Category: San Francisco Giants

Gausman shelled in 10-2 loss

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

All San Francisco Giants starter Kevin Gausman could do leaving the mound in the fifth inning on Sat Jul 24, 2021 is talk in the glove after the Pittsburgh Pirates shelled him at Oracle Park. Giants manager Gabe Kapler in black jacket calls for a new pitcher (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After getting off to a great start during the 2021 season, it seems that San Francisco Giants (61-37) pitcher Kevin Gausman is in a kind of rut.

Gausman lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, walking four and striking out two, as the Pittsburgh Pirates (38-60) made it two wins in a row after a 10-2 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park.

This is the second start in a row that Gausman, who was going for his 10th win of the season could not get past the fifth inning in a start.

In his previous start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium, Gausman lasted just three innings, two runs (both on home runs), walked three and struck out five and did not fare in the decision.

Pirates starter Wil Crowe went the first 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking one and striking out nine on his way to his second win of the season.

The Pirates got to Gausman in the top of the first inning, as they loaded the bases with nobody out, and then Gregory Polanco hit a sacrifice fly to Alex Dickerson in left field that scored Adam Frazier from third base after Frazier led off the inning with a single to centerfield, then went to second on a wild pitch by Gausman.

After KeBryan Hayes walked, Bryan Reynolds also drew a walk against Gausman that loaded the bases and then Polanco drove in Frazier with his sacrifice fly to left field.

Once again, the Pirates loaded the bases, as John Nogowski reached on a fielders choice and Jason Vosler committed a fielding error.

Gausman was able to get out of the inning and the jam, as he induced Ben Gamel to hit into a double play.

Thairo Estrada got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the second inning, as he grounded into a double play that scored Wilmer Flores from third base to tie up the game.

Flores singled to lead off the inning when he singled off of Crowe and then went to third on a Vosler single, and then scored the tying run on the Estrada double play.

The Pirates took the lead for good in the top of the third inning, when Polanco picked up his second RBI of the game, as he drove in Reynolds with the tie-breaking run. Gamel then added to the lead, as he singled Polanco.

Polanco added his third RBI of the evening in the top of the fifth inning, as he hit his 11th home run of the season.

Kevin Newman broke the game wide open, as he hit a two-run single, when he singled to centerfield that scored both Nogowski and Gamel to give the Pirates a five-run lead.

LaMonte Wade, Jr., became the eighth different Giants player to reach double figures in home runs, as he hit his 10th home run of the season off of Crowe in the bottom of the season.

Michael Perez added to the lead in the top of the eighth inning, as tripled in Newman, who singled to lead off the inning. Wilmer Difo came off the bench to pinch-hit for former Giants pitcher Chris Stratton and hit a sacrifice fly to score Perez from third base.

Frazier then doubled following the Difo sacrifice fly, and after Hayes lined out to Steven Duggar for the second out. Reynolds then singled to right field to score Frazier from second base.

Mike Tauchman came on to pitch the final inning for the Giants, as the outfielder made his first ever appearance on the mound, as he pitched one inning, allowing one run on three hits.

Tauchman allowed a single to Newman put the final touches on the scoring, as he singled in the top of the ninth inning off of Tauchman to score Nogowski, who led off the inning with a double.

NOTES: After being out of the broadcast booth since June 6, when the Giants lost to the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park, Duane Kuiper made a surprise return to the booth and shocked his longtime broadcast partner Mike Krukow.

Kuiper, 71 is undergoing chemotherapy for an undisclosed condition came back to Oracle Park to broadcast a game.

In his first game in almost seven weeks, Kuiper spoke with Greg Papa on Giants Pregame Live and said.

“Hey, I missed me. Sorry,” Kuiper said. “Sitting on that couch after a while, my wife is so happy that I walked out of the house today, where she gets six hours where she doesn’t have to worry about me tripping or falling or what I’m going to eat or what’s going on. Anyway, I’m thrilled to be back, and the one thing I definitely learned while I was gone, for whatever it was, two months or so, is how much I appreciate my partners because I got a chance to watch them for all those games, and I certainly do appreciate them.”

UP NEXT: Alex Wood takes the Oracle Park mound on Sunday afternoon, as he looks for his ninth win of the season. The Pirates will send JT Brubaker to the hill, as he looks for his fifth win of the season.

Bad fielding cost Giants game; SF’s Wade Jr’s miscue allows two runs in Bucs 6-4 win at Oracle

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr (center) can’t get a handle on the ball that allowed two runs to score as Giants pitcher Jarlin Garcia (66) and Donovan Salano (right) watch after the Pittsburgh Pirates Ben Gamel hit the ball in the seventh inning (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After amazing back-to-back victories over the reigning World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants (61-36) could not make it three in a row.

Adam Frazier walked with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning that scored Jacob Stallings from third base, as the Pittsburgh Pirates (37-60) defeated the Giants 6-4 at Oracle Park.

Stallings walked to lead off the inning against Dominic Leone, then Kevin Newman reached on a fielders choice and pinch-hitter Wilmer Difo walked to load the bases.

Following the Frazier walk that scored Frazier, KeBryan Hayes grounded into a force out that saw Newman thrown out at the plate for the first out of the inning.

Jarlin Garcia came on to replace Leone and got Bryan Reynolds to strike out looking for the second out of the inning.

It looked like the Giants were going get out of the inning with just one run allowed; however, LaMonte Wade, Jr., was unable to field a ball hit for an error on a ball hit by Ben Gamel that scored Difo and Frazier to extend the lead up to 6-3.

Gregory Polanco hit a triple to right field in the top of the second inning that scored Gamel to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.

The run-scoring triple gave the Pirates the lead and Reynolds extended the lead in the top of the third inning, as he hit his 18th home run, a two-run home run that upped the lead to 3-0 for the visitors from Pittsburgh.

Steven Duggar got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his seventh home run of the season.

Johnny Cueto then walked and stole second base when Wade, Jr., struck out and it was the first career stolen base for Cueto.

Unfortunately, Cueto did not fare in the decision, as he went five innings, giving up three runs on three hits, walked just one and struck out seven before giving way to John Brebbia.

Alex Dickerson tied up the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit his 10th home run of the season. Buster Posey scored in front of Dickerson, as he doubled off of Pirates starter Chad Kuhl. Following the home run by Dickerson, Kuhl was replaced by former Giants pitcher Chris Stratton.

Donovan Solano treated the former Giants pitcher rudely, as he walked and after Jason Vosler struck out for the second out of the inning, Thairo Estrada singled Solano to third; however, Stratton was able to Duggar to end the threat.

Kuhl pitched 5.1 innings and like Cueto did not fare in the decision. In those 5.1 innings of work, Kuhl allowed three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out eight.

Darin Ruf walked with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, and went to second on defensive indifference. Wade, Jr., then tripled to right field that scored Ruf from second base; however, Mike Yastrzemski struck out looking to end the game.

NOTES: Over the last two nights, the Giants came from behind in the 9th inning or later to defeat the Dodgers, winning 4-2 on Wednesday and 5-3 last night…according to Elias, it’s the first time the Giants won back-to-back games while trailing in the 9th inning or later since April 8-9, 2011 vs. St. Louis…the last time they did it against the Dodgers was August 9-10, 2008.
With Duggar and Dickersons home runs, the Giants have now hit 146 home runs on the season, as they passed the Toronto Blue Jays for the most home runs in the major leagues.

Prior to Cuetos stolen base in the bottom of the third inning, the last pitcher to steal a base for the Giants was Kirk Rueter against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 29, 2003 at what was then called Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix.

The Giants have signed their first-round pick in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, as Will Bednar, the 14th overall selection out of Mississippi State is now a member of the Giants. Bednar helped lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever national championship after defeating SEC rival and defending champion Vanderbilt in the College World Series in Omaha.

A native of the Pittsburgh-area, Bednar, who went Mars Area High School, does family have in the ballpark, as his older brother David is in the opposing dugout, as he is a reliever for the Pirates.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman takes the mound on Saturday night, as he attempts to win his 10th game of the season for the Giants. While the Pirates will send Wil Crowe to the hill, as he looks for his second win of 2021.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants open three game series against Pirates tonight at Oracle Park

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giant starter Johnny Cueto seen here throwing against the Oakland A’s at Oracle Park on Fri Jun 25, 2021 will start against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight to open a three game series (AP file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The San Francisco Giants second baseman Wilmer Flores has really come into his own hitting a gamer on Wednesday night at Dodgers Stadium for the game winner and hitting .250, 61 hits, 11 homers and 33 RBls.

#2 The Giants had lost the night before to the Dodgers and dropped from two to one game ahead of the Dodgers but the win on Wednesday got them right back with a two game lead.

#3 Going back to Flores once again he was facing the Dodgers relief ace Kenley Jansen who had 21 saves and an ERA of 1.45. Was it a matter of Jansen throwing a bad pitch or Flores just reaching out grabbing and taking Jansen deep.

#4 Michael what is the concern for outfielder Mike Tauchman whose hitting .156 with 33 strikeouts in his last 41 games and has an overall batting average of .176. He sat out Wednesday night’s game.

#5 Starting pitchers for Friday night baseball at Oracle Park in San Francisco as the Pittsburgh Pirates come in for a three game series. For the Pirates Chad Kuhl (3-5 ERA 4.31) he’ll face the Giants Johnny Cueto (6-5 ERA 4.01) how do you see this pitching match up.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants four-run rally in 9th stun Dodgers 5-3, take series

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The San Francisco Giants Thairo Estrada slides after a LeMonte Wade Jr ninth inning single at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thu Jul 22, 2021 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

LOS ANGELES—Kenley Jansen might be public enemy number one in the Los Angeles area.

For the second straight game, the Los Angeles Dodgers closer blew a save in the ninth inning. This time it was a four-run rally by the San Francisco Giants in a 5-3 comeback win over their division rival on Thursday evening at Dodger Stadium.

San Francisco won the series taking three out of the four games. They are now three games up on Los Angeles in the National League West with the Dodgers four back in the loss column. The Giants finished 4-3 on their road trip.

The ninth inning consisted of a lot of drama and controversy that left the Dodgers irate at the end of the game.

With two outs and William Flores on first after a one-out single, Donovan Solano hit a double over the head of Cody Bellanger to centerfield. Jason Vosler worked a walk to load the bases. Thairo Estrada hit a ball to the left side where shortstop Chris Taylor threw to second base for the force out. The Giants challenged the call and it was overturned as Vosler clearly beat the throw thanks to his good lead off of first and hustle toward second base.

“”You don’t see it mean so much to a win as you did tonight”, said Giants manager Gabe Kapler regarding Vosler keeping the game alive. “I thought it was the most important play of the game.”

Darren Ruff, who came into the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch where he appeared to not have checked his swing. First baseball umpire Ed Hickox ruled no swing on the appeal and that not only allowed the tying run to score but sent Dodgers manager Dave Roberts into one of his best temper tantrums of his career as he was ejected from the game for a second straight night.

“There are lot of people that are pissed off, and I’m leading the way,” Roberts said after the game.

Lamont Wade Jr. played the hero role with a two-run single right after to give the Giants an improbable victory.

Buehler continued to his mastery of the Giants batting lineup even though it ended in a no decision for him. He pitched seven and a third innings holding the Giants to one run on five hits while striking out nine and walking just one.

In four starts this season versus San Francisco, Buehler has allowed only three earned runs in 27 innings.

Anthony DeSclafani, who hasn’t had any personal success against Los Angeles, pitched one of his best games against his nemesis going six innings and giving up three earned runs on six hits while striking out seven with only one walk.

“I think he got stronger as the outing went on. The ball he threw to Will Smith is probably one he’d like to have back. But other than that, I thought he pitched a good game. And I thought he was going toe to toe with (Walker) Beuhler, who also pitched an excellent game,” Kapler said.

The Giants (61-35) drew first blood early in the first inning. After a Lamont Wade Jr. leadoff double that followed with him stealing third base, Mike Yastrzemski hit a sacrifice fly to left field for a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers (59-39) answered back in their half of the first inning with three straight singles off DeSclafani to even the score at one.

Los Angeles took the lead in the fourth inning when Will Smith smashed a two-run home run halfway up the bleachers in left center fielder off of DeSclafani. Smith’s 13th home run of the season was his second in the series against San Francisco.

Jake McGee pitched the bottom of the nine and earned his 20th save of the season.

GAME NOTES: For the first time in the series, the Giants did not hit a home run.

UP NEXT: The Giants return home on Friday 7/23 to host a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:45pm at Oracle Park.

Ninth-inning rally lifts Giants past Dodgers 4-2

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores connects for a ninth inning two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wed Jul 21, 2021 at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

The San Francisco Giants nearly had company atop the National League West, until a ninth-inning rally off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen extended their long stay on top of the heap.The Giants won 4-2, maintaining their 2-game lead over Los Angeles. A sellout crowd of 52,076 was on hand at Dodger Stadium.

With San Francisco trailing 2-1 going into the top of the ninth inning, Buster Posey led off with a pinch-single. Wilmer Flores followed with a two-run home run to left off Jansen.

Jansen struck out Mike Yastrzemski, but Darin Ruf doubled and walks to Donovan Solano and Thairo Estrada loaded the bases with one out. Jansen was booed off the mound as left-hander Victor Gonzales came on. Gonzales fanned Lamonte Wade Jr., but walked Curt Casali for the fourth San Francisco run. Yastrzemski opened the scoring with a first-inning solo home run, his 16th.

Jose Alvarez (3-1) was the winning pitcher in relief, throwing a perfect eighth. Tyler Rogers recorded his 11th save, and Jansen (1-3) was tagged with the loss.

The Giants and Dodgers wrap up their series on Thursday night at Chavez Ravine. Anthony DeSciafani (10-4, 2.78) starts for San Francisco, facing the Dodgers’ Walker Buehler (10-1, 2.37)

Smith walks it off for Dodgers 8-6

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Dodger Will Smith (16) reaches home to the entire Dodgers bench to greet him after hitting a three run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles against the San Francisco Giants on Tue Jul 20, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Will Smith came off the bench to pinch-hit for former San Francisco Giants reliever Jimmy Sherfy, and he ended it with one swing of the bat.

Smith hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers to a come-from-behind 8-6 victory over the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Tyler Rogers came onto get the save for former Dodgers starter Alex Wood, but Rogers walked both Chris Taylor and Matt Beaty and then Smith ended it with one swing of the bat.

The Dodgers took an early 1-0 lead, as nemesis Max Muncy singled off of Wood in the bottom of the first inning to score Taylor.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the lead would not last long, as Alex Dickerson hit a two-run home run in the top of the second inning to give the Giants a 2-1 lead.

It was the ninth home run of the season for Dickerson, and then an inning later, LaMonte Wade, Jr., also hit his ninth home run to extend the Giants lead up to 3-1.

Thairo Estrada hit a solo home run and then Mike Yastrzemski added a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning, as the Giants broke the game wide open after they took a 6-1 and it looked Like the Giants were on their way to another victory and extending their lead in the National League West up to three games.

Unfortunately, somebody forgot to tell the reigning World Champions that the game was lost, as Taylor hit the first of his two home runs that cut the Dodgers deficit down to 6-2 against their longtime rivals.

Austin Barnes then cut the Giants in half in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he doubled to left field that scored the speedy Cody Bellinger.

Taylor hit a two-run home run later in the inning that got the Dodgers within one run, and that was the score when Smith hit his walk-off home run that gave the Dodgers a dramatic win over the leaders in the NL West.

Wood, who was in line for the win, as he went the required five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out seven ended up with a no-decision.

John Brebbia gave up a two-run home run to Taylor, as he went 0.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, walking zero and striking out two.

The duo of Jarlin Garcia and Jake McGee pitched a combined 2.1 innings, allowing a hit and a striking out and held the lead for Rogers, who walked two and then gave up the game-winning three-run homer to Smith and the series was even after two games with two to go.

Darien Nunez started for the Dodgers, and lasted just two innings, allowing two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out two before giving way to Josiah Gray.

In his major-league debut, Gray pitched four strong innings, allowing four runs on four hits, walking one and striking out seven.

Garrett Cleavinger and Joe Kelly got the Dodgers thru the seventh and eighth innings unscathed, as they struck out three before Dave Roberts gave the ball to Sherfy, who struck out two in the top of the ninth and picked up his second win of the season when Smith launched that three-run home run into the Los Angeles night that gave the reigning World Champions a huge victory.

NOTES: With three more home runs on the night, the Giants have now hit 141 home runs on the season, tying them with the Toronto Blue Jays for the most home runs in the major leagues.

When the Giants and the Dodgers each went back-to-back in the top of the first inning on Monday night, it was the first time in the history of the rivalry that both went back-to-back in the first inning. According to STATS, LLC, it is only the second time in major league history that two teams hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning, and the last time it happened was on July 29, 2004, when the Oakland As and the Texas Rangers accomplished the feat at the Ballpark in Arlington.

UP NEXT: Logan Webb looks for his fifth win of the season on Wednesday night, as Julio Urias goes for his 13th win of the season for the Dodgers.

Giant Jump: Posey gets plenty of help in dispatching the Dodgers 7-2 in big series opener

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

Weren’t expecting Buster Posey to go star power on his first at-bat off the injured list? Probably weren’t expecting the Giants to move into first place in the NL West and stay there for nearly two months either.

The Giants got the jump on the Dodgers in this critical, four-game series on Monday with a 7-2 win, and they did it as only they can: with contributions from a bunch of guys, some of them virtually nameless.

Posey was the biggest name, homering in the first inning to put the Giants up 2-0. In a series involving baseball’s two best teams, his blast made a statement.

“To see him come out, step up to the plate and hit a big home run for us was incredibly impressive,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “I thought he had great at-bats throughout the night.”

The disappointment of not making the statement Posey did stung the Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts sure expressed that, after his club couldn’t push across any runs for the game’s final eight innings.

“Obviously we’ve got these guys three more times” this week, Roberts said. “I know my focus is to win a baseball game tomorrow. That’s all we can control.”

The Dodgers blew anoher opportunity to catch the Giants atop the division, they’ll get more opportunities, but so far none have been cashed in. Meanwhile, the Giants continue their unlikely season with their postseason and division win probability numbers increasing substantially. The Giants moved into first place May 31, and despite some hiccups, they’ve remained there ever since.

The first inning had all the fireworks with both teams coming up with back-to-back homers. Posey and Wilmer Flores gave the Giants a 3-0 lead, then Max Muncy and Justin Turner answered against Kevin Gausman, who had a rough return from emergency leave due to complications with his wife’s childbirth.

Not much offensively happened after the first, but both pitchers were doomed. The Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin lasted just four innings, Gausman three.

“I’m not locating well with the heater,” Gonsolin said. “Slider is hit or miss. Splitter is about hit or miss. Curveball’s actually decent right now.”

Gonsolin’s only gone past the fourth inning once in seven starts. That’s an issue for the Dodgers now that Trevor Bauer’s availability is at the height of uncertainty. The Giants exploiting the issue of Los Angeles’ thinning starting rotation only exacerbated what was already a problem. The Dodgers don’t have an announced starter for Tuesday–they’ll throw Julio Urias and Walker Buehler in the series final, two games–and they don’t have the injured Clayton Kershaw either. The Giants won’t see him, but David Price is also being given an opportunity to start some games, and heralded rookie Josiah Gray could make his debut on Tuesday.

The Giants have Alex Wood taking the mound on Tuesday. Wood had a rough stretch, but four of his last five starts have resulted in Giants’ wins. Having a former Dodger facing his ex-teammates in this spot provides tremendous motivation. For the Giants, Tuesday’s matchup against the Dodgers’ unknown is a win.

Five Giants relievers followed Gausman Monday, and they completely shut everything down. Only closer Jake McGee allowed a hit, and the Giants cruised in a game that could have been filled with continuous stress.

Jason Vosler, Thairo Estrada and Austin Slater provided RBI hits in a four-run seventh inning. Estrada, the former Yankee who hit just four homers in 61 games with the Bombers the last two seasons, now has a prominent spot with the Giants replacing Brandon Crawford at shortstop. On Monday, he delivered.

The Giants also produced an impressive hit total of 12 against a pitching staff that’s been difficult for them. The Dodgers managed just four hits, and their crowd of 50,000 plus was near silent for most of the game.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Robinson’s story inspirational; Yaz seeing the ball well

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giant Mike Yastrzemski pictured getting congratulated by teammate Thario Estrada after hitting a two run third inning home run at Chase Field in Arizona on Sat Jul 3, 2024. Yastrzemski hit two home runs on Fri Jul 16th in St Louis at Busch Stadium (AP file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Drew Robinson will be working with the San Francisco Giants. Robinson known for his attempted suicide and lost sight of one of his eyes an inspirational story about his comeback and his coming to work for the Giants.

#2 In the series in St Louis Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski went deep a couple times on Friday in St Louis and has been seeing the ball well. 64 hits, 14 homers and batting .236.

#3 The Giants had their five game win streak come to an end on Saturday after a 3-1 loss to the Cardinals no Giants hit a home run in that contest.

#4 The Giants hold a one game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers who are just a game behind San Francisco do you so these teams battling for first place all the way till the end of the season?

#5 Speaking of the Dodgers Morris four game series starts tonight in LA as the Giants and Dodgers match up this could be one of those traditional grudge matches

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

Bader wins it on a infield single for the Cardinals 2-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The St Louis Cardinals Harrison Bader who beat out an infield RBI single that scored pinch runner Jose Rondon for the go ahead run the seventh inning on Sun Jul 18, 2021 at Busch Stadium in St Louis (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Things did not start off well for the San Francisco Giants and it ended on a squibber up the first base line.

Harrison Bader beat out an infield single that saw John Brebbia just a second late to the base that allowed pinch runner Jose Rondon to score from third base, as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Giants 2-1 at Busch Stadium.

Matt Carpenter led off of the bottom of the seventh inning with a ground-rule double off of Brebbia, and Rondon was called on to run for Carpenter, and he went to third on a Paul DeJong fly out to right field and then scored without a throw on the infield hit by Bader.

The Giants loaded the bases in the top of the first inning against Wade LeBlanc, but the left-hander was able to get Wilmer Flores by striking him out looking and then got out of the jam, when he got Brandon Crawford to fly out for the final out of the inning.

DeJong gave the Cardinals the lead in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Johnny Cueto to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

That lead would last all of one-half inning, as Darin Ruf hit an upper deck solo home run to tie up the game for the Giants.

Once again, the Giants loaded the bases in the top of the sixth inning, as Donovan Solano singled to lead off the inning, then Mike Yastrzemski followed it up with a single of his own that sent Solano to third base. Ryan Helsley then came on to replace LeBlanc, and was able to get Lamonte Wade, Jr., to strikeout for the first out and then Wilmer Flores flew out to centerfield and it was not deep enough for Solano to score from third base.

Helsley then walked Crawford intentionally and then Mike Tauchman was not able to relive his magic of his grand slam against the Texas Rangers on June 8, as he struck out to end the inning and stranded the bases loaded.

Cueto ended up going five innings, allowing just one run on two hits, walking one and striking out five and he did not fare in the decision.

When Cueto got Bader to fly out to Austin Slater for the first out in the bottom of the third inning after DeJong hit his 13th home run of the season, it gave Cueto 2,000 career innings and he became the eighth active pitcher to join that elusive club.

LeBlanc, like Cueto also went five innings, as he allowed one run on five hits, walking and struck out three before giving way the bullpen.

Genesis Cabrera won his second game of the season, as he pitched the seventh inning, walking one and striking out two.

Despite allowing two walks to the first two batters of the top of the ninth inning, Alex Reyes was able to regroup to get the next three batters to end the game and pickup his 22nd save for the victorious Cardinals, who won four of six this season over the Giants.

NOTES: Cueto became the seventh pitcher born in the Dominican Republic to reach the 2,000 career inning milestone, joining Juan Marichal (3,507.1), Bartolo Colon (3,461.2), Pedro Martinez (2,827.1), Ervin Santana (2,461.0), Pedro Astacio (2,196.2) and Joaquin Andujar (2,153.0).

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman will return to the team and take the ball in the opener of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, as he looks for his 10th win of the season, while the Dodgers will send Tony Gonsolin to the mound.

Old nemesis Goldschmidt hits a big home run in Cardinals win 3-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The St Louis Cardinals Paul Goldschmidt watches the launch of his sixth inning home run at Busch Stadium in St Louis against the San Francisco Giants (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Paul Goldschmidt maybe on another team these days, but he continues to be a thorn in the side of the San Francisco Giants.

Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run off of Anthony DeSclafani in the bottom of the fifth inning that proved to be the winning margin, as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Giants 3-1 at Busch Stadium.

With the loss, the Giants saw their five-game winning streak come to an end; however, they still have the best record in baseball at 58-33.

Tyler ONeill put the Cardinals on the board in the bottom of the second inning, as he led off the inning with his 16th home run of the season, and his first home run since he hit against the the Cleveland Indians on June 9.

Kwang Hyun Kim pitched six innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, walking two and striking out one, as he extended his scoreless streak up to 21 innings.

Over his last seven starts, Kim has one run or less in six of those starts. The left-hander was pitching in front of his wife, Lee Sang-Hee, their two children Minjoo and Minjae, who saw him pitch in the United States for the first time after they arrived from South Korea earlier this week.

DeSclafani went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, not walking a batter and striking out four and he saw his record fall to 10-4 on the season.

The Giants scored their only run in the top of the seventh inning, as Wilmer Flores led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch by Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley. Flores then scored on a single by Steven Duggar, when ONeill committed a fielding error on the single by Duggar.

Following the Duggar single, Alex Dickerson came off the bench as the possible tying run with one out; however, he struck out against Genesis Cabrera and the possible threat ended when Austin Slater struck out to end the inning.

The Giants put the first two runners on base in the top of the ninth inning, as Flores singled under the glove of Tommy Edman at second base, then Brandon Crawford came off the bench to pinch hit for Curt Casali and he walked on four pitches. Crawford was then lifted for a pinch runner, as Chadwick Tromp came on to replace Crawford.

After getting huge jam, Cardinals All-Star closer Alex Reyes then got Duggar to pop out for the first out, then struck Thairo Estrada and Mike Tauchman ended the game by grounding out to shortstop.

Reyes picked up his 21st save of the season in as many opportunities, and his streak stands at 23 going back to last season. The 23 successive save opportunities by Reyes to start a career tie a major-league record that was previously set by LaTroy Hawkins.

NOTES: Crawford was not in the starting lineup after he left Fridays 7-2 win in the opener with a cramped left hamstring.

Triple-A infielder/outfielder Drew Robinson, who survived a suicide attempt last year and attempted to make a comeback despite losing his right eye announced his retirement and this weekend will be his last for the Rivercats.

Robinson will transition into a role with the Giants front office and the role will focus on sharing his personal experience, providing education, and identifying other players interested in taking on a mental health peer support role…additionally, he will work with the Giants organization to create a program to support the mental health of players, will travel to affiliates during the season to promote mental health and support the peer program, and attend portions of Spring Training and other training camps.

UP NEXT: Johnny Cueto will close out the series for the Giants, as he takes the mound at Busch Stadium looking for his seventh win of the season, while the Cardinals will send Wade LeBlanc to the hill, as he looks for his first win of the season.