Category: San Francisco Giants

Posey goes yard twice in Giants 10-7 win

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San Francisco Giants hitter Wilmer Flores hits for a three run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Connor Brogdon on Tue Apr 20, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Buster Posey did something in the second game of the three-game series that was last accomplished nearly five years ago.

Posey picked up his first multi-home run for the first time since 2016, as the San Francisco Giants came back to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-7 at Citizens Bank Park.

Tommy La Stella hit a home run, but the big punches by the Giants came in the top of the eighth inning, as they scored six runs in the inning to take the lead for good.

Alex Dickerson slammed a three-run home run and then Wilmer Flores slammed a three-run pinch hit home run to secure the Giants third straight win.

All 10 runs came via the long ball, as the Giants have hit 25 home runs through 17 games during the 2021 season.

Dickersons three-run home run gave the Giants their first and only lead of the game, and then just four batters later, Flores picked up his first pinch-hit of the season that gave the Giants their final three runs of the game.

The six runs scored by the Giants were the first six runs allowed by Phillies reliever Connor Brogdon, who entered the game with a 0.00 earned run average and left with a 7.36 era.

It was the first multi-homer game for Posey since May 18, 2016 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Posey hit both of his home runs against former Giants farmhand Zack Wheeler, who was part of the Carlos Beltran trade with the New York Mets on July 11, 2011.

Logan Webb, who was activated off the injured list prior to the game after being placed on the list due to side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine went four innings, allowing four earned runs, seven hits, two walks and striking out four in just four innings of work.

To make room for Webb, Trevor Gott was designed for assignment, and closer Jake McGee was activated and pitched the ninth inning in the game. Sam Selman was sent to the alternate site after being called up to replace McGee.

Former Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarez pitched a perfect eighth inning to earn his first win of the season.

Brandon Belt was forced to leave the game with a right quad strain and will be re-evaluated by the team on Wednesday.

NOTES: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Curt Casali is the first Giants catcher to catch shutouts in four consecutive starts since Broadway Aleck Smith, May 6-24, 1901…the last Major Leaguer to catch shutouts in four consecutive starts was Pittsburgh’s Francisco Cervelli (five straight) in June 2015.

The last time that the Giants threw back-to-back shutouts was against the Colorado Rockies on September 14 and 15, 2018 at Oracle Park.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani closes out the road trip on Wednesday afternoon, as he takes the mound versus the Phillies, who will send Zach Eflin to the hill.

One Belt, Two Runs: Giants win 2-0 in Philly

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By Morris Phillips

Philadelphia fans will boo anyone at anytime. They’re pretty much known for that.

But it’s not all knucklehead behavior, there’s some common sense in there as well. So when it became clear that this was Gabe Kapler’s night, Philly fans relented.

The Giants, behind Brandon Belt’s bat and brilliant pitching, shut down the Phillies and stopped the boos, winning 2-0 at Citizens Bank Park on Monday.

Kevin Gausman survived six eventful innings to pick up the win and three Giants’ relievers finished the job, sparing Kapler any trips to the mound to incite the boo birds. The win, Kapler’s 200th as a manager, superceded all that huffing and puffing anyway.

“My feelings are I’m just kind of focused on doing a good job with the San Francisco Giants,” Kapler said when asked about his first return after two seasons managing the Phillies, “And that’s genuinely how I feel.”

What could have been all hyped up and agitated, was rendered mundane, first by Belt, who provided all the scoring in the third with a two-run shot off starter Chase Anderson. The slugger welcomed Anderson’s hanging breaking ball and redirected it 372 feet away beyond the right centerfield wall. But Belt’s blow didn’t portend a slugfest.

Instead, Gausman settled in, Anderson didn’t allow anything else and batters on both sides squandered some choice opportunities. The teams combined to go 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position, but it felt like Gausman faced all 15, as the Giants’ ace wiggled out of jam after jam.

“He wasn’t lights-out stuff — I think he’ll tell you the same,” Kapler said of Gausman. “He was just a fighter today, and I think that’s the reason he was able to do what he did.”

In the fourth, Gausman was saddled with runners at second and third, no outs. But he executed Plan A, striking out Mickey Moniak and Nick Maton, hitters with little big league experience (26 at-bats combined) inexplicably hitting back-to-back in the Philadelphia lineup. Pinch hitter Brad Miller was next, and Gausman tricked him with a splitter that was grounded to third for an easy third out.

Matt Wisler, Camilo Doval, and Wandy Peralta each contributed an inning of scoreless relief and the Giants had back-to-back shutouts after Sunday’s 1-0 win at Miami.

Kapler’s 200th win came with the fourth-year manager stuck on 200 losses, giving him the unique distinction in Major League history of holding both totals at same time. But that is his history: finishing two games under .500 with the Phillies (2018) and Giants (2020), and exactly. 500 in Philadelphia in 2019. This season’s 10-6 start–ironically with Kapler’s starting pitchers and bullpen being deployed brilliantly and backing it up with their performances–reflects the growth, especially juxtaposed against his numbers from the previous seasons.

“Hopefully it’s a big win for him, his first time coming back to Philly,” Gausman said of his manager. “It was a good way to kind of set the tone for this series.”

The Giants and Phillies resume play Tuesday with the Webb/Wheeler matchup at 4:05pm. Logan Webb returns to the starting rotation due to Johnny Cueto’s injury to face Zack Wheeler, who was traded from the Giants’ farm system nearly a decade ago.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants pitch third shutout in a week; Alex Wood, relief core blank Marlins 1-0

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Miami Marlins third baseman Brian Anderson puts the tag on San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) in the first inning of play on Sun Apr 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, the San Francisco Giants (9-6) on Sunday used five pitchers and the Florida Marlins (7-8) used four pitchers you would think both teams would be putting on a hitting clinic but just the opposite both teams were trying to stop any runs from scoring in the 1-0 Giants win.

#2 Taking a look at pitcher Alex Wood’s performance five innings, three hits not that he would be allowed but Wood looked like he could have got some late innings for the Giants.

#3 The bullpen has to get a lot of credit to hold the Marlins line up to no hits after Wood departed for the rest of the four innings.

#4 The Marlins starter Pablo Lopez went six innings giving up six hits and striking out nine batters before being lift on the Marlins side of the coin they got good starting pitching and great relief help but lost the game.

#5 Morris, the Marlins proved to be a worthy opponent beating the Giants in the first two games of the series but they sure found out why San Francisco has the second best record in baseball with some great pitching on Sunday. The Giants open up a three game series in Philadelphia starting tonight.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips Mon Apr 19, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Is the Giants vs. Dodgers Rivalry being replaced?

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One of the most famous moments in the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers rivalry came in 1965 when Dodgers catcher John Roseboro (center) threw a ball past the ear of San Francisco Giants hitter Juan Marichal (left) and he came out swinging the bat on Roseboro’s head, Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax tried to intervene (ESPN still file photo)

Is the Giants vs. Dodgers Rivalry being replaced? 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary 

By Amaury Pi-González

 With the recent ascent of the San Diego Padres, who fully reloaded their team and spend big bucks during the off-season, it should be asked.  Is the Giants vs. Dodgers rivalry still tops in the National League. The SF vs. LA rivalry is one of the oldest in major league baseball, second only to the Yankees-Red Sox and in between the Cardinals and Cubs, and it continued when both teams moved to California in 1958.

From the early 1960’s Candlestick Park in the Bayview-Hunters Point, to the current Oracle Park something very interesting has been happening.  When the Giants host the Dodgers, Giants fans come out in droves to root their team and with the “Beat LA” chant you hear it all the time at Oracle.  

However, when it is the other way around, when the Giants played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Dodger fans are just there to root for their team but show not much passion against the Giants, the Giants became like any other team that is playing at Dodger Stadium.

Obviously there is a contingency of Giants fans that make the trips to LA as well as Dodgers fans who reciprocate. Maybe it is because Giants fans are more passionate, or is it an envy factor?  The Dodgers have won six World Series since they moved from Brooklyn to LA, while the Giants three in SF since they moved from the Polo Grounds in the Big Apple.  

Could it be the envy of success the main factor for Giants fans who hate the Dodgers with a passion?  It is all good, competition and passion should be part of the game. It is true that Dodgers fans usually leave games earlier at Dodger Stadium, it is the culture, LA is a car culture, the long commute, millions of cars in the freeways all the time, it is understandable.  

Most of the time the Giants vs. Dodgers rivalry has been a great one from New York to California. With some rare exceptions of violence among fans, most of the time is has been a healthy rivalry. Today the San Diego Padres, who have never won a World Series since they began as a major league franchise in San Diego in 1969, are considered one of the elite clubs in the game. 

All because, this past winter the San Diego Padres were the busiest team in baseball acquiring great talent, with the ownership opening their check books, definitely they are a team looking to go all the way and win that elusive first World Series. Padre’s shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is one of the great talents in the game today and a franchise player who generates emotion and passion with his flair and style of play.

Yet, with all that talent the Padres have the pressure now to perform and win, because although on paper they look very solid, you do not play on paper, you play on the field. The Padres could replace the Giants as the ‘número uno’ rivalry against the Dodgers in the next few years.

Things evolve, there is a new generation of fans in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, the tradition of the rivalry still remains, while San Diego is soon becoming a hot bed for baseball. Yet, the Padres have not won the hardware they need to brag a little, like the World Series trophy.

 This 2021 season the Padres are going for it and the Giants are trying to compete inside a division the Dodgers have owned for eight consecutive years. No, the Giants are not rebuilding per say, but in a couple of years guys like Posey, Crawford, Belt and so on could be gone and then they will have to work on a system where they can content with the Dodgers.  

The Padres look much stronger than any other team in the western division, except the Dodgers. There is a re-alignment of rivalries starting this 2021, one is the Dodgers vs. Padres, and in the American League the old Yankee vs. Red Sox is more now, the Yankees vs. Rays. My grandfather Armando used to tell me, “Amaury, time changes things, nothing stays the same.”  He was correct. 

Amaury Pi Gonzaelz is the Spanish lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI LaGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Wood throws a gem in Giants debut 1-0 over Marlins

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Alex Wood throws for the San Francisco Giants against the Miami Marlins at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Sun Apr 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Alex Wood made a great impression in his debut wearing the Orange and Black of the San Francisco Giants.

Wood, who signed a one-year contract worth three million dollars in the off-season, went five innings, allowing three hits and not walking a batter, as the Giants salvaged the finale of the three-game series with a tough 1-0 victory over the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park.

The left-hander, who resides in the Miami area in the off-season made his debut after being shut down in the middle of spring training with a back issue and looked great in his first start as a member of the Giants.

Alex Dickerson drove in the only run of the game in the top of the third inning that Tommy La Stella from third base. La Stella reached third base with two outs, as Jesus Aguilar was unable to field the ground ball hit by Brandon Belt to first base.

Tyler Rogers was placed in the closers role and pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his first save of the season, as the Giants picked up the third shutout in the last seven games.

The Giants bullpen, which lost the past two games retired the last 13 batters of the game to get the victory.

Camilio Doval, who was brought to the big club after Johnny Cueto was laced on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain and threw a perfect seventh inning, including getting Adam Duvall to strikeout to end the inning.

Austin Slater made the play of the day in the bottom of the third inning, as he dove to his left to rob Pablo Lopez of extra bases.

Lopez, who saw his record fall to 0-2 on the season struck out a career-high nine in six innings, as he allowed an unearned run.

NOTES: Closer Jake McGee and Logan Webb were placed on the injured list due to lingering effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Buster Posey sat out the game with a bruised left elbow that he sustained in Saturdays game, when he was hit by a pitch against Sandy Alcantara and the x-rays were negative.

Wood was activated prior to the game and Chadwick Tromp was called up from the Alternate Training Site.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman will head to the mound on Monday evening at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, as the Giants open a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Alfaro’s walk-off gives the Marlins the win in extra innings 7-6

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Miguel Rojas (left) of the Miami Marlins gives Jorge Alfaro (right) the water works after belting the game winning walk off home run on Sat Apr 17, 2021 at Miami (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

The once reliable San Francisco Giants does not seem so reliable right about now, as for the second straight game, they were unable to hold to the lead.

Jorge Alfaro hit a two-run double in the bottom of the 10th inning, helping the Miami Marlins to a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Giants at loanDepot Park.

Alfaros double off of losing pitcher Jarlin Garcia got by left fielder Austin Slater, who was able to recover to get the ball to the plate; however, it was too late, as Jazz Chisholm, Jr., and former Giants infielder/outfielder Adam Duvall both cross the plate to give the Marlins their second come-from-behind victory in as many nights.

The Giants took the lead in the top of the 10th inning, as Brandon Belt doubled to right-center field to score Slater with the tie-breaking run and pinch-hitter Anthony DeSclafani, who bunted into a Fielders Choice stopped at third.

Slater, who was on second base when the top of the 10th inning easily scored from third, as he got there when Donovan Solano picked up his second hit in as many at-bats; however, Slater was forced to stop at third base due to the arm of Starling Marte.

Duvall gave the Marlins the lead in the bottom of the first inning, as he tripled to center field that scored Marte.

That would be the score when Jesus Aguilar doubled to score Marte and Corey Dickerson, who went 4-for-6 on the evening against Giants pitching.

The Giants finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning, as they scored five runs to take a 5-3 lead.

Belt got the rally started, as he hit a solo home run to get the Giants on the board. Brandon Crawford drove in the second run, as he singled to score Evan Longoria.

Slater then gave the Giants the final three runs of the inning, as he slammed a three-run home run to centerfield to score both Crawford and Buster Posey.

That would be the score in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Alfaro singled to center to score Chisholm, Jr. and sent pinch runner Magneuris Sierra to second base.

Marte then tied up the game when he singled to score Sierra from second game and send the game into extra innings.

Aguilar made a sensational play at first base to end the top of the 10th inning, as he dug the ball out of the dirt and into his bare hand. Chisholm was able to stab the ball, as he dove to the turf on the ball hit by Mauricio Dubon.

Aaron Sanchez went just 4.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking three and striking out five.

Sandy Alcantara went 6.2 innings for the Marlins, allowing four runs on six hits, not allowing a walk and striking out seven.

NOTES: With the loss, the Giants streak of winning series comes to a halt at three, as they lost their first series since the opening series against the Seattle Mariners.

Both Tyler Beede and John Brebbia threw at the alternate site in Sacramento, as both of them recover from Tommy John surgery.

UP NEXT: Alex Wood makes his Giants debut on Sunday afternoon, as he takes the mound against the Marlins, who will send right-hander Pablo Lopez to the hill.

Marte’s three-run home run wins it for the Marlins 4-1

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The body language on the San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (left) says it all after the Miami Marlins Starling Marte (right) hits a three run home run and is congratulated by Magneuris Sierra, center at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Fri Apr 16, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

In what was a pitchers duel between the Miami Marlins and the San Francisco Giants all came to a halt with one swing of the bat.

Starling Marte hit a three-run home run off of Wandy Peralta in the bottom of the eighth inning, helping the Marlins to a 4-1 win over the Giants at LoanDepot Park. It was the fifth win in six games for the Marlins.

Jesus Aguilar came off the bench to get the decisive rally off to a great start, as he walked against eventual losing pitcher Matt Wisler. Corey Dickerson then singled that advanced Magneuris Sierra, who came on to pinch run for Aguilar moved up an additional 90 feet and then Marte launched a Peralta pitch into the left field seats.

Anthony Bass picked up his first win of the season, as he pitched a perfect eighth inning before giving way to closer Yimi Garcia, who picked up his third save of the season.

Evan Longoria gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, as he singled off of Marlins starter Daniel Castano. Mike Yastrzemski, who is trying to get out of a slump, doubled to lead off the inning and then scored the Giants lone run of the evening on the Longoria single.

Anthony DeSclafani pitched six strong innings for the Giants, as he gave up just one run, scattering four hits and continues to be sharp, despite not being involved in the decision in his three starts this season, DeSclafani has allowed just three runs.

DeSclafani made just one mistake, as he gave up a solo home run to Jazz Chisholm, Jr.in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Castano, like DeSclafani did not fare in the decision, as he went five innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in his first appearance of the season.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain that he suffered in Wednesdays start versus the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park. To replace Cueto on the active roster, the Giants called up right-handed pitcher Camilo Doval from their minor-league camp.

Both the Giants and the Marlins wore the number 42, honoring Jackie Robinson, who made his major-league debut 74 years ago yesterday for the Brooklyn Dodgers against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Aaron Sanchez will take the mound for the Giants on Saturday, while the Marlins will send Sandy Alcantara to the mound.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants depending on pitching from Wood and Webb; SF opens up tonight in Miami

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San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler (left) checks on starter Johnny Cueto (right) who told Kapler he couldn’t go any further after experiencing pain in the sixth inning of Wed Apr 14, 2021 game at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Micahel:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto who suffered lat tightness in his pitching arm after going 5 2/3 innings on Wednesday afternoon.

#2 Cueto threw a 93 MPH fastball in the top of the sixth to Cincinnati Reds hitter Nicholas Castellanos felt extra pain and gestured across his throat with his finger he was done for the afternoon.

#3 Michael, tell us about pitcher Alex Wood who now steps into the rotation. Wood last month was on the injured list with a spinal ablation is scheduled to start on Sunday in Miami.

#4 Michael, talk about Logan Webb moving into the bullpen and having a right handed pitcher in a mostly left handed bullpen.

#5 The Giants are coming off a day off and open up a three game series in Miami tonight. Starting for the Giants Anthony DeSclafani (1-0 ERA 0,82) and for the Marlins Daniel Castano (0-0 ERA 0.00) the Marlins are on a three game win streak.

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

After day off, Giants head east to face Marlins, Phillies

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San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto left the game complaining of pain in his pitching arm sharp lat tightness in the top of the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 15, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 15, 2021

After a successful homestand, the San Francisco Giants take Thursday off before embarking on an eastern road trip to Miami and Philadelphia.

The Giants went 5-1 by sweeping Colorado in three games and taking two of three from Cincinnati. On Wednesday, Johnny Cueto picked up his second win while lowering his ERA to 1.80, and Jake McGee earned his sixth save, as San Francisco pulled into second place in the National League West, trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by two games.

San Francisco is 7-3 in its last 10 games, while the Marlins (5-6) are 5-5 in their last 10 outings, including a three-game sweep of Atlanta, and are in third place in the NL East.

Probable starters for the Giants in the Miami series are Anthony DeSclafani (1-0, 0.82) on Friday, Aaron Sanchez (0-1, 2.70) on Saturday and Alex Wood (0-0, 0.00) makes his first start of the season on Sunday after being activated off the injured list (lower back stiffness).

Pitching is getting the job done for San Francisco – the Giants have the second-best earned run average in MLB (2.78) and sixth in WHIP (1.07). Donovan Solano leads the Giants with a .353 average, Evan Longoria is hitting .316 with four home runs, Longoria and Brandon Crawford each have eight runs batted in.

Presently, the Giants have two players on the 10-day IL – LaMonte Wade Jr. (strained left oblique) and Reyes Moronta (strained right flexor mass).

Start times (Pacific Daylight Time) for the Miami series are 4:10 p.m. on Friday, 3:10 p.m. on Saturday and 10:10 a.m. on Sunday.

Multifaceted Giants better than high-powered Reds again, win 3-0

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Johnny Cueto left early, but the Giants’ bullpen made sure their veteran starter was covered late in their 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

The win capped a 5-1 homestand for the Giants, with their surprising relievers getting the better of the Reds’ high-powered offense in high leverage situations for the second, straight day.

Cueto pitched into the sixth inning, but motioned to catcher Curt Casali that he couldn’t continue after striking out Nick Castellanos. Prior to that moment, Cueto cruised, allowing three hits and no walks with four strikeouts. The 35-year old veteran was diagnosed with tightness in his lat, and examined after the game to determine if he’ll miss any starts.

“It felt like he was doing fine,” Casali said of Cueto. “He might have maybe tweaked something compensating for another part of his body. You never want to see that, especially when he’s cruising like that. Hopefully he doesn’t have to miss a start, and if he does, hopefully it’s not too, too long.”

“We all had visions in the dugout of that being another deep-into-the-game Johnny Cueto start,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “He just looked outstanding and totally in control.”  

The Reds, however, saw more than enough of Cueto, who picked up the win, and shutdown the best offense in baseball through the season’s first two weeks in the process.

I’m confident that we’re not going to have too many games like that with our offense,” Reds manager David Bell said. “At the same time, you have to give credit to Johnny Cueto. We’ve all seen him for a long time. I thought he was outstanding.”

Austin Slater doubled home Brandon Crawford in the fifth inning, then took third on a passed ball. Casali’s sharply hit ground ball was fielded cleanly by Eugenio Suarez, but his throw to plate was too late to catch the sliding Slater.

In the eighth, the Giants added on with Maurice Dubon’s RBI single which was actually a catchable pop fly that bounced out of Jonathan India’s glove allowing Evan Longoria to score from second base.

The Reds homered twice in Monday’s series opener, and twice more in the first inning on Tuesday, but Giants’ pitching shut them down after that with the bullpen coming up big both days.

In the eighth, after Jonathan India drew a leadoff walk, Tyler Rogers induced a double play ground ball from Tyler Stephenson. And in the ninth, closer Jake McGee allowed a base hit to Joey Votto, but struck out Eugenio Suarez on three pitches to end it while picking up his Major League-leading sixth save.

The Giants travel back east on Thursday before opening a three-game series in Miami on Friday night. Anthony DeSclafani will start for the Giants, while the Marlins have yet to name a starter for the 4:10pm start.