Category: MLB

Giants finally back up to .500 for first time since May 31 after solid outing from Webb and home runs lead to 4-1 win over Nationals

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San Francisco Giants Tyler Fitzgerald right on dugout steps is congratulated by Matt Chapman (left) after hitting a home run against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in DC on Mon Aug 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, Aug. 5, 2024

Nationals Park

Washington, D.C.

San Francisco Giants 4 (57-57)

Washington Nationals 1 (51-62)

Win: Logan Webb (9-8)

Loss: Patrick Corbin (2-12)

Save: Camilo Doval (21)

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 14,674

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have finally gotten back to .500 for the first time since May 31, as home runs by Tyler Fitzgerald and Matt Chapman carried them to a 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals in the first game of this four-game series in D.C.

The Giants came into our nation’s capital winners of seven of their last nine. However, something has greatly eluded them this season. That has been their ability to get back to .500. The Giants came into tonight 2-11 when they’re just a game under .500, and they haven’t even been at .500 since May 31.

Monday night was looking to be the Giants’ best opportunity to get back to .500 in a while. They were up against the veteran left-hander, Patrick Corbin, who came into tonight 2-11 with a 5.88 ERA. Plain and simply, he’s having a terrible season, and the Giants needed to take advantage of that.

Indeed the Giants did take advantage of Corbin’s abysmal season, and they did so right off the crack of the bat. The first crack of the bat in this game to be exact, as Tyler Fitzgerald, who was in the leadoff spot Monday night, started the game with a home run to left field.

It’s just remarkable what Fitzgerald has been able to do. This was his 12th home run of the season, and his 11th in 17 games. Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Walker Cooper and Mel Ott are the only Giants who have hit 11 home runs in 17 games.

Another reason this was the Giants’ best opportunity to get back to .500 was that they had their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound. After a rough appearance in the All-Star Game and start to his second half, Webb threw a complete game shutout against the Oakland A’s last Wednesday, and he looked to build off that Monday night.

Webb started his night with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning and a scoreless bottom of the second. Corbin pitched a scoreless top of the second, but the Giants rallied against him in the top of the third.

Mike Yastrzemski doubled to start the top of the third, but after Fitzgerald lined out and Mark Canha grounded out, Yaz was still standing at second. Michael Conforto then walked, and that brought up Matt Chapman, who hit a high and towering three-run home run down the left field line. It was an absolute blast that went almost all the way to the back of the seats out in left.

Webb and the Giants had a 4-0 lead, and Webb responded by pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third. After Corbin threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth, Webb ran into his first jam in the bottom of the fourth.

Luis Garcia Jr. walked with one out and stole second base to put a runner in scoring position for the Nationals for the first time Monday night. James Wood walked with two outs, as Washington had a rally for free going. However, Webb got Travis Blankenhorn to ground out to third to end the inning.

Patrick Corbin ended up going six innings, as he pitched scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth to end his night. Webb pitched through a two-out double in the bottom of the fifth, and he retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but he ran into trouble with two outs.

Keibert Ruiz walked and advanced to second on a balk called by First Base Umpire Dan Merzel. Wood, who was at the plate when the balk was called, then shot a base-hit into right-center to score Ruiz and put the Nationals on the board.

Blankenhamp singled Wood over to third to bring up the tying run to the plate, and that did it for Webb. Ryan Walker came in for the Giants and got Alex Call to fly out to right to end the inning, as the Giants kept their 4-1 lead going to the seventh.

As for Webb, he was solid. He gave up just one run and four hits over five and two thirds innings. However, with a pitch count of 95, he got winded out a bit, and as a result, he struggled in the sixth.

Jacob Barnes pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh for the Nationals, and Walker stayed in for the Giants to throw a scoreless bottom of the seventh.

Eduardo Salazar came in for Washington in the top of the eighth. A single by LaMonte Wade and a double by Michael Conforto put runners at second and third with nobody out for the Giants. However, the Giants who have become home run happy in the last few days, were unable to add to their lead, as Salazar retired the side to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals did the exact same thing the Giants did in the top of the inning. Garcia singled and Ruiz doubled off left-hander Taylor Rogers to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Taylor then Wood and Blankenhorn out swinging, both on three pitches.

Bob Melvin then pulled Taylor Rogers for Tyler Rogers. Tyler got Call to fly out to right to end the inning, so the eighth inning was the exact same for both teams. A leadoff single, followed by a double, and then the side was retired without anybody scoring.

Jose Ferrer threw a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for the Nationals, and Melvin brought in his closer, Camilo Doval, for the bottom of the ninth. Doval had been snakebit since his blown save in Pittsburgh on May 21, so drama was expected.

However, Doval surprised us all by striking out the side to close out the game in a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth. It was Doval’s first 1-2-3 inning since July 2.

Logan Webb got the win; Patrick Corbin got the loss; and Camilo Doval got his 21st save of the season.

This was a real team effort, but the fact that the Giants are home run happy again meant that they are still wasting a fair amount of opportunities with runners in scoring position. That will have to change if this team wants to make a serious run at the Playoffs.

The Giants are indeed back at .500 for the first time since May 31, as they improve to 57-57. They remain four and a half games back of a playoff spot, as the Padres and Diamondbacks are tied for the second wild card, and they are in a virtual tie with the Braves, who hold the first wild card by a percentage point.

The Giants and Nationals will be right back at it in the second game of this series Tuesday night. Hayden Birdsong (3-0, 2.97 ERA) will be called back up to make the start for the Giants, and he will be opposed by left-hander MacKenzie Gore (6-9, 4.54 ERA).

With a win, the Giants would be over .500 for the first time since their offday on May 30. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m. in D.C., 3:45 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Braves 60-51 —

*2. Diamondbacks 61-52 —

*3. Padres 61-52 —

Mets 59-53 1.5

Pirates 56-55 4.0

Cardinals 57-56 4.0

GIANTS 57-57 4.5

*Denotes tiebreaker. Tiebreaking procedures taken into effect.

Giants News and Notes:

Blake Snell was awarded with the National League Player of the Week after his no-hitter in Cincinnati on Friday. That should come as no surprise, and it was very much well deserved.

Some bad news. Wilmer Flores, who had been dealing with tendinitis in his right knee throughout much of the season, will undergo a non-surgical Tenex procedure on his right knee Tuesday in Los Angeles.

A Tenex procedure is minimally invasive, and it uses ultrasound to treat chronic tendon pain.

The Giants have yet to announce a timeline for Flores’ recovery.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: White Sox could tie all time consecutive MLB loss record; 2024 Paris Olympic medal count; plus more news

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Chicago White Sox starter Claude Flexen (77) just can’t look anymore as he’s removed in the bottom of the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sun Aug 3, 2024. The White Sox open a three game series with the Oakland A’s Mon Aug 4, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum and could tie the all time losing streak record at 23 if they get swept in the series (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, we’ll talk to you about a variety of subject starting with the possibility that the Chicago White Sox could tie the all time consecutive loss record at 23 on Wednesday if the A’s were to sweep this three game series which starts tonight.

#2 The A’s have had their own struggles of last after edging the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday they lost the next two games 10-0 Saturday and 3-2 on Sunday. The A’s first series loss since mid July.

#3 Switching over to the Paris Olympics and the medal count, China is in first place with the most gold medals, second the US with 20 and Australia with 13. The competition has been fast and furious in this year’s games.

#4 Former NFL star quarterback Tom Brady is considering un-retiring and wants to try out for either the San Francisco 49ers or Las Vegas Raiders. Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.

#5 The Kansas City Chiefs have signed kicker Harrison Butler to a yearly $6.4 million deal that’s worth $25.6 million for four years and $17.75 million guaranteed. That would sign Butler through 2028. Butler hit 33 of 35 field goal attempts for 94.3% last season.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants open four game stint with Nationals tonight in DC

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Cincinnati Reds Elly Del La Cruz (right) slides stealing third base as third baseman Matt Chapman (left) looks for the throw at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sun Aug 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman belted 17th home run of the season that helped the Giants in their six runs win over the Red Legs 8-2.

#2 The Giants had Tyler Fitzgerald and LeMonte Wade Jr both hit a home run as the Giants took two out of three from the Reds.

#3 The Giants in the bottom of the sixth avoided the Reds from tying up the game when Chapman barehanded a ground ball hit by TJ Friedl and throwing out Elly De La Cruz at first base.

#4 Taking a look at Chapman’s home run again Chapman hit a two run blast off Reds pitcher Carson Spiers who dropped his record to 4-3.

#5 Giants open a four game series in Washington on Monday night starting pitcher for the Nationals Patrick Corbin (2-8, ERA 5.88) and for the Giants Logan Webb (8-8, ERA 3.49) first pitch 3:45pm PT.

Marko Ukalovic is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s host White Sox who’s on 20 game losing streak at Coliseum tonight

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) celebrates hitting a two run homer with teammate JJ Bleday (33) in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sun Aug 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara, the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday took two out three games from the Oakland A’s defeat the A’s 3-2 at the Oakland Coliseum. The Dodgers Kike Hernandez hit an RBI double which made the difference in a one run decision.

#2 The Dodgers with their win snapped their six road series losing streak. The Dodgers on Saturday also snapped a three game losing streak with a 10-0 win over the A’s.

#3 Dodgers rookie pitcher River Ryan pitched 4 2/3 innings allowed two runs, four hits, four strikeouts and four walks. Ryan did not get the decision in Sunday’s contest and has not figured in a decision in his last three outings.

#4 The A’s Brent Rooker hit a two run home run for his 28th of the season a two run blast in the first inning but it wasn’t enough as the A’s lose by a run to conclude the series with the Dodgers.

#5 The A’s host the Chicago White Sox Monday night for the first of a three game series. The White Sox are on a 20 game losing streak and could tie the Major League record for consecutive loses if they lose all three games to the A’s. Starting pitcher for the Sox RHP Jonathan Cannon (1-5, ERA 4.11) for the A’s JP Sears (8-8, ERA 4.53) first pitch at the Coliseum slated for 6:40pm PT

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

Is River Ryan the answer for the Dodgers’ problematic, starting rotation?

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND—The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation is a mess.

But for the third, consecutive start, River Ryan provided the NL West leaders a neat option. The rookie right-hander pitched into the fifth inning and departed with a 3-2 lead over the A’s that would stand as the final score. In his first three major league starts, all since July 22, Ryan’s been on the winning side each time, and manager Dave Roberts has his unlikely rotation option penciled in for a fourth start Saturday after a convenient extra-day of rest.

“I thought River was good,” Roberts said. “We didn’t push him too much.”

“Warming up, I knew I wasn’t going to have my best stuff today,” Ryan said, as he took inventory of his strengths and weaknesses while warming up before the game in the bullpen.

Ryan, who started the season in the Arizona Complex League, and also pitched for Double-A Rancho Cucamonga and Triple-A Oklahoma City, wasn’t a rotation option at any point, until he was the option. With Walker Buehler slow to recover from Tommy John surgery, and flashy free agent signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto sidelined with a shoulder issue, two, critical spots opened in the rotation. In addition, the timeless Clayton Keyshawn didn’t debut until July 25. Tyler Glasgow and Gavin Stone have been the two constants, but neither are beyond getting replaced now that prized deadline acquisition Wade Flaherty has arrived and pitched well in his initial start.

Two other options, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, are on the injured list as well. And all the uncertainty and issues brought Roberts and GM Brandon Gomes looking for Ryan.

Ryan admittedly hasn’t been fantastic, but he has been steady, allowing no home runs in 15 innings of work, the logical flip side to allowing three walks in each of his starts. Ryan’s reminder to himself ties it all together.

“If you fall behind guys, you give them a chance to do damage,” he said.

Sunday’s win gave the Dodgers their first series victory on the road in their last six opportunities, something that didn’t seem likely after Friday’s 6-5 loss. That dropped Los Angeles’ division lead to just four games, which is as close as the NL West race had been since May 30. But Roberts simply asked his club to stay focused, and put on blinders.

“You have to remain steadfast, and eliminate the noise,” Roberts said.

DODGERS-A’s SERIES NOTES: The Oakland Coliseum was made memorable in the movie “Moneyball” for being the location of the A’s record 20th win in a row in 2002. Now, the Coliseum could gain notoriety as the location of a Chicago White Sox’ record-tying 23rd loss in a row this week.

The Sox experienced another dreadful afternoon in Minneapolis on Sunday, falling behind 7-0 to the Twins after two innings, before losing 13-7. Chicago has now lost 20 straight games, the longest losing streak in MLB in the last 36 years.

The Sox play their next three games in Oakland, meaning they could be in line to tie the all-time record of 23 losses held by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday afternoon.

The A’s won 17 of 24 games against the Dodgers at the Coliseum with the lifetime series now concluded. That success allowed the A’s to claim the best record against the Dodgers of any team all-time (24 wins, 21 losses).

Brent Rooker homered on Sunday, giving him 15 home runs and 37 RBI over his last 32 games.

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Dodgers beat A’s and take series 3-2, as Oakland drops first series since early July

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The Los Angeles Dodgers Teoscar Hernandez (37) raises his arms in celebration after hitting his double in the top of the first inning against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Los Angele Dodgers 3 (65-47)

Oakland Athletics 2 (46-67)

Win: Alex Vesia (2-3)

Loss: Osvaldo Bido (2-3)

Save: Anthony Banda (1)

Time: 2:27

Attendance: 25,544

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s were unable to complete the sweep, as JP Sears imploded late, and the Astros won it 8-1 in what was most likely their final game at the Oakland Coliseum.

After the A’s hung on for a thrilling win Friday night, the Dodgers evened the series with a 10-0 trouncing last night. Sunday, the A’s had a chance to take the series on this clear but hazy Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum, which has become the new Dodger Stadium North.

It would most likely be the final game that the Dodgers played at the Coliseum. While the Dodgers of course didn’t play here every year, the A’s and Dodgers squared off in the 1974 and 1988 World Series.

Three games in each series were played here at the Coliseum. The A’s wrapped up their third-straight title at the Coliseum with a 3-2 win in Game 5 of the 1974 World Series. Joe Rudi hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Hall-of-Famer Rollie Fingers closed it out in the ninth.

The Dodgers won the 1988 World Series, but while that series was most remembered for Kirk Gibson’s historic walk-off home run in Game 1, Mark McGwire gave the A’s and their fans some magic of their own with a less-remembered walk-off home run in Game 3 here at the Coliseum. The Dodgers then won Games 4 and 5 at the Coliseum to wrap up the series.

Fast forward to 2024, and while the A’s have been out of contention, they did have an opportunity to play spoiler and take two of three from the Dodgers, who came into today’s game just four and a half games ahead of the San Diego Padres atop the National League West.

Making the start Sunday for Oakland was Osvaldo, who ran into a jam with one out in the top of the first inning. Teoscar Hernandez doubled, and Gavin Lux walked. The veteran, Jason Heyward, struck out swinging for the second out, and that brought up Kiké Hernandez.

Kiké hit a shot out into left-center that A’s center-fielder JJ Bleday attempted to catch as he slid to his right, but the ball shot past Bleday, and both runners scored to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

The A’s bounced right back against Dodgers’ starter River Ryan in the bottom of the first. After Ryan retired the first two men he faced, Bleday lined a base-hit to center, and Brent Rooker tied the game with a home run to left-center.

Both teams went down scoreless in the second, but the Dodgers got a rally going in the top of the third. Heyward lined a one-out base-hit to right and advanced to second on an error. With two outs, Cavin Biggio got Heyward in with a base-hit off the fists into right-center, and the Dodgers retook the lead.

From there, the game calmed down. The A’s did load the bases in the bottom of the fifth, which forced Ryan out of the game, but Evan Phillips came in and struck Brent Rooker out looking to end the inning.

Bido pitched a scoreless top of the sixth to end his day. By giving up three runs over six innings, Bido pitched a quality outing. He did give up six hits and walked three, but he struck out six.

Nothing really happened in the final three innings, though the A’s bullpen pitched three no-hit innings. Michel Otanez struck out two in a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, and Austin Adams and Tyler Ferguson pitched scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth.

The Dodgers’ bullpen, meanwhile, set down the final ten hitters they faced, and Anthony Banda picked up his second-career save.

Alex Vesia got the win, and Osvaldo Bido got the loss. This is the first time the A’s have lost a series since they lost two of three to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park nearly a month ago.

The A’s will have a real chance to get some wins with the Chicago White Sox coming in. The White Sox are currently suffering through a 20-game losing streak.

Every few years or so, there’s a team that flirts with matching the misery of the 1962 New York Mets, who went 40-120 in their inaugural season. The A’s were potentially looking to be that team early last season. The White Sox are now 27-87 here in 2024, and they are on pace to go 38-124.

Monday night JP Sears (8-8, 4.53 ERA) will make the start for Oakland in the series opener, and he will be opposed by the Chicago White Sox Jonathan Cannon (1-5, 4.11 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman : Giants Chapman homers beat Reds by six runs 8-2 at Great American

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman runs the bases after hitting a two run home run in the top of the eighth inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sun Aug 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman belted 17th home run of the season that helped the Giants in their six runs win over the Red Legs 8-2.

#2 The Giants had Tyler Fitzgerald and LeMonte Wade Jr both hit a home run as the Giants took two out of three from the Reds.

#3 The Giants in the bottom of the sixth avoided the Reds from tying up the game when Chapman barehanded a ground ball hit by TJ Friedl and throwing out Elly De La Cruz at first base.

#4 Taking a look at Chapman’s home run again Chapman hit a two run blast off Reds pitcher Carson Spiers who dropped his record to 4-3.

#5 Giants open a four game series in Washington on Monday night starting pitcher for the Nationals Patrick Corbin (2-8, ERA 5.88) and for the Giants Logan Webb (8-8, ERA 3.49) first pitch 3:45pm PT.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ray strong over five innings, as Giants pull away with five-run eighth en route to 8-2 win

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman connects for a single in the top of the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sun Aug 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024

Great American Ballpark

Cincinnati, Ohio

San Francisco Giants 8 (56-57)

Cincinnati Reds 2 (53-58)

Win: Robbie Ray (2-1)

Loss: Carson Spiers (4-3)

Time: 2:55

Attendance: 27,692

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have now won seven of their last nine, Robbie Ray gave a strong five-inning, nine-strikeout performance, and the Giants pulled away with a five-run top of the eighth inning to put an 8-2 beating on the Reds and take the series in Cincinnati on Sunday.

After Blake Snell’s no-hitter on Friday, the Reds beat the Giants in a weird and boring game Saturday night. Sunday, the Giants had a chance to take the series on a clear and sunny Sunday afternoon at Great American Ballpark.

Unfortunately for Giants’ and Reds’ fans, many of them would not be able to watch today’s game. Why? Because it was on Roku, which requires a paid subscription. Way to grow the game, Rob!

Anyway, Carson Spiers made the start for the Reds, and he got the afternoon started with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Robbie Ray made his third start of the season for the Giants, and he, too, pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first.

After the Giants went scoreless in the top of the second, Jeimer Candelario put the Reds on the board with a two-out solo home run to left field in the bottom of the second. On the very next pitch, Santiago Espinal followed it up with a home run of his own to left-center to make it 2-0.

After Spier pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third and Ray threw a scoreless bottom of the third, the Giants were ready to strike in the top of the fourth. Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left to start the inning, and with one out, Matt Chapman tied the game with a home run to center field.

Ray threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth, and Spiers threw a scoreless top of the fifth. Ray ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fifth when Espinal singled to lead off the inning and stole second and third. The Reds were in perfect position to retake the lead with Espinal at third and one out, but Ray got out of it by striking out the side.

That would be it for Ray, who had thrown 86 pitches. Still, he gave the Giants exactly what they needed, as he struck out nine over five innings.

The momentum stayed in the Giants’ dugout, and they immediately seized on that momentum in the top of the sixth. On the first pitch of the inning from Spiers, LaMonte Wade gave the Giants the lead with a home run to right.

Ryan Walker came in for San Francisco in the bottom of the sixth, and he was immediately in trouble after he hit Elly De La Cruz to start the inning. Cruz got to third with one out, but Walker retired the next two he faced, and the Giants kept their 3-2 lead going to seventh.

Tony Santillan, who finished the top of the sixth for Spier, combined with Sam Moll for a scoreless inning in the top of the seventh. Erik Miller retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but after a two-out walk to Joey Wiemer, Bob Melvin went to Tyler Rogers, who hadn’t pitched in eight days. Rogers got Tyler Stephenson to ground out, and we went to the eighth.

Moll stayed in for Cicinnati in the top of the eighth. After a one-out single by Wade, Reds Manager David Bell pulled Moll for Fernando Cruz. Cruz would face the red-hot Fitzgerald, who was named the National League Rookie of the Month in July, and Fitzgerald hit his 11th home run of the year out to left-center to extend the Giants’ lead to 5-2.

For the Giants, they were just getting started. Patrick Bailey walked, and Chapman doubled to put runners at second and third. The Giants had been getting home run happy at Great American Smallpark, but after Bell brought in Yosver Zulueta, Michael Conforto lined a double off the end of the bat to left-center to score a pair and make it 7-2.

The Giants manufactured a pair of runs, which made this particular writer happy. Young slugger Jerar Encarnacion nearly hit one out to center, but it went off the wall, and Encarnacion had to settle for a measly RBI double that made it 8-2.

Rogers has been used quite a bit this season, but he hadn’t been used in eight days, so Melvin decided to leave him in in the bottom of the eighth of a six-run game to get some work in. Rogers didn’t disappoint, as he threw a shutdown 1-2-3 inning.

The Giants put runners at first and second against Zulueta to start the top of the ninth, but they were unable to further add on to their lead. Spencer Bivens came in for the bottom of the ninth, and pitched a scoreless inning to close it out.

It looks like the Giants needed to play the Rockies for four and then go to Great American Smallpark for three to get the offense back on track. The Giants got big days from Wade, Fitzgerald, Chapman and Conforto. Wade and Conforto each went 3-for-5; Fitzgerald went 2-for-4; and Chapman went 2-for-5. Conforto in particular had a good series, as he has gone 5-for-8 in his last two games.

For the housekeeping notes: Robbie Way got the win; and Carson Spiers got the loss.

The Giants have now won seven of their last nine, as they improve to 56-57. The Diamondbacks were losing 4-0 to the Pirates in Pittsburgh, but they have since come back to take a 5-4 lead. If the Pirates can come back late, the Giants will be just three and a half games back of the Diamondbacks for the third wild card.

The Giants will not head to our nation’s capital to take on the Washington Nationals for a four-game set. The Giants are 2-11 when they have a chance to get back up to .500, but perhaps it could be different in the series opener Monday night.

Logan Webb (8-8, 3.49 ERA) will be on the mound, fresh off his complete game shutout on Wednesday, and he will be opposed by the long-time veteran left-hander, Patrick Corban (2-11, 5.88 ERA), who has had a miserable season. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m. in D.C., and 3:45 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Heliot Ramos, who jammed his right thumb during the Giants’ doubleheader against the Rockies on July 27, was out of the lineup Sunday. Ramos has since gone 3-for-21, all singles. He is listed as day-to-day.

As mentioned above, Tyler Fitzgerald was named the National League Rookie of the Month for July, which was capped off by an incredible week in which he hit eight home runs in ten games.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Dodgers win with a vengeance Saturday after losing 3 straight games beat A’s 10-0

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Oakland A’s right fielder Lawrence Butler (4) takes a sliding catch on a fly ball hit by the Los Angeles Dodgers Cavan Biggio in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty was razor sharp in his outing against the Oakland A’s keeping a hot hitting line up off balance as the Dodgers and Flaherty threw a shutout for a 10-0 win on Saturday night.

#2 The win helped snapped the Dodgers three game losing streak. The Dodgers had lost Friday’s game against the A’s 6-5 and the that they lost to a last place club and have been struggling fired them up for their big Saturday victory.

#3 The Dodgers Shohei Ohtani is having quite a series against the A’s with a three run ninth inning home run on Friday and three stolen bases on Saturday night. Ohtani now has 31 stolen bases and 33 home runs.

#4 Flaherty who was just acquired last Tuesday had his biggest outing for the Dodgers pitching six innings, allowing five hits and no runs. Flaherty struck out seven hitters.

#5 The A’s hope to salvage this three game series Sunday at the Oakland Coliseum as they will face Dodgers starter RHP River Ryan (1-0, 0.82) and the A’s will start Osvaldo Bido (2-2, ERA 5.00) for a 1:05pm PT first pitch.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on 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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Reds get 4 home runs and six innings of shutout ball from Greene to defeat Giants Saturday

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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene deals against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning on Saturday Aug 2, 2024 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Cincinnati Reds Tyler Stephenson hit two of the Reds four home runs in the Reds 6-4 win over the Giants Saturday.

#2 Reds starter Hunter Greene now 8-4 and extended his scoreless streak to 21 games. Greene pitched six innings of shutout ball against on Saturday.

#3 Greene’s six straight starts in a season giving up one or no runs matches former Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer in 1938.

#4 The Giants starter Kyle Harrison dropped his record to 6-5 and lost a tough game going 3 2/3 innings allowing six runs and six hits for the loss.

#5 Reds closer Alex Diaz shut the door on the Giants in the ninth pitching one inning, one hit and one earned run and no strikeouts.

Morris Phillips is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com