Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Blues-Bruins involved in hard-fought finals; Warriors cry for Durant; plus more

Photo credit: @ChicagoSports

On Headline Sports with Tony Renteria:

#1 The St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins played a long hard fought NHL Finals that went seven games in a back-and-forth series.

#2 How much of the injuries to the Golden State Warriors Kevon Looney, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant played in their struggle to win games in the finals?

#3 Talk about Warriors team president Bob Meyers, who cried after game five when Durant went down with the Achilles injury. Meyers taking much of the responsibility for the decision on putting Durant back in now lost for at least a year.

#4 The New England Patriots are filing tampering charges against the Houston Texans for trying to talk to the Patriots Director of Player personnel Nick Caserio. The Texans general manager Brian Gaine attended a post Super Bowl ring celebration at Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s house as did Caserio. Some conversation or interest of Caserio took place and hence the tampering suit.

#5 When you have mob names like the Surgeon (Louis Alfredo Rivas Clase) and a woman named the Venezuelan or Red, these are just two of the names that help coordinate the shooting of former Red Sox star David Ortiz in the Dominican Republic. It was also reported that two other men were involved and a total of six people were involved in the planning of the shooting of Ortiz.

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

Anderson, Pillar lead Giants to 4-2 win over the Padres

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — In a close game, the Giants aren’t so bad.

Keeping it close was good enough to squeeze past the Padres, 4-2 on Wednesday night, and capture the two-game set at Oracle Park. A quality start from Shaun Anderson, timely hitting and Will Smith closing the door were the highlights of the evening.  Now the Giants need to work on that formula increasing in frequency.

In 2019, the Giants have enjoyed one and two-run ballgames, winning 19 of 33. It’s the other 33 ballgames decided by three runs or more that have doomed them, winning just nine of 33. If you’re the Giants, you’re more likely to get blown out than blow someone out, and therein lies the problem for the last-place club.

That and winning home games (the Giants are 13-20 at home)… just not an issue on Wednesday. The Giants made the key plays, offensively and defensively, and the Padres, losers of 11 of 16, threw the ball away, and couldn’t manage a key hit.

Anderson led the transformation by pitching six, solid innings and picking up the win. His key frame was the first, when he coaxed a double play ball off the bat of Franmil Reyes to end the inning and keep the game scoreless when the Padres threatened to get the jump off a bases loaded, one out situation.

“Huge pitch. That’s the ballgame,” said manager Bruce Bochy with the benefit of hindsight. “Big turning point in the  game. What a job (Anderson) did, throwing six, solid innings.”

Kevin Pillar got the Giants on the board in the second on a solo shot, then trailing 2-1 in the fifth, the Padres gave the struggling Giants’ offense a boost, courtesy of a pair of miscues. Throwing errors by rookies Josh Naylor and Fernando Tatis contributed to the Giants taking the lead.

Winning close games demands a closer, and Will Smith handled that, converting for the 16th time in 16 chances. Smith escaped a bases loaded situation by getting Manuel Margot to pop out to end it.

“We put ourselves in a position to win,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “It just wasn’t enough to get over the hump.”

The Padres and Giants opened the season in San Diego with the home team winning three of four, while showing off their big, off-season acquisition, Manny Machado. That advantageous start had the Padres dreaming of the postseason. But Wednesday’s loss dropped them two games below .500 for the first time all season.

The Giants’ modest win streak marks the first time since early April they’ve captured consecutive, home games.

Longoria’s double wins it for the Giants 6-5

Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Evan Longoria came up with the biggest hit of the night at the most opportune time.

Longoria hit a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning, propelling the San Francisco Giants to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres before a crowd of 28,535 at Oracle Park.

Longo came thru in a big way, said Bruce Bochy.

The seventh inning got underway, as Brandon Belt came off the bench to pinch hit for Mark Melancon and walked against Trey Wingenter. Joe Panik then singled Belt to third, and after Mike Yastrzemski flew out to Hunter Renfroe in right field, Longoria smashed a double off the left field wall to score both Belt and Panik and on the throw home, Longoria went to third.

Joe did a great job running, and I thought the base running was very good tonight, said third base coach Ron Wotus.

Pablo Sandoval then drove in Longoria with an insurance run, as he hit a sacrifice fly to center field.

Fernando Tatis, Jr., took the first pitch he saw from Tyler Beede and put it into the Garden over the centerfield wall in the top of the first inning to give the Padres an early 1-0 lead.

Following the Tatis, Jr., home run, Josh Naylor and Eric Hosmer both singled and it looked like it was going to be a short night for Beede.

That would be on the contrary, as following the Hosmer single with one out in the inning, Beede began to settle and retired the next 11 batters until Wil Myers led off that fateful fifth inning with a walk against Beede.

After Myers walked, Beede was able to get Austin Hedges to fly out for the first out of the inning, Myers then stole second and then pitcher Chris Paddack picked up his first major league hit, as Brandon Crawford cut the ball from going into the outfield.

Tatis, Jr., then picked up his second hit of the game, as Joe Panik made a great play to knock the ball down; however, his flip to Crawford went awry and Myers scored easily from third base.

Beede then got Josh Naylor for the second out of the inning, but was lifted for Trevor Gott after he walked Manny Machado.

Then came the play that epitomized the Giants season in a nutshell, as Hosmers comebacker to Gott knocked his glove off his hand and threw it to first, where Hosmer was called safe; however, with the runners going on anything, both Paddack and Tatis, Jr., scored to give the Padres the lead.

Looked like we were taking infield there, said Bochy.

Crawford would have made the play had I let the ball go through, said Gott.

Gott was able to get out of the inning, as he struck out Hunter Renfroe to end the inning.

The Giants took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Pablo Sandoval led off the inning with a single and then went to third on a Stephen Vogt single. Vogt was thrown out at second base, and then it looked like Paddack would get out of the jam, when he got Crawford to ground out back to him; however, Tyler Austin tied up the game with a single that scored Sandoval and then Steven Duggar got involved in the game.

Duggar launched a two-run home run onto the Levis Landing to give the Giants a two-run lead.

Paddack, who went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out six; however, he did not fare in the decision.

On the other side of things, Beede is still looking for that elusive first major league win, as he went four and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on five hits, walking two and striking out a career-high seven.

I felt great, but there was some tough luck, said Beede.

Mark Melancon pitched a perfect seventh inning, as he struck out two and picked up his third win of the season.

Ian Kinsler made it a one-run game in the top of the eighth inning, as he hit his eighth home run of the season off of Tony Watson.

Will Smith came on in the top of the ninth inning, and nailed down his 15th save of the season in 15 opportunities to even the home stand at two games apiece with four to go. Smith struck out two, including Tatis, Jr., to end the game.

NOTES: Smith tied Craig Lefferts for the longest save streak to start a season with those 15 saves, Lefferts held the record of 15 from 1989 until Rod Beck broke it in 1994, when he saved 28 in a row.

Beedes previous career high of six was set also against the Padres on April 15, 2018 at Petco Park.

This was the teams 15th win of the season by one run, and the 15-6 record in one-run games is the best in the major leagues.

It was the 16th come-from-behind win for the Giants this season.

The 85-degree temperature at first pitch was the hottest at first pitch since June 14, 2001 against the Anaheim Angels.

It just the third time since the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958 that they were three straight games of 80 degrees or higher. It also occurred on June 29, 30 and July 1 of 1996, and also August 31, September 1 and 2 of 2017.

That was the first lead-off home run of Tatis, Jrs. career and the second lead-off home run of the season for the Padres, Manuel Margot led off the April 14 game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a home run at Chase Field.

Over their last six games, the Giants are 5-for-37 with runners in scoring position and have left 36 runners on base in that span.

UP NEXT: Shaun Anderson will take the mound in the finale of this brief two-game series on Wednesday night for the Giants, while Joey Lucchesi takes the mound for the Padres

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Will Latin players worry about safety when going home in the wake of the Big Papi shooting?

Photo credit: tmz.com

On the Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 After Big Papi’s shooting, will other Latin players now be worried and concerned about having to go home for the winter?

#2 It really gives pause for other MLB players who might live in the Dominican Republic, and giving what just happened, they may have to change their habits from going out in public?

#3 The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants rivalry continues last Sunday. The Dodgers’ Max Muncy opened the first inning with a home run and took a long look, which irked Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner and set off some jawing between Bumgarner and Muncy. The Giants open a three-game series with San Diego tonight.

#4 The Boston Bruins saved their season with a convincing win over the St. Louis Blues 5-1 in Game 6 on Sunday in St. Louis that saved the Bruins from elimination.

#5 Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who coached defense that allowed the most points in Raiders history (457). That was what Guenther said his hardest year in coaching.

Headline Sports and is a freelance writer for Area Grande Spanish papers with Barbara is heard every Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Bumgarner’s Last Act In S.F.?: If so, it’s quintessential MadBum

By Morris Phillips

Madison Bumgarner’s Giants career hasn’t entirely been about winning.

Yes, the Giants’ ace was around for all three World Series titles, and he became the Series MVP for the ages in 2014 for his incredible starting and relief performances against the Royals.

Bumgarner also won 18 games in 2014 and 2015, a remarkable feat of consistency, given the seasons bookended his grueling 2014 postseason.

And–as we were reminded of on Sunday afternoon–Bumgarner has battled the Dodgers tooth and nail for a decade.

In 34 career starts against the hated Blue, Bumgarner is 15-13 with a 2.52 ERA. But he hasn’t beaten the Dodgers in any of his last seven appearances.

It’s unlikely that the Giants’ ace remembers any of the wins, only the 13 losses, and definitely the last seven meetings without a win as well. That’s just who Bumgarner is, and his level of competiveness.

“He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever seen,” said Giants broadcaster Mike Krukow of Bumgarner.

In Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Dodgers, Bum’s reaction to Max Muncy’s first inning home run was priceless. Angry and combative, Bumgarner yelled at Muncy, demanding he circle the bases with no dramatics.

Muncy, clearly enjoying the moment, gestured and yelled back, as he circled the bases. The Dodgers’ slugger would later say Bum could retrieve the home run ball from the Bay if he didn’t appreciate his celebration. Muncy’s quick wit won him supporters on social media.

But Bumgarner wasn’t swayed, justifying his confronting Muncy with a simple statement bathed in his old-school mentality.

“They want to let everybody be themselves. Let me by myself — that’s me, you know?” Bumgarner explained.

With the trade deadline approaching,  Bumgarner has precious few days left as a Giant. Increasing the bittersweet nature of the iconic player being dealt are the underwhelming offers being fielded by GM Farhan Zaidi. Losing one the faces of the franchise in mid-season for a pittance isn’t very dignified, so much so that Zaidi recently reiterated that Bumgarner would not be moved unless the return is significant.

Keeping Bumgarner would be bad business, moving him removes a key presence in the clubhouse, so there’s no victory there. Watching him battle every fifth day for a club that scuffles to score runs is hard to endure too.

Hard on Bumgarner, the team, and the fans.

So the end may be near, but the appreciation for one the game’s biggest winners is unrelenting. Manager Bruce Bochy issued his thanks on the occasion of his 1,000th managerial win as a Giant on Thursday.

“What he’s done here, and I wouldn’t say what he’s done for me, it’s been an honor to manage this man,” Bochy said. “He’s done so much for the Giants organization and he’s helped put rings on our fingers and he’s still going strong. He’s one of my all-time favorites and that’s pretty obvious.”

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Muncy’s 1st inning home run leaves MadBum really mad

from sfgate.com: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off of San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, June 9, 2019.

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner hates it when anyone flips a bat or makes a gesture, and when the Dodgers come to town, there’s that chance that could happen instead of the bat flipping when the Dodgers’ Max Muncy went for a splash hit into McCovey Cove in right field. The fireworks started when Muncy was admiring the homer and Bumgarner told Muncy to run and not watch the ball.

#2 Bumgarner said that he would rather fight than let the new age of hitters flip a bat or admire a home run saying Muncy could do his thing while I do mine.

#3 It was the second game of the three-game set between the two clubs and the bad blood didn’t wait to get started. Muncy said that he look for only a moment and then took two steps and started to run the bases. Muncy also said that if Bumgarner didn’t like him to watch the ball that Bumgarner could go to the ocean and get it.

#4 Things did settled down as no one would score for the rest of the afternoon as the Dodgers got a 1-0 shutout behind the fine pitching of starter Walker Buehler, who went seven innings with a shutout giving up five hits.

#5 The Giants have Monday off, but will host the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Oracle with the Padres starting Chris Paddack (4-4, 2.97 ERA), and for the Giants, Tyler Beede (0-2, 8.15 ERA).

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

Muncy makes Bumgarner go swimming for the ball in Dodgers’ 1-0 win over the Giants

Photo credit: @Lakers_newsnow

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner made only one mistake on the afternoon, and Max Muncy took advantage.

Muncy launched a Bumgarner offering 426 feet into McCovey Cove, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 1-0 before a crowd of 34,098 at Oracle Park.

Following the home run, Bumgarner and Muncy began to jaw at one another and home plate umpire Will Little got between the two as Muncy rounded the bases.

He took exception to me watching the ball, I guess. Muncy said, ‘You don’t watch the ball. You run.’ That’s what he told me. Truth of it is, it’s just a guy out there competing. He was upset he made a bad pitch and that’s really all there was to it. I told him ‘If you don’t want me to watch the ball, you can go in the ocean and get it, Muncy added.

Little came out to give Bumgarner a new ball, and nothing was said in regards to the incident.

“They want to let everyone be themselves, then let me by myself. That’s me. You do your thing, Ill do mine. Everybody is different. That’s how I want to play, that’s how I’m going to,” said Bumgarner.

The Splash Hit by Muncy was only the second one that Bumgarner gave up in his major league career, and first since Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies did it on April 11, 2014

This was only the third time since 1900 that the Dodgers have defeated the Giants 1-0 and the only run came on a solo home run.

Trent Hubbard hit a home run off of Shawn Estes on September 20, 1998 and Dioner Navarro did it off of Tim Lincecum on July 20, 2011

In his next at-bat, Muncy grounded out to Joe Panik at second in the top of the fourth inning and then walked in the top of the sixth inning.

Panik led off the bottom of the first inning with a sharp double off of Dodgers starter Walker Buehler, but he was stranded at second base.

The Giants managed to get runners to first and second in the bottom of the third inning, but Buehler struck out Bumgarner swinging to end the inning.

Things looked promising for the Giants in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Mike Yastrzemski single and then Evan Longoria followed up with a single of his own that sent Yastrzemski to third base. Unfortunately, Pablo Sandoval grounded to Justin Turner at third base and Yastrzemski broke for home, he was eventually tagged out by catcher Austin Barnes as he attempted to get back to third base.

Buehler then got Stephen Vogt to fly out to Kyle Garlick in left field, and then got out of the jam, as Kevin Pillar out flew to Chris Taylor in center field.

It was a great day for Buehler, who went seven innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking just one and striking out nine on his way to seventh win of the season against just one loss.

On the other side of things, Bumgarner went seven strong innings, giving up just one run, while scattering four hits, walking just one and striking out five.

It seems that the Giants are not able to get that runner in while in scoring position, as in Saturdays 7-2 loss to the Dodgers, they went a collective 1-for-11, and in this loss, they went 0-for-7.

NOTES: With the loss, the Giants are now 11-20 on the season at home, the second-worst in the National League and have lost seven out of their last eight at home. To make matters even worse, the Giants have scored two or fewer in six of those eight games.

The last time that the Giants lost a game 1-0 at home came on June 12, 2015 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This was the first time that the Giants lost a game where the only came on a home run since July 27, 2013, when former Giants outfielder Nate Schierholtz hit a solo home run to give the Chicago Cubs the 1-0 victory. Schierholtzs’ home run came in the top of the ninth inning off of Sergio Romo.

Travis Bergen, who is currently out with a left shoulder strain began his rehab assignment on Friday night with the San Jose Giants and threw one scoreless inning with a strikeout. In that one inning, Bergen threw 13 pitches, nine of them for strikes.

Buster Posey continues to get better, and could be activated from the injured list on Wednesday, prior to the game versus the San Diego Padres.

UP NEXT: Following an off-day on Monday, the Giants open a brief two-game series with the San Diego Padres beginning on Tuesday night. Tyler Beede still looks for that elusive first major league victory, as he will get the start in the opener and Chris Paddack looks to his raise his record to 5-4, as he takes the mound for the Padres.

Seager goes 4-for-5 in Dodgers’ 7-2 win over Giants

Photo credit: @Angel_City_Buzz

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — In what was a close game, evaporated rather quickly for the San Francisco Giants in the top of the eighth inning.

Dereck Rodriguez gave up four runs on just two hits, and walked two, as the Los Angeles Dodgers broke open a close game on their way to a 7-2 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 37,784 at Oracle Park.

Corey Seager came up with the big blow in the inning, as he took a Mark Melancon pitch and put it into the right-center field alley to score both Max Muncy and Justin Turner.

It was the fourth hit of the day for Seager, marking the seventh time that the shortstop picked up four hits in the same game and the first time since April 18, 2018 against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Russell Martin got the marathon eighth inning started, as he singled off of Rodriguez, then David Freese doubled, and then Joc Pederson reached on a Fielders Choice that loaded the bases. Following the Pederson Fielders Choice, Muncy drove in a run, as he walked off of Rodriguez and then Turner did the same to score Freese.

That would be all for Rodriguez, as Melancon came on to replace and got Pederson at the plate, as he tried to advance on a throw that got by Aramis Garcia.

Bellinger was then intentionally walked for the third time on the afternoon, and then Seagers double broke the game wide open.

They are both really good hitters, said Bruce Bochy.

Rich Hill went five innings for the Dodgers, as he picked up his third win of the season. Hill allowed two runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out six.

The same cannot be said for Jeff Samardzija, who five and one-thirds innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out five. Samardzija also uncorked two wild pitches, as he saw his record fall to 3-5 on the season.

Unfortunately, Samardzija was on the receiving end of a couple bad calls by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher that led to the departure of Samardzija, one call was the fact that it looked like Pederson did not get out of the way on a pitch that hit him. The play was reviewed by the umpires, and the play stood.

He did a hell of a job of not getting of the way, said Samardzija.

Seager gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as he picked up his second hit in as many at-bats after Bellinger was intentionally just in front of him. Pederson scored, as he reached on a wild pitch after he was struck out by Samardzija and went to third on a Turner ground-rule double that bounced into the seats down the left field line.

Garcia tied it up in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his third home run of the season, an opposite field shot that landed on the arcade in right field.

Donovan Solano gave the Giants the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he singled in Kevin Pillar and Brandon Crawford beat the Alex Verdugo throw to third base.

Seager tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, as he picked up his third hit in as many at-bats, when his double scored Turner, who led off the inning with a single.

Turner gave the Dodgers the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning, as his sacrifice fly scored Kyle Garlick from third base.

It was a huge day for Garlick, who picked up his first major league hit on a double down the left field line and then scored his first major league run on the Turner sacrifice fly to Mike Yastrzemski in right field.

Things started out rough for the Giants, as Tyler Austin banged his knee against the wall in foul territory in left field, but stayed in the game.

Then Pillar and Yastrzemski ran into each other on a ball that Muncy hit in the first, but Yastrzemski held onto it for the second out of the inning.

That was no mans land, and the crowd noise, said Bochy.

The Dodgers loaded the bases in the first inning for the second straight game, but like Drew Pomeranz on Friday night, Samardzija got out of it, unscathed.

NOTES: Evan Longoria committed his eighth error of the season, tying him with Josh Donaldson of the Atlanta Braves for the most by a third baseman in the National League.

The Giants went 1-for-11 with Runners in Scoring Position, and over their last four games, they are 2-for-20 with RISP.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner takes the mound in the series finale, as he will make his 34th career start against the Dodgers and is 15-12 with a 2.56 ERA. Walker Buehler will take the mound for the Dodgers, as he will make his second start of the season against the Giants and fifth appearance overall with two starts and is now 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA lifetime.

Two-run sixth inning does it for the Giants

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-What a difference one week and a day off did for Drew Pomeranz and the San Francisco Giants.

Kevin Pillar singled with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to score Brandon Belt, who walked to lead off the inning and the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 before a crowd of 35,157 at Oracle Park.

Stuck that big 14 sized shoe in there, said Belt.

Pomeranz, who did not make it out of the 2nd inning in his last start, went five innings, allowing just three hits, walking one and striking out seven.

The seven strikeouts by Pomeranz tied a season-high that was first accomplished against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 18.

Pomeranz escaped a first inning jam that could have been tragic, but he settled down after loading the bases and got David Freese and Corey Seager to strikeout to end the inning.

Just made my pitches, said Pomeranz.

During the Belt at-bat, he fouled a ball off down the left field line that saw Chris Taylor fall over the bullpen mound. Belt regrouped in the at-bat to pick up the key baserunner that helped the Giants get on the board and eventually win the ballgame.

We got a break there when Taylor fell over the mound, said Bochy.

Following the Pillar single, Brandon Crawford grounded into a fielders choice that saw Longoria beat the throw from Max Muncy.

Not only did Belt come up big at the plate with that key walk, but he also dropped a bunt with the Dodgers in the shift and also came up big on the defensive side of things.

With Muncy on first base after a leadoff walk against Reyes Moronta, Justin Turner lined out to Belt, and with Muncy running on the play, Belt just stepped on first base for the double play.

Things were looking great for the Giants until Chris Taylor uncorked a solo home run over the center field wall to cut the Giants lead in half in the top of the eighth inning.

After the Taylor home run, Tony Watson, who gave up the home run to Taylor, then gave up a single to Muncy; however, Watson was able to regroup, as he got Turner to lineout to Crawford at shortstop and then Cody Bellinger flew out to Steven Duggar to end the inning and the threat.

Clayton Kershaw, who went seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking one and striking out four, as he saw his record fall to 5-1 on the season. This was Kershaws first loss since July 21, 2018 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Will Smith came on to close out the game for the Giants, as he is now 14-for-14 in save opportunities this season.

Since moving to San Francisco in 1958, Smith is third all-time in save opportunities to start a season. Smith trails Rod Beck, who converted 28 in a row to start the 1994 season and Craig Lefferts picked up 15 straight in the 1989 National League Championship season for the Giants.

NOTES: This was the Giants’ 14th win of the season in one-run games, and they have the best winning percentage in baseball (14-5), a winning percentage in one-run games.

Kershaw last lost at Oracle Park on October 1, 2016, and it was just his second loss in San Francisco in his last 10 decisions.

Bellinger saw his career-high 12-game hitting streak come to an end, as he went 0-for-3 on the night.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija heads to the mound on Saturday afternoon for the Giants, while Rich Hill will take the mound for the Dodgers.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Down goes Frazier, but more like downtown with two homers

Photo credit: @NYDNSports

On the Giants podcast with Miguel:

#1 For the second game in a row the New York Mets came up winners with a 7-3 on Thursday and won the previous game 7-1 on Wednesday. For a 4-5 road trip.

#2 Todd Frazier put new meaning to the famous term “down goes Frazier” but it’s more like going downtown with two home runs.

#3 The Giants in those two games got lit up including on Wednesday when Tyler Beede pitched five innings for five runs, five earned, four walks, and five strikeouts. Was Tyler off balance or was he grooving the ball?

#4 On Thursday Mark Melancon got lit up in one inning of relief five hits and four runs. Is this a matter of his breaking ball won’t break, they’re seeing his fastball or he just isn’t a mystery?

#5 It’s the Dodgers and the Giants at Oracle Park for the first of three on Friday night. The Dodgers start Clayton Kershaw (5-0, 3.20 ERA), and for the Giants, Drew Pomeranz (1-6, 8.08 ERA), a 6:45 pm start.

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