Category: San Francisco Giants

Webb dominant in Giants win 12-3

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb makes a quick pick off move to catch the Colorado Rockies base runner Brendan Rogers leaning off first base in the bottom of the third inning at Coors Field in Denver on Tue Sep 7, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After taking the opener of the series, the San Francisco Giants did not waste any time to get on the board.

The Giants, behind three consecutive doubles to start the game, helped them to an 12-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. With the victory, the Giants maintain their one-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League after the Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2 at Busch Stadium.

Tommy La Stella, Brandon Belt and Buster Posey each doubled in the top of the first inning, helping the Giants grab a 3-0 lead even before the Rockies came to the plate for the first time in the game.

Belt doubled In La Stella, then Posey doubled in Belt, and after LaMonte Wade, Jr., grounded out for the first out of the inning that sent Posey to third, Brandon Crawford singled in Posey for the third run of the inning.

The three doubles by the Giants to start the game were a San Francisco era first, as it was the first time that the team started a game with three consecutive doubles.

The three runs is all that Logan Webb needed, as he went seven innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, Webb did not walk a batter and struck out six on his way to his ninth win of the season.

After scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, the Giants added two more runs in the top of the second inning. Webb helped out his own cause, when he doubled to left field that scored Steven Duggar, who tripled with one out in the inning.

C.J. Cron got the Rockies on the board in the bottom of the fourth, as the National League Player of the Month for the month of August, doubled to center field to score Charlie Blackmon.

The Giants broke the game wide open in the top of the fifth inning, as Duggar hit his second triple of the game that scored Wade, Jr., Evan Longoria and Mike Yastrzemski.

Duggar is the first Giants player to have two triples in a game since Stephen Vogt did so on June 15, 2019 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Longoria got in on RBI crew in the top of the seventh inning, as he into a force play and then Yastrzemski hit his career-high 22nd home run to lengthen the Giants lead up to 11-1.

The Rockies tried to cut into the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Josh Fuentes singled off of Webb to score Ryan McMahon and then Rio Ruiz drove in the final run of the game for the Rockies.

That seventh inning would be the end of the line for Webb, who set a San Francisco era record by allowing two runs or less in a start came to a halt.

Webbs streak was the best by a pitcher for the team since Ferdie Schupp went 16 in a row from 1916-1917. Also, only seven pitchers in the modern era have put together longer streak.

Kervin Castro made his major-league debut in the bottom of the eighth inning, and went two innings, giving up two hits and striking out one.

Yastrzemski put the final touches on the scoring in the top of the ninth inning, as he singled to right field to score Longoria.

Both Crawford and Duggar picked up three hits for the Giants, who ended the night with 15 hits.

NOTES: Jake Jewell was claimed off of waivers by the Giants from the Dodgers, and was assigned to Sacramento.

When Thairo Estrada picked up two home runs on Monday, it was the fifth and sixth home runs of the season for Estrada and he is the 16th different Giants player to hit five or more home runs on the season. In doing so, the Giants are the first team in National League history to have 16 players with five or more home runs in a season.

Dominic Leone finished the game for the Giants on Monday, a day after he started the game for the Giants versusthe Dodgers on Sunday and according to Sportradar, the last Giants pitcher to record the first out in one game and the last in a game the very next day was Eric Gunderson…Gunderson started on April 23, 1990 at San Diego and recorded the game’s first out before recording the last out vs. Pittsburgh on April 24, 1990.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani goes for his 12th win of the season for the Giants in the finale, while the Rockies will send Jon Gray to the mound.

Back To Jacks: Giants go home run-happy once again in 10-5 win at Colorado

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By Morris Phillips

Now that the pressure’s off, the Giants are swing happy once again.

Definitely a statement made tongue in cheek, but the Giants are done battling the Dodgers for now, and they looked loose and lethal in whipping the Rockies 10-5 on Labor Day afternoon in Denver.

The final 25 games of what’s becoming a signature season in the century plus history of the franchise promise to be jam-packed with tense moments. Those moments just didn’t surface on Monday: Kevin Gausman pitched the Giants into a comfortable place, and the team’s home run bats took it from there. A short turnaround from a late afternoon start in San Francisco to an early afternoon start two time zones away didn’t take away from the effort either.

“To be honest, I was expecting everyone to be a little sluggish,” starter Kevin Gausman said. “We expended a lot of energy that last series just mentally. And being locked in every single pitch and to come out, from the get-go, they were locked in. Quality at-bats and really making Freeland work.”

“The whole crew has a very, very quick turnaround and tired eyes this morning,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “These guys got ramped up well, got prepared and ready to hit, obviously, from the first pitch.”

Darin Ruf starred as the unlikely catalyst, thrust into the leadoff role in the absence of injured Austin Slater, who has concussion symptoms. Ruf homered in the first, and tripled in the four-run fifth, as the Giants jumped to a 8-1 lead and chased the Rockies’ Kyle Freeland, who beat the Giants earlier at Oracle Park and had been on a roll since the All-Star break. Freeland was looking to build on his 5-1 record against the Giants at Coors Field in his 10th home start against the visitors, but he was in trouble from the start.

Ruf and Buster Posey hit homers in the first inning, and Thairo Estrada homered in the fourth and the fifth innings. Ruf’s two-run triple capped the rally in the fifth. That blast came off Ben Bowden, who was summoned to replace Freeland.

Gausman turned in his most impressive and lengthiest outing since the All-Star break, pitching seven innings, allowing five hits and three runs. The Centennial, Colorado native may have energized by participating in the first starting pitcher matchup between Denver-area natives (Freeland is from Denver), but after some short outings in early July, he’s been trending back toward his season start and he picked up his 13th win for his efforts.

“I almost talked to Kap before the game, ‘Let me go 130 pitches, whatever it takes. These guys need a day off.,'” Gausman said. “I had some quick innings, some long (at-bats) and then followed by a one-pitch out.”

Despite their ragged effort, the Rockies stand as one of the Giants most formidable obstacles down the stretch. The Giants finish a 16 games in 16 days stretch here this week, and return on September 24 for three more meetings. While the Rockies have been dreadful on the road, winning just 18 of 68 games thus far, they’re 45-25 at home, a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde peformance that would be the biggest differential in home and road performance in the history of the Major Leagues if the percentages persist.

Freeland loomed as a big portion of the challenge facing Giants, as did the short turnaround, but at least on Monday, the Giants were up to the task.

On Tuesday, the Giants return to normalcy so to speak with an announced starter in Logan Webb, who may also give the bullpen a breather if he can continue his lengthy success now spanning more than half the season. The Rockies have announced Chi Chi Rodriguez as their starter.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants cutting it close with Dodgers for division race; Giant vendors agree to negotiate before going on strike

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Local 2 union members and employees of Bon Appetit stand outside of Oracle Park in San Francisco before Sun Sep 5th’s Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants game. Employees agreed not to strike on Sunday and will negotiate with management during the week. (photo from twitter.com/UniteHereLocal2/)

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 The Giants are in the middle of a nick and tuck battle for the NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the most recent series the Giants and Dodgers exchanged sitting in first place.

#2 The Giants with their recent Covid 19 issues that involved pitchers Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto. Infielder Donovan Solano has returned from the Covid IL list and played shortstop on Saturday, Alex Dickerson joined the Injured List with a hamstring strain on Saturday and is out for ten days.

#3 Recent discussion about former San Francisco Giant Will Clark to be put on the ballot and in the Hall of Fame. Clark who played with the Giants, Baltimore Orioles, St Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers hit .303, had 2176 hits, 284 home runs, and 1205 RBIs. The Baseball Writers of America remember Clark mainly with the Giants he almost made the Hall of Fame ballot in 2006 and was voted down in 2018 by a Veteran’s Committee Today’s Game ballot.

#4 Giants food service concessionaires Bon Appetit employees has voted to go on strike because workers say they haven’t had a raise in two years they make $20.75 an hour are asking for a $3 raise, they want Covid-19 protection, health care. During the last contract negotiation between then Centerplate employees and Centerplate management the employees in 2013 who were making $10.25 an hour and were offered a 25 cent raise at the time. The Giants said in 2013 and 2021 the negotiations concession employees are between then and Bon Appetit management.

#5 Employees are pushing for more safety protection because fans are not wearing masks when they come to make their purchases at the concession stands Union Local 2 reported that 20 employees had been infected since the stadium reopened in June and need more PPE protection. The strike was supposed to take place Sunday but was called off as employees agreed to negotiate this week. The Giants have two more home stands left.

Marko Ukalovic is filling in for Morris Phillips who does the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Buehler was off on this day in Giants 6-4 victory

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buhler looks in a state of shock as he walks off the field after the third inning giving up six runs to the San Francisco Giants in the first three innings at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 5, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-If you were told prior to the game that the San Francisco Giants would beat a pitcher that was 7-0 in his career against them, you would think no way.

Brandon Belt hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, helping the Giants to a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers and regained the lead in the National League West by one game before a sellout crowd of 41,155 at Oracle Park.

Yes, entering the game, Walker Buehler was 7-0 with a 1.83 earned run average in 12 games (10 of them starts); however, now he is 7-1 against the Dodgers longtime rival.

Buehler lasted just three innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out one and saw his record fall to 13-4 on the season.

After the Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, the Dodgers immediately tied it up in the top of the second inning, when Will Smith singled to centerfield to allow Justin Turner to score from second base. Turner led off the inning by singling off of Jose Alvarez.

Dominic Leone started the bullpen game, for the Giants and retired the Dodgers in order in the top of the first inning before giving way to Alvarez, who did not get a batter out and gave up one run and one hit before he was replaced by Zack Littell, who pitched one inning, striking out one to pick up his second win of the season.

Buehler immediately gave the Giants the lead back in the bottom of the second inning, as he walked Brandon Crawford to lead off the inning, then Mike Yastrzemski doubled Crawford to third and the Giants took the lead for good, when Steven Duggar tripled down the right field line to score both Crawford and Yastrzemski.

Darin Ruf came off the bench to pinch hit for Littell, who got out of the jam in the top of the second and Ruf singled to left field off of Buehler to score Duggar from third base.

Crawford got in on the RBI act in the bottom of the third inning, as he doubled in LaMonte Wade, Jr., who doubled just in front of Crawford and after Yastrzemski lined out to Corey Seager at second base for the second out of the inning, Curt Casali singled for his first hit of the game to score Crawford from second base.

This bullpen game, fared better for the Giants, as Jay Jackson, Carlos Quintana, Camilo Doval, Tony Watson, Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee closed it out for the Giants, as they moved back into the lead in the NL West with 25 games remaining in the regular season.

The Giants had an ample opportunity to break the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth inning, as they got the first two runners on and would eventually load the bases with one out; however, David Price was able to work out of jam, as he got Thairo Estrada to pop out to Max Muncy for the second out of the inning and ended the inning, when he was able to get Belt to ground out to Muncy.

McGee was far from perfect to start the top of the ninth inning, as Kris Bryant committed a throwing error on a ball hit by pinch hitter Austin Barnes, when Belt could not keep his foot on the bag at first base.

Albert Pujols then came off the bench to hit for Andrew Vasquez, and on a 1-0 pitch launched his 16th home run of the season into the left center field bleachers and it was the 678th home run of his career.

After the Pujols home run that got the Dodgers within two, McGee was able to get Trea Turner to pop out to Thairo Estrada at second base; however, Muncy singled to left-center field to bring the tying run in the person of Mookie Betts to the plate and McGee struck him out looking for the second out of the inning.

Of course, a game between the Giants and Dodgers could not end in a normal way, as Yastrzemski made a sensational catch on by ball hit by Justin Turner down the right field wall near into the netting down the right field line and the play went to review and the play was upheld, giving the Giants the win and sending the fans wearing orange and black into a frenzy.

NOTES: Doval was recalled from Sacramento, while Sammy Long was optioned to Sacramento. Also, Austin Slater was placed on the seven-day concussion IL and Duggar was recalled from Sacramento and went 1-for-4 with the game-winning hit, when he hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the second inning.

With the win, the Giants won the season series 10-9 and this was the 99th win by the Giants over the Dodgers at Oracle Park since the park opened on April 11, 2000.

Belts home run was the 202nd of the season for the team, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays, who have hit a MLB leading 206 home runs.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman will take the mound on Monday afternoon, when the Giants open up a two-city, six-game road trip to Colorado and Chicago and Gausman will be looking for his 13th win of the season. Kyle Freeland will go for the Rockies, as he looks for his sixth win of the season.

Max Scherzer will go to the mound in search of his 13th win for the Dodgers on Monday, as they continue their two-city, seven-game road trip with an afternoon against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium and the Cardinals will send Milos Mikolas to the hill, as he looks for his first win of the season.

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Urias wins 16th, Turner goes deep for LA 6-1 win; SF’s Jackson can’t even get out of first inning as opener

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San Francisco Giants starter Jay Jackson gives up the baseball in the first inning after surrendering three runs to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jackson also picked up the loss he was the opener and didn’t even get out of the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Sep 4, 2021 (photo by Bay Area News Group)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Trea Turner atoned for his throwing error that cost the Los Angeles Dodgers a share of first place in the National League West.

Turner changed all that, as he led off the game with a solo home run off of Jay Jackson, helping the Dodgers to a 6-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 41,146 at Oracle Park. With the victory, the Dodgers and Giants are once again tied for first place in the National League West.

It was the 16th leadoff career home run for Turner, who was acquired by the Dodgers at the trading deadline along with Max Scherzer from the Washington Nationals.

The Dodgers tacked on two more runs in the frame, when Corey Seager hit a sacrifice fly that Austin Slater made a great play on and then Justin Turner scored on a double by A.J. Pollock.

In what was considered a bullpen game for the Giants, Jay Jackson started and went just 0.1 innings, allowing three runs on one hit before being replaced by Jarlin Garcia, who gave up two hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Garcia was able to get out of the jam in the top of the first inning, as he got Pollock at third base. Pollock was forced to leave the game due to what was later called a right Hamstring Strain.

Julio Urias was his usual outstanding self, as he went the first 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on eight hits, Urias did not walk a batter and struck out eight, as he raised his record to 16-3 on the season.

The Giants got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as Buster Posey doubled to right field that scored Kris Bryant, who singled with one out in the inning.

Justin Turner reached on an infield single, then went to second on a throwing error by Mauricio Dubon, went to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a balk by Jose Quintana.

After reaching on the Trea Turner error in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the game on Friday night, Posey went 3-for-4, and came within an eyelash of going 4-for-4, as Mookie Betts made a great catch to rob Posey.

Seager put the game out of reach, when he hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the ninth inning off of Sammy Long.

It was a good day for the Seager family, as Coreys brother Kyle went 2-for-5 with six runs batted in for the Seattle Mariners and the two hits for Kyle were both three-run home runs, giving him 33 on the season and the Mariners defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-5 at Chase Field.

Albert Pujols drove in the final run of the game for the Dodgers, as he hit a sacrifice fly that easily scored Cody Bellinger from third base. Bellinger came on to replace Pollock when he was forced to leave the game with a strained right hamstring.

NOTES: Dubon was recalled from Sacramento, as he replaced Alex Dickerson, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.

UP NEXT: The Giants starter for Sundays finale is not determined, while the Dodgers will send Walker Buehler to the mound, as he looks for his 14th win of the season.

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.