Category: San Francisco Giants

Rodriguez knocked around as Giants fall to Phillies 10-2

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Photo credit: nbcsports.com

By Jeremy Harness

Dereck Rodriguez was making a spot start on Thursday, and his performance showed why he is not in the starting rotation like he was last season.

The Philadelphia Phillies ripped Rodriguez (4-6, 5.32 ERA) for seven runs – four earned – on eight hits, and the young right-hander lasted only three innings before being pulled. He also walked two and did not strike out a single batter.

Aided by a throwing error by shortstop Brandon Crawford, the Phillies put three runs on the board in the second inning, followed by two more in the third.

Philadelphia kept the heat on in the fourth with a pair of homers that spelled the end of Rodriguez’s day. Cesar Hernandez launched a solo homer before J.T. Realmuto launched one just over the reach of center fielder Kevin Pillar for a three-run shot that gave the Phillies a commanding 9-0 lead.

Phillies starter Jake Arrieta surrendered only a pair of runs – one of them earned – while walking one and striking out five, but he only went four innings and, therefore, did not qualify for the win. Lefty Jose Alvarez came in and gave up only a hit in the fifth and was credited with the win (2-2, 3.00 ERA) instead.

In that inning, the Giants did make a small run, as Brandon Belt and Mike Yastrzemski both had RBI singles to cut the lead to seven. However, the bats then fell quiet again and did not make a serious threat for the remainder of the game.

The Giants did put together 10 hits on Thursday, with four – Belt, Yastrzemski, Donovan Solano, and Stephen Vogt – getting two hits each.

The Giants will now head to Colorado for a three-game series with the Rockies, and it has been a place where the Giants have has more success lately and will need to take advantage of this if they are going to continue to compete for a wild card spot in the National League.

Regroup Fast: Giants get pushed around by the Phillies, lose 10-2

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By Morris Phillips

Taking control of big games, winning series, and battling at least four other National League wild card hopefuls for the next nine weeks requires hard work, and heroic efforts churned out on a daily basis.

Knowing all that, the Giants took Thursday off, falling behind the Phillies 9-0 in the fourth inning in route to a 10-2 loss. J.P. Realmuto, Cesar Hernandez and Roman Quinn hit home runs for Philadelphia while Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez didn’t survive the third inning.

“We made some mistakes on the mound,” manager Bruce Bochy admitted.

The Phillies were in no mood to qualify their accomplishments. They’ve played losing baseball over their last 53 ballgames (24-29) and desperately needed to win a series, and stay in front of the Giants in the wild card hunt. They got that done Thursday afternoon.

“We’ve had guys that have had stretches that were really good, but we haven’t really clicked all together at the same time yet,” said Realmuto. “We feel like we have the guys in this clubhouse to get it done. We just have to come together and play well together and get things rolling.”

Philadelphia won a series against a team with a winning record for the first time since taking two of three at San Diego on June 3.

The Phillies joined the Nationals atop the wild card standings with the win, but they’re not alone. Whoever loses the Cubs-Cardinals game Thursday night will form a three-way tie for two playoff spots at 57-51. The Brewers are a game back, and the Giants (54-53) are 2 1/2 back.

The Giants surged after an encouraging outcome to the trade deadline that saw them keep Will Smith and Madison Bumgarner. They responded by whipping the Phillies 5-1 on Wednesday. That closed a miraculous July for the Giants with a 19-6 record.

But in the series finale, they appeared listless in the occasion of Alex Dickerson going on the disabled list with an oblique issue. Also, Brandon Crawford departed early when he injured his shoulder diving for a ball.

Giants beat Phillies 5-1, say goodbye to hurlers

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants won on the field on Wednesday, a 5-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the teams they are chasing for the second wild-card spot in the National League. In the meantime, they were quite busy off the field.

The Giants made a series of deals at Wednesday’s trade deadline that meant the departure of a few pitchers, one of which commanded a fairly-hefty price tag, particularly for the return they were getting.

Reliever Mark Melancon, who was brought in to be the Giants’ closer when they signed him in 2017, waived his no-trade clause and was dealt to the Atlanta Braves for pair of righties, minor leaguer Tristan beck and veteran Dan Winkler.

What’s even better for the Giants is that the Braves are taking on the entire $14 million Melancon is set to make this season as well as the $14 million he is due next year, which is the final year of a contract that was, at the time, considered to be the highest annual value for a relief pitcher in history.

The Giants also said goodbye to another right-handed reliever, as Sam Dyson was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for three minor-league prospects – two righties and an outfielder – minutes before the deadline expired.

In a related note, the Twins also added former Giants closer Sergio Romo, getting him from the Miami Marlins on Saturday.

The Giants appear to have gotten some value in trading struggling starter Drew Pomeranz and righty reliever Ray Black to Milwaukee, as they got infielder Mauricio Dubon, a middle infielder who is considered to be one of the Brewers’ top prospects.

They did bolster their middle infield by acquiring second baseman Scooter Gennett, who was a National League All-Star last season but has missed almost all of 2019 with a groin injury. With the move, the future of second baseman Joe Panik, who has struggled with a .231 batting average, appears to be uncertain.

The two most talked-about trade prospects, lefty Madison Bumgarner and lefty closer Will Smith, are staying in San Francisco for the remainder of the season. Smith is currently on a one-year deal that is paying him $4.225 million while Bumgarner is in the final year of his contract, and he is due $12 million.

Smyly shuts down Giants’ offense in 4-2 win

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Photo credit: @JClarkNBCS

By Jeremy Kahn

Rhys Hoskins put the icing on the cake for the Philadelphia Phillies in the series and season opener against the San Francisco Giants.

Hoskins hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Tyler Beede, helping the Phillies defeat the Giants 4-2 at Citizens Bank Park.

Not only did Hoskins come up the biggest hit of the night, but new Phillies pitcher Drew Smyly was outstanding in his second start for the Phillies.

Smyly gave up one run in six innings in that first start and was just as amazing tonight against the Giants.

The left-hander went seven innings, allowing zero runs, while scattering four hits and struck out five.

The Giants finally got on the board in the top of the eighth inning, as Stephen Vogt and Brandon Belt each pinch-hit home runs off of Phillies reliever Nick Pivetta; however, that was all the offense that the Giants could muster in the series opener.

Phillies closer Hector Neris did not allow a run in the top of the ninth inning, as he picked up his 19th save of the season.

Beede gave up two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as the Phillies took a 2-0 lead and then was done for the night after Hoskins hit his 23rd home run of the season that also scored Bryce Harper, who walked in the inning.

Maikel Franco got the Phillies on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he drove in J.T. Realmuto and then Adam Haseley singled in Cesar Hernandez to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead.

Beede went five innings, allowing four runs, walking two and striking out four, as he fell to 2-4 on the season.

NOTES: This was the Giants seventh straight loss at Citizens Bank Park, who came into the game winners of 12 out of 15 and 19 out of 24 prior to the loss.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija will take the mound on Wednesday evening for the Giants, while the Phillies will send Vince Velasquez to the hill.

At Home in Hotels: 2019 Giants hang their hats on road performances

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By Morris Phillips

Winning road games is hard work, airports, ignoring witty fans yelling from half empty concourse sections, and maintaining focus in late inning situations while outdueling baserunners, sluggers, aggressive coaches and managers.

It’s all that. 81 games a year. And apparently, the 2019 Giants are pretty good at it.

It didn’t happen right away. The Giants opened the season on the road, and got fleeced in Petco Park and Dodger Stadium, then underperformed on their second trip starting in Washington and Pittsburgh. But on getaway Sunday at PNC Park, Buster Posey broke his homerless streak of over 70 games, Dereck Rodriguez limited the Pirates to two runs, and three relievers closed the door with no margin for error. The defense was flawless.

That was April 21. The Giants took that next day off and went on to win both games in Toronto for a three-game win streak. Since that still early April date in Pittsburgh, the Giants are 26-15 away from home.

They’ve won games, series, and they’ve piled up the runs as of late. And they appear to be getting better at it.

With the season on the line, they’ll need to keep up the room service routine in Philadelphia starting Tuesday when Tyler Beede faces the Phillies’ Drew Smyly at 4:05pm. The Phillies (55-50) lead the Giants (54-52) by 1 1/2 games in a crowded field of NL Wild Card hopefuls.

Not surprisingly, most of the metrics favor the Giants. Over their last 16 road contests, the Giants have piled up offensive numbers well above their season as whole. While winning 13 of 16, the Giants have 50 doubles (six on Sunday versus the Padres), 22 homers, and 122 runs.

Those numbers aren’t good, they’re gaudy. Better than seven runs a game, and when dramatics have been needed, the Giants have summoned them. They’re 7-0 in extra innings games since the All-Star break, three of those wins on the road.

That’s in 16 games. The Giants have scored just 178 runs in their 53 home games.

Meanwhile the Phillies are leaning on a pair of starters with obvious warts on their 2019 records. Smyly is making his second start for the Phillies after he was acquired from Texas, where he went 1-5 with an 8.42 ERA over nine starts and four relief appearances.

Vince Velasquez, who starts Wednesday, started the season in the Phillies rotation, then pitched out the bullpen for much of May and June.  He’s back in the rotation now, going 1-2 in his most recent six starts. But what sticks out are his incendiary numbers at Citizens Bank Park where he’s made seven appearances (four starts) and allowed 19 hits and seven home runs.

On Thursday, the Phillies list their starter as Jake Arrieta. The 33-year old has spent 2019 trying to stay relevant, allowing 57 hits and 29 walks in his 60 innings pitched at Citizens Bank Park. His inability to get deep into games has the Phillies considering a long reliever to piggyback his starts, maybe Zach Elfin, who for now is the listed starter on Friday.

Ironically, the Phillies acquired Jason Vargas from the Mets on Monday, but he won’t pitch until Saturday at the earliest, well after the Giants leave town, and after the trade deadline.

MONDAY’S RESULTS: The Giants didn’t hit the diamond on Monday, getting a travel day while crossing the country from San Diego to Philadelphia. But what transpired was of great importance in their absence. After all, trying to qualify for the playoffs with 88 or so wins while surpassing four of the five teams in front of them in the standings entering Monday is a delicate task with lots of moving parts.

MARLINS 11, DIAMONDBACKS 6 — Arizona fell for the third time in the last four days to the NL’s worst team. The D’Backs are below .500 for the first time since July 5, making them an obvious choice to sell at the upcoming trade deadline. For the Giants, the losses, as well as Arizona’s rugged upcoming schedule against the Yankees, Dodgers, Nationals and Phillies make it more likely they will remain behind the Giants in the standings for the foreseeable future.

Beyond winning games, the Giants’ biggest goals surround staying in front of as many wild card hopefuls in the standings as they can. Not having to worry about Arizona is big.

NATIONALS 6, BRAVES 3 — Anthony Rendon broke open a 2-2 game with a sixth inning grand slam, and the Nats closed ground on Atlanta in the NL East. Washington moved eight games above .500 for the second time in 2019, and they have the clearest track to hosting the NL Wild Card game with a half-game lead on the Cubs and Cardinals, and 1 1/2 games on the Phillies and Brewers.

The Giants would prefer the pack of five in front of them stay as densely packed in terms of wins and losses as possible. The Nats have gone 38-18 after a really poor 19-31 start to their season. They’re the team the Giants are least likely to catch, if so, that makes it imperative they catch the Cubs, Phillies, Brewers and Cardinals, despite having games remaining against only two of those four. That could be tricky.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Yaz goes 4-5 with two doubles; Bum gets win in narrow 7-6 final; plus more

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner pitches to the San Diego Padres in the first innings in Petco Park on Sunday

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 You just never know whose going to contribute to the San Francisco Giants winning causes Mike Yastrzemski went 4-5 with two singles and two doubles in the Giants 7-6 win.

#2 Morris talks about the rookie Yastrzemski whose having a great year for San Francisco .275, 33 runs, 31 RBIs, 9 home runs.

#3 Giants starter Madison Bumgarner had everything working for him except for giving up a three run home run in the bottom of the third inning to Hunter Renfroe that put the San Diego Padres on top 4-2.

#4 Bumgarner pitched seven innings, four hits, striking out six and walking two batters.

#5 The Giants have the day off on Monday and open up a three game series on Tuesday in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank starting for the Giants Tyler Beede (4-5 ERA 4.85) for the Phillies Drew Smyly (1-5 7.69)

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

Yastrzemski goes 4-for-5 in Giants win 7-6; Final game at Petco for Bochy

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski scores on a Solano Donavon single the top of the fourth at Petco Park in San Diego on Sunday

By Jeremy Kahn

In what was Bruce Bochy’s final game at Petco Park, the San Francisco Giants gave their manager a nice going away present.

Mike Yastrzemski picked up his second four-hit game of the season, while Madison Bumgarner went seven innings and the Giants hung on to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-6 at Petco Park.

Yastrzemski singled twice and doubled twice, as the Giants improved to 13-4 since the All-Star break.

Bumgarner scattered four hits in seven innings, and his only mistake was a three-run home run to Hunter Renfroe in the bottom of the third inning that gave the Padres a 4-2 lead.

He also struck out six and walked two in his final start before the July 31 trade deadline.

On the afternoon, the Giants picked up 16 hits against Padres pitching, as they won their seventh game in the past eight against the Padres, five of those seven wins came at Petco Park. The Giants swept the Padres in a three-game series from July 1-3.

Renfroe, who hit the three-run home run that gave the Padres a two-run lead in the bottom of the third inning, drove in four runs; however, it was not enough, as the Padres are now 4-11 since the All-Star break and have fallen into fourth place in the National League West.

It was the second four hit of Yastrzemskis career and his second in the last 13 days, as he picked up four hits against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 25.

Buster Posey picked up three hits on the afternoon, which included an RBI double in the top of the ninth inning.

The Giants tied up the game in the top of the fourth inning, as Poway native Alex Dickerson singled to right field to score Donovan Solano, who cut the Padres lead down to 4-3 two batters before Dickerson tied it up. Solanos single scored Yastrzemski, who doubled to left-center field with one out in the inning.

Will Smith gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to Wil Myers in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Luis Urias to end the game and pick up his 26th save of the season.

NOTES: With this being Bochy’s last game at Petco Park, the manager stayed at the team hotel on Saturday night instead of his Poway home.

“A lot of people were going to ask me, what’s it going to be like coming to the ballpark, going down memory lane, whatever,” Bochy said. “That’s the first time I’ve walked from the Marriott, so it was not like I went down memory lane on that one.”

Nick Vincent was reinstated from his rehab assignment, also reinstated from the 60-day disabled list and then designated for assignment.

UP NEXT: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and Tyler Beede will take the mound in the opener.

Tatis, Jr., goes yard in Padres win

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photo from sfgate: San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. gestures after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Saturday, July 27, 2019, in San Diego

By Jeremy Kahn

If the San Francisco Giants want their streak of series wins to continue, they will have to do it in the series finale.

Wil Myers drove a double into the left-field corner to break up a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning that scored Hunter Renfroe, helping the San Diego Padres to a 5-1 victory over the Giants at Petco Park.

The win by the Padres stopped an eight-game losing streak at home, and it was just the fifth loss in the last 23 games for the Giants.

Cal Quantrill went 5.1 innings, allowing one run on just three hits, walking four and striking out four to pick up the win for the Padres and put a stop to a six-game losing streak against the Giants.

It was a tough loss for Shawn Anderson, as the right-hander went five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out seven.

Fernando Tatis Jr., made matters worse for Anderson in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit a two-run home run that was just out of the reach of Kevin Pillar in center field.

It was a huge night for Tatis, Jr., as he went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, with one of those three hits being his 17th home run of the season.

The Giants’ only run of the game came in the top of the sixth inning, as Pablo Sandoval singled to left-center field scoring Mike Yastrzemski from second base.

Greg Garcia put the finishing touches on the scoring, as he hit a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the sixth inning that scored Myers and Luis Urias.

NOTES: Minor League pitcher Logan Webb was reinstated after serving an 80-game suspension, Webb was serving the suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. To make room for Webb on the 40-man roster, Ty Blach was designated for assignment.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner looks for his first win on the road since May 18 when he takes the mound in the series finale on Sunday afternoon for the Giants. Since that win in Arizona, Bumgarner 0-2 with a 4.79 earned run average in four road starts.

Sandoval wins it for the Giants in extra innings again, 2-1

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photo from sfgate.com: Chris Rice hands Giants second baseman Pablo Sandoval his 5-month-old daughter, Roya, in the dugout before Saturday’s game against the Padres at Petco Park in San Diego. Rice’s bare-handed catch of Sandoval’s game-winning home run Friday night while holding Roya became an instant sensation.

By Jeremy Kahn

It seems that the San Francisco Giants just love to play extra innings and they are back where this hot streak started.

Pablo Sandoval hit a solo home run with two out in the top of the 11th inning, as the Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 2-1 at Petco Park.

Sandovals home run off of Logan Allen was his 13th of the season, and it gave the Giants their 12th win since the All-Star break and 18-4 since July 1, when they began a three-game series against the Padres in San Diego.

Mark Melancon pitched a perfect 10th inning, as he struck out two in the inning and improved to 4-2 on the season.

Will Smith came on to close it out in the 11th inning, as he saved his 25th game of the season, which a game-ending double play off the bat of Eric Hosmer.

Jeff Samardzija was strong again, as he went six innings, allowing one run, scattering four hits, walking three and striking out six, as he did not fare in the decision.

Bay Area native Joey Lucchesi also pitched six innings, as he gave up just one run on only two hits, walking four and striking out eight.

Lucchesi was cruising, as he was able to get the first six Giants in order; however, he then walked Tyler Austin, who then stole second and then scored when Donovan Solano doubled to center field.

Samardzijas only mistake came when Austin Hedges hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning that landed on the third level of the balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building.

The Giants bullpen was lights out, as the quintet of Reyes Moronta, Sam Dyson, Tony Watson, Melancon and Smith threw a combined five innings, allowing just one hit, not walking a batter and striking out four.

NOTES: Derek Holland, who was designated for assignment by the Giants earlier this week, was traded to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations.

Bruce Bochy, who announced during Spring Training that he would be retiring at the end of the season was honored prior to the game by the team that he managed from 1994-2006.

During his 13 years with the Padres, he led them to the World Series, where they swept by the New York Yankees.

“It’s where I made my start in 1995,” Bochy said. “A young general manager named Randy Smith took a chance on me and I’m forever grateful for that. We had some great times here. We got to the World Series in ’98. That’s a highlight. When we won the pennant, Trevor Hoffman threw the pitch that led to a fly ball to Steve Finley and we were into the World Series,” Bochy added.

In his 12 years with the Padres, Bochy won a team record 951 games during his tenure.

“We got some division titles here. Didn’t quite get the championship but had some great memories with a lot of great players, who I still have really good relationships with. No question there’s a ton of memories here, including this ballpark. I started at Qualcomm/Jack Murphy. It’s nice to be part of what was built here.”

Bochy was given a bottle of wine, and fishing poles in a pregame ceremony that included former Padres Steve Finley, Mark Sweeney, Carlos Hernandez and Andy Ashby, also current Padres owner Ron Fowler joined in on the ceremony for Bochy, who also played for the Padres in the 1980s.

UP NEXT: Shawn Anderson takes the mound on Saturday night for the Giants, while the Padres will send Cal Quantrill to the hill.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Team chemistry might be reason for Bumgarner not being dealt yet

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Sources say that it’s unlikely that the Giants will make a deal to trade Giants starter Madison Bumgarner. Would this be due to Bumgarner’s right to wave any trade or Farhan Zaidi, the Giants general manager, just couldn’t get a better offer to make the trade?

#2 Michael talks about what makes Bumgarner so valuable to the team.

#3 If Bumgarner doesn’t get dealt, does the team chemistry of having Bumgarner around play a part in that reason? The players expressed how much Bum means to the team.

#4 The deadline is not here yet. Can you see Giants reliever Will Smith getting dealt before July 31st? He’s also been so key for saving ball games for the club this season.

#5 The Giants had the day off on Thursday and open a three-game series with the Padres at Petco Park on Friday night for the Giants. They’ll be sending Jeff Samardzija (7-4, 4.08 ERA) vs. the Padres starter Joey Luchessi (7-5, 4.27 ERA).

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