Category: San Francisco Giants

Reds rout Giants 11-4 to break out brooms at home

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Photo credit: @Reds

By Jeremy Kahn

After losing the first two of the series, the San Francisco Giants were looking to the salvage the finale against the Cincinnati Reds with rookie Andrew Suarez on the mound.

Unfortunately, the rookie could not get of the third inning, as the Reds scored seven runs in the inning on their way to a 11-4 win over the Giants at Great American Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.

Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run home run helping the Reds to their second consecutive sweep over the Giants in the City of Cincinnati.

Jose Peraza added a two-run run home run for the Reds, who took the season series 4-2 over the Giants, who have lost four in a row.

The seven runs allowed by the Giants were the most they gave up in an inning this season. During the 2017 season, the Giants gave up seven or more runs in an inning on five different occasions.

Over the final two games of the series, the Reds outscored the Giants 18-5 after the Reds defeated the Giants 2-1 in 10 innings in the opener on Friday night.

Suarez ended up going a season-low 2.2 innings, allowing seven runs (five earned), and seven hits.

Scooter Gennett continued his hot hitting, as he hit a two-run triple in that fateful third inning that also saw Suarez hit his career-high 27thhome run of the season.

Curt Casali also picked up two hits and drove in two runs in that third inning.

Luis Castillo went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs and six hits, while striking out nine, as he won for the seventh time on the season.

Brandon Belt hit leadoff for the Giants, as it was the first time that a first baseman hit leadoff since David Bell did so on July 6, 2002 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at then Bank One Ballpark.

The last left-handed first baseman to hit leadoff was Mike Aldrete against the Atlanta Braves on May 4, 1987 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Will Clark leads all Giants first baseman with 28 starts from the leadoff position.

Chase d’Arnaud pitched the bottom of the eighth inning for the Giants, becoming the second Giants position player to pitch this season. Pablo Sandoval pitched the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first game of a day-night doubleheader on April 28.

d’Arnaud is just the fifth Giants position player to pitch since the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. He joins Sandoval, Greg Litton, Dave Kingman and Matty Alou.

Despite allowing a hit in the bottom of the eighth inning, d’Arnaud is the third to not allow any runs, joining Alou and Sandoval.

UP NEXT: The Giants take on the New York Mets for a four-game series starting Monday at 4:10 pm PDT.

Derek Holland looks to get the Giants back into the win column on Monday, as he makes just his second ever start against the Mets, who will send Zach Wheeler to the mound.

Bumgarner, Giants shelled in embarrassing 7-1 loss to Reds

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Photo credit: @SanDiegoGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

When this key road trip began, thing were looking good for the San Francisco Giants; however, by the end of the week, it is a totally different story with the Cincinnati Reds.

Matt Harvey took a no-hitter into the top of the sixth inning, while Jose Peraza and Dilson Herrera each hit home runs and the Reds defeated the Giants 7-1 at Great American Ballpark on Saturday.

One night after picking up three hits in the opener of the three-game series, Scooter Gennett did it again and scored three runs, sending the Giants to their third straight loss after winning three straight.

Madison Bumgarner did not pitch well at all, as he gave up a season-high six runs and eight hits in six innings.

Things were going good until the bottom of the fourth inning, and that is when the Reds scored the only runs that they would need off of Bumgarner.

Peraza led off the inning with a home run into the left field seats, and then Brandon Dixon completed the scoring in the inning, as he hit a two-run double.

It got even worse in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Friday’s hero Phillip Ervin hit a sacrifice fly that scored Peraza from third base and then Eugenio Suarez scored on a throwing error by Steven Duggar to extend the lead.

Herrera launched a 419-foot home run into the center field seats that gave the Reds a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Suarez rounded out the scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning, as his single to center field scored Gennett.

The Giants scored their only run of the evening in the top of the eighth inning, as Evan Longoria grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Andrew McCutchen from third base.

Harvey did not give up a hit until there were two outs in the top of the sixth inning, as Joe Panik beat out an infield roller that was snared by Peraza and Panik just beat out the throw from Peraza.

NOTES: Hunter Strickland made his return to the active after being out since June 10 when the team leader in saves with 13 was placed on the disabled list with a fractured right hand. To make room for Strickland on the 40-man roster, Pablo Sandoval was transferred to the 60-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring and is out for the rest of the season.

Strickland pitched one inning, allowing one run on two hits after replacing Bumgarner in the bottom of the seventh inning.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Reds will wrap up their series on Sunday at 10:10 am PDT.

Andrew Suarez looks to get the Giants back into the win column on Sunday, as he takes the mound at Great American Ballpark for the first time in his major-league career. Suarez faced the Reds on May 16 at AT&T Park, and lost to the Reds 6-3.

The Reds will send Luis Castillo to the mound, as they look for the sweep.

Ervin’s first career walk-off helps Reds to 2-1 win over Giants in 11 innings

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Photo credit: @Reds

By Jeremy Kahn

Phillip Ervin ended the pitchers’ duel between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds with one swing of the bat.

Ervin hit the first pitch he saw from Ray Black over the center field wall, helping the Reds to a 2-1 over the Giants at the Great American Ballpark on Friday.

It was the first walk-off home run for Ervin since he hit one in his sophomore year of college for Samford against Auburn.

The loss by the Giants was the second straight loss after starting the road trip with two straight come-from-behind victories over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday and Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Casey Kelly made the start in place of the now disabled Dereck Rodriguez, who is on the disabled list (retroactive to Monday) after straining his hamstring during the bench clearing brawl between Nick Hundley and Yaisel Puig.

Kelly, who was making his 10th Major League start of his career and first since May 22, 2016 for the Atlanta Braves had a long-time fan in the Reds’ dugout, his father Pat, who is the bench coach for the Reds.

Prior to the game, Kelly looked into the Reds dugout, and the two saluted each and then it was the Giants and the Reds.

Kelly, who pitched 1.1 innings on Wednesday night in the series finale against the Dodgers went 4.1 innings, allowing just one run on nine hits, walking one and striking out two.

Not only was Kelly’s father in the Reds dugout, but Kelly also faced former high school teammate, Scooter Gennett, who ended the night with three hits.

Five Giants relievers 5.2 innings, allowing just that one run on two hits, walking one and striking out nine.

It was the second loss of the season for Black, who went one inning and one batter, allowing the eventual game-winning home run to Ervin, on one hit and struck out the side in the bottom of the 10th inning.

David Hernandez pitched a shutdown 11th inning, as he struck out two of the three batters he faced in the inning to up his record to 5-0 on the season and the Reds ended a four-game losing streak.

Curt Casali gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, as singled in Tucker Barnhart, who doubled.

That was not the score for long, as the Giants tied the game in the top of the third, as Steven Duggar hit a leadoff double, then Kelly sacrificed to third and then Duggar scored the tying run on an Andrew McCutchen single off of Reds starter Andrew DeSclafani, who went 7.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and five strikeouts.

McCutchen picked up three hits on the evening for the Giants.

NOTES: With Rodriguez on the disabled list, Hunter Strickland will be activated from the 60-day disabled list after missing two months with a broken right hand.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Reds will face each other again Saturday at 4:10 pm PDT.

Madison Bumgarner takes the hill on Saturday for the Giants, as they look to even up the series, while Matt Harvey takes the mound for the Reds.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants and Dodgers meet again end of September–will there be more bad blood?

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Photo credit: @MLBONFOX

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

How about Giants outfielder Andrew McCutchen on Wednesday night? He hit a three-run home run that gave the Giants a lead that would soon end in a 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. But, regardless, he is finding his swing, so look for more from McCutchen during the Cincinnati Reds series starting tonight.

In the rivalry series in LA, things got hot and somewhat out of control in the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s game in which the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig missed a pitch and tossed and caught his bat when Giants catcher Nick Hundley said something to Puig. Both players ended up in each other faces and Puig shoved Hundley. That emptied the benches and both Puig and Hundley were ejected. Michael will see if this a continued trend between the two teams?

Major League Baseball offices are sifting out what discipline will be given to Hundley and Puig. Puig was suspended for two games and fined. Hundley was also fined. Unless Puig appeals, he’ll begin the suspension today.

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

Giants rookie Dereck Rodriguez to miss Friday’s start against the Reds

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Photo credit: @McCoveyChron

By Jeremy Harness

The little brouhaha between Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig and Giants catcher Nick Hundley claimed a casualty. And the Giants will feel that starting Friday night.

That’s because starter Dereck Rodriguez expected to take the mound in Friday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ball Park, but he was hurt in Tuesday’s skirmish, as he strained his right hamstring. As a result, he will miss at least this start, and he was also placed on the 10-day disabled list.

In the meantime, righty Casey Kelly (0-1, 1.42 ERA) will start in Rodriguez’s spot, as he will go opposite Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (6-3, 4.46 ERA). DeSclafani has been on a roll lately, winning his past two starts and going seven innings each time.

He shut out the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 3-0 win last Friday, as he gave up only three hits as he struck out nine guys and did not walk a single batter. Six days before that, he surrendered only a run on six hits in a 7-1 win over Washington.

The Giants will bring out Madison Bumgarner (4-4, 2.71 ERA) on Saturday against the Reds’ Matt Harvey (5-7).

Bumgarner has started to hit his stride these days, as he has given up a total of three runs over his last three starts. However, he has only one win out of those three to show for it, as he was stuck with a pair of no-decision in each of his past two starts.

Harvey (5-7, 5.19 ERA), on the other hand, has gone the other way, going 0-2 in his last four decisions, although he did go seven strong last Saturday and gave up only two runs in a win over Arizona. He, however, was stuck with a no-decision.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips and Michael Duca: Happy Days! Giants have now landed on the .500 mark 25 times this season

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the Giants podcast with Morris and Michael:

The San Francisco Giants have landed 25 times on the .500 mark this season and they are 61-61 after arriving the .500 mark that 25th time on Thursday night in a 12-inning, 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium. Which means they’ve been either one above or one game below, they haven’t been either four games above or under at all or at any point in the season.

The very definition of mediocrity and they are still in the pennant race. This division is still winnable even the wild card is a little bit difficult to obtain, but no one has run away with it; but the Giants are at the bottom of that list in order for them to move up with 40 games left, they’re going to have to win 30 of them.

Join the Giants podcast with Morris and Michael each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants can’t sweep, fall to Dodgers 4-3 in 12 innings

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The San Francisco Giants are gaining a little bit of ground on the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they couldn’t gain any on Wednesday night.

The Dodgers avoided the sweep in the 12th inning, as pinch hitter Brian Dozier’s sac fly to deep left-center brought home the winning run as they beat the Giants, 4-3, at Dodger Stadium.

In the process, the Dodgers snapped a five-game losing streak.

The good news is obvious: the Giants ended up taking two out of three from the Dodgers in this series, and their chances of making the postseason–either as a wild card or division champ–has increased because of this series.

The Giants tied the game in dramatic fashion in the eighth inning when Andrew McCutchen pounded a hanging curveball from reliever Caleb Ferguson and launched a three-run homer over the center-field wall.

However, they could not make any more headway. The closest they came to breaking through following that was in the 10th inning, when Hunter Pence led off with a single and ended up in scoring position with one out.

However, Pence ended up being stranded at third, and the Dodgers ended the game two innings later.

Lost in all of this was the outing turned in by starter Derek Holland, who pitched 4 2/3 innings and did not give up a run on six hits, walking four and striking out seven. However, he did leave with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, but Reyes Moronta came right in and retired the first batter he faced with a single pitch to get out of a major jam.

The Giants are now 5 ½ games back of the National League West, which is owned by the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 66-55 record. Meanwhile, the Dodgers and Colorado Rockies are both a game and a half back of the top spot.

The Giants will embark on a seven-game road trip starting Friday against the Cincinnati Reds at 4:10 pm PDT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Puig and Hundley shoving empties benches, the Giants win second straight in LA

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Photo credit: @CaseyPrattABC7

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

What started the Los Angeles Dodgers Yasiel Puig to shove the San Francisco Giants catcher Nick Hundley a couple of times after Puig tossed his bat up in the air and caught it after missing a pitch? Hundley told him in so many words to stop showboating and get back in the batter’s box.

Both Puig and Hundley were tossed out of the game that was tied 1-1 tensions were fueled in a tight contest but it was more the bat toss that got under Hundley’s skin. Puig was tossing his bat during Monday night’s game with the Giants Madison Bumgarner pitching.

It took the strength of four pitchers to keep the Dodgers off balance and off the base paths, but let’s start with the Giants’ starting pitcher Andrew Suarez–six-plus innings, two hits, three walks and four strikeouts. He looked good enough to complete the game.

The Dodgers have been faltering in the last couple of weeks and now find themselves in three-way battle for first place with the D-Backs and the Colorado Rockies.

The Giants and Dodgers close out this series tonight at Dodgers Stadium. The Giants’ Derek Holland (6-8) looks to get a sweep. In watching Holland in his last few games, can he help SF get that sweep?

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

Headline Sports with London Marq: What else will happen if Bonds gets elected to Hall of Fame?; How big was Terrell Owens’ mistake?; Braves’ Acuna accomplishes a great feat; plus more

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Photo credit: @Deadspin

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 Barry Bonds, who had his number retired by the San Francisco Giants last week, unofficially launches the campaign to have the former outfielder bid for the Hall of Fame. After all, that has been reported regarding steroid use by Bonds and his admitting to using the cream and the clear undetectable steroids unknowingly in grand jury testimony. If Bonds were elected to the Hall, will this also open the door to players like Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeriro and others to be voted into the Hall too?

#2 The A’s won their 21st one-run game of the season against the Seattle Mariners. They are now just one game back of the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. The game was close and the M’s are trying to chase the A’s in the AL West for second, but the A’s now have taken two of the three game series from the Mariners.

#3 In football, people are still talking about how Terrell Owens broke with protocol and held his own Hall of Fame ceremony at his alma mater and not in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. How big of a mistake was that move?

#4 The Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna “Matata” Jr. is just having himself a time at the plate, homering in five consecutive games, three of those homers as a lead off hitter, accomplishing the feat that no other player has accomplished.

#5 The Oakland Raiders play game two of the preseason in LA against the Rams. The Raiders, who defeated the Detroit Lions 16-10 last Friday, face the Rams this Saturday. Talk about some of the things that head coach Jon Gruden will be looking for in this game and what does he expect out of his quarterback Derek Carr?

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

Hanson wins it in the ninth; Giants beat Dodgers 2-1

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Alen Hanson is in his first season with the San Francisco Giants, but you can add his name to player that is now part of the longtime rivalry with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hanson drove in two runs, including a tie-breaking single in the top of the ninth inning that scored Brandon Belt and the Giants defeated the Dodgers 2-1 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday evening.

It was the third straight win overall for the Giants, and second straight in the three-game series and they are now guaranteed to win the series against their rivals from Los Angeles.

Evan Longoria got the top of the ninth inning going, as the Downey, Calif. native singled to right field to lead off the inning. Brandon Belt, who was activated prior to the game after a stint on the 10-day disabled list with a hyperextended right knee then singled; however, Austin Slater was not able to move both runners over, as his bunt was fielded by Kenta Maeda, who threw to Justin Turner to get Longoria for the final out of the inning.

After the failed sacrifice bunt, Steven Duggar struck out for the second out of the inning, but then Hanson came up the big single to center field and Belt beat Kike’ Hernandez’s throw to the plate, as the ball got by Yasmani Grandal to give the Giants the lead. Slater tried to score, but Maeda was backing up the plate and threw to get Slater at the plate.

Will Smith came in for the third straight day, and got Matt Kemp to fly out for the first out, but then reigning National League Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger reached on an infield single, when Chase d’Arnaud’s throw was late. Smith was able to regroup, as he struck out both Grandal and Max Muncy to end the game and pick up his third consecutive save in three days.

Sam Dyson was unable to hold the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, as after Dyson got the first two batters out, Turner doubled off of Slater’s glove in left field and then Manny Machado then singled to tie up the game; however, Dyson was able to strikeout Hernandez to end the inning.

Things got hairy in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Yaisel Puig fouled off a ball pitched by former teammate Tony Watson and Puig snapped his bat and then Puig and Nick Hundley then began to exchange words and then the benches cleared. Dodgers first base coach George Lombard got a hold of Hundley, and Puig was able to get a shot to Hundley’s face.

Eventually, both Hundley and Puig were ejected from the game after the bench clearing fracas between the two.

Andrew Suarez took the hard luck no decision, as the rookie went six innings, allowing zero runs, giving up just two hits, walking three and striking out four.

Things did not start good for Suarez, as he gave up a double to Turner in the bottom of the first inning, then walked Manny Machado and then after a Hernandez fielder’s choice, Kemp walked to load the bases; however, Suarez was able to get Bellinger to ground out to him to end the inning and the threat.

Longoria was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the second inning, then Hundley singled him up to second base. After back-to-back strikeouts by Alex Wood, Hanson singled to center to score Longoria to break the scoreless tie.

Wood went five innings, allowing just one run on three hits, walking just one and striking out six, as he did not fare in the decision.

NOTES: Brandon Crawford was held out of the game, despite passing the concussion protocol after colliding with Gorkys Hernandez on Monday night.

With the activation of Belt from the 10-day disabled list, Pierce Johnson was optioned back to Sacramento.

This is the Giants’ last trip to Los Angeles this season, and this is the first time since the 2006 season that the Giants will not face the Dodgers in Los Angeles in the month of September. On the other hand, the Giants and Dodgers will face each other in San Francisco the last weekend of the season from September 28-30.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Dodgers conclude their rivalry series Wednesday night at 7:10 pm PDT.

Derek Holland looks to end the series with a win, as he takes the mound on Wednesday, while Hyun-Jin Ryu makes his first start since coming off the disabled list with a strained groin on May 2. Ryu is 3-0 on the season.