Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: First time for SF being four games from .500, but not in a good way

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On the Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

It’s a red letter day for the San Francisco Giants this is the first day that the Giants have not been within three games above .500. They’re four games below .500. They’ve lost four out of five. They’ve lost four straight. Giants manager Bruce Bochy admitted last week it’s a strong uphill climb.

The Giants are competitors and they’re never going to wave the white flag, but they’re acknowledging the rest of this season is audition time. Remember this is the club that was the only MLB team that didn’t make a move after the All-Star game and before the trade deadline.

The one major move they’ve made is obtaining Austin Jackson from Texas and McCutchen’s move earlier this week to New York. It has been audition time for a while now and one of the things that we’ve been pointing to is how guys are pitching and that the Giants pitcher Reyes Moronta, who came in to relieve on Tuesday night, was touched up by the Rockies.

Join Michael and Morris on the Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants’ skid hits four; drop second game to Rockies 6-2; no pitching relief nor hitting in sight

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Photo credit: @Fawn_Liebowitz

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

Marko talks about the Giants’ tough 4-1 loss at AT&T Park last Sunday versus Noah Syndergaard and the New York Mets. Syndergaard won on his game, striking out a career-high 11 and going the distance and allowing only one Giants run.

The Giants lost to the Colorado Rockies on Monday night to open the series as Giants starter Madison Bumgarner got lit up for eight hits and seven runs (six earned), one walk, and six strikeouts. The Giants made a three-run comeback in the top of the ninth, but came up one short to lose 9-8 it as Rockies closer Wade Davis shut the door.

The Giants, who in the second game of their three-game series with the Rockies, dropped another tough one 6-2 at Coors Field on Tuesday night. The Giants continue the series at Coors Field Wednesday night with Giants starter Andrew Suarez (6-9) against the Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela (4-5).

Marko Ukalovic does the Giants podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Moronta blows lead in Giants’ 6-2 loss to Rockies

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By Jeremy Kahn

It seems that Dereck Rodriguez can never get a break after he pitches yet another great game in his rookie season.

Ryan McMahon hit a pinch-hit home run and Carlos Gonzalez hit a bases clearing triple, as the Colorado Rockies scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on their way to a 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on Monday night.

The Giants are 1-7 at Coors Field this season, and an abysmal 2-16 since the 2017 season, where the Giants went 64-98 and ended up 40 games behind the eventual National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gorkys Hernandez hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning that gave the Giants a short-lived 2-1 lead, as he hit his second home run of the series and it looked like Rodriguez was going to get the win, but that did not happen.

Reyes Moronta came on to replace Rodriguez got the first out, but McMahon hit a 0-1 pitch over the center field wall to tie up the game. It was the second home run of the season for McMahon.

Then things got even worse, as Charlie Blackmon reached on an infield single, for his third hit of the game, and Moronta walked D.J. LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado to load the bases and then Gonzalez hit a triple to give the Rockies 5-2 lead. Gerardo Parra drove in the final run of the inning, as he walked with the bases loaded to give the Rockies the final margin of victory.

Rodriguez went six innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out six, as he did not fare in the decision, despite the quality start.

The Giants took the lead in the top of the first inning, as Joe Panik singled to left field to score Gregor Blanco to give the Giants a short-lived 1-0 lead; however, David Dahl tied up the game in the bottom of the second inning with his ninth home run of the season.

German Marquez shut the Giants down after that, as he went 6.2 innings, as he struck out 11 and was in line for the loss after the Hernandez home run; however, McMahon changed all that with his solo home run. Chris Rusin retired the final batter of the seventh inning to get his second win of the season.

NOTES: Rookie Steven Duggar underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Tuesday to repair a torn labrum in his left labrum that he suffered on August 28 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Jeff Samardzija was transferred to the 60-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder, and rookie Abiatal Avelino got his contract purchased from Sacramento. Avelino was acquired from the New York Yankees in the Andrew McCutchen trade on Thursday.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies conclude their series on Wednesday night at 5:40 pm PDT.

The Giants’ Andrew Suarez will be looking for his seventh win of the season, as he takes the mound on Wednesday. Suarez is also going for his third straight win, as he is coming off an outstanding game where he pitched seven innings of two-hit ball in a 7-0 victory over the New York Mets on Friday night.

The Rockies will send Antonio Senzatela to the mound, as he attempts to even his record at 5-5 on the season.

Bum falters, Giants rally only to come up short at Coors Field, 9-8

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By Morris Phillips

These days, winning at Coors Field for the Giants is nearly impossible.

After landing in a huge hole–in large part due to Madison Bumgarner’s subpar outing–the Giants staged a huge rally, only to fall short in a 9-8 loss.

Are you counting? The Giants have lost 16 of 18 in Denver, and a number of those have been similar to this one. In fact, three of the six losses at Coors Field this season have been by one run.

“It was a shame we couldn’t hold on,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “We really came on strong at the end.”

The Rockies put the Giants in the earliest, conceivable hole, as the first four batters of the day reached and scored, capped by Trevor Story’s two-run shot. But Madison Bumgarner’s hard to shake–even under these circumstances–and he strung together three, consecutive zeros before trouble surfaced again in the fifth.

In that frame, Story struck again, his second home run of the day putting the Rockies up 7-2. Afterwards, he admitted he just wanted to get a pitch to elevate with a pair of runners aboard. But Story’s tale wasn’t to be sold short, as he took Bumgarner deep into the left field seats.

“I got down 0-2 pretty quick, and then after that I was just trying to battle, and just trying to get something up in the air to get the guy home,” Story explained.

By current Giants’ standards, their response was, well, giant. One run in the sixth, two in the seventh, and three in the eighth gave the Giants a lead, and the run total (6) was more than the club had managed to score in its previous 25 innings. Home runs by Alen Hanson and Chris Shaw came with two outs in the eighth, and Shaw’s first big league homer broke a 7-7 tie.

Enough dramatics to earn the Giants a satisfying win? Sure, if they were somewhere other than Denver.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Rockies dented normally reliable Tony Watson with three hits, capped by pinch-hitter Noel Cuevas’ two-run single. For the rookie enjoying a September call-up, the moment could not have been bigger.

“You always look for that moment when you can get an opportunity,” Cuevas said.

Wade Davis didn’t give the Giants an opportunity to answer, striking out the side in the ninth for his 38th save. The win temporarily got the Rockies even with the Dodgers atop the NL West, pending the outcome of games scheduled for Monday evening.

The Rockies have never won the division crown in their 26 seasons of existence, with all four of their previous playoff appearances as a wild card.

The Giants have dropped six, consecutive Labor Day contests and are three games below .500 with 23 games remaining.

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Stratton and Syndergaard engage in pitching duel, but Mets’ early hits hand the Giants a loss

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On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

San Francisco Giants starter Chris Stratton on Sunday pitched what would be called a quality start, but Stratton and the Giants lost the game to the New York Mets 4-1. Stratton pitched six innings, two runs, three hits, a walk and two strikeouts.

Stratton gave up a two run-homer to Michael Conforto and a double to Todd Frazier. The Mets’ starter Noah Syndergaard pitched his first complete game and gave up one run and two hits, walked one, and struck out a season-high 11. The Giants start a six-game road trip in Colorado and open up a three-game series in Milwaukee on Friday. Two teams the Giants face that are both in the run for postseason play in a crucial road trip for the Giants, who are trying to get some day light for postseason themselves.

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

Syndergaard throws a gem in Mets’ 4-1 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @genymets

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — With the exception of two bad pitches in the second inning, it was a spectacular pitching performance for Chris Stratton.

Michael Conforto hit a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw from Stratton in the top of the second inning, helping the New York Mets to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 39,692 at AT&T Park on Sunday afternoon.

Just one pitch prior to Conforto’s 20th home run of the season, Todd Frazier lined a double to left field.

Noah Syndergaard was outstanding for the Mets, as he threw his first career complete game, allowing just one run on just two hits, walking just one and striking out a season-high tying 11 and won for the 10th time on the season.

This was just the second complete game against the Giants this season, joining Patrick Corbin of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who tossed one on April 17.

Syndergaard’s lone mistake of the afternoon, was when Alen Hanson hit a triple just out of the reach of a diving Brandon Nimmo in right field and then Stratton got the Giants on the board with a sacrifice fly to Nimmo that easily scored Hanson from third base,

Stratton went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, not allowing a walk and striking out two.

Following the Hanson triple and subsequent sacrifice fly by Stratton, Syndergaard only allowed two more baserunners to reach base, as Evan Longoria singled in the bottom of the fourth inning and then Brandon Belt reached on a throwing error by Jay Bruce.

Despite the loss, the Giants made some great plays on defense, especially three by Hanson and one by Gregor Blanco, who robbed former teammate Austin Jackson of extra bases, as he made a diving catch of a Jackson hit in the top of the fifth inning. Austin Slater made a great defensive to end the top of the ninth inning, as he robbed Tomas Nido of extra bases with Nimmo on first base after a walk with one out in the frame.

Jeff McNeill continues his hot hitting against the Giants, as he picked up two more hits on the afternoon, including a two-run single in the top of the eighth inning that stretched the Mets lead up to 4-1.

In seven games versus the Giants since being recalled from the Las Vegas 51s, McNeil is batting .500 against the Giants, as he is 9-for-18 in seven games.

NOTES: Kelby Tomlinson was recalled from Sacramento prior to the game. The Giants now have 27 players on their roster.

Brandon Crawford sat out the weekend series against the Mets due to soreness in his left knee, and will be re-evaluated by the doctors over the next few days.

Steven Duggar will have season-ending shoulder injury sometime this week, might be Tuesday.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner opens the Giants two-city six-game road trip with a start against the Colorado Rockies on Monday afternoon, as he faces Tyler Anderson for the Rockies at Coors Field. Game time is set for 12:10 pm PDT.

Following the three-game series in Denver, and an off day, the Giants make their only trip to Milwaukee, where they will face the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend at Miller Park.

Giants fall to Mets 2-1 in 11 innings

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Ana Kieu

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants were looking to defeat the New York Mets again in game two of the three-game series at AT&T Park on Saturday afternoon. The Giants welcomed former shortstop Johnnie LeMaster, who enjoyed the ballgame after catching a flight from Kentucky to California.

Via twitter.com

Saturday afternoon was similar to Friday night, as the Giants and Mets were in a scoreless deadlock for three complete innings. Evan Longoria hit a solo home run to put the Giants on the board 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

However, it didn’t take long for the Mets to even the score at one apiece, as Tomas Nido doubled on a line drive to Austin Slater. Nido’s double brought home Brandon Nimmo in the top of the fifth inning.

Giants’ left-handed starter and switch-hitter Derek Holland put in a day’s work on the mound. Holland’s line was six innings pitched, four hits, one earned run, three walks and three strikeouts.

Fans in attendance got the chance to watch some free baseball, as the game went into extra innings following a 1-1 tie after nine complete innings.

The Mets took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 11th inning. Todd Frazier went out on a sacrifice fly to Hunter Pence. Wilmer Scores scored on Frazier’s sacrifice fly.

The Giants had hoped to mount a comeback or at least even the score to force a 12th inning, but that didn’t happen. The Giants lost to the Mets 2-1 in 11 innings.

Mets’ Jerry Blevins was the winning pitcher. Giants’ Hunter Strickland took the loss.

Notes
Giants’ starting lineup: Hernandez (CF), Slater (RF), Longoria (3B), Hundley (C), Belt (1B), Pence (LF), Hanson (SS), Panik (2B) and Holland (P).

Giants catcher Buster Posey underwent hip surgery on Monday, but was in San Francisco for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day. Posey is a class act and that’s why young kids adore and admire him.

Saturday’s attendance was 38,875.

Saturday’s game lasted for two hours and 56 minutes.

Up Next
The Giants wrap up their series versus the Mets with a finale on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT.

MLB The Show podcast with Matt Harrington: Despite recent losses in Posey and Duggar, Giants keep the wins coming; A’s catching up to Astros in AL West; plus more

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the MLB The Show podcast with Matt:

#1 Just when you thought that the Giants would start sinking, they plugged the holes up, got some strong bullpen help and after losing Buster Posey and Steven Duggar to injuries. The Giants are also getting help from their young players, including Aramis Garcia, who hit his first big league home run on Friday night for a 7-0 win over the New York Mets.

#2 The Oakland A’s are closing in the AL West with a win over the Seattle Mariners. The A’s in second now are just 1 1/2 games behind first place Houston.

#3 Frustration in New York. The New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected from Friday’s night game for arguing balls and strikes and demonstrating by posing as the catcher in a squat where the strike zone is. The Yanks did win 7-5, but are battling with the A’s and Mariners for the wild card spot.

#4 The Chicago Cubs, who hold a 3 1/2 game lead in the NL Central over the second place St. Louis Cardinals, took a tough loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night 2-1. Asdrubal Cabrera went deep for a solo shot in the 10th that helped the Phils gain a one-run win.

#5 You can’t win them all…with the Yankees winning the Boston Red Sox set their sights for the Chicago White Sox, but took a five-run loss 6-1. Red Sox starter Nathan Evaldi pitched two innings and gave up three runs and the Red Sox didn’t get much help from their lineup either–scoring just a run in the top of the eighth.

Matt Harrington does the MLB podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Part deux of Giants and Mets: Rookie power shows flashes in SF’s 7-0 shutout over NYM

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By: Ana Kieu

This Friday night marked the start of part deux of the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets series. This time around, these two teams met inside AT&T Park instead of Citi Field.

In case you missed it, SF flew out of NYC with a 3-1 win to salvage a split of the four-game split. That wasn’t what the Giants wanted, but it’s better than getting swept on the road.

The Giants got things rolling with Andrew Suarez (5-9, 4.42 ERA) on the mound, and the Mets countered with Zack Wheeler (9-6, 3.46 ERA).

The Giants also got a good glimpse at the future of the franchise, as the Chris Shaw era began on Friday night, but it was Andrew Shaw who helped the Giants roll over the Mets 7-0 at AT&T Park.

After six scoreless innings, Shaw’s sacrifice fly to Austin Jackson allowed Brandon Belt to score to give the Giants a 1-0 lead at the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Giants continued to pour in the runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Aramis Garcia on a fly ball to left field for a 2-0 lead. Belt tripled on a sharp fly ball to Jay Bruce, which allowed Gregor Blanco and Evan Longoria to both score for a 4-0 lead. Austin Slater singled on a line drive to Bruce, which allowed Belt to score for a 5-0 lead. Gorkys Hernandez singled on a ground ball to Bruce, which allowed Slater to score for a 6-0 lead and moved Hunter Pence to third base. Garcia capped off the Giants’ scoring with a single on a fly ball to Jackson, which allowed Pence to score for a 7-0 lead and moved Hernandez to third base.

The Mets were unable to recuperate, and the Giants won 7-0 in a laugher.

Notes
Chris Shaw was called up to SF from the Sacramento River Cats.

Andrew McCutchen tweeted out a shoutout to the Giants and thanked them for the love and support they gave to him and his family. McCutchen also gave a shoutout to the fans and added that he got chills every time he saw his banner outside of AT&T Park.

Up Next
The Giants and Mets meet again Saturday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT. The matinee will feature a pitching matchup of SF’s Derek Holland (7-8, 3.65 ERA) and NY’s Steven Matz (5-11, 4.36 ERA).

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: What’s the best benefit in trading McCutchen?; Can Giants overcome Mets?

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the SF Giants podcast with Miguel:

What were the best benefits for the San Francisco Giants in trading a player like Andrew McCutchen to the New York Yankees? In recent years, McCutchen’s last All-Star appearance was in 2015. McCutchen’s skills have gradually slipped. He hit .255 for San Francisco this season and the Pirates parted with him, sending him to San Francisco,  knowing that his batting average had slipped.

With the Yankees’ Aaron Judge out with a right wrist injury, will McCutchen help in the outfield and in the Yankee lineup? Michael also had a chance to speak to McCutchen during the season about what kind of a player was he and what he meant to the Giants clubhouse.

The Giants open a three-game series tonight at AT&T Park against the NY Mets. Michael sets up this series and the Giants chances of wining the series.

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