Willie Mays before a New York Mets and San Francisco Giants game on Aug 19, 2016 at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Celebrated his 90th birthday on Thu May 6, 2021. (AP News file photo)
Longtime and former KNBR 680, KGO 810, and KCBS 740 talk show host/broadcaster Bruce Magowan relives some great memories of Hall of Fame San Francisco Giant Willie Mays who turned 90 today on the Happy 90th Birthday Willie Mays Tribute with Bruce Magowan:
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray throws to the San Francisco Giants line up at Coors Field in Denver on Wed May 5, 2021 (AP News photo)
By Jessica Kwong
The San Francisco Giants fell 6-5 to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, dropping the series to the worst team in the division and going 2-4 in the road trip.
Right hand pitcher Jon Gray tossed six solid innings and struck out eight at Coors Field. Gray allowed two runs and four hits and improved 4-0 in his five starts at home, where he said he feels “comfortable.”
“It’s home for me and I know I can outpitch the other guy,” Gray said.
Brandon Crawford had a two-run homer in the second inning. He said he feels “good at the plate” and has been able to lay off pitches he was swinging early on.
“Been able to square balls up recently and when you square balls up in Colorado they typically seem to go a long way,” Crawford said.
Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb began strong, retiring the first 10 players at bat. But Colorado made inroads in the fourth inning, with Charlie Blackmon hitting a two-run single that tied the game. A walk loaded the bases and Webb was done after Alan Trejo got an RBI with a four-pitch walk.
“That last one was tough,” Webb said.
Gray continued his good afternoon with an RBI single. Then Raimel Tapia hit a two-run single that put the Rockies up 6-2.
Webb struck out five and walked three in just 3 2/3 innings.
Darin Ruf hit a two-run homer to put the Giants within two runs in the seventh inning, but they were not able to catch up to Colorado.
Giants catcher Buster Posey left in the fifth inning due to a tight right hamstring.
Manager Gabe Kapler said Posey’s whole lower half has been tight and they did not want to risk him getting further injured.
“I’m optimistic Buster will be fine and be in the lineup on Friday,” Kapler said.
The Giants open a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Friday with right hand pitcher Anthony DeSclafani on the mound. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m.
The San Francisco Giants Brandon Belt is congratulated as he scores after hitting a two run homer in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in game two of the doubleheader on Tue May 4, 2021 (AP News photo)
By Jeremy Kahn
Only three players remain from the glory years of the San Francisco Giants, and all three of them came through in a big way in the first game of a doubleheader.
Brandon Belt hit a grand slam in the top of the first inning, and then four pitches later, Buster Posey hit a solo home run and the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 12-4 at Coors Field.
The Giants ended up scoring 10 runs in that opening frame, as they chased Rockies starter German Marquez after just 0.2 innings, as he allowed eight runs and six hits, as he lost to the Giants for the third time this season.
Both Belt and Posey each picked up three hits in the rout, and it was the seventh home run of the season for Posey, who sat the 2020 to be at home with his newly adopted twins.
Brandon Crawford hit a two-run home run off of Lucas Gilbreath in the top of the sixth inning, as the teams were making up Mondays rainout.
Newly acquired Mike Tauchman batted in the leadoff spot for the first time since arriving, and scored two runs in the top of the first inning, as he doubled to lead off the game against Marquez. Tauchman later walked in the inning, as the Giants reached double figures in the first inning since they scored 11 runs in the opening frame against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 29, 1967.
Not only did the Giants score 10 runs in that first inning, as they picked up eight hits and sent 13 men to the plate.
That first inning was the biggest inning for the Giants since they scored 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 7, 2008 at AT&T Park.
Aaron Sanchez allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings of work, and the lone runs crossed the plate when Raimel Tapia hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was the third career grand slam for Tapia.
Things were looking good for the Giants, as they entered the bottom of the seventh inning in the second game of the twin bill with a four-run lead; however, these games were at Coors Field.
Charlie Blackmon hit a three-run home run off of Camilo Doval in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Rockies scored six runs in the inning to pick up the spilt with a thrilling 8-6 victory over the Giants in the nightcap of the doubleheader.
Closer Jake McGee came on in a non-save role; however, he lasted only 0.2 of an inning, as he allowed four runs on four hits before he was replaced by Doval, who gave up the walk-off home run to Blackmon. Doval came on to replace McGee and immediately gave up a single to C.J. Cron that sent Ryan McMahon to third, and then Blackmon hit his second home run of the season to send the fans home happy.
Belt got the Giants in the top of the first inning, as he hit a two-run home run off of Ryan Castellani to give the Giants a quick 2-0 lead.
The Belt home run was a historic one in Giants lore, as he became the first San Francisco Giants player to hit home runs in the first inning of both games of a doubleheader since Willie Mays turned the trick on May 22, 1965.
Cron tied up the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he hit his fifth home run of the season.
Steven Duggar gave the Giants the lead in the top of the fifth inning, as he hit a two-run single to score Wilmer Flores and Evan Longoria.
Flores stretched the Giants lead up to 6-2 in the top of the sixth inning, as he hit a two-run home run. It was the second home run of the season for Flores.
Trevor Story began the Rockies comeback, as he hit a two-run double to cut the Giants lead in half, as his double scored Alan Trejo and Garrett Hampson. McMahon then singled score Story and the Giants lead stood at one, and then Blackmon ended the game with one swing of the bat.
Alex Wood went five innings, allowing two runs, scattering four hits, walking two and striking out two and was in line for the win until that nightmarish seventh inning.
Ben Bowden went the final 1.2 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out two, as he picked up his first win of the season.
NOTES: Kevin Gausman was placed on the injured list after experiencing symptoms from the Covid-19 vaccination. Gausman should be clear after a day or two, this according to the Giants medical staff. Joey Bart was recalled from the alternate training site.
Tommy La Stella was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Monday) with a left hamstring strain. Gabe Kapler said that La Stella could miss up to six weeks and Jason Vosler was recalled from the alternative training site.
Conor Menez was appointed as the 27th player for the doubleheader, but he was not used in either games of the doubleheader.
UP NEXT: Logan Webb closes out the series and the road trip, as he takes the mound on Wednesday afternoon, while the Rockies will send Jon Gray to the hill.
By Morris Phillips
Cold temperatures and rain kept the Giants and Rockies from play in the opener of their three-game series in Denver on Monday.
The clubs–and their pitching staffs–get a soft landing with a doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday with both games shortened to seven innings.
Alex Wood is the scheduled starter for the opener at 2:40pm, and Aaron Sanchez, Monday’s scheduled starter, will pitch the nightcap.
The postponement is welcome news for Trevor Story, Brandon Crawford and others on both teams who are nicked up and could use an extra day to heal.
The Dodgers were postponed in Chicago, and the Padres won at home over the Pirates, a combination that keeps the Giants in first place in the NL West at 17-11.
San Francisco Giant catcher Buster Posey seen here in Mar 10, 2020 in spring training against the Chicago Cubs has been on a tear at the plate in the 2021 season with a .359 batting average (AP News file photo)
#1 Morris the San Francisco Giants (16-11) have been playing close to .500 ball they lost a series to the San Diego Padres (16-12) at Petco Park as the Padres are tough customers. The Giants won the third game avoiding getting swept thanks to the fine hitting of Mike Tauchman’s three run home run.
#2 The Padres have some hitters on the club that have delivered and who wouldn’t expect Manny Machado at some point in the series to come through which he did with a three run homer on Saturday night.
#3 Giants catcher Buster Posey has been swinging the bats he’s hitting .359 with 23 hits, six home runs, and nine RBIs.
#4 The Giants for their most recent wins have been getting some good pitching from Alex Wood (3-0), Caleb Baragar (2-0) and Johnny Cueto (2-0). How’s Cueto’s progress coming along since his injury when he had to leave the game.
#5 The Giants are in Colorado to face the Rockies for a three game series the starting pitchers for tonight’s game have not been announced the Rockies (10-17) have played .500 ball in their last ten games going 5-5.
Join Morris for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
San Francisco Giants Mike Tauchman (right) rounds third base and is greeted by third base coach Ron Wotus (23) after hitting a third inning three run homer at Petco Park in San Diego against the San Diego Padres on Sun May 2, 2021 (AP News photo)
By Jeremy Kahn
Mike Tauchman did not want to see the San Francisco Giants get swept by their division rival before heading to another division rival to end the road trip.
Tauchman hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning, giving the Giants the lead for good and the Giants would go on to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-1 at Petco Park.
Tommy La Stella got the rally started, as he hit a single that scored Curt Casali and sent starting pitcher Kevin Gausman up to second base.
Immediately following the La Stella single, Tauchman launched his first home run as a member of the Giants that gave them the lead for good.
Gausman continues to pitch well for his new team, as he went six innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking just one and striking out six on his way to his second win of the season without a loss.
Joe Musgrove, who just pitched the Padres first no-hitter in their 52-year history was roughed by the Giants, as he went five innings, allowing six runs (five earned), scattering four hits, walking two and striking out six, as his record fell to 2-3 on the season.
La Stella broke the game open in the top of the fifth inning, he tripled to center field for his second run batted in of the afternoon.
Wilmer Flores then got in on the RBI party, as he grounded out to Fernando Tatis, Jr., that scored La Stella from third base.
Tauchman added his fourth RBI of the afternoon in the top of the ninth inning, as he walked with the bases loaded to score Steven Duggar from third base.
Tatis, Jr., got the Padres on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Gausman that gave the Padres a quick 1-0 lead. It was the eighth home run of the season for Tatis, Jr.
Casali walked to lead off the third inning, then Gausman reached on a sacrifice bunt and reached, when Musgrove was unable to field the ball properly for an error. La Stella then singled to tie up the game, and then Tauchman gave the Giants the lead for good with one swing of the bat.
Gausman singled in the top of the fifth inning, and then scored when La Stella tripled to left field to give the Giants a three-run lead.
After Gausman threw 95 pitches thru six innings, his afternoon was done and Gabe Kapler turned the game over to the bullpen.
The trio of Caleb Baragar, Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval went the final three innings, allowing two hits and striking out three and the Giants salvaged the finale of the series and will head to Colorado with a half-game lead in the National League West over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
NOTES: With the win, the Giants avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season and also avoided being swept as well.
The Giants win at Petco Park, coupled with the Milwaukee Brewers loss to the Dodgers at American Family Field, the Giants and Brewers are tied for the best record in the National League.
UP NEXT: Aaron Sanchez opens up the three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Monday, while the Rockies will send German Marquez to the mound. Thus far this season, the Giants are 5-1 versus the Rockies and have outscored them 35-14 in the six games.
San Diego Padres Manny Machado gives thanks to the Almighty after hitting a three run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Sat May 1, 2021 (AP News photo)
By Jeremy Kahn
Manny Machado came up with the biggest hit of the night for the San Diego Padres, and it was able to stick.
Machado hit a three-run home run off of Anthony DeSclafani in the bottom of the first inning, as the Padres defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-2 at Petco Park.
The Machado home run held up, as Blake Snell went five innings, two runs (one earned), walking three and striking out six on his way to his first win as a member of the Padres.
Trent Grisham led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and then Fernando Tatis, Jr., before Machado launched a three-run home run into the left-center field seats and the Padres never looked back.
After that nightmarish first inning, DeSclafani did not allow a run, gave up a hit, walked one and struck out three in his final five innings of work.
Overall, DeSclafani went six innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking two and striking out three and he lost for the first time as a member of the Giants.
Mauricio Dubon got the Giants on the board in the top of the fifth inning, as he hit a solo home run to lead off the inning. It was the first home run of the season for Dubon, who also picked up his seventh run batted in of the season.
Darin Ruf cut the Padres down to one run, as he singled off of Snell to score DeSclafani, who reached on a fielding error by Snell. That would be as close as the Giants would get on the evening.
Jurickson Profar put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he a pinch-hit home run off of Zack Littell.
Jake Cronenworth added on some insurance, as he hit a two-run single off of Jose Alvarez that scored Tatis, Jr., and Eric Hosmer.
NOTES: Through 27 games, the Giants have made only seven errors, the fewest errors of any team in major league baseball.
UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman looks to stop the bleeding on Sunday, as he takes the Petco Park mound, as the Giants look to avert the sweep.
The San Diego Padres Jake Cronenworth slides in after scoring on a two run single by Jurickson Profar as San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is late with the tag in the sixth inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Fri Apr 30, 2021 (AP News photo)
By Jeremy Kahn
On a night where the San Francisco Giants could have lengthened their lead in the National League West, the San Diego Padres put a stop to that.
The Padres, who are predicted to contend in the National League West with the reigning World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take game one of the three-game series with a 3-2 victory over the Giants at Petco Park.
Despite the loss, the Giants remained in first place by a half-game, as the Dodgers lost to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.
Jurickson Profar singled to center field off of Logan Webb to score Eric Hosmer and Jake Cronenworth and the Padres move within 1.5 games of the Giants in the NL West.
Hosmer got the inning started, as he singled to left field off of Webb and then Cronenworth hit a double to right field that sent Hosmer to third base. After Wil Myers grounded out for the first out of the inning, and then Profar singled to give the Padres the lead for good.
It looked like the Giants took the lead in the top of the seventh inning, as Darin Ruf hit an opposite field pinch-hit grand slam off of Tim Hill; however, the umpires got together and ruled the ball foul and then Ruf struck out against Hill.
With a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth inning, the Giants loaded the bases, as Buster Posey singled to left field off of former teammate Drew Pomeranz and advanced to second, when Profar was unable to field the ball for a fielding error. Both Brandon Belt and Austin Slater walked to load the bases. Evan Longoria then grounded into a double play that scored Posey from third base, and send Belt to third base; however, Mauricio Dubon was not able to be the hero, as he grounded out to end the threat and the inning.
Former Giants closer Mark Melancon was retired the Giants in order to pick-up his ninth save of the season.
Webb went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out four, as he saw his record fall to 1-2 on the season.
On the side of the diamond, newcomer Yu Darvish won for the third time in four decisions, as he went 6.1 innings, allowing one run, scattering four hits, walking three and striking out a season-high 12.
The Giants jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as with two outs, Posey hit his sixth home run of the season, an opposite field home run off of Darvish. Posey went 2-for-4 on the night, and scored both Giants runs.
Hosmer tied up the game in the bottom of the first inning, as he hit an infield single that scored Trent Grisham, who doubled to left field with one out in the frame.
Zach Littell made his season debut for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he went one inning, walking one and striking out one.
NOTES: Prior to the game, the Giants made several different transactions to the roster, as Stephen Duggar was recalled from the Alternate Training Site, Littell was added to the Major-League roster. Jason Vosler was sent to the Alternate Training Site and Skye Bolt was optioned on Wednesday to the Alternate Training Site and was designated for assignment today.
Brandon Crawford was forced to leave the game early due to a left calf contusion and will be reevaluated tomorrow.
It was 60 years ago today that Willie Mays hit four home runs in a 14-4 victory over the Milwaukee Braves at County Stadium. Mays, who turns 90 on Thursday became the ninth player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a game.
UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani looks to improve to 3-0 on the season, as he takes the mound on Saturday night, while the Padres will send Blake Snell to the mound, as he looks for his first win as a member of the Padres.
San Francisco Giants starter Alex Wood throws to the Colorado Rockies line up on Wed Apr 28, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (@SFGiants photo)
On the Giants podcast with Michael:
#1 Michael very little doubt that the Giants (16-9) are getting lots of offensive help from the middle of the line up with Longoria, Dickerson, Slater and Crawford.
#2 How much of a surprise was it on Wednesday night to see former New York Yankee and now Giants centerfielder Michael Tauchman put on a clinic with three hits including beating out a throw for an infield single and playing some great defense.
#3 Wednesday night Giants pitcher Alex Wood threw for six innings giving up four hits and two runs he was the winning pitcher of record now 3-0 talk about his outing.
#4 Talk about the demotion of Giants reliever Gregory Santos who gave up two homers in the tenth inning on Tuesday night in the Giants loss to the Colorado Rockies 7-5.
#5 Taking a look at tonight’s series in San Diego (14-12) the Giants will start Logan Webb (1-1 ERA 4.30) going against the Padres Yu Darvish (2-1 ERA 2.27) talk about that pitching match up for tonight.
Join Michael Duca who podcasts for the Giants each Friday morning at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
San Francisco Giants Mike Tauchman didn’t waste anytime showing off his hitting talents at Oracle Park against the Colorado Rockies on Wed Apr 28, 2021 proving to be a good acquisition (photo from nj.com)
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 29, 2021
It didn’t take long for newly-acquired Mike Tauchman to make a contribution to the San Francisco Giants offense.
No sooner did Tauchman arrive on Wednesday after a deal with the New York Yankees, he delivered an infield RBI single to help the Giants defeat Colorado 7-3 at Oracle Park. The outfielder was dealt to San Francisco by the Bronx Bombers in exchange for left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta and a player to be named later.
Tauchman was hitting .214 in 11 games with the Yankees. In his five-year MLB career with the Yanks and Colorado, the 30-year-old Tauchman has a .250 average with 26 doubles, 13 home runs, 63 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.
Peralta was 2-1 with two saves and a 5.40 earned run average in 10 appearances – all in relief – for the Giants this season. He is 9-9 with a 4.72 ERA and two saves in nine big league seasons with the Giants and Cincinnati. The 29-year-old lefthander joins lefties Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson in the Yankee bullpen.
Tauchman draws a $624,200 major league salary; $301,550 if he plays in the minors. He could eligible for arbitration after this season. Peralta makes $925,000, is eligible for arbitration following this season, and can become a free agent in two years.
The Giants currently have three players on the injured list – Jarlin Garcia (April 21, left groin strain), Donovan Solano (April 22, strained right calf) and Mike Yastrzemski (April 26, strained left oblique).
The Giants travel to San Diego for a weekend series against the NL West third-place Padres. Kevin Gausman (1-0, 2.14) starts for San Francisco on Friday against the Padres’ Yu Darvish (2-1, 2.27). The other Giants probables for the series are Logan Webb (1-1, 4.03) on Saturday and Anthony DeSclafani (2-0, 1.50) on Sunday.
Sports Radio Service 