angeles investor Galatioto Sports Partners to help look for one or more private investors. The investors are trying to help raise $500 million of A’s owner John Fisher’s share of he construction costs for the Las Vegas ballpark.

#2 Daniel, the plan is to have the ballpark sit on nine acres of the 35 acres at the Tropicana. Fisher needs to come up with $500 million of $1.5 billion for his share of he costs and the A’s are counting on Galatioto Sports Partners to find enough investors to make those payments. If that happens 42% of the team’s ownership costs will be financially bought up closing in on half of he value of the team.

#3 Galatioto Sports Partners has helped over 100 sports financing deals and that includes the sale of the Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno in 2004 who bought the team from Walt Disney Co., Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli and his wife who own the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2005 also had help from the partnership. While their reputation is solid some minority partners might come in saying they’ll invest only if they have say in running the club. That might not be acceptable for Fisher under those circumstances.

#4 The Tropicana Hotel and Casino who closed for business in March is set for demolishment in April 2025. Fisher wants to make certain that the $500 million of the $1.5 billion towards stadium construction costs will be paid by investors who could very well own up to 42% of the club.

#5 Written into the agreement is Flip Tax that would require Fisher to pay 20% tax on the full price of the team in the event Fisher decides to sell the club before 2028.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants avoid sweep comeback and beat Red Sox; Giants open series in Philadelphia next

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (5) is greeted at the Giants dugout after hitting a top of the third inning home run against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thu May 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 How special is it for Mike Yastrzemski and those who follow to see him come to Fenway Park and hit one out in grampa’s old backyard.

#2 The Giants pitcher Ryan Walker pitched perfect baseball into the sixth inning giving up three hits and one run before leaving talk about what’s been working for him.

#3 Camilo Doval has had picked up his sixth save in the ninth inning of relief. Another reason why the Giants have so much success and confidence in Doval.

#4 San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said in his post game presser, “Six hits. Scratched three runs out of it today, but there’s still more out there.”

#5 Giants open up a four game series that runs through Monday at Citizens Bank in Philadelphia. First pitch on Friday 3:40pm PDT. RHP Jordan Hicks starts for San Francisco (2-0) and for Philadelphia RHP Aaron Nola (4-1).

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#1

Harrison solid, Giants eke out late 3-1 win to salvage game; Yaz homers at Fenway

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Top of the third inning home run by San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski at his grandfather Carl Yastrzemski’s old place of business Fenway Park in Boston on Thu May 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Fenway Park

Boston, Massachusetts

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-17)

Boston Red Sox 1 (18-14)

Win: Kyle Harrison (3-1)

Loss: Zack Kelly (0-1)

Save: Camilo Doval (6)

Time: 2:21

Attendance: 30,065

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants scored two runs in the seventh inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 and avoid the sweep at Fenway Park.

The Giants dropped the first two games of this series, and were now in danger of getting swept for the the third time in their four series at Fenway Park. The Giants were swept by the Red Sox in their first series at Fenway Park in 2007 (June 15-17), as well as in a short two-game set in 2016 (July 19-20).

The Giants needed a win to avoid getting swept for the third time at Fenway, and in order to do that, the Giants’ offense, which was held to only two runs over the first two games of this series, would have to wake up. The Giants would also need a solid outing from their young left-hander, Kyle Harrison, who despite coming into today’s game with a 4.09 ERA, has been off to a decent start this season.

The Red Sox sent Josh Winckowski to the mound for today’s game, and he started things off with a scoreless top of the first inning.

Harrison ran into trouble in the bottom of the first after hitting Rafael Devers and walking Tyler O’Neill with one out. Harrison struck out Rob Refsnyder, but he walked Connor Wong to load the bases. Harrison was in the jackpot early, but he got Garrett Cooper to fly out and escape the inning unscathed.

Both pitchers pitched scoreless innings in the second, and Mike Yastrzemski hit a home run to the Red Sox’ bullpen beyond the short fence right-center field to put the Giants on the board. It was a special moment for Yastrzemski, who was playing in his second series at Fenway Park, where his grandfather and hall-of-famer Carl Yastrzemski called home for 23 years. Carl Yastrzemski had paid a visit to his grandson prior to the game, and it truly paid off dividends.

Yastrzemski, who is the second-longest-tenured Giant, was facing uncertainty after starting the season 1-for-20, but he has since heated up, and has swung the bat much better.

Devers singled on a ground ball up the middle to start the bottom of the third, and O’Neill doubled high off the Green Monster in left to tie the game. Harrison then walked Refsnyder, and the Red Sox appeared to pounce. However, Harrison struck out Wong swinging, and got Cooper to ground into a 5-3 double play to end the inning and escape any further damage.

With the game now tied 1-1, Winckowski pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Harrison ran into trouble again in the bottom of the fourth after giving up a one-out double to Ceddanne Rafaela. Harrison struck out Zack Short looking, and Jarren Duran hit a line drive up the middle into center field that seemed destined to fall and give the Red Sox the lead, but center-fielder Jung-hoo Lee dove and made a spectacular catch to end the inning and keep the game tied.

After Thairo Estrada grounded out to third to start the top of the fifth, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora lifted Winckowski for Brennan Bernardo. Bernardo set down Yastrzemski and Nick Ahmed to combine with Winckowski for a 1-2-3 inning.

Harrison walked Tyler O’Neill with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but he induced a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Refsnyder to end the inning. That would be it for Harrison, who did not throw a single 1-2-3 inning in five shaky innings of work. However, he did his job, which was to have a solid outing, as he gave up just a run and three hits, and struck out seven. What really hampered Harrison was five walks and a 95-pitch pitch count.

Bernardo and Zack Kelly combined to throw a scoreless top of the sixth. Ryan Walker came in for the bottom of the sixth, and pitched through a one-out single.

Patrick Bailey lined a single the other way to left to start the top of the seventh, and Matt Chapman singled to left to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Thairo Estrada then came through with a big hit for a Giants’ offense that has struggled to get them with a single the other way to right to put San Francisco back ahead.

Cam Booser came in for Kelly, but the Giants were not done yet. Austin Slater struck out swinging, but Nick Ahmed knocked in Chapman with a sacrifice fly to right to extend the Giants’ lead to 3-1.

Erik Miller, who was the Giants’ opener last night, came in and pitched a shutdown 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh. There would actually not be another base-runner the rest of the game. Japanese import Naoyuki Uwasawa threw a 1-2-3 top of the eighth in his major league debut, and Tyler Rogers threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth.

Uwasawa threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, as he set down all six men he faced in his debut. Camilo Doval then came in and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for his sixth save of the year.

Harrison got the win, and Zack Kelly took the loss. With this win, the Giants were indeed able to avoid their third sweep in four series at Fenway Park, as they improve to 15-17.

The Giants will now head to Philadelphia for the second leg of this three-city road trip, where they will take on the red-hot Phillies for a four-game wraparound series. Jordan Hicks will open the series for the Giants with first pitch at 6:40 p.m. in Philadelphia, and 3:40 p.m. back home in San Francisco.