Category: San Francisco Giants

Craw Goes Cray Cray: Giants’ Crawford piles up 3 homers, 9 RBI in Giants’ sweep of Colorado

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By Morris Phillips

Trying to form the best characterization of the San Francisco Giants mid-July 2019, and can’t seem to quite get it right using terms like buyers, sellers, winners or losers?

You’re not alone.

But try this phrase: movers, as in the Giants are riding a historic, offensive awakening and moving up in a crowded, but opportunity-filled National League Wild Card chase. On Monday, the Giants snatched a pair from the Rockies, winning 19-2 and 2-1 in a day/night doubleheader at Coors Field.

The formerly, offensively-challenged Giants have averaged better than seven runs per game in road contests since June 1, that after they piled up 24 hits and 21 runs on the Rockies, then cruised, going scoreless over the final five innings of the night cap, in which they pitched and defended in a 2-1 victory.

At 45-49 they’re not exactly winners, but they’re not losers either. The Giants are red hot, having won 10 of 12. As for moving up, the Giants are now just three games behind the Cardinals, who currently own the second wild card spot by percentage points over the Phillies.

With such a dramatic turnaround for a club that remains in last place in the NL West, and still has five clubs between themselves and the Cardinals, the occasion of the sweep is no time to tackle the Herculean effort needed to continue the ascent to a playoff berth. But it is an opportunity to celebrate Brandon Crawford, who smacked three homers in the twin bill. In the first game, Crawford became the first ever big league shortstop to compile five hits and eight RBI in a single game.

“I’m seeing the ball well,” Crawford said. “You expect to get hits when that happens.”

Crawford didn’t stop there. He and Stephen Vogt homered consecutively in the fourth inning of the second game, all the offense the Giants needed in a 2-1 win. Dereck Rodriguez was gifted the spot start and shined, going five inning while allowing four hits and a run.

Jeff Samardzija pitched into the seventh inning in the opener, picking up the win while allowing four hits (two home runs allowed) and striking out nine. Samardzija was awful in three, previous starts at Denver, but not this time. The veteran hurler evened his record at 7-7, and navigated his way through a 13-0 lead after four innings, and 16-1 through six.

Rockies manager Bud Black removed his starter German Marquez in the third inning after he allowed 11 hits and 11 runs. With four games between the clubs in a tight, three-day window, Black was in no mood to burn his bullpen. That’s when he turned to first baseman Mark Reynolds to pitch the ninth inning, and the slugger made it through in 21 pitches, but allowed the final two runs of the game. Afterwards, Black couldn’t recall ever in his career as manager and as a pitching coach resorting to using a position player to pitch.

“I really don’t like to do it, but I felt in this game I needed to because of saving arms in the pen and knowing where we are in the season, and what we have in front of us,” Black said.

After the first game of the doubleheader, the Giants had compiled 90 runs in their previous 11 games, the most runs the team has scored in an 11-game span since they moved to San Francisco in 1958. They had never scored as many as 19 runs in a game at Coors Field until Monday.

NOTES: Evan Longoria was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a plantar fasciitis issue in his left foot. For Longoria, the timing of the injury couldn’t be worse; the slugger just came off a stretch where he homered six times in 11 games, his hottest stretch in a year-plus as a Giant.

The trade front continues to heat up, especially in regards to Will Smith. The Brewers are rumored to be the Giants’ most likely trade partner for the closer, and the Giants’ win streak probably will not keep Smith from being moved, but with the Giants playing well, the team will likely listen to other suitors, and may only move Smith to an AL club that they don’t have to compete with in the wild card race.

As for Madison Bumgarner, the trade market continues to revolve around prospects at the lower levels of the minor leagues. With the market so tepid for the iconic San Francisco pitcher, would the Giants consider keeping him for the stretch run, and then resigning him in the off-season? The Giants’ hot streak definitely creates the possibility of some other options for the 2014 World Series hero.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Longoria expected back tonight in Giants-Rockies doubleheader; Beede pitched the game of his career

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants starter Tyler Beede throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, July 14, 2019, in Milwaukee.

On the Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Giants pitcher Tyler Beede has a great outing on Sunday, going 6.2 innings, seven hits, three runs all earned, and seven strikeouts.

#2 Sunday was Beede’s best outing of his career. He pitched well enough to complete the game he was going that well.

#3 Beede’s outing saved the bullpen and gave them some rest with relievers Derek Holland and Mark Melancon pitching an inning each to close the door

#4 Evan Longoria, who suffered a left foot injury and was replaced at third by Pablo Sandoval, is expected back tonight in Colorado for the second game of tonight’s doubleheader.

#5 Starting pitchers for tonight in the first game. For the Giants, Jeff Samardzija (6-7). For the Rockies, German Marquez (8-4), and in the second game — for the Giants, Dereck Rodriquez (3-5, 5.27 ERA), and for Colorado, to be announced.

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

Beede Comes Up Big on the Mound and at the Plate in Giants Win 8-3

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Photo: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Tyler Beede rejoined the San Francisco Giants just in time to start the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Beede went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs, giving up seven hits, and striking out seven as the Giants defeated the Brewers 8-3 at Miller Park.

Not only did Beede pitch a great game, but he came up with the hit that won the game for the Giants, who have now won eight out of their last 10 games.

Beede drove in the eventual game-winning run on a single which scored Donovan Solano in a decisive six-run seventh inning.

Brandon Belt ended the series with a big day, as he hit his 11th home run of the season and then added a single in the seventh inning.

Stephen Vogt continued to show promise since joining the Giants, as he doubled against his former team which scored Beede and send Belt to third base.

Brewer’s pitcher, Corbin Burnes, gave up four runs on four hits, as the former St. Marys pitcher lost for the fifth time this season.

Matt Albers, who replaced Burnes, was able to get the first out of the inning, as he struck out Austin Slater, then intentionally walked Pablo Sandoval to get to Brandon Crawford, who walked to lengthen the lead.

Kevin Pillar then got in on the act, as he beat out a dribbler that scored Vogt from third base. It looked like the Brewers ended the inning, when Mike Yastrzemski grounded into a double play; however, Bruce Bochy challenged the call and it was reversed, meaning that Sandoval’s score counted as the fifth run of the inning.

Solano, who led off the inning with a double off of Burnes, then singled off of Albers to drive in Crawford. Beede finally ended the inning, when he grounded into a fielders choice to retire Yastrzemski at third base.

In all, the Giants scored six runs and sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.

Beede and Jhoulys Chacin were in a pitchers duel until the top of the fifth inning, when Belt broke a 1-1 tie when hit his 11th home run of the season.
Yelich tied up the game, as he launched his 32nd home run of the season off of Beede in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Yasmani Grandal got the Brewers on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as he grounded into a fielders choice that scored Lorenzo Cain from third base. Cain led off the inning with a single and went to third on a Yelich single.

Once again, it was Solano, who got the Giants into the game, as he hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Crawford from third base in the top of the second inning.

Crawford led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on an Eric Thames error on a ball hit by Yastrzemski.

The Giants looked to take the lead in the top of the second inning, as Beede singled to center, but Yastrzemski was thrown out at home to end the inning.

NOTES: Evan Longoria was forced to leave the game in the fifth inning with what was diagnosed as plantar fasciitis in his left foot, and the x-rays came out negative.

Alex Dickerson missed his second straight game, as he still suffering from back tightness that he developed on Friday night.

Slater, who sat Saturday’s game until coming into a game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and showed up to Miller Park with a fever struck out in the top of the fifth inning and remained in the game, when Belt moved to first from first, Sandoval to third, Yastrzemski to left and Slater went to right.

To make room for Beede on the roster, the Giants optioned Ray Black to Triple-A Sacramento.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija will take the ball in the opener of the doubleheader at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies, and Dereck Rodriguez will pitch the nightcap after he will be recalled from Sacramento.

Overall, the Giants have lost 19 out of their last 22 games against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Gamel wins it in a pinch 5-4

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Photo from @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Ben Gamel came up with the hit of the game at the most opportune time for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Gamel, who came off the bench hit a double off of Reyes Moronta in the bottom of the ninth inning, helping the Brewers to a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Miller Park.

The walk-off pinch hit double by Gamel scored Ryan Braun, who led off the inning, when Brandon Crawford was unable to field the grounder.

Moronta then regrouped to strikeout both Mike Moustakas and Jesus Aguliar, then Keston Hiura walked and then Gamel lined a Moronta pitch into the right field corner to send the Miller Park and the Brewers into celebration mode.

The Giants tied up the game in the top of the ninth inning, as they scored two runs off of Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress. Crawford got the rally started, as he walked off of Jeffress, then went to second on an Austin Slater single. Stephen Vogt singled in Crawford with a single to centerfield and then Slater scored the tying run, when Lorenzo Cain overran the ball.

Slater gave the Giants a 2-1 in the top of the seventh inning, as came off the bench to pick up a pinch-hit double off of reliever Alex Claudio.

Unfortunately, the lights out Giants bullpen was unable to hold onto the lead, as Sam Dyson gave up three straight doubles to give the Brewers the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Moustakas, Aguilar and Hiura began the eighth with those doubles. Eric Thames then came off the back to single Hiura up to third base and that was it for Dyson.

Derek Holland came on to replace Dyson and promptly walked Yasmani Grandal to load the bases, and then Orlando Arcia hit a sacrifice fly to score Hiura from third base.

Madison Bumgarner, who left his last start after just two innings when he was hit on the left elbow on a ball hit by Jose Martinez of the St. Louis Cardinals showed effects from it, as he went five innings, allowing one (unearned) run, on seven hits, walking one and striking out seven.

The Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Brandon Belt reached on a fielding error by Zach Davies, then Buster Posey singled to left and after a Pablo Sandoval ground out that advanced Belt and Posey up an additional 90 feet. Evan Longoria then walked to load the bases, and Mike Yastrzemski hit a sacrifice fly that scored Belt from third base.

Davies got the Brewers back into the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he doubled with one out off of Bumgarner. After Cain flew out to right field for the second out of the inning, Christian Yelich then hit a ball up the middle that Joe Panik was unable to field and Davies scored the tying run from second base.

Like Bumgarner, Davies did not fare in the decision, as he went six innings, allowing one (unearned) run on just two hits, walking two and striking out five.

NOTES: In honor of the 14th annual Cerveceros Night, both the Brewers and Giants wore Spanish jerseys. The Brewers wore Cerveceros jerseys, and the Giants wore their Gigantes jerseys.

Alex Dickerson was not in the starting lineup, as he experienced tightness in his back in Fridays game. He was available to pinch hit if needed.

UP NEXT: Tyler Beede will make his first ever start against the Brewers on Sunday, while the Brewers will send Jhoulys Chacin will make his 22nd career start against the Giants and is 9-7 with a 3.11 earned run average.

Posey’s grand slam wins it for the Giants 10-7

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Buster Posey came up with the biggest hit of the night when the San Francisco Giants needed it the most.

Posey launched a grand slam off the scoreboard in left-center field, helping the Giants to a 10-7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

The grand slam by Posey was the fifth of his career, and it was set up after Joe Panik led off the inning with a single, Mike Yastrzemski walked and Brandon Belt singled. Posey took the first pitch he saw from Matt Albers over the wall.

Will Smith blew his first save of the season in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he gave up a leadoff triple to Christian Yelich and then two batters later, Mike Moustakas tied up the game, when grounded out to Joe Panik.

Brandon Crawford gave the Giants the lead in the top of the ninth inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Brewers closer Josh Hader and it was the second home run in as many innings that Hader surrendered.

Tyler Austin tied up the game in the top of the eighth inning, as he hit a solo home run to right field.

The Brewers took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Ryan Braun doubled Yasmani Grandal and Moustakas to tie up the game and then took the lead when Eric Thames singled in Braun.

Evan Longoria hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to give them their first lead of the game that scored Posey.

Austin Slater tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, as he an opposite field home run that scored Kevin Pillar in front of Slater.

Keston Hiura gave the Brewers the lead in the bottom of the second inning, as he singled off of Giants starter Shaun Anderson.

Thames doubled in Braun in the bottom of the fourth inning to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead and then one-half inning later, Slater tied it up.

Anderson went five innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out eight, as he did not fare in the decision.

It was a season-high eight strikeouts for Anderson, who struck out Yelich on three different occasions.

Brewers starter Chase Anderson left with the lead, as he also went five innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out five.

Hiura drove in the final run of the game in the bottom of the 10th inning, as he hit his eighth home run of the season off of Mark Melancon.

Despite blowing his first save of the season, Smith ended up picking up his second win of the season.

NOTES: This was the first time that the Giants hit more than four home runs since April 23, 2014 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, when they hit six.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner makes his return to the mound, as he is ready to pitch after leaving Sundays game at Oracle Park, when he was smacked on the elbow on a Jose Martinez liner.

Zach Davies will take the mound for the Brewers, as he makes his second start of the season against the Giants. Davies lost to the Giants on June 14 at Oracle Park, and is 0-2 with a 2.81 ERA in his three career starts.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Daniel Dullum: If Smith and Bumgarner go, so will any chance for a wild card go for SF

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael and Daniel:

#1 The Giants are 5 1/2 games out from a wild card spot as the second half starts tonight. Critics says forget those odds, the team hasn’t had enough offense to get back. What does Michael say to those critics?

#2 If the Giants are sellers and unload starter Madison Bumgarner and closer Will Smith, that would pretty much crush any chance the team has at the postseason.

#3 Buster Posey has — like last season — been off limits for any trade deals and most likely that will be the case this July too. Posey has had several concussions and his hitting has been below where it normally is at this time of year. How much does Posey’s past injuries play even though he’s untouchable?

#4 If the Giants deal Bumgarner and Smith, how much will their departures impact the Giants for years to come?

#5 The Giants open up a three-game series in Milwaukee tonight and a six-game road trip. Milwaukee has always been a tough customer. The Giants will be starting Shaun Anderson (3-2, 4.23 ERA), and for the Brewers, Chase Anderson (4-2, 4.32 ERA).

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

Giants’ future quite murky as trade deadline looms

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

Technically, the Giants are only five-and-a-half games out of a wild-card spot in the National League as the second half of the season kicks off starting Friday. This fact alone is a cause for slight optimism for a great deal of a fanbase that is still sunbathing from a string of World Series titles won years ago.

Here’s a tip: Forget it. The rest of the league is expected to pick up its play – the wild-card leaders are just hovering above .500 at press time – and the wear and tear that the Giants have shown during the course of this young season will be even more prevalent as the summer months roll along.

That’s not to mention the dead weight that is being caused by underperforming players on bad contracts, which new general manager Farhan Zaidi vowed to do away with upon stepping into his new position this past offseason.

His first big task will be the manner in which he handles the trade deadline, which will take place on July 31, a mere three weeks away.

The player that has created the most buzz has been lefty Madison Bumgarner, and to no surprise, there is no shortage of teams that could put a sizable deal on the table. The Twins, Yankees, Braves and Phillies, among other teams, could be possible destinations for Bumgarner, with a move to Atlanta making the most sense.

Besides Bumgarner, there has been more talk surrounding lefty closer Will Smith, who has been perfect in his save opportunities this season and has by far been the most consistent performer on the Giants’ roster. Among teams that could be destinations for Smith are the Washington Nationals and the Oakland A’s, who sorely need help in their bullpen if they are going to make another postseason run.

One thing is for certain, however. The Giants are undoubtedly going to be sellers this time around, and this should be quite interesting and could dictate the team’s roster for years to come.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Russell’s value for Golden State; How Cousins fits at the Lakers; plus more

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Photo credit: twitter.com

On Headline Sports with Tony Renteria:

#1. How much will the acquisition of DeAngelo Russell & Willie Cauley-Stein mean for Golden State?

#2 The Lakers are happy in picking up DeMarcus Cousins how much of a big piece of the puzzle and how much does he look forward to working with LeBron?

#3 The Miami Heat are rumored to picking up Russell Westbrook from the OKC Thunder. How badly does Westbrook want to go to Miami?

#4 Tony talks about the Oakland Raiders picking up running back Josh Jacobs and linebacker Te’Von Coney.

#5 How serious will the San Francisco Giants be about dealing pitcher Madison Bumgarner and reliever Will Smith  before the trade deadline?

#6 Kahwi Leonard signed a three-year, $103 million deal with the Clippers and the contract calls for a player option in his third year.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sorry offense has Giants in the pits

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Harness

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has said that the baseballs that are being used in games are not juiced, despite the high number of home runs being his this season.

There is direct proof of this statement: Just watch the San Francisco Giants hit on a nightly basis.

After spending most of the season ranking dead last in home runs hit, the Giants are now 27th out of 30 teams in the majors with only 88 balls going out of the ballpark in the season’s first three months.

They do, however, have the worst batting average in baseball with a team mark of .230, and they rank in the bottom five in every offensive category, with the exception of doubles and triples (they rank near the middle of the majors).

To give you an idea, Kevin Pillar currently leads the Giants with a .256 batting average with 47 RBI. Meanwhile, Evan Longoria leads the team with only 12 home runs, which is not a lot of return for the $14.5 million he is getting paid this year.

That lack of offense has had a direct effect on their overall performance on the field, in what will be Bruce Bochy’s last season as a major-league manager. They have a 41-48 record as they enter the second half of the season, which puts them firmly in the National League cellar and qualifies as the league’s third-worst record, trailing only Miami and the New York Mets.

The NL, however, remains fairly open, and amazingly, the Giants are actually in the hunt for a wild-card spot, as they currently sit only five-and-a-half games out of the wild card. The wild-card leaders, Washington and Philadelphia, are barely sitting over .500 at press time.

This, however, may very well turn out to be fool’s gold, considering the fact that the Giants are expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline (more on that tomorrow).

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: All-Star Game? A’s Hendriks and Giants’ Smith both give up the home run ball in relief; A’s Chapman scores on DP ball

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Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

On the Headline Sports podcast with London:

#1 After all the talk about the home run ball and plenty of them, the All-Star Game in Cleveland was a low scoring affair before the American League scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it 4-1. Earlier, the American League scored a single run in the second and fifth innings and the American League got two runs in the top of the sixth. The National League tried to make a come back with two runs in the top of the eight but just couldn’t pass the AL in the 4-3 one run AL win.

#2 Representing the San Francisco Giants at the All-Star Game was reliever Will Smith, who got his 23rd save on Wednesday night against the San Diego Padres, which translate to a great first half, despite the Giants struggling in last place in the NL West. At the All-Star Game, Smith gave up a home run in the seventh.

#3 Representing the Oakland A’s were A’s third baseman Matt Chapman, who hit .265, 90 RBIs and 21 home runs, and relief pitcher Liam Hendriks, who is 3-0 with a 1.27 ERA.

#4 For Hendriks, he has saved 23 straight games without a blown save. The A’s are in the hunt for a wild card and are just seven games behind first place Houston and Hendriks closing games will be crucial in the home stretch. Hendriks — in the All-Star Game — gave up a home run for an earned run and struck out three batters.

#5 Meanwhile, the A’s Matt Chapman had some better luck scoring a run from third when the Boston Red Sox Xander Bogaerts grounded into a double play.

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com