Category: San Francisco Giants

Brewers walk off in the 10th in 2-1 win over Giants

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All my Rowdy friends, the Milwaukee Brewers Rowdy Tellez gets congratulations after knocking in the game winning runner Avisail Garcia with a walk off single in the tenth inning on Fri Aug 6, 2021 at Miller Park in Milwaukee (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

MILWAUKEE—In what could be a possible NLCS preview, the two division leaders in the National League lived up to its billing.

Rowdy Tellez singled in the tenth inning to drive in Avisail Garcia as the Milwaukee Brewers walked off with a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday evening at Miller Park.

San Francisco (69-41) had its two game winning streak snapped and remain with the best record in baseball. Milwaukee have two in a row and four of its last five games.

Runs came a premium on this night as both starting pitchers were excellent for their respective teams.

The Brewers (66-44)Corbin Burnes pitched seven innings only giving up one run on four hits while striking out five and walking one. The only mistake was a solo home run he gave up to Brandon Belt in the sixth inning.

“He was executing his pitchers tonight,” said Mike Yastrzemski. “He was throwing 96mph cutters that almost crossed over the entire plate.”

His counterpart Logan Webb matched him by throwing up zeros of his own. The Roseville, Calif. native went six innings giving up one earned one only three hits while striking out nine batters and walking one on 91 pitches.

“I think the trust is building,” said Giants general manager Gabe Kapler on Webb going deep into the game. “He’s essentially pretty much done what has been asked of him. He’s been more aggressive with all of his offerings. I think the more of this we see, the more confident we’re going to get in the later inning.”

The only mistake Webb had was giving up a second inning solo home run to Garcia.

“I think I had the stuff today to go seven or eight (innings),” said Webb. “It’s frustrating not being able to go seven or eight and give these guys more innings but it’s always a priority and something me and Kap (Kapler) and other guys have talked about.”

Both bullpens did their part to keep the game scoreless from the seventh to the ninth innings. Dominic Leone, Tyler Rodgers and Jake McGee allowed the Giants to play free baseball. While the home team consisting of Brad Boxberger, Devin Williams and Brent Suter (1-0) pitched four scoreless innings to set up Tellez’s heroics in the 10th inning.

Right fielder Mike Yastrzemski made a spectacular catch jumping up against the wall to rob Yellez of an extra base hit in the fourth inning. He was slow to get up and winced in pain but stayed in the game. The Brewers fans gave him a standing ovation for his effort.

Jarlin Garcia (3-3) suffered the hard luck loss after giving up the base hit to Tellez.

GAME NOTES: San Francisco left seven men on base. Milwaukee left five men.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Brewers continue their three game series on Saturday 8/7 at 4:10pm from Miller Park. Pitching matchup-SF-TBD vs MIL-Brett Anderson.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Jeremy Harness: DeScalfani will miss a start due to tired arm; plus more

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San Francisco Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani will miss a start and was placed on the ten day Injured List due to a tired arm. Here DeSclafani pitches against the Los Angeles Angels in this Tue Jun 22, 2021 photo at the Big A in Anaheim (AP file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Jeremy:

#1 Jeremy talk about San Francisco Giants (69-40) pitcher Anthony DeSclafani he going to miss a start according to reports due to a tired arm.

#2 DeSclafani is listed on the ten day injured list he’s 10-5 ERA 3.28 how’s his absence impacting the pitching staff?

#3 Tommy LaStella returned to play third and second base on Thursday night in Arizona. LaStella was on the 60 day Injured List. LaStella went 1-5 in the Giants win over the Diamondbacks 5-4 Thursday.

#4 Jeremy on the personal side for Oakland A’s broadcaster Glen Kuiper of NBC Sports Bay Area he first had his brother Duane who does San Francisco Giants play by play on the same network have Chemo treatment and thankfully Duane had returned to do some television work after said treatment. Then Oakland A’s broadcaster and Glen’s broadcast partner Ray Fosse falls ill and had to leave the game in Anaheim on Sunday and will be getting treatment for cancer.

#5 The Giants are in Milwaukee for three games to face the Brewers at Miller Park for the Giants starter Logan Webb (5-3 ERA 3.33) and for the Brewers Corbin Burnes (6-4 ERA 2.46)

Join Jeremy Harness filled in for Michael Duca listen for Michael on the Giant podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants come back in 9th and 10th innings to edge D-Backs 5-4

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San Francisco Giants third baseman and centerfielder Kris Bryant hit for two doubles on Thu Aug 5, 2021 at Chase Field in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks which led to four runs in the ninth and a run in the tenth for a comeback win (photo from USA Today)

By Jessica Kwong

At Chase Field on Thursday afternoon, the San Francisco Giants (69-40) were scoreless and trailed the Arizona Diamondbacks (34-76) by four in the ninth inning. They mustered up four runs, tying the game and winning in a remarkable 5-4 comeback in the tenth inning.

The last time that San Francisco won a game when trailing in the ninth inning by four or more runs was when some of the best to every play the game, Barry Bonds, Will Clark and Matt Williams, were in the lineup.

In the ninth, the first five Giants hitters reached against relievers Taylor Clarke and Tyler Clippard. Then LaMonte Wade Jr. finished turning things around for San Francisco with a two-out, two-strike, single to tie the game.

Giants third baseman Kris Bryant, who was responsible for the game-wing RBI, said, “We had no business winning that game.”

“Their starter really shut us down for what looked like could have been nine innings,” Bryant said. “But I’ve been a part of a few teams that do well later in the game with their backs against the wall and this team definitely has it.”

At the start of the ninth, Bryant, Brandon Crawford and Alex Dickerson chased Clarke from the game with three consecutive hits. Clippard stepped up and Donovan Solano and Brandon Belt contributed a hit and a single.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said, “for most of the game, we didn’t see that strength, that relentlessness.”

“But all it takes is one inning,” he said. “We always talk about how important the big inning is and that really is about grinding out one at-bat after the other and we saw a lot of those late in the game.”

With Thursday’s victory, the Giants improved to 69-40 at the top of the NL West, four games ahead of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers and seven-and-a-half games over the San Diego Padres.

The Giants start a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday. First pitch is at 5:10 p.m.

— _

Giants Take Game Three in Diamondback Series 7-1

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San Francisco Giant starter Kevin Gausman throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks line up in the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Aug 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

Giants Take Game Three in Diamondback Series 7-1

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday night the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks clashed in Game three of their four game series. The Giants took game one 11-8 in 10 innings. Arizona answered in game two winning that game by the score of 3-1.

Giant starter Kevin Gausman set the tone by throwing six innings giving up six hits and one run and delivering eight strike outs. Gausman pitched well enough that he could have gone the distance. He was followed by relievers Jay Jackson, Tony Watson, and Jose Alvarez who shut the D-Backs hitters down for the rest of the game.

The Giants and Diamondbacks had a slow offensive start in the first three innings for both teams. The Giants broke through in the fourth inning when Donovan Solano homered giving San Francisco the slim lead 1-0.

The Giants would extend their lead in the sixth inning when two Arizona errors allowed 2 runs. Tommy LaStella and Alex Dickerson both scored in thanks to those error. Arizona would score a run in the inning when Cabrera singled driving in David Peralta and after six innings the score was 3-1 in favor of San Francisco.

The Giants broke this game wide open in the seventh inning scoring four runs. Buster Posey doubled, and Dickerson hit a homer with two runners on base. Posey’s doubled allowed Lamonte Wade Jr. to score and after seven complete innings the Giants had a 7-1 lead.

There was not much going on for either team in the eighth inning. Going into the ninth inning, the Giants were three outs away from the win. San Francisco dispatched the Diamondbacks in short order and came away with the 7-1 win.

Tomorrow San Francisco will try to win game four and win this series. First pitch is 12:40 PM.

Arizona Levels the Series winning 3-1

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Arizona Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner throws to the San Francisco Giants line up in the top of the first inning on Tue Aug 3, 2021 at Chase Field in Phoenix (AP News photo)

Arizona Levels the Series Winning 3-1

By Barbara Mason

In last night’s game the San Francisco Giants held what many would have called an insurmountable lead.They were coasting 7-1 after scoring five times in the top of the fifth inning which included a grand slam. The Diamondbacks had other ideas, however, and letting the Giants run away with this game was not among them.

Arizona tied up this game in the seventh inning at eight apiece. It took extra innings but San Francisco prevailed 11-8. A Posey double, a duggar single and a Solano sacrifice was all it took.

For Game Two Madison Bumgarner was on the mound for Arizona. He pitched through seven innings and was having an excellent game. The Diamondbacks were facing Johnny Cueto who pitched through six innings.

Tuesday night the teams met for Game Two of the four game series. Arizona took a 3-0 lead in the second inning when Nick Ahmed doubled and Asdrubal Cabrera also doubled. Ahmed drove in Christian Walker and off of Cabrera’s double Ahmed and Madison Bumgarner scored.

In the fifth inning San Francisco got up on the board via a Curt Casali home run. The score would remain 3-1 through seven innings.

Aaron Sanchez relieved in the bottom of seventh inning for the Giants. He loaded the bases but was able to get out of the inning without giving up a single run. The score would remain 3-1 going into the eighth inning.

It was a quiet inning for both teams and heading into the ninth inning the Giants were running out time. The Giants had a double in the ninth inning off the batt of Solano but that would be it for San Francisco. The final score was 3-1.

It was a very quiet offensive game for San Francisco in tonights game. They will be looking to pick up their offense tomorrow in Game Three of this series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

Giants blow big lead, recover in extras to best the D’Backs, increase NL West lead

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By Morris Phillips

Trade deadline activity that strengthens a competing club is energizing for the fans and organization. But it can be agonizing for players who may be on the departing end of a big trade.

Once the trade deadline passes, nervousness ceases and everybody gets back to work.

On Monday night in Phoenix, Alex Dickerson got back to work.

The Giants’ burly left fielder hit a grand slam to give the Giants a big lead, only to see it evaporate, and force the club to regain control in extra innings in an 11-8 victory over the Diamondbacks. With the acquisition of Kris Bryant, Dickerson had to be wondering about his current status with the club with Bryant offering a better option for the team’s outfield spots. But Monday found Bryant and Dickerson in the lineup together, a clear sign that manager Gabe Kapler hadn’t forgotten what a menace Dickerson has been when facing Arizona.

“He’s had quite a bit of success against the D-backs,” Kapler said. “He’s had quite a bit of success in this ballpark. I think he feels especially confident.”

“It hasn’t been the greatest year for me to this point, but they know and I know that I’m better than how I’ve played,” Dickerson said. “I just needed that kind of day where it all comes together. It was a good feeling to have everybody pulling for me.”

Kapler made it clear that while more is expected of Dickerson, hitting just .217, not much more is expected. Being an occasional home threat and delivering in that manner may be enough.

“I just think he needs to be the better version of Alex Dickerson. That’s a guy who’s a really tough out at the plate against righties and occasionally has games with big damage like he had today. I don’t want Alex to put any additional pressure on himself to be perfect every time out. Just be productive and keep the line moving.”

Dickerson’s slam off reliever J.B. Bukauskas in the fifth was typical, Giants home run express delivery: a poorly placed pitch in the hitting zone that wasn’t missed. That Dickerson sent the pitch 437 feet for his career-best 11th home run of the season said it all. The slam ended an 0 for 17 stretch for the slugger.

Despite building a 7-1 lead, the Giants found themselves in a nail bitter with a D’Backs club that came in 40 games below .500 and was embarassed by the Dodgers on Sunday, losing 13-0. Josh Reddick got the Arizona comeback started with a two-run shot off Anthony DeSclafani in the fifth. Asdrubral Cabrera followed with another two-run shot, and Christian Walker’s two-run double got the D’Backs even in the seventh.

Reliever Jay Jackson was victimized by Walker, a surprise after Jackson gave the eight, neat appearances in July, and had put himself in line for a bigger role out of the Giants’ pen. Jackson’s command issues on Monday were apparent prior to facing Walker, but Kapler was reluctant to turn to any of his top three relievers after a weekend of extended activity against the Astros.

With the game tied, Kapler did find some success with newly reacquired Tony Watson and hot arm Jarlin Garcia, who pitched the ninth and tenth innings. That gave the Giants a chance to catch a collective breather, and rally in the tenth. Buster Posey started it with a double that chased home Brandon Crawford, the placed runner to start an extra inning. Dickerson’s line out advanced Posey to third, and Austin Slater walked. Steven Duggar followed with an RBI single, and Donovan Solano capped the rally with a ground out that allowed Slater to score.

The Giants gained a half game on the Dodgers and Padres, increasing their lead in the NL West to 3 1/2 games. The Giants have won six of eight and moved a season-best 28 games above .500 at 67-39. The season series against Arizona continues to be lopsided with the Giants capturing 10 of 11 meetings thus far.

On Tuesday, the veteran matchup sure to gain attention takes place with Johnny Cueto facing Madison Bumgarner, the former Giant and 2014 World Series hero at 6:40pm.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Charlie O: Bryant’s addition to the line up just an added spark

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On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Charlie, O San Francisco Giants outfielder Kris Bryant has been a great addition to the Giants line up. After the Chicago Cubs had their fire sale he comes to San Francisco makes his debut on Sunday against the Houston Astros and it was a big test as Bryant participated in a game of two first place teams.

#2 Bryant came into Sunday’s game against the Astros hitting .267, 87 hits, 18 home runs, and 51 RBIs. Tell us about what it will be like for him hitting with the dimensions at Oracle Park.

#3 In the series with against the Astros over the weekend lots of offense you saw the Astros defeat the Giants on Friday night 9-6 and the Giants came right back on Saturday afternoon with a 8-6 win it was a series of two true first place clubs.

#4 The Astros Jose Altuve is a guy the Giants have to pitch carefully to on Friday he had a big night going 3-6 with three hits, three runs, five RBIs.

#5 The Giants open a four game series in Phoenix tonight against the Diamondbacks (33-72) last place in the NL West but regardless where the Diamondbacks are in the standings they always get up for the Giants this could be an interesting series as the Giants try to add more space between them and the Dodgers in the NL West standings.

Charlie O is filling in for Morris Phillips. The Giants podcasts are heard each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants take down Astros 5-3 in Bryant’s debut

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The newest San Francisco Giant Kris Bryant is all smiles in the Giants dugout after hitting a third inning home run against the Houston Astros on Sun Aug 1, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN FRANCISCO–Kris Bryant was jokingly asked before the game if he felt pressure to hit a home run in his debut game for his new team since two of his former Chicago Cubs teammates had done the day before for their respective new clubs.

If he did, you wouldn’t have known as the newly acquired Giant, hit a solo home run in his second at bat to help The San Francisco Giants beat the Houston Astros 5-3 in the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.

San Francisco took two out of three from Houston and went 5-4 on its nine-game homestand, 4-2 in the last six games. They remained three games ahead of Los Angeles and six and a half games up on San Diego in the National League West. Houston has lost two in a row and lead Oakland by four and half games in the American League West.

“I think it says we’re steady”, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said after his team won the past two series against contending teams. “We’re not going to let one day, spill into the next. But I also think the confidence is growing. And I think we’ve played well against some of the best teams in baseball.”

Bryant finished the game going 1-4 with the home run and RBI. He also made an errant throw to first base on a Martin Maldonado ground ball to third base in the fifth inning.

Bryant, who started at third base for Kapler, ignited the two-out three-run third inning for San Francisco with his 19th home run of the season. Brandon Crawford singled in Mike Yaztrzemski to tie the game at 2-2.

“I feel giddy”, said Bryant after his first game with his new team. “It felt like Christmas morning honestly. It’s really cool to be part of it and experience it first hand”

Darin Ruff who went 3-4 with a HR and three RBI, just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, ended up upstaging his new teammate. His RBI single in the third inning gave the Giants the lead they wouldn’t relinquish. His two-run homer in the fifth inning gave San Francisco all the runs they would need on the sunny afternoon.

“Today in particular, I focused on not missing a fastball (thrown at me). Luckily, I was on time and ran into some good pitches, you know squaring them up pretty well. Overall for the series I don’t know maybe a little bit more aggressive. You gotta find some holes out there and get lucky sometimes. I fell into a good rhythm,” Ruff said.

Ruff feasted on Astros pitching over the weekend going 6-13 (.461) with a home run, 5 RBI and four runs scored.

Logan Webb started the series finale for San Francisco (66-39). He pitch a strong 6 plus innings giving up only two earned runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking one batter. Webb settled down after the first inning when he gave up a two-run home run to Yuli Gurriel.

“We wanted to stay with the same game plan”, said Webb. “Keep attacking those guys. They got some hits but (when) you keep them to singles, I’ll take that all day.”

Astros starter Luis Garcia went four and two-thirds innings giving up five earned runs on eight hits, striking out seven and walking two batters.

Houston (64-42) scored a run in the eighth inning off of Tyler Rogers when Kyle Tucker hit into a 1-6-3 double play.

Jake McGee came in and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his 23rd save of the season.

GAME NOTES: The Giants left six runners on base. Houston stranded seven.

To make room for Bryant on the 26-man roster, the Giants optioned infielder Jason Vosler down to Triple-A Sacramento.

Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo became the first trio in MLB history to all homer in the debuts for their new teams.

The Giants home record of 35-17 is the best in MLB and their day game record is now 26-14 (4th best in MLB).

UP NEXT: The Giants began a seven-game road trip when the travel out Arizona to begin a four-games series with the Diamondback on Monday 8/2 at 6:40pm at Chase Field.

Homers in Bunches: Giants slug their way to 8-6 win over the Astros

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Could the power outage in the Giants’ clubhouse at Oracle Park continue for a fifth straight day?

No, and neither could Zach Greinke’s magical touch at Oracle Park.

Greinke has never lost a game at Oracle Park, posting a microscopic ERA in the process, and barely being tested in the majority of his six wins. But these days, the Giants have a brand new approach, and Greinke found out first hand that things might be different going forward. And when was Greinke notified of the change? Probably three home runs into the four homer barrage the Giants hit him with, all in the game’s first five innings.

“Three of them might have been home runs still in any situation,” Greinke said of his start, the first time he’d allowed four home runs to the Giants, and the first time he’d allowed any club that many homers since 2019. “They weren’t cheap.”

In 53 innings pitched at Oracle Park, the 218-game winner described as a future Hall of Famer in the Astros’ media notes, had never allowed a home run. In fact, his dominance was the essence of velvet: Greinke averaged little more than six strikeouts in his previous eight starts along McCovey Cove, showing that he was content to let the Giants get themselves out without needing to display a dominant stance.

What’s new is the Giants are swinging harder. Among the few quality home run hitting teams not to feature one, standout slugger, the team’s across-the-board approach is to look for pitches to launch, swing hard, and don’t get discouraged by strikeouts or meager batting averages. Against Greinke, who’s not only unlikely to allow a big fly, but also stingy with teams trying to string together base hits, the approach works. Maybe not everytime, but during a day game in a park where the park needs ideal conditions to surrender big hits, it worked on Saturday.

“We put some really good swings on the ball. All the homers were pretty much no-doubters,” Ruf said. “Although it was a nice day to hit and the ball seemed to be traveling well, those would have been homers in any other day game.”

The Giants’ homer drought–none over the first four games of the homestand–ended with a bang. The four, consecutive games without at least one home run was a first in manager Gabe Kapler’s run of 164 games at the helm.

The Astros, considered MLB’s top-rated offensive club, attempted to keep up the pace. They homered three times, two of those from Aledmys Diaz, and during a stretch of nine half-innings in which runs were scored in eight of them, the teams went back-and-forth, wiping out any leads that one of clubs established. But that pattern broke in the sixth when Brandon Crawford singled home a run with two runners aboard to give the Giants a 7-6 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The only run on the afternoon the Giants would produce without hitting a home run was the difference, and it came after Greinke departed, allowing him to escape with his undefeated record in San Francisco in tact.

Alex Wood, described as the Giants’ stopper with his excellent record in games following a Giants’ loss, was anything but, allowing six hits–two of them home runs–in his abbreviated 68-pitch outing. But often, it’s better to be lucky than good, and Wood benefitted from the Giants’ offensive breakout, and a bullpen effort that saw four relievers following him and allow just one, meaningless base hit. Jake McGee capped that effort with a perfect ninth to earn his 22nd save.

Ironically, the Giants played without newly acquired Kris Bryant from the Cubs, who was flying to San Francisco during the game Saturday. Bryant will be in uniform on Sunday, and will assume a lofty position in a lineup where he will lead the Giants in hits (87), be tied for the lead in home runs (18), and second in doubles (19). To say the Giants lineup will be not only loaded, but versatile, would be understatement. But the objective is to do it on the field, and not on paper, over the season’s final 59 games.

In a final move before the trade deadline the Giants reacquired Tony Watson from the Angels with Sam Selman the key piece headed to Anaheim. Watson has a recent, string of exemplary outings but he also moves into a crowded situation in the Giants’ bullpen. Currently, the Giants have relievers Dominic Leone, Jack McGee, Tyler Rogers, Jarlin Garcia and Jose Alvarez with ERA’s under 3.00. Reliable arms Caleb Baragar and Reyes Moronta could also be the mix as well at some point if they recover from injury.

On Sunday, the Giants have Logan Webb starting in a matchup with Houston’s Luis Garica at 1:05pm.

Altuve’s big night paces Astros in 9-6 win over Giants

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Houston Astros Jose Altuve swings for the fences here he belts a fifth inning home run against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Jul 30, 2021 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN FRANCISCO—It’s not everyday that the opening game of a series between the two best teams in baseball plays second fiddle. But then again, the San Francisco Giants haven’t been a buyer at MLB’s Trading Deadline in five years.

Minutes before the end of the deadline, Farhan Zaidi and his management team pulled off a trade bringing Chicago Cubs All-Star left fielder Kris Bryant to the the team by the bay for prospects outfielder Alexander Canario and right handed pitcher Caleb Kilian.

As far as the game went, Jose Altuve powered the Houston Astros with hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the sixth inning, to complete a 3-6 night with five RBI in a 9-6 victory on Friday evening at Oracle Park.

“Yeah there’s no question that was the turning point in the game,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler on Altuve’s grand slam. “A major moment. We weren’t able to recover from it.”

The game was without Astros manager, and former Bay Area icon, Dusty Baker as he served a one-game suspension, due to the three game suspension to Brooks Raley for intentionally hitting Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford with a pitch on Monday. Bench coach Joe Espada was the interim manager. 

Kevin Gausman started for the Giants and suffered a shaky first inning. The Astros sent eight man to plate and had three singles and two walks. However Gausman settled down and struck out the final two batters as he escaped being down only 2-0 after throwing 43 pitches.

“Today was a really high pitch count in the first inning. Interesting at the end of that first inning he still had plenty of life on his (fast)ball. So he was able to get his pitch count under control and get through a few additional innings for us”, Kapler said on Gausman’s outing.

Gausman ran out of gas in the fifth inning. He gave up a lead off homer to Jose Altuve, then a single to Michael Brantley before striking out Yuli Gurriel to end his night. Gausman finished the game pitching 4 and one-third innings giving up three earned runs on six hits while striking out nine Astros and two walks.

“I feel like I made the adjustment I needed to make”, said Gausman. “It allowed me to throw my fast ball up in the zone a lot more. That’s a big pitch for me. So I had to kind of remind myself I was just getting a little to quick to home plate.”

Framber Valdez had the Giants batters stymied by his curve ball on the night. He finished the game pitching five innings giving up two earned runs on four hits while striking out six and issued three walks on 89 pitches.

Down 7-3 in the seventh inning, the Giants rallied for two runs with an RBI sacrifice fly from William Flores and an RBI single from Brandon Crawford. Kendall Graveman came in relief of Ryne Stanek to put out the fire by striking out Donovan Solano to end the threat.

Houston tacked on single runs in the eighth and ninth inning on a RBI double Carlos Correa and a solo home run by Aledyms Diaz.

Ryan Pressly pitched the ninth inning, giving up one run on on three hits.

Each team stranded 10 base runners in the game.

GAME NOTES: The Giants also brought back veteran left hand reliever Tony Watson in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Giants sent pitchers Sam Selman, Ivan Armsttrong and Jose Marte to the Angels.

Houston acquired pitcher Phil Maton and minor league catcher Yainer Diaz from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for outfielder Myles Straw.

UP NEXT: Game 2 of the Giants-Astros series is on Saturday 7/31 at 1:05pm at Oracle Park. Alex Wood faces off against Zach Greinke.