Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Giants try to rebound from sweep open up series Pirates Monday night

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New York Mets Juan Soto (right) connects with the baseball for his 25th home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 27, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 On Sunday the New York Mets swept the San Francisco Giants for the first since June 23-25 in 2017. The Mets for the most part in the series did it with authority.

#2 The Mets sweep over the Giants is their eighth of the season tying for the most sweeps in the majors.

#3 It was a bullpen for the Giants the Giants ended up using seven pitchers. Giant reliever Randy Rodriguez was fourth pitcher used ended up with the loss pitching in the seventh inning and giving up two runs. It was a tough loss for Rodriguez who was looking to close the door on the Mets.

#4 The Mets got home run help in the top of the seventh inning from Ronny Mauricio and Juan Soto for two big insurance runs as the Mets went up 4-3 and eventually won it 5-3.

#5 The Giants pitching staff are suffering from sore arms and open us a three game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. The Giants who threw a bullpen game Sunday will most likely do the same on Monday night. The Pirates will be starting RHP Mitch Keller (4-10 ERA 3.53) he’ll be opposed by the Giants LHP Carson Wisenhunt (0-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch at 6:45pm PT.

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Insomniac Lunatic Fringe Postgame podcast 7-26-2025 Mets @ Giants

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Stephen talks about the San Francisco Marine layer that brings in the cool weather into the City as compared to Sacramento which has over 100 degree weather in the summer (San Francisco Chronicle photo)

Insomniac Lunatic Fringe Postgame 7-26-2025 Mets @ Giants by Stephen Ruderman

There was a picture of a woman wearing two scarves on the John Boy Talking Baseball which tweets out “brutal to have a July baseball game where you have to dress like this.” Are you serious? Come on really are you serious?” This is the time of the year when it’s really hot especially in your neck of the woods John Boy it’s muggy it’s horrible. A year ago we were going through our worst summer heat wave as ever here in Sacramento.

A year ago this weekend today July 27th I was at the Giants Saturday doubleheader between the Giants and Rockies. We were not just having our worst heatwave I’m talking about temps in the high 100s it was awful. Getting to sit in the seats under the marine layer with a jacket on just weeks after having to endure this 110 degree heat

I was such a treat and it was a treat for anyone who has to endure a hot summer in any location in this country especially you should know this more than anyone John Boy in New York where it’s not just hot but it’s muggy, it’s humid it’s sticky. This is one of the mild summers this year in 2025.

Listen to the podcast with Stephen Ruderman who is a San Francisco Giants podcaster at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

SF Giants post game report: Home runs and more wasted opportunities do Giants in, as Mets complete sweep with 5-3 win

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Carson Wisenhunt (18) will start against the Pittsburgh Pirates Mon Jul 28, 2025 at Oracle Park. Wisenhunt is the Giants third highest prospect. Wisenhunt walks off the field after pitching in the Futures Game at the MLB All Star Game on Sat Jul 12, 2025 at Truist Field in Cumberland GA (Getty photo)

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco CA

New York Mets 5 (62-44)

San Francisco Giants 3 (54-52)

Win: Jose Butto (3-1)

Loss: Randy Rodriguez (3-2)

Save: Edwin Diaz (23)

Time: 3:10

Attendance: 40,124

By Stephen Ruderman

Home runs by Ronny Mauricio and Juan Soto in the top of the seventh inning did Randy Rodriguez and the Giants in, as the Mets completed the sweep of the Giants with a 5-3 win on Sunday Night Baseball at Oracle Park.

Sunday was the 2025 Hall-of-Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Billy Wagner, CC Sabathia and Ichiro Suzuki, as well as the late-great Dick Allen and Dave Parker, the latter of whom passed away just a month ago, made up the Class of 2025.

The Giants honored their own hall-of-famer. Granted, it was the Mascot Hall-of-Fame, but the Giants held a ceremony for their longtime mascot, Lou Seal, prior to the game.

Back to the serious business of baseball. The Giants were limited to just a run in each of the first two games of this series against the Mets, who took the first two games of this big three-game series. This evening, the Giants looked to avoid the sweep on Sunday Night Baseball.

Sunday night was Hayden Birdsong’s turn in the rotation, but with Birdsong down in Sacramento, Bob Melvin turned to his 32-year-old left-hander, Matt Gage, to be his opener. Gage set the tone nicely with a 1-2-3 to of the first inning.

Kodai Senga made the start for the Metropolitans, and started his evening with a scoreless bottom of the first. The Giants then had runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the second, but Senga struck out Patrick Bailey and Brett Wisley to wiggle out of it without any damage.

Spencer Bivens came in for the Giants, and escaped a jam in the top of the second. However, Bivens wasn’t so lucky in the top of the third, as the Mets manufactured a run to get on the board.

The Giants looked to respond in the bottom of the third, as Heliot Ramos was standing at second base with two outs. Willy Adames then hit a check-swing roller along the third base line that stayed fair and was going to turn out to be an infield hit, but for whatever reason, Ramos took off for third, and was tagged out by Mets’ third-baseman Ronny Mauricio to end the inning.

Bivens survived a one-out double by Jeff McNeil in the top of the fourth. Matt Chapman then put the Giants on the board with a line-drive home run to left-center field to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

Francisco Alvarez led off the top of the fifth with a double, and Mauricio lined a double down the right field line, which knocked in Alvarez to put the Mets back ahead. Melvin brought in the lefty, Joey Lucchesi, who was able to escape further damage with some help from shortstop Willy Ademes, who cut Mauricio down at the plate.

Senga retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fifth. Adames then lined a base-hit to left, and Chapman hit his second home run of the game, a towering drive to left-center, to give the Giants their first of the evening.

The Giants led 3-2 going to the sixth, but McNeil hit his second double of the game with one out. Melvin summoned his all-star, Randy Rodriguez, who worked out of it and kept the Giants ahead.

However, Mauricio led off the top of the seventh with a blast into the water in right to tie the game. A member of the Jung Hoo Crew, so either McCovey Cove Dave wasn’t there, or he was positioned elsewhere in the cover. Juan Soto then hit an opposite-field home run to left with two outs, and the Mets were back ahead 4-3.

The Giants wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the eighth, and the Mets tacked on another run in the top of the ninth against Sean Hjelle to make it 5-3.

The Mets brought in their lights-out closer, Edwin Diaz, for the bottom of the ninth to try and close it out. Wisely flew out to right to start the inning, but the Giants loaded the bases with one out.

The Giants were unable to make anything out of a one-out double by Jung Hoo Lee in the bottom of the ninth last night, and the Giants hoped for a better fate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth today.

However, the Giants had yet to get a single hit with a runner scoring position in this entire series, and that would remain the case through the very end. Adames was caught looking, and Chapman struck out looking to end it.

The Giants ended up going 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position in this series, and the sweep was complete.

Jose Butto, who pitched the bottom of the sixth, got the win; Randy Rodriguez took the loss; and Edwin Diaz picked up his 23rd save.

The Giants fall to 54-52, and they are just two games over .500 for the first time since March 31. Even worse, the Padres smoked the Cardinals 9-2 this afternoon in St. Louis, so the Giants are now three games back of San Diego for the third wild card spot.

The Giants will hope for better luck against the 44-62 Pittsburgh Pirates, who come into Oracle Park for three games starting Sunday night. However, the Pirates have won five of their last six, having swept the Detroit Tigers, and taking two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Left-hander Carson Wisenhunt (8-5, 4.42 ERA at AAA Sacramento), who is the Giants’ third-highest ranked prospect, and was even considered one of the top 100 prospects in all of Baseball not too long ago, will take the ball for the Giants in his major league debut Monday night. Taking the ball for Pittsburgh will be right-hander Mitch Keller (4-10, 3.53 ERA).

First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

San Francisco Giants Game Recap: No Homers, No Comebacks as Giants Drop a Close One to Mets, 2-1

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New York Mets’ Mark Vientos hits a two-run double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, July 26, 2025 in San Francisco. (Photo Credits to AP photographer Godofredo A. Vasquez)

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco Giants: 1

New York Mets: 2

Win: New York Mets Pitcher David Peterson (7-4)

Loss: San Francisco Giants Pitcher Robbie Ray (9-5)

Attendance: 39,029

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – The Giants were looking to even the series against the New York Mets with a win on Saturday evening, but have fallen short. The Giants have now lost eight of their last ten games dating back to July 12th, and have been held to three runs or fewer in six of those games. As the Mets get their 6th consecutive win.

The loss marked another frustrating night for the Giants’ offense, which outhit New York but couldn’t convert when it mattered most — leaving key runners stranded and hitting into multiple double plays. Despite Robbie Ray’s strong outing and Jung Hoo Lee’s standout performance, the Giants were unable to overcome the Mets’ two-run sixth inning.

Baserunners, defensive moments, and missed opportunities drove the early innings on both sides.

The Mets attacked immediately in the first inning. The Giants found themselves in difficulty after Francisco Lindor walked and third baseman Matt Chapman made a throwing error. However, Robbie Ray escaped by getting Starling Marte to line out, burning 25 pitches while causing no damage.

San Francisco responded with the same scenario in the bottom half. Rafael Devers singled, Willy Adames walked, and Chapman came in with two on, only to line into a rally-killing double play started by Mark Vientos at third.

In the second inning, Francisco Álvarez hit a two-out triple, but Ray struck out Tyrone Taylor to prevent more damage. The Giants responded with two singles in the bottom half, but the inning ended on another double play, this time by Luis Matos.

Both starters worked scoreless third innings, with Ray retiring the side in order and David Peterson matching him to keep the game tied at 0-0 after three.

A no-scoring game was finally broken in the fourth. Despite three consecutive hits, the Mets were unable to score as Vientos struck out and Álvarez grounded into an inning-ending double play started by Chapman.

The Giants made the break count in the second half. Adames and Chapman hit, Schmitt walked, and Jung Hoo Lee scored the game’s first run with a fielder’s choice, giving San Francisco a 1-0 lead.

Ray looked sharp in the fifth, striking out Taylor and pitching a clean one, two, three, inning. Despite putting two more runners on base, the Giants were unable to score, as Chapman struck out again with two on to close the period.

In the sixth, New York finally cashed in. Juan Soto walked, stole second, and advanced on a ground ball. After another walk and a botched potential double play at first, Vientos hit the Giants with a two-run double to left, giving the Mets a 2-1 advantage. Ray’s night ended after 102 pitches, and pitcher Ryan Walker saved further damage by striking out Nimmo with the bases loaded.

Wilmer Flores led off with a single in the bottom half for the Giants, but Brandon Nimmo caught him reaching for second on a perfect throw. Jung Hoo Lee got another single later in the inning, but Matos flied out to center, ending the inning.

The Giants had a chance to fight back as Randy Rodríguez, Tyler Rogers, Joey Lucchesi, and Ryan Walker held the Mets scoreless in the final three innings. Rogers pitched around a leadoff double in the 8th, and Rodríguez struck out two in the 9th, including Juan Soto with a runner on, to hold the score to one.

The Giants had their best chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Jung Hoo Lee hit his 22nd double of the season into the gap in right. Pinch hitter Mike Yastrzemski struck out, leaving Patrick Bailey as the final hope. Bailey made contact but lined out to Pete Alonso at first, sealing the Giants’ loss.

David Peterson (7-4) got the win for New York after pitching six innings of one earned run. Ray (9-5) suffered a tough loss, giving up two runs in 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. Edwin Díaz secured his 23rd save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

The Giants are currently 2-6 since the All-Star break, trying to maintain consistency as the second half of the season has begun. Saturday’s game was also the first one in Major League Baseball without a home run, which is an unusual occurrence in today’s power-driven game.

San Francisco is looking to prevent a sweep in Sunday’s finale at 4:10 p.m. at Oracle Park. The Giants will play a bullpen game, with Matt Gage(0-0 ERA 0.00) starting and Carson Seymour likely covering multiple innings. The Mets will reply with right-hander Kodai Senga (7-3, 1.79 ERA), one of the National League’s most effective pitchers this season.

With playoff positioning tightening and frustration mounting, the Giants will need to find answers quickly to flip their fortunes around. Especially since the Giants went 0-8 with runners in scoring position tonight, and with the Giants bullpen throwing 35.1 innings since the All-Star break.

San Francisco Giants Game recap: Giants couldn’t contain the hot Mets, Giants lose 8-1

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New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor, right, runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (62) during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, July 25, 2025, in San Francisco. (Photo Credits to Godofredo A. Vásquez AP Photo)

Friday, July 25th, 2025

Oracle Park

New York Mets: 8

San Francisco Giants: 1

Win: New York Mets Pitcher Clay Holmes (9-5)

Loss: San Francisco Giants Pitcher Logan Webb (9-8)

Attendance: 41,163 (Sellout)

By: Michael Villanueva

The San Francisco Giants return home Friday evening to host the New York Mets, but unfortunately couldn’t contain them. The New York Mets spoiled the night at Oracle Park, jumping on Giants ace Logan Webb early to roll to an 8-1 win over San Francisco.

Webb struggled from the start, allowing eight hits and six earned runs over just four innings. He struck out four and walked one in a tough outing that put the Giants in a deep hole early.

Mets right-hander Clay Holmes earned the win, tossing five solid innings. He scattered six hits, gave up just one earned run, and added two strikeouts with one walk in a steady outing that kept the Giants’ offense quiet.

Mets offense struck quickly in the opening frame. After Brandon Nimmo led off with a double, Juan Soto grounded out to bring in the game’s first run. Pete Alonso followed with a sacrifice fly to give New York a 2–0 lead. The Giants answered with a run of their own in the bottom half, as Willy Adames grounded out to score Heliot Ramos—but that would be the last time San Francisco touched home plate all night.

Francisco Lindor led the Mets’ charge, going 3-for-5 with a single, double, and his 20th home run of the season in the third inning. He scored three runs and drove in two. Soto added two RBIs of his own, including an insurance single in the ninth after Ronald Acuña Jr. scored on a wild pitch by Camilo Doval.

Willy Adames was the lone bright spot at the plate for San Francisco, driving in the team’s only run. The rest of the lineup never found a rhythm, and six Giants relievers were called in throughout the night—each walking in from the bullpen in a long, symbolic line.

Friday’s loss marked the Giants’ fifth in seven games since the All-Star break, as they continue to search for momentum heading into the second half of the season.

The Giants hope to bounce back Saturday evening. Starting pitchers for the Mets LHP David Peterson (6-4 ERA 2.90) vs. Giants LHP Robbie Ray (9-4 ERA 2.92) 6:05pm PT.

San Francisco Giants Podcast Michael Villanueva: Verlander focusing on his next win

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Right-hander Justin Verlander finally got his first win as a Giant, in his 17th start of the season, on Wednesday against the Braves in Atlanta. (Photo credits to Todd Kirkland, Getty Images)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva

#1 Michael, Justin Verlander finally ends his historic 16-game winless streak on Wednesday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, 9-3. His 17th start this season, finally recorded his first in a Giants Uniform. Also making this his 263rd career wins.

#2 Rafael Devers stepped up to the plate and logged in four runs with three hits, and including two home runs. Devers was put back as the designated hitter, just one day after making his debut as the starting first baseman in Tuesday night’s 9-0 win.

#3 The Giants outscored the Braves 18-3 to win the final two games of the series after Atlanta won the opener 9-7. Just before the Giants got outscored by the Blue Jays 18-9.

#4 San Francisco Giants are one game behind San Diego from taking back second place in the NL West. With players coming back from old injuries like Matt Chapman, Michael what does it take for the Giants to get back to second and their hoping to reach the post season?

#5 The Giants return home to Oracle Park on Friday night at 7:15 PM to open a weekend series against the New York Mets. Giants RHP Logan Webb (9-7, ERA 3.08) will be on the mound as he faces off RHP Clay Holmes (8-5, ERA 3.48)

Join Michael Villanueva for the Giants podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: SF’s Verlander relieved to get first win; Giants meet the Mets on Friday

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San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers (16) rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run in the top of the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Field in Cobb County on Wed Jul 23, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander got nervous after it started raining Wednesday at Truist Park in Atlanta. The game was in fifth inning and Verlander wanted to get this one in as an official and was short three out to make that that happen for his first win of the season.

#2 The Giants had a 3-0 when the rains came and was afraid that once again his efforts to pick up his first win would be squandered away. Verlander holds the Giants record for the longest winless streak for a pitcher in Giants history. Verlander has gone winless in his first 16 starts.

#3 “I didn’t know. I figured something like that would happen,” Verlander said. “This would be the game that gets rained out or we have a two-hour delay and they don’t let me go back out.”

#4 Verlander threw five shutout innings, allowed a hit, and walked five Atlanta hitters and got some run support to boot.

#5 The return to Oracle Park on Friday to face the New York Mets. Starting pitcher for the Mets RHP Clay Holmes (8-5 ERA 3.48) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (9-7 ERA 3.08) first pitch 7:15pm PT.

Join Morris Phillips for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

7-23-2025 Giants @ Braves Insomniac Lunatic Fringe Postgame

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San Francisco Giant Dominic Smith (7) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring on Luis Matos RBI in the top of the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves on Wed Jul 23, 2025 (AP News photo)

What a difference the last 48 hours have made for the San Francisco Giants. The beat writers were talking with third baseman Matt Chapman apparently the words team meeting. Apparently after Monday’s loss the Giants went out and did everything right on Tuesday night.

Those things situational hitting, power, good defense you name it on route to a 9-0 win on Tuesday. There is word there was talks amongst the players after the game Monday because the Giants have looked like completely different team over the last 48 hours.

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer and does the Giants podcasts after every Giants game at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Verlander picks up first win of season; Lucky Number Three a Part of San Francisco Series Win Over Atlanta 9-3

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After eight decisions and four months of waiting San Francisco Giant veteran right hand pitcher Justin Verlander picks up his first win of the 2025 season against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Field in Cobb County on Wed Jul 23, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants had a second winning game in a row with a great offensive effort beating the Atlanta Braves 9-3. They went into the seventh inning leading 9-0 but gave up three runs.

Three appeared to be their lucky number today scoring three runs in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The best news of all Justin Verlander finally got his first win of the season after 17 starts. Rafael Devers had two home runs in the game.

The game had a quiet start through the first four innings. Both teams had opportunities to score in those innings but going into the fifth inning neither team had crossed home plate. It all turned around for the Giants in the fifth inning.

Devers got the team cooking hitting a solo home run taking a 1-0 lead and there was more to come. Willy Adames was hit by a pitch followed by a Matt Chapman two run home run and going into the sixth inning San Francisco had taken a 3-0 lead.

Three looked to be the lucky number for the Giants in this game. In the sixth inning Patrick Bailey doubled, Heliot Ramos singled and Devers hit his second home run of the game and just like that another three runs for San Francisco and a 6-0 lead.

What transpired in the seventh inning was just crazy but the way this game was going predictable. There was another base runner for the Giants when Chapman was hit by a pitch. Mike Yastrzemski walked and San Francisco had runners on first and second.

Casey Schmitt grounded out and the runners advance to second and third with the one out. Smith singled Chapman home for the first run of the inning. Patrick Bailey grounded out and Yastrzemski scored for the second run.

They added a third when Luis Matos singled Smith home. Three runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings set up the win in this game for San Francisco leading 9-0 going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Braves were far behind the eight ball going into the seventh inning but they did give it a go scoring three runs in the inning. Neither team scored in the final two innings: the final score was 9-3 in favor of the Giants.

It was a great offensive game for San Francisco. They had scored 19 run in the last two games of this series. This team had really bounced back. The best news of all was the first win of the season for pitcher Verlander.

He had to wait through 17 games until today’s game. He went six innings, gave up a single hit, and strangely five walks. He had three strikeouts and finally got the monkey off his back going forward.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the Giants beat the Braves in game three of their series. Justin Verlander picked up his first win for 2025. It was such a long time waiting but Verlander was able to break through.

The Giants will now head home after a great series in Atlanta to take on the New York Mets after a day off Thursday. For Friday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco the Mets starter will start Clay Holmes with a 8-5 win/loss record and a 3.48 ERA for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (9-7 ERA 3.08). First pitch for this game is scheduled for 7:15 PM PT as the Giants will be looking to continue their current streak.