Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants Allow The Dodgers To Breathe in 5-2 Loss That Concludes the Season’s First Half

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San Francisco Giant starter Robbie Ray pitched six innings allowing three hits and two runs and six strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun July 13, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Needing a big win, the Giants instead got another reminder that their struggling offense needs a break.

That break comes over the next five days for the All-Star festivities in Atlanta after they squandered an opportunity to tighten the race in the NL West with a 5-2 loss in 11 innings to the first-place Dodgers.

The Giants conclude the first 96 games of the season with a competitive 52-44 record that has them in position to grab one of the six NL playoff spots. But their .230 team batting average ranks 26th of 30 teams, and serves as a constant reminder the season could go south quickly.

“We have some guys that are coming around a little bit,” manger Bob Melvin said of his team’s offense. “We have some guys that will come around a little bit more. We have some guys in the middle of the lineup that are going to do more damage.”

“I think the win-loss, the standings are great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think there’s just a lot of improvement that we need to do, we need to be better at.”

On Sunday, in front of a sold out Oracle Park crowd, the Giants went scoreless over the first eight innings only to be rescued by Luis Matos’ game-tying, pinch-hit home run. After starter Yoshinobo Yamamoto and crafty reliever Alex Vesia manipulated the Giants into a string of outs, Matos gave the home team unexpected life. But they barely breathed, going hitless the rest of the game.

Robbie Ray was All-Star worthy, allowing just two runs in six innings, but he got no support. That lack of help prevented Ray from gaining a 10th victory before the All-Star break. Ray expertly avoided Shohei Ohtani and allowed just three hits, but departed trailing 2-0. Miguel Rojas surprised Ray with his home run in the fifth that increased the Dodgers’ lead.

The two extra frames offered a baseball-only juxtaposition with the Dodgers stringing together three hits despite all coming off weak contact to plate three runs. Meanwhile, the Giants were denied when Rafael Devers’ rocket to center in the 10th was tracked down by James Outman.

“Ball 106 mph off the bat there,” Melvin recounted. “They hit balls like what 40 mph in the last inning? It’s just the way it is sometimes.”

Spencer Bivens took the loss despite retiring Mookie Betts and Will Smith after the decision was made to walk Ohtani to leadoff the inning. Ben Casparius got the win despite almost getting victimized by Devers.

The Giants open the season’s second half in Toronto against the AL East-leading Blue Jays on Friday night.

During the game’s final inning the Giants selected Tennessee Volunteers’ shortstop Gaven Kilen with the 13th overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft.

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Giants can’t quite close first half with a win against Dodgers

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San Francisco Giants pinch hitter Luis Matos two run home run in the ninth inning celebration would be short lived Matos tied the game up but the Los Angeles Dodgers would come back in the the top of the 11th inning with three runs to defeat the Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 13, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris tough loss for the San Francisco Giants after getting behind to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 they got a brief reprieve when pinch hitter Luis Matos slugged first pitch two run home run in the last of the ninth inning to tie the game 2-2 only to lose it on three runs in the top of the 11th inning.

#2 Giants All Star Robbie Ray was looking for his tenth win of the first half of the season pitching six innings, allowing three hits, two runs both earned, two walks and six strikeouts. A hard effort but he just didn’t get enough run support.

#3 Ray will not pitch in the All Star Game after pitching here on Sunday did you see that being a tough decision for Ray passing up the opportunity to pitch in the All Star Game?

#4 The Giants Luis Matos made the best of it tying the game up in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two run home run. Rafael Devers had a good opportunity to win it when he hit one in the bottom of the tenth and a ghost runner on second that would have won it but it got flagged down by Dodger centerfielder James Outman and kept the Dodgers alive who scored three times in the top of the 11th to get the 5-2 win.

#5 Giants head into the All Star Break with a record of 52-44 and return to the second half of the season in Toronto for three games starting Fri Jul 18th.

Morris Phillips does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Augie Mesenburg: Ray, Rodriguez and Webb All Stars in Atlanta

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Robbie Ray seen pitching against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field for the San Francisco Giants back on Thu Jul 3, 2025 will not pitch in the 2025 All Star in Atlanta but will be there to represent the Giants (AP file photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Augie Mesenburg:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray along with pitchers Logan Webb and Randy Rodriguez will represent the Giants at the All Star Game in Atlanta. We’ll start with Ray he’s in the top ten of the best ERA in the National League at 2.63.

#2 Ray made a start Sunday and will not pitch in the All Star game. Ray wanted to pitch in this one against the Los Angeles Dodgers and try and pick up his tenth win.

#3 Ray is the first pitcher since 2021 to have double digit wins in the first half of a season since former Giant Anthony DeSlafani did it with ten wins.

#4 Logan Webb has had a numerous amount of success this season he nearly finished the first half with ten wins he’s at 9-6 and an ERA at 2.94 and won his most recent game against the Dodgers 8-7 on Friday night here at Oracle Park.

#5 Reliever Randy Rodriguez is having himself a first half he’s allowed only one run at Oracle Park and has a 0.42 ERA in the 20 games pitched at home. Rodriguez’s 0.89 is the lowest amongst relievers in MLB.

Augie Mesenburg is a reporter for 1080 KWAI Honolulu and is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants dropped Game 2 (1-1), while the Dodgers avoided their 8th straight loss with 2-1 win on a Sunny Day in the City by the Bay

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Los Angeles Dodgers DH/Pitcher Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after striking out against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jul 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The San Francisco Giants (56-40) were unable to grasp the win from the negative streaking Los Angeles Dodgers (53-43) 2-1, in front of another sellout Oracle Park crowd, on a beautiful Saturday Afternoon.

All eyes were on two huge figures on the mound. Legendary Giant Barry Bonds tossed the ceremonial First Pitch, as he was being honored for his greatness in the previous iteration of the ballpark on 3rd and King. Shohei Ohtani was the other star on the bump, as he was displaying his historic diversity as a multi-talented player

After the Dodgers offense did not produce any runs in the top of the first inning, including Ohtani grounding out to first base, he struck out the sides in the bottom of the frame. Within his limited time on the mound, his offense did give him some run support.

In the top of the second inning, third baseman Tommy Edman ushered in teammate Michael Conforto home plate, on a groundout to second base. Dodgers were up 1-0, as Ohtani was dealing a no-hitter in the early innings

His time pitching lasted only three innings, and after 2 2/3 no-hit innings pitched, Michael Yastrzemski performed the only knock off of the emerging legend. He also had four strikeouts during his pitching tenure. However, his appearances at the plate were not as productive.

In the top of the sixth the Dodgers added to their slim total. Second baseman Hyeseong Kim slapped a single to left field, scoring Conforto again, but he was gunned out at second base, trying to stretch the single into a double, ending a possible big inning. Los Angeles was up 2-0 at that point of the game.

The Giants were finally in a position to get off the goose egg in the bottom of the eighth. With a bases loaded scenario in play, the home team was only able to earn a single run, instead of blowing the contest open. Highly praised acquisition Rafael Devers hit a deep sacrifice fly ball to right field, resulting in the Giants lone run, scored by Mike Yastrzemski. The game was still in balance, with the ninth left to play.

Unfortunately for the home team, they ended the game with a foul out and two strikeouts. The Dodgers finally ended their long seven losing streak, and defeated their arch rival on both coasts.

The Giants loss evened the series at 1-1, with the “Rubber Game” being Sunday, July 13 at 1:05 PM PT. The expected pitching matchup is LAD RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7, 2.77) versus SFG LHP Robbie Ray (9-3, 2.63).

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Roberson: Pitchers duel ends in one run decision for Dodgers; Ex Giant Conforto delivers with 3 hits and 2 runs for LA

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Los Angeles Dodgers Michael Conforto scores (center) one of his two runs in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jul 12, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers came into Oracle Park and snapped their seven game skid against the San Francisco Giants in game two of this three game series 2-1.

#2 For the most part of the game it was a pitcher’s duel with the Dodgers Shohei Ohtani starting going three innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and four strikeouts. As usual as a precaution Ohtani made an early exit.

#3 For San Francisco Giant starter Landen Roupp pitched six innings allowing seven hits, two runs, one earned run, a walk and eight strike outs. Roupp was key with his eight strikeouts but still took the loss dropping his record to 6-6.

#4 Big day for ex Giant Michael Conforto with three hits and scoring two runs. Conforto turned out to be the key figure in this game as the Dodgers just got by the Giants 2-1 and Conforto supplying all the run production for LA.

#5 Game 3 the rubber game match up Sunday at Oracle Park for the Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-7 ERA 2.77) will be opposed by the Giants LHP Robbie Ray (9-3 ERA 2.63) first pitch at 1:05pm PT.

Michael Roberson is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast Bruce Macgowan: Dodger-Giant rivalry history; Will Bonds ever get in the Hall? Giants pay tribute with “House that Barry Built” video

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Barry Bonds addresses the media during a 2003 press conference at the height of the BALCO controversy. Bonds is being honored by the San Francisco Giants with the video called “The house that Barry Bonds built” (SF Gate file photo)

MLB The Show podcast Bruce Macgowan:

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants have some long and rich history that goes back to the late 1940s and through the 1950s and through today.

#2 Talking about some of those historic days of the Dodgers and Giants rivalries you were at the game in 1965 when former Giant Juan Marichal hit former Dodger John Roseboro with a bat on the head and causing a bench clearing melee. Years later Marichal made up with Roseboro. The baseball writers at the time didn’t vote to put Marichal in the Hall of Fame because of the incident but Roseboro went to the writers and said to give Marichal another chance and it was something that Marichal was forever grateful for.

#3 Former Dodger managers Walter Alston and Tommy LaSorda were legendary managers and took the Dodgers to the World Series. With current manager Dave Roberts he’s taken the Dodgers to the World Series numerous times under his tutelage do you consider Roberts in that same circle as Alston and LaSorda?

#4 The Giants are paying tribute to Barry Bonds with a video called “The House that Barry Built” some reporters and talk show hosts point out why are the Giants paying tribute to Bonds, that there is a reason why Bonds has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. They say he was a huge part of the BALCO controversy, he had alleged connections to steroids through his former trainer Greg Anderson and that he’s guilty in the court of public opinion as far as the BBWAA is concerned regarding the Federal Grand Jury investigation where he said he unknowingly took steroids and was found guilty of obstruction of justice. Does that all go away now that the Giants want to pay tribute to him?

#5 One of the biggest fears that fans have is what took place at Dodger Stadium when ICE agents showed up at their front gates trying to gain access to get at fans, employees, and anyone that moved. The Dodgers wound denying ICE access to the park. Is this still something that fans, employees and maybe even the players have to worry about at ball games?

Bruce Macgowan is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants garnered a thrilling victory in the series opener versus Dodgers 8-7, on a cool Friday Night in the Bay

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San Francisco Giant Dominic Smith gives praise to the almighty after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run off the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri July 11, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO. Calif. — The San Francisco Giants (52-43) handed the slumping defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers (56-39) their seventh straight loss 8-7, in front of a raucous sellout (40,785) crowd at Oracle Park on Friday night.

It was an electric atmosphere on the corners of 3rd and King.  Mostly for the Japanese Sensation and 2024 MVP Shohei Othtani.  Although his team took another L, the fans did get their money’s worth with his moderate performance.

The Dodgers did get on base right away, as Ohtani walked as the initial batter of the game.  However, he nor the rest of the Dodgers did not cross the plate in the top of the first.

The Giants, on the other hand, did change the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when shortstop Willy Adames belted a solo home run.  The home team was on top 1-0 after two frames.

However, immediately in the top of the third inning, the aforementioned Ohtani blasted a two run homer into the vaunted McCovey Cove amidst the gasping crowd.  Los Angeles moved in front, 2-1.  Infielder Hyeseong Kim also scored on the dinger.  There was definitely a Buzz all throughout the ballpark.

The Giants responded in their half of the fourth inning, when center fielder Jung Hoo Lee hit a two run triple.  That feat scored Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman.  The Giants retook the lead 3-2 at that point, but unfortunately Lee was tagged out at the plate on a bang-bang play by left fielder Michael Conforto.  That momentarily stopped the bleeding.

The bottom of the fifth inning was a pinnacle moment in the contest.  The Giants scored five runs in that inning, and seemingly put the game out of reach for the struggling ball team from Southern California.  The Giants used a multitude of ways to cross home plate in the fifth.

First baseman Dominic Smith hit a deep homer to left-center, putting his team up by two, 4-2.   Next, Chapman got a fielder;s choice RBI, plating catcher Patrick Bailey.  Then Adames slapped a two-run triple to center field, allowing Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski to score.  Finally, Lee’s single knocked in Adames, culminating the five run fifth inning explosion.  San Francisco led 8-2 after the midpoint No Cal/So Cal Battle.

Never underestimate the heart of a champion, despite them limping into the Bay Area.  LA managed to cut the six run deficit to two, after a four-run sixth.  Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run double, pushing in Lee and Mookie Betts.  Michael Conforto blasted a two run homer, bringing in Hernandez, along with himself.

There was worry in Downtown San Francisco, and that was even more exacerbated in the top of the seventh block,  Will Smith cracked a single, scoring Betts, and placing the Dodgers one run behind the recently scoreless Giants.

In the top of the ninth inning, the guests from the South had two men on base and the opportunity to tie or take the lead,  Oracle was a very intense environment for the competitive moment in time for the California rivals of today, and NYC rivals nearly 70 years ago.

The moment of truth was when reliever Camiio Doval forced the Dodgers to hit into a game-saving 5-4-3 double-play, extending the Dodgers losing streak to seven.  Doval notched his 15th save of the season, while Logan Webb got the win (9-6).  The Giants prevailed by one, 8-7.

The two teams will be right back at it Saturday Afternoon, July 12 at 1:05 PM PT, with the multifaceted RHP Shohei Ohtani (0-0, ERA 1.50) on the mound for the Dodgers, and RHP Landon Roupp (6-5,ERA 3.39) on the bump for the Giants.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva: Giants hoping to rebound from Phillies thrashing; SF opens series with Dodgers Friday

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski has had success at the plate as he and the Giants prepare to open a three game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Fri Jul 11, 2025 (AP News file)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper hit home run and hit for three doubles on Wednesday afternoon as the Phillies upended the San Francisco Giants 13-0 at Oracle Park.

#2 The Phillies Jesus Luzardo struck out seven batters and gave up three hits in seven innings of work as the Giants starter Justin Verlander continues to search for his first win of the season takes the loss.

#3 Verlander now (0-7) at 42 years old pitching in his first season with the Giants had a rough outing his line for the afternoon, four runs (two earned), seven hits, and seven strikeouts, no walks in six innings of work. Verlander who won the Cy Young Award three times just continues to battle to pick up his first win.

#4 The Phils scored an unearned run in the second inning and Harper in the top of the fourth inning crushed his tenth home run to left field as the Phillies poured it on all afternoon.

#5 Friday the Los Angeles Dodgers come to Oracle Park for three games against the Giants. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers RHP Dustin May (5-5 ERA 4.52) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (8-6, ERA 2.62) first pitch 7:15pm PT.

Join Michael Villanueva for the San Francisco Giants podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants Morris Phillips podcast: Giants open rivalry series with Dodgers Friday night

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San Francisco Giants starter Justin Verlander still in search of that first win of the season lost to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wed Jul 9, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants Morris Phillips podcast:

#1 Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper hit home run and hit for three doubles on Wednesday afternoon as the Phillies upended the San Francisco Giants 13-0 at Oracle Park.

#2 The Phillies Jesus Luzardo struck out seven batters and gave up three hits in seven innings of work as the Giants starter Justin Verlander continues to search for his first win of the season takes the loss.

#3 Verlander now (0-7) at 42 years old pitching in his first season with the Giants had a rough outing his line for the afternoon, four runs (two earned), seven hits, and seven strikeouts, no walks in six innings of work. Verlander who won the Cy Young Award three times just continues to battle to pick up his first win.

#4 The Phils scored an unearned run in the second inning and Harper in the top of the fourth inning crushed his tenth home run to left field as the Phillies poured it on all afternoon.

#5 Friday the Los Angeles Dodgers come to Oracle Park for three games against the Giants. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers RHP Dustin May (5-5 ERA 4.52) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (8-6, ERA 2.62) first pitch 7:15pm PT.

Join Morris Phillips for the San Francisco Giants podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Buzzkill at the yard, as Phillies smoke emotionally-hungover Giants 13-0 in series finale

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Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper slugs a top of the fourth inning home run against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 9, 2025 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Philadelphia Phillies 13 (54-39)

San Francisco Giants 0 (51-43)

Win: Jesus Luzardo (8-5)

Loss: Justin Verlander (0-7)

Time: 2:48

Attendance: 37,334

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Wednesday was a total buzzkill on a beautiful day at Oracle Park, as the Phillies avoided the sweep with a 13-0 rout over the emotionally-hungover Giants in the series finale.

The beautiful but flawed game of baseball works in so many mysterious ways. After going 1-5 against the Marlins and the White Sox, the Giants have gotten back on track in the last week to win six of their last seven games. That included taking the first two games from the Fighten Phils, not just one of the best teams in Baseball, but one of the hottest, too.

The Giants took the opener thanks to two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Monday night. Tuesday night. What can I say about Tuesday night? It was a win for the ages. Patrick Bailey’s walk-off inside-the-parker will be remembered by Giants’ fans for years, and depending on how this season turns out, generations to come.

Wednesday, the Giants could go for the sweep. However, Justin Verlander was on the mound, and he was still looking for his first win as a Giant in what would be his 15th start of the season. Verlander was lit up in his last start last Friday night in Sacramento, as the Sacramento A’s touched him up for six runs over three innings.

Verlander wasn’t exactly lights out today, but he was much better. He came out of the gate hitting 96 miles per hour with his fastball, as he opened the game with a one, two, three, top of the first inning.

The Phillies got on the board in the top of the second, as J.T. Realmuto hit a base-hit to left field with two outs to knock in Alec Bohm from third base. Earlier in Realmuto’s at-bat, he hit a roller along the first base line that first-baseman Wilmer Flores could have charged and tagged Realmuto out with. However, Wilmer’s decision to let it roll foul proved to be a costly one.

Bryce Harper led off the top of the fourth with an opposite-field home run to left to make it 2-0, but Verlander continued to cruise along. Verlander escaped a jam in the top of the fifth, but the Phillies got to him for two more runs in the top of the sixth to make it 4-0.

Verlander was alright over six innings, as he ended up giving up four runs on seven hits. He didn’t walk anybody, and he struck out seven.

As for the Giants’ offense, they couldn’t muster anything against Phillies’ starter Jesus Luzardo, who gave up just three hits and struck out seven over seven shutout innings.

The Phillies then exploded for seven runs in the top of the eighth to make this thing a laugher. Despite giving up six of the seven runs, you really in all sincerity have to tip your hat to Tristan Beck, who really took a bullet for the Giants’ bullpen Wednesday.

The Fightens then scored two more off Mike Yastrzemski in the top of the ninth. That’s right. Yastrzemski was the poor guy who had to be the position player that pitched in the ninth. Yastrzemski hit Kyle Schwarber with two outs, and Yastrzemski sunk his head in shame, but some in the Phillies’ dugout seemed to get a kick out of it, so no biggie.

Patrick Bailey was rewarded for his triumph last night with the day off Wednesday, but he was given a standing ovation from that remained of the 37,334 fans at Oracle Park today as he pinch-hit to lead off the bottom of the ninth. If anybody’s wondering, Bailey grounded out to second, and the Giants went down one, two, three to end the game.

Jesus Luzardo got the win, and Justin Verlander took the loss.

The Giants fall to 51-43. It’s really not the worst thing in the world, especially after the magic that transpired last night. Still, the Dodgers blew a ninth-inning lead in Milwaukee and were swept by the Brewers, and a win by the Giants Wednesday would have put them just four games back in the National League West.

The Giants will have their first day off in two and a half weeks Thursday, and then they will host the hated ones from down south the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend to close out the first half of the season. The good news is that the Dodgers were just swept in Milwaukee by the Brewers, and have lost six in a row. It will be a spirited series, that’s for sure.

The only question is whether the Giants’ faithful, who have filled up the park this week, can show up this weekend to counter the army of Dodgers’ fans making their way up north.

Once again, Logan Webb (8-6, 2.62 ERA) will have to be the stopper, as he will take the ball in the series opener Friday night. Dustin May (5-5, 4.52 ERA) will go for the Trolley Dodgers.

First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m.