Category: San Francisco Giants

Throwing error by Turner gives Giants thrilling victory 3-2

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Thairo Estrada the San Francisco Giants second baseman forces out the Los Angeles Dodgers Corey Seagar  and throws to first base to complete a double play on Fri Sep 3, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Trea Turner maybe new to the rivalry between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it was his throwing error that decided the game.

Turner threw the ball hit by Buster Posey that pulled Will Smith off of first base by mere inches that allowed Brandon Belt to score from third base and the Giants regained the first-place lead in the National League West with a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers before a crowd of 39,338 at Oracle Park.

Mike Yastrzemski started the inning on second base, then after Darin Ruf struck out for the first out of the inning, Brandon Belt was intentionally walked and then Kris Bryant to load the bases against losing pitcher Evan Phillips. Alex Dickerson then grounded into a force play, when Corey Seager threw to Austin Barnes for the second out of the inning that brought Posey to the plate.

Posey grounded the ball to Turner at second base that pulled Smith off the bag by inches and was originally called safe by first base umpire Todd Tichenor, the call was reviewed by the umpires in New York and after the review, the call was upheld and the Giants escaped with a hard-fought victory.

In the top of the 11th inning, the Dodgers were unable that all important run across, as Justin Turner, who started the inning on second base, then moved to third on a Corey Seager base hit; however, Turner was thrown out at the plate on a great throw by Brandon Crawford on a ball hit by Smith. Jarlin Garcia then struck out Chris Taylor and Phillips to end the jam and the inning.

Garcia pitched the final inning for the Giants, as he allowed one hit and struck out two to pick up his sixth win of the season.

Albert Pujols was on second base to start the top of the 10th inning, and then went to third on Austin Pollock fly out to centerfield and that is when Walker Buehler, who is scheduled to start Sunday afternoon for the Dodgers came on to pinch-run for Pujols and Buehler scored without a throw from Yastrzemski to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly by Trea Turner.

The Giants tied it up in the bottom of the 10th inning, when Posey scored on a Brandon Crawford single, who went to second on the throw home. Thairo Estrada then hit a ground ball that sent Crawford to third base; however, both Yastrzemski and pinch hitter Curt Casali struck out to end the inning.

Austin Slater came off the bench to pinch hit for LaMonte Wade, Jr., and Slater singled to left field in the bottom of the third inning with the bases loaded to score DeSclafani from third base to give the Giants the 1-0 lead over the Dodgers.

DeSclafani walked to lead off the inning against Phil Bickford, who came on to replace Corey Knebel, who went the first two innings.

Unfortunately, the Giants were unable to take care advantage following the Slater base hit, as Alex Vesia, who gave up the single to Slater was able to get Posey to ground into a force play that saw Justin Turner throw to Smith to get Ruf at the plate.

Ruf walked following DeSclafani, and after the Posey force out, Crawford hit a screaming line drive that Cody Bellinger was able to track down to end the inning.

DeSclafani ended up going six innings, allowing zero runs on just two hits, walking three and striking out five and did not figure in the decision.

Knebel, who went the first two innings for the Dodgers after being a last-minute replacement for David Price, allowed two hits and struck out two.

Bickford went 0.1 innings, allowing one run on one hits, walked two and struck out one in what turned into a bullpen game for the Dodgers.

Following Bickford, Dodgers manager used his entire bullpen, as Vesia came on then it was Brusdar Graterol, Justin Bruhl, Blake Treinen, Joe Kelly, Kenley Jansen, Andrew Vasquez and Evan Phillips.

In all, the 10 relievers allowed two runs on six hits, walked eight and struck out seven over the final 8.2 innings of the game that took four hours and 32 minutes to complete.

The Dodgers could not muster any offense off of DeSclafani, as he limited them to those two hits. DeSclafani gave up a single to Trea Turner and did not allow another hit until Seager singled with one out in the top of the fourth inning.

After the Turner single, Max Muncy grounded into a force play and after Mookie Betts popped out for the second out of the inning, DeSclafani walked Justin Turner; however, he was able to get out of the jam, when he struck out Seager to end the inning.

Unlike the Dodgers, the Giants put a few rallies together in three different innings, including the third. The Giants also put multiple runners on base in the bottom of the fifth, the sixth inning; and in the ninth inning; however, in those innings, they came away with nothing.

Evan Longoria made his return to the diamond in the bottom of the sixth inning, and reached on a throwing error when Muncy was unable to scoop up the Turner throw from third base.

With Longoria on first base, Ruf hit a low line drive into center field and it looked like made a great shoestring catch to end the inning; however, the call was overturned, when the ball hit the ground just before it landed in his glove.

Tyler Rogers came on in the top of the eighth inning and retired the Dodgers in order, including getting Muncy looking to end the inning.

Unfortunately, Jake McGee was unable to hold onto the lead for the Giants in the top of the ninth inning and secure his 30th save of the season, as he gave up a single to Justin Turner with one out, then Seager doubled him to third and after Smith grounded into a force play that saw Seager get called out after Turner returned to third base; however, the game could have ended if Posey would have tagged Seager prior to running Turner back to the base. The snafu cost the Giants, as Taylor tied up the game, when he singled to score Turner from third base.

NOTES: Longoria was reinstated from the 10-day injured list and Mauricio Dubon was optioned to Sacramento to make room for Longoria.

Entering the game, the Giants and Dodgers were tied for first place with the exact same winning percentage of .634, and it was only the second time in the long history of this rivalry (130 games or more) that the teams met. The only other time was from September 3-6, 1962, (Sarah Langs via Elias).

The 201 home runs hit by the Giants are the most by the team since they hit a team-record 235 home runs in 2001, and the 201 home runs are the sixth-most in team history.

This was the first time since September 18, 1997 that the Giants and Dodgers were tied for first place in the month of September. The Giants ended up taking over first place that afternoon, when former Skyline (Oakland) High School standout and Stanford quarterback Brian Johnson hit a solo home run off of Mark Guthrie to give the Giants a 6-5 victory in 12 innings, and propelled the Giants to win the National League West over the Dodgers.

UP NEXT: Julio Urias, who is 15-3 on the season for the Dodgers will take the mound on Saturday night, while there is no announced starter for the Giants.

Giants break losing spell with 5-1 win over Milwaukee, enter showdown with LA tied atop the NL West

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Big moments against the best performers. If you’re a San Francisco Giant, this is your official welcome to September baseball.

Darin Ruf had his moment first. With the Giants in a tense, and speedy 1-1 tie in the eighth inning, Ruf delivered a two-run double off Devin Williams, a lights-out setup man for the Brewers, who hadn’t allowed a run of any kind since June 23.

Six pitches after that, Thairo Estrada joined Ruf in the baseball cauldron by delivering a three-run homer that iced a 5-1 win for the Giants. That blast was only the fifth allowed by Williams this season, and the first to a right-handed hitter.

“The boys came hot late,” starter Logan Webb said. “It was fun to watch.”

Fun to watch, and absolutely essential. The win broke a four-game slide for the Giants, and allows them to enter Friday’s showdown with the Dodgers in a dead heat atop the NL West at 85-49. 28 games remain in the season, and only the next three are between the two, hated rivals. That means a lot of scoreboard watching and divided attention to come for the rest of the month.

“It’s a good boost of confidence going into the next series, but obviously, all of our attention and focus was on today’s game,” manager Gabe Kapler said.

The Giants were locked into a pitcher’s duel through seven innings with Webb, arguably the NL’s hottest starting pitcher dueling with Milwaukee’s unheralded Eric Lauer. Lauer allowed three hits and struck out four, with Austin Slater’s first pitch of the outing home run as his only blemish. Webb had sliders darting in and out of the strike zone for seven innings like clockwork, striking out 10 in a dominant outing in which he only allowed Jace Peterson’s RBI single in the fourth.

But by the eighth, both starters were gone, and both teams were scratching for a win as hard as they could.

The Giants caught a break when Kris Bryant was initially called out trying to steal second base, but a replay that needed all the looks and angles possible, reversed the call. After Brandon Belt drew a walk, Ruf struck with his lead-providing double, and Estrada left his mark as the next batter. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell sat through it all–the replay and the meltdown of his top reliever–but remained philosophical.

In the end, I think they got that call right,” Counsell said. “When a guy that’s 75 feet away from the call gets the call reversed, it’s just a little suspicious. So that was my argument, but they got it right.”

The Giants open the series with the Dodgers on Friday with Anthony DeSclafani facing David Price.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: A look at what turned a winning club to a struggling club

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San Francisco Giant Donovan Solano who pinched hit and played shortstop on Tue Aug 24th in his last game before going on the Covid IL against the New York Mets at Citi Park in New York will be finishing up his quarantine in a New York hotel and could be joining the Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco this weekend during the Los Angeles Dodgers series (file photo from aroundthefoghorn.com)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael, After losing four straight games and the first three games of the four game series to the Milwaukee Brewers the San Francisco Giants saw the Brewers on Wednesday night score in the earlier innings and the later innings meaning two in the second and two in the top of the ninth in a 5-2 three run loss.

#2 The loss also meant that after having the best winning record of 108 days since May 30th the tide has turned and the Giants who were in first in the NL West have slipped to second behind the Los Angeles Dodgers by a half game.

#3 Manager Gabe Kapler is not in panic mode but did say after last night’s game that he wants a change in position how concerned after going .500 losing five of their last ten does Kapler have to be.

#4 The Covid situation has snake bitten the team, could you update us on the status of the Giants Covid 19 Injured List consisting of pitcher Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto who returned on Wednesday, and Donavon Solano and hitting coach Justin Viele who are wrapping up their seven day quarantine in a New York hotel today. Also Evan Longoria took a cortisone shot how soon do you see his return?

#5 Michael if you had to put a finger on some the things that have gone wrong or what needs to be corrected for the Giants since they left the New York series last week losing two of three in Atlanta and coming back home and losing the first three games to the Brewers.

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts heard Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants lose again to the Brewers, 5-2, fall behind the Dodgers in the NL West

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–After 115 days, the Giants are looking up.

A fourth, consecutive loss on Wednesday night allowed the Dodgers to pass the Giants in the NL West standings, just one game prior to the final meeting between the rivals in 2021.

With the additional drama of determining the division winner, the series takes on even more importance. But first, the Giants get one more opportunity to figure out the Brewers.

“Any time you have a little losing streak, it’s not fun,” catcher Buster Posey said. “This group’s shown an ability to bounce back throughout the year and that’s just what you have to believe you’re going to do.”

MIlwaukee jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second on Lorenzo Cain’s RBI hit that scored a pair of runs. Then with the score tied 2-2, the Brewers took advantage of the Giants’ bullpen with a run in the seventh, and two more in the ninth. Dominic Leone, who has been dynamite for the Giants pitching in setup roles, allowed a walk and an infield single in the seventh inning and took the loss.

The Giants’ offense managed eight hits–four of them doubles, two of those from Kris Bryant–but couldn’t come up with the big hit at any juncture along the way. They finished 2 of 14 with runners in scoring position, and also saw Lamonte Wade Jr. crush a ball in the eighth that looked like a game-tying home run but fell short for a table-setting double. Reliever Jake Cousins escaped damage when with two runners on, he struck out Austin Slater and got Thairo Estrada to ground out to end the inning.

Starter Kevin Gausman was effective, departing in a 2-2 tie after five innings. Gausman allowed just four hits and a walk while striking out seven. Five relievers followed Gausman, with Leone the tough-luck loser, and John Brebbia the only one of the quintet that got roughed up. Brebbia pitched the ninth, allowing Cain’s lead-extending home run, and Wily Adames’ RBI double.

While the Giants have slumped, the Brewers have soared, moving 30 games above .500 for the first time in more than 10 seasons. Milwaukee has a huge lead over Cincinnati in the NL Central, and is on track to best their franchise record with 99 wins on the season. They also are a dark horse candidate to sneak in and steal the NL’s best record from the Giants and Dodgers, which would put a new spin on the post season matchups.

The Giants have been hit hard in this stretch by injuries with Evan Longoria again out with a hand issue, and Johnny Cueto–Tuesday’s starter–back on the injury list for the third time. Also, Tommy La Stella is unavailable, and Wilmer Flores departed Wednesday’s game with a left hamstring injury.

Regardless, the Giants will have to answer the questions. In their most critical stretch of the season–10 games against the Brewers, Braves and Dodgers, they’re 1-5 against three teams that will undoubtedly comprise their two post-season opponents prior to the World Series if they get that far.

“I think now is the right time to really show a sense of urgency, continue to dig in on our process, but also not to have any panic,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “There’s no need for that.”

The good news? The Giants’ battle back up in the standings has an obvious path with Logan Webb–arguably the hottest pitcher in the National League–due to start Thursday afternoon against the Brewers. Webb has captured seven, consecutive decisions and allowed just six earned runs in his six starts in August.

And the pressure? If Webb falters, the Giants fall back to Anthony DeSclafani in the opener of the Dodgers’ series on Friday, and DeSclafani has had no success against the Dodgers this year, losing three decisions and allowing 22 earned runs in the process. Consecutive losses would put the Giants two games back with 27 remaining, increasing the doubt and the urgency.

On Thursday, Webb will be opposed by Milwaukee’s Eric Lauer, who has a 4-5 record with a 3.61 ERA.

Giants lose 6-2, lead in NL West down to a half-game

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Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Lorenzo Cain reaches up for a San Francisco Giants Brandon Belt home run ball which cleared his glove and the fence in the bottom of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Aug 31, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-It seems like the San Francisco Giants went into a rut at the wrong time, especially with the National League Central leading Milwaukee Brewers still in town for the second game of the four-game series.

Helped out by three hits and two runs in the first inning, the National League Central leading Brewers made it two in a row with a 6-2 over the Giants before a crowd of 20,897 at Oracle Park.

This was the third loss in a row for the Giants, their first losing streak of three games or more since they lost four in a row June 27-July 1.

With the loss, coupled with the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium, the Giants lead over the Dodgers in the NL West drops to a half-game, the smallest lead for the Giants since it was a half-game on July 6.

Omar Navarez drove in the only run that the Brewers would need, as he singled off of Cueto to Willy Adames, who singled off of Cueto with one out in the inning. Christian Yelich then followed Adames with a single of his own, and the Brewers second run of the inning, came when Avisail Garcia grounded out for the second out of the inning to score Yelich from third base.

The first hard hit ball of the game came when Lorenzo Cain launched a solo home run into the left field bleachers, when he led off the top of the second inning, it was the sixth home run of the season for Cain.

Rowdy Tellez got in on the RBI parade in the top of the third inning, as he tripled to the opposite field over the head of Alex Dickerson to score Garcia, who was hit by a Cueto pitch with two outs in the inning.

Cueto then walked Jace Peterson, and then Cain made it two RBIs in as many at-bats, when he singled to score Tellez easily from third base.

It looked like Cueto was going to settle down in the top of the fourth inning, especially after he retired the first two batters of the inning; however, Yelich picked up his second hit of the night and then scored all the way from first base on a Navraez single (his second of the night) and moved to second, when Cuetos throw went by Brandon Belt at first base.

Garcia then singled to third base, and was able to reach safely and that was the end of the line for Cueto. Jose Quintana then made his Giants debut in an inauspicious way, as he threw a wild pitch that allowed Garcia to reach second base. Quintana then got out of the jam unscathed, as he got Tellez to ground out to end the inning.

Brandon Woodruff was outstanding for the Brewers, as he went six innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking three and striking out eight on his way to his ninth win of the season against seven losses.

Cueto ended up going 3.2 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits, walking two and striking out one, as he saw his record fall to 7-7 on the season.

After replacing Cueto, Quintana went 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit, walking one and striking out six and picked up an opposite field single.

LaMonte Wade, Jr., led off the bottom of the first inning with a double off of Woodruff, and asides from three walks between the first and sixth innings, the Giants next hit came with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Quintana singled to right field.

Brandon Belt got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning, when he hit his 20th home run of the season and it was the 198th home run of the season for the Giants, who continue to lead the Major Leagues in home runs.

Belt joins Mike Yastrzemski as the two players who have topped the 20-home run plateau, as Yastrzemski leads the team with 21. Between the Chicago Cubs and the Giants, Kris Bryant has a total of 24; however, only six have come as a member of the Giants.

The Giants put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning Dickerson struck out to lead off the inning against Jake Cousins, who then walked both pinch-hitter Austin Slater and Wade; however, he got Belt to strikeout for the second out of the inning and then got out of the jam, when got Buster Posey to strikeout for the final out of the inning.

Posey went 0-for-4 on the night, striking out three times and over his 10 last games, Posey is 4-for-34, a .111 batting average.

Wilmer Flores tried to make a little bit more interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he led off the inning by hitting a solo home run into the left field seats. It was the 17th home run of the season for Flores.

NOTES: Quintana was claimed off of waivers from the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, was activated prior to the game and Cueto was activated from the 10-day injured list.

To make room for Quintana and Cueto on the active roster, both pitcher John Brebbia and infielder Jason Vosler were optioned to Sacramento.

In their City Connect jerseys, the Giants lost for the first time and are 6-1 in the jerseys since they debuted them against the Washington Nationals on July 9.

Ron Wotus, the longest-tenured coach in Giants history and current third base coach announced prior to the game that he will be stepping from coaching at the end of the season. This is the 34th season for Wotus in the Giants organization.

I love this game. I love this team. I love the organization, Wotus said. Im grateful that Im in a position to do this. I’m going to miss it. It was not an easy decision by no means, but I just feel its time for me.

Wotus joined the big club in 1998, when he was hired by then manager Dusty Baker to be his third base coach and then moved to be the bench coach under Baker, Felipe Alou and Bruce Bochy from 1999-2017 before he moved back to being the third base coach in 2018. He was the only holdover when Gabe Kapler replaced Bochy after he retired in 2019.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman goes for his 13th win of the season on Wednesday night, as he takes the mound for the Giants, while Brett Anderson goes to the mound for the Brewers, as he looks for his fifth win of the season.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s need to get hot to catch Yanks and Sox in AL Wild Card; Giants Covid problems continue Wood positive, Cueto flu symptoms

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Oakland A’s Mark Canha was dropped from the leadoff spot to the seventh position of the A’s line up after hitting for a .151 average after the New York Yankees series over last weekend (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, how much work do the Oakland A’s have in front of them after splitting the four game series with the New York Yankees over the weekend in their bid to sniff post season.

#2 The A’s are 5 1/2 games behind first place Houston Astros in the AL West and in the AL Wild Card they are 2 1/2 game back behind the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees with a month left in the regular season the A’s have a huge task in front of them if they plan to get back into post season hunt.

#3 A’s leftfielder Mark Canha has been moved from the leadoff spot to the seven hole of the line up because his numbers have dwindled Canha is hitting .151 and said that when he’s off and getting o-fers it’s not a fun place to be. Canha said he needs to relax a little bit easier mentally.

#4 On other baseball news the San Francisco Giants had to switch out pitchers Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto Monday night because it was revealed that Wood had come down positive with Covid 19 and Cueto has the flu symptoms. Giants Donavon Solano and hitting coach Justin Viele are still back in a New York hotel quarantined after testing positive for Coronavirus.

#5 Cueto was scheduled to pitch on Monday against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and with Wood out for Tuesday. Giants pitcher Jose Alvarez started on Monday for the Giants a big task after the Giants lost last Sunday in Atlanta 9-0 and opening up for four home games against another first place team like the Brewers.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead Spanish play by play announcer on flagship station 1010 KIQI La Grande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants’ bats silent in 3-1 loss to the Brewers

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The playoff atmosphere was present at Oracle Park on Monday night, but the Giants were minus a few, key pieces.

For the first time in 28 years, the Giants are exceptional, and so are their opponents. The Giants, Brewers and Dodgers are all more than 25 games above .500, setting up a week of playoff preview showdowns. Now, the dinged up Giants have to show they’re ready to answer the bell.

Instead of focusing in on the challenge of facing one of the NL’s premiere starters in Corbin Burnes, the Giants were preoccupied with making themselves whole heading up to the first pitch. Starting pitchers Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto were placed on the injured list with COVID complications, and both players saying they were likely experiencing effects from the virus. Reliever John Brebbia and Jason Vosler were recalled from Sacramento, and Jose Quintana, the 2016 All-Star with the Cubs was claimed off waivers from the Angels.

So for the second, straight game, the Giants were forced to turn to their bullpen from the start with Jose Alvarez as the starter, and Jarlin Garcia seeing the most activity. In all, seven Giants relievers took a turn and the Brewers essentially picked the group apart, scoring single runs in the first, second and eighth innings to pull out a 3-1 win.

Afterwards manager Gabe Kapler was philosophical, feeling that his bullpen group did what they could under difficult circumstances. He singled out Garcia, who went 3 2/3 innings, needing just 40 pitches to complete the stretch and keep the Giants within striking distance, down 2-0.

“It was a pretty impressive performance by Jarlin and the expectation is when he comes in after Alvarez, we need him to throw up zeroes,” Kapler said. “Alvarez, we expect him to throw up zeroes too. He wasn’t able to do that so you really need to stretch the next few guys in a bullpen game and Jarlin did just that for us.”

The Brewers won for the 80th time on the season, and the anticipation of what matchups may materialize in October were present in their minds throughout the evening.

“That was definitely a playoff atmosphere and something that could be foreshadowing of what we see in the postseason,” said Burnes, who cruised through six innings to pick up the win. “It’s always good to get the first one of the series. That was definitely a big one tonight.”

Burnes allowed just four hits and no walks. His first taste of adversity didn’t come until the seventh when he let the first two batters reach. But manager Craig Counsell turned to his bullpen and they shut the door after Brandon Crawford’s RBI single pulled the Giants within 2-1.

Josh Hader pitched a scoreless ninth and picked up his 28th save.

The Giants saw their cushion in the NL West shrink to 1 1/2 games as the Dodgers handled the Braves in Los Angeles. Also, it’s no longer a foregone conclusion that the Dodgers or Giants will finish with the NL’s best record, not with the Brewers in the mix, and holding a commanding lead in the NL Central. That possibility gives pause to the playoff matchups that seem to have the two West Coast rivals on a collision course for October.

On Tuesday, the Giants are hopeful they will have Cueto available to start in a matchup with Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff.

Brewers Burnes silences Giants bats in 3-1 win at Oracle

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Milwaukee Brewers starter Corbin Burnes throws to the San Francisco Giants line up in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The NL West first place San Francisco Giants (84-47) owners of the best record in baseball have been slowly in meltdown they lost two out of three in Atlanta and opened Monday’s four game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers (80-52) with a 3-1 loss at Oracle Park.

The Giants ran into Brewers starting pitcher Corbin Burnes who pitched into the seventh inning and had a shutout going until Brandon Belt doubled and Kris Bryant hit a single to get the Giants on the scoreboard and Burnes was lifted for reliever Brad Boxberger. At the time the run cut the Brewers lead in half 2-1.

Boxberger gave up a double to Brandon Crawford in the bottom of the seventh inning but that would be all the scoring the Giants would get for the rest of the game. In the bottom of the ninth Bryant hit a double off Brewers closer Josh Hader who pitched for his tenth scoreless appearance and picked up is 28th save.

The Giants had to scramble before Monday’s game, scheduled starter Johnny Cueto was a scratch because of flu like symptoms. Jose Alvarez started for the Giants. Alvarez lasted only 1.2 innings four hits and two runs. Giants pitcher Alex Wood who says he was experiencing headaches and a sore throat tested positive for the Coronavirus with no need to be hospitalized.

Starting pitchers for Tuesday night’s game for the Brewers Brandon Woodruff (8-7 ERA 2.38) and the Giants have have not announced a starter yet.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Charlie O: Giants face another first place team as Brewers open 3 game series tonight

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Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Rowdy Tellez (11) argues with umpire Jeremy Riggs as the Brewers come to Oracle Park in San Francisco tonight to open a four game series with the San Francisco Giants (USA Today file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie O Giants going well they have won eight of their last 11 games and when they got into Cobb County at Suntrust Park on Friday were met by a Atlanta Braves club that showed them why their a first place team taking the first game of the three game series 6-5.

#2 The Giants answered right back on Saturday getting a 5-0 shutout victory behind starter Logan Webb who pitched seven innings and gave up five hits. Webb had all his stuff working against the Braves line up on Saturday

#3 Sunday the Giants got shutout in a laugher 9-0 the Braves used five pitchers to accomplish the shutout.

#4 Charlie this is a Braves club that the Giants could very well end up meeting in the post season seeing the Braves at this juncture of the season does that give the Giants a leg up with one more month to go until the post season starts?

#5 Kris Bryant has been a huge help especially with the bat since he’s joined the Giants. The Giants would like him to sign on and stay with the club for next season but everything boils down to money and a good contract. How important do you see it for the Giants to have Bryant sign on and be at spring training for the Giants next season?

#6 The Giants will be facing another first place club the Milwaukee Brewers who hold a 7.5 game lead on the second place Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers have won five of their last ten as they pay a visit to the Giants at Oracle Park for the first of four games which starts tonight at 6:40pm PDT.

Charlie O is filling in for Morris Phillips who does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Braves shutout Giants 9-0 to end road trip on a down note

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Ian Anderson throws against the San Francisco Giants line up at Suntrust Park in Cobb County as Anderson and five relievers combined for a five hit shutout on Sun Aug 29, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Jorge Soler loves to hit home runs and he showed it twice over the weekend in a big series between National League Division leaders.

Soler, who hit a three-run home run on Friday night, added a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, helping the Atlanta Braves to a 9-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park. This was the first series for the Giants since they lost a series to the Pittsburgh Pirates from July 23-25, a span of nine series.

Following the Soler home run, his 20th of the season, Freddie Freeman reached on an infield single and then Austin Riley made it 3-0, when hit his 28th home run for the Braves, who took two out of three from the NL West Leading Giants.

Eddie Rosario broke the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a two-run triple and then Ozzie Albies hit his 23rd home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth.

Ian Anderson made his return to the starting rotation for the Braves, as he allowed just four hits and walked two in 5.2 innings. It was the first start for Anderson since July 11, as he was out with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Anthony DeSclafani also was making his first start since coming off the injured list himself, as he was battling inflammation in his right ankle.

DeSclafani retired the first six batters he faced in the game, and then Rosario singled to start the bottom of the third inning for the Braves and DeSclafani was able to get out of the jam unscathed, when he got Albies to strikeout to end the inning.

After he allowed an infield single to Dansby Swanson with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth inning, DeSclafani left the game, as he allowed three runs and six hits in those three innings and he saw his record fall to 11-6 on the season.

NOTES: Prior to the game, Brandon Belt was activated from the bereavement list, DeSclafani was activated from the injured list. To make room for Belt and DeSclafani, Thairo Estrada was optioned to Sacramento and Tyler Chatwood was designated for assignment.

With their 15th shutout of the season on Saturday night, the Giants tied Milwaukee Brewers for the most shutouts in the Major Leagues. The last Giants team to have more than 15 shutouts in a season was the 2015 team, who threw 18 shutouts on the season.

Thru 130 games, the Giants are 84-46, just one game behind the best Giants in the San Francisco era, as the 1993 team was 85-45 on their way to a second-place finish in the NL West and finished 103-59, one game behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL West.

UP NEXT: Johnny Cueto opens the seven-game home stand for the Giants, as he looks for his eighth win of the season, while the Brewers will send Corbin Burnes to the hill and will go for his ninth win of the season for the NL Central Leading Brewers.