Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Can Giants play as well on the road as they do at home?

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larrybrownsports.com photo file: San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy would like to get the club’s road record up to .500 by season’s end

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

The San Francisco Giants are now 26-13 at home and the old saying goes if you win two out of three at home and play .500 on the road, you should do alright well the Giants haven’t played .500 on the road the Giants are 16-26 on the road.

If the Giants had played .500 on the road, they would be in first place. Right now, that’s how well they’re doing at home. What’s interesting is why would a veteran team such as the Giants have such disparity in what their doing at home than what they’re doing on the road?

Manager Bruce Bochy scratching his head after the game last night was asked with his veterans should have had better results with the team he has on the road and play maybe a little closer to what their doing on the road. The Giants are on pace to lose 50 road games and they’re on pace to win 50 or 51 home games.

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

Bumgarner sets the tone, Crawford provides the pop in Giants’ impressive 1-0 win over the Rockies

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Madison Bumgarner couldn’t remember his pitch mix, or how often he relied on his terrific slider Wednesday night. The World Series hero didn’t put much stock in his impressive spring training that ended with him breaking a bone in his hand in his final tuneup. And he knew he felt better entering his last two starts–both dominating outings–but he surely didn’t know exactly what it was that had him feeling so good.

What Bumgarner did know was bluntly specific: He needed to do his thing on the mound Wednesday, and his club, the Giants, needed to post a win. With those two things hand delivered, little else mattered.

With Bumgarner dealing, followed by Will Smith and Reyes Moronta and their microscopic ERA’s, then followed by Brandon Crawford’s majestic game-winning homer, the Giants looked like a force Wednesday, one far more impressive than their 42-39 record at the season’s halfway point. But they’ll take it, especially with their key guys doing what they envisioned them doing before the season-to-date took its winding course.

Crawford, who delivered the game-winning blast off Rockies’ Harrison Musgrave, explained the importance of his decisive blow.

“We have a day game (Thursday), so everybody wants to go home,” Crawford said. “You’re excited to get around the bases and get to the guys at home plate. Those are the reasons you play baseball.”

In a game that went scoreless until there was one out recorded in the bottom of the ninth inning, you’re not necessarily going to run home impressed. But this tightly contested ballgame showed off the Giants’ star power and provided a clear example of how the veteran-laden club could impact the National League postseason portrait.

Bumgarner and Buster Posey, the HOF battery mates, shut down the Rockies’ lineup, allowing two hits, while striking out eight in seven, scoreless innings. When things got tight in the fifth, after Bumgarner walked consecutive batters to load the bases, he struck out Rockies’ pitcher Kyle Freeland to end the inning. Power guys Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, as well as table-setters Charlie Blackmon and D.J. LaMahieu were completely shutdown. Blackmon’s sixth inning base hit was the only dent the Colorado quartet managed versus Bumgarner.

The Giants have won 12 of 15 at AT&T Park and moved within 4 1/2 games of division-leading Arizona.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Crawford’s key to Giants making postseason; Crawford heading for an MVP and All Star game

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Photo credit: @carmenkiew

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

What a season for San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, who hit an eighth inning bloop single that put him on the bases to later steal a base, and then scored the go-ahead run to help San Francisco get by the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Crawford has been proving it all year and he’s earned a spot on the NL All-Star Game starting lineup for top vote getter leading as of today by 800,000 votes ahead of all NL second basemen in the running for the starting position.

The Giants’ third baseman Evan Longoria, who had hand surgery, is now doing physical therapy and Longoria is still expected to be back in six to eight weeks. Also, Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija is expected to return to San Francisco soon.

Samardzija suffered shoulder tightness pitched in Triple-A Sacramento, throwing 88 pitches, six runs, seven hits, and two walks, and four innings of work. Marko says this was 88 pitches that gave Samardzija a chance to work on a few things.

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

Hernandez comes up big in Giants’ 3-2 win over Rockies

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Photo credit: @elbee37

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Gorkys Hernandez and maybe the San Francisco Giants are unsung heroes thus far during the 2018 season.

Hernandez walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, helping the Giants to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies before a crowd of 36,070 at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.

After Pablo Sandoval struck out for the first out of the inning, Brandon Crawford came up with his third hit of the night. Crawford proceeded to steal second base, then losing pitcher Adam Ottavino intentionally walked Joe Panik.

Austin Slater was unable to move the runners over, as he struck out for the second out of the inning; however, Ottavino was unable to get that elusive third out, as he walked pinch hitter Alen Hanson and then Hernandez to give the Giants their third win in a row and sixth in eight games on this 10-game home stand.

The Rockies attempted to tie up the game in the top of the ninth inning, as Tom Murphy came up with bloop hit and he was able to get second base, when no one was covering the base, but Sam Dyson got Gerardo Parra to strikeout for the third time in four at-bats.

Dyson was then able to induce DJ LeMahieu to ground into a game-ending double play, but it did not come without some looking into by the umpires. Rockies manager Bud Black challenged the close play at first base, as Black thought that LeMahieu was safe; however, after a 36-second replay review, the play stood and the Giants got their 14thwin of the month against nine losses.

Chris Iannetta then walked following the Parra strikeout that sent the Giants bullpen scrambling, as Will Smith immediately got down there to start throwing

Ian Desmond gave the Rockies a 1-0 in the top of the second inning, as he took a Derek Holland offering and put it into the left field seats.

Hernandez got the Giants on the board, as he hit his 10thhome run of the season, as he led off the bottom of the third inning against Chad Bettis.

Coming into the season, Hernandez’s previous career high for home runs in a season was three, when he played for the Miami Marlins in 2012. During the 2017 season, Hernandez went to the plate more times than player in the major leagues without hitting a home run.

The defense of Brandon Belt kept the score 1-0 in the top of the third inning, as he snared a Charlie Blackmon line drive and immediately stepped on first base to get LeMahieu to complete the double play.

Holland went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking two and striking out eight, as he was replaced by Reyes Moronta with two outs in the top of the seventh inning after he was able to get Bettis to sacrifice for the second out of the inning. Moronta got out of the inning, as he was able to strikeout LeMahieu for the final out of the inning,

LeMahieu would be the only batter that Moronta would face, as Sunday’s hero, Pence came on to pinch hit for Moronta and came up with an infield single and stayed fair, as he hit off the third base bag to stay fair. The hit by Pence was the second in a row allowed by Bettis, as Slater led off the inning with a sharp single to left field.

Slater got a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning started, as he singled off of Chad Bettis to lead off the inning.

Following the Slater single, Bettis then gave up an infield single to Hunter Pence that stayed fair, as it hit off of third base. After a sacrifice bunt by Hernandez, and an intentional walk to Buster Posey, Bettis was replaced by Adam Ottavino.

McCutchen then hit a sacrifice fly to Parra in left field, and Slater slid underneath the Murphy slide to give the Giants the lead.

Bettis went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking four and striking out four and like Holland, he did not fare in the decision.

Unfortunately, the usual lights out Giants bullpen was unable to hold the late lead, as Mark Melancon gave up a single to Trevor Story and then scored the tying run, when Desmond came through in the clutch for his second RBI of the game, as he doubled just out of the reach of McCutchen in right field. Melancon was then replaced by Tony Watson, who was able to get out of the jam, as he got Carlos Gonzalez to ground out to end the inning.

The Rockies tried to get a rally started in the top of the fifth inning, as Carlos Gonzalez and Tom Murphy each singled to lead off the inning, but Holland settled down to get Parra and Bettis out on strikes and then Holland got LeMahieu to fly out to Hernandez in center field to end the threat.

Bettis also got out of a mini-jam in the bottom of the second inning, as he gave back-to-back singles to Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik, but Bettis then regrouped to get Slater out on strikes and then Holland grounded out to Bettis to end the inning.

After the fifth inning jam was thwarted by Holland, the Rockies put together another attempt at a rally in the top of the sixth inning, as Nolan Arenado walked and then Story singled with one out; however, Holland was able to end the threat, as he got Desmond to strike out for the second time in a row and then Gonzalez grounded out to Crawford, who on the other side of second base in the shift to end the Rockies second threat in a row.

NOTES: Madison Bumgarner goes for his second win in a row, as he takes the mound on Wednesday for the Giants, while the Rockies will send Kyle Freeland to the hill and looks to improve on his 7-6 record.

Jeff Samardzija went four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits (two home runs), two walks and six strikeouts in his third rehab start. Samardzija threw 88 pitches, 53 for strikes.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies will meet again on Wednesday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

San Francisco Giants Feature: Butch Metzger–He Was a Giant?

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allsportsauctions.com photo: 1973 jersey of former San Francisco Giant Butch Metzger

BUTCH METZGER — He Was a Giant?

By Tony ‘Le Tigre’ Hayes

Butch Metzger — RHP — 1974 — #48

Sure, the Giants were steamrolled by the meat-grinding Reds and Dodgers mega teams of the 1970s, but the decade that brought us Watergate and neck ties as wide as Van Ness Avenue was not a total disaster for the Orange & Black.

The ’70s SF Giants looked cool – a good portion of that era’s crew sported corkscrew perms, gravity defying Afros and droopy Fu Manchu mustaches.

But more impressive, the cash depleted farm system of the Orange and Black of the ’70s amazingly managed to produce a steady stream of future stars.

The group included hitters Chris Speier, Garry Maddox, Dave Rader, Jack Clark, Chili Davis and pitchers Gary Lavelle, Bob Knepper and Ed Halicki.

More prominently, the Giants system produced three official NL Rookies of the Year Award winners in the ’70s: OF Gary Matthews (’73), RHP John Montefusco (’75) and RHP Butch Metzger (’76).

Wait. Butch? Who?

You mean the guy who sawed off parts of three fingers by mistake? No, that was late 1980s Giants SS Roger Metzger.

Say you don’t remember RHP Butch Metzger’s record setting 1976 season when he dazzled the Senior Circuit with a 11-4 record 2.92 ERA and 16 saves.

That’s because Metzger’s ROY campaign came as a Brown and Yellow outfitted member of the San Diego Padres – two full seasons after a blink and you missed it Giants cameo.

Why Was He A Giant?
Metzger was drafted by SF in the second round of the June 1970 draft out of Kennedy high school in Sacramento.

After a 12-10, 4.72 season at Triple-A Phoenix in 1974, Metzger, 22, was promoted to the big leagues.

He made his MLB debut as a Giants reliever at Atlanta on 9/8/74.

After the first three Braves reached base off Giants starter Ron Bryant to begin the 5th, Metzger was summoned. He retired Dusty Baker on a fly ball and exited the inning unscathed.

He finished his lone Giants season with at 1-0, 3.55 in 10 relief outings.

Before and After
Metzger had just fully digested his Thanksgiving dinner when word came on 12/6/74 that he had been dealt to San Diego with 2B Tito Fuentes in exchange for utility man Derrel Thomas.

Metzger would spend most of 1975 in the minors before breaking camp with San Diego in 1976. Still technically a rookie, Metzger was phenomenal for another wise miserable Padres club.

He would appear in a rookie record 77 games. In addition, Metzger would win his first 10 decision of the campaign to begin his career a composite 12-0 – tying a big league record.

For his heroics Metzger was named co-winner of the 1976 NL ROY award, sharing the honor with Cincinnati RHP Pat Zachary.

He Wasn’t Elias Sosa. But…
As a Giant, Metzger pitched a scoreless top of the 10th inning (9/21/74) to earn the his first major league win in an 8-6 win vs. the visiting Reds.

He would go on the win his next 11 decisions to tie Hooks Wiltse’s longstanding MLB record.

Giant Footprint
After ’76, mound success proved elusive for Metzger and he left the pro ranks by the early 1980s.

Though he embarked on a career as a Sacramento firefighter, Metzger kept his pitching toe in the game, playing in hardball senior leagues.

When MLB labor strife forced a player lock out in 1994-95 one of the players who contested for a spot on a never to be fielded replacement Giants squad was a 42-year old Metzger.

Tony the Tiger Hayes looks back on former San Francisco Giants at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giant Challenges: S.F. hits critical stretch with a bundle of games against teams with winning records

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By Morris Phillips

During the upcoming series versus the Rockies, the Giants will reach the completion of half their 2018 season. So is this season trending towards a bounceback or another failure similar to that experienced last season?

The Giants are a little of both so far, but the compressed schedule leading toward the July 17 All-Star Game and the two weeks after the break offer the Giants their biggest challenge yet. Only six of the next 28 games come against a team with a losing record currently. Those six–against the slumping Rockies–come in the next nine games. And the Rockies at 38-40 aren’t a certainty to stay below .500 or provide the Giants with a lesser challenge than the Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Brewers, Mariners, A’s and Cubs will over this stretch.

For a team hoovering around .500, a tough stretch like this separates the real contenders from the half-season pretenders. The Giants, playing better as of late, could be either one. What’s apparent is the urgency laced into this stretch of games for a team that hasn’t distinguished itself by being one of nine National League teams currently with winning records.

The biggest advantage the Giants will have is playing at AT&T Park where they have won 12 of 15. Seventeen of the upcoming 28 are at home where the Giants have compiled the NL’s best home record thus far (24-13).

On the field, starting pitching has been the club’s biggest asset of late. Without the veteran presences of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, Giants’ starters have allowed three runs or fewer in 13 straight contests.

On Tuesday, the Giants welcome the Rockies and their starter, Chad Bettis. Derek Holland (5-7, 4.48 ERA) gets the ball for the Giants.

Pence’s walk-off double lifts Giants past Padres 3-2 in extras

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — With their first day off since June 7 looming, the San Francisco Giants are happy to get a day off.

Hunter Pence hit a two-run double just out of the reach of Eric Hosmer at first base, as the Giants came back to defeat the San Diego Padres 3-2 before a crowd of 39,240 at AT&T Park on Sunday afternoon.

“Just wanted to put a good swing on the ball,” said Pence. “Fortunately, I found the hole.”

Thru the first seven games of the 10-game home stand, the Giants are now 5-2 with a three-game series looming against the Colorado Rockies beginning on Tuesday night.

With the victory, this was the fourth straight home series win for the Giants.

Things were not looking good for the Giants, as they went to the bottom of the 11th inning against one of the best closers in baseball, in Brad Hand.

After Hand struck out Brandon Belt for the first out of the inning, Hand began to unravel, as he gave up a double to Andrew McCutchen, then after an intentional walk to Buster Posey that setup the possible double play, Hand hit Brandon Crawford on the elbow to load the bases.

“Cutch got the guys going with that double,” said manager Bruce Bochy.

On an 0-2 pitch from Hand, Pence hit a cue ball shot down the first base line just out of the reach of Hosmer at first that McCutchen with the tying run and Posey with the winning run.

“Ecstatic for him, been a tough road for him (Hunter),” said Bochy.

The walk-off double by Pence was his 11th career walk-off hit, and the first since May 23, 2016, also a double against the Padres.

This was the fifth walk-off of the season for the Giants, and first since June 6, when Crawford hit a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks that helped the Giants to a 5-4 win in 10 innings.

The Padres took the lead in the top of the 11th inning, as Manuel Margot singled to lead-off the inning, then Hosmer grounded out to Brandon Belt at first base, and Margot advanced to second. Margot then went to third on a Moronta wild pitch, and then scored what looked like the winning run on the Spangenberg single to right field, until Pence’s heroics in the bottom of the inning

Margot scored both runs for the Padres, as he hit a 3-2 offering from Dereck Rodriguez into the left field seats to give the Padres an early 1-0 lead. It was the fifth career lead-off home run for Margot.

The Margot leadoff home run was the first by a Padres player this season.

Lauer was cruising, as he did not allow a hit until McCutchen singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning. Posey then followed up with a single of his own, but the rally ended, when Brandon Crawford grounded into a double play that ended the rally and the inning.

Through nearly 8,000 games into their team’s history, the Padres have not never thrown a no-hitter.

Gorkys Hernandez hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie up the game. Posey doubled with two outs, and Crawford was robbed of a hit, as Freddy Galvis made a leaping catch that kept the game all tied at one.

Brandon Belt hit a double in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Kirby Yates, but the inning ended on a fantastic catch by Hunter Renfroe, who leaped into the stands to end the inning off of a ball hit by McCutchen.

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

On the other side of things, Dereck Rodriguez went seven innings, allowing one runs on four hits, walking one and striking out six and like Lauer, he did not fare in the decision.

“Gave up a lead-off home run and seven super innings,” said Bochy.

This was the longest outing of Rodriguez’s career, and he tied his career high with six strikeouts. Rodriguez also struck out six against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 3, and on Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins.

“Felt good, commanded my pitches,” said Rodriguez. “Today my curveball was my best pitch,” he added.

NOTES: After the day off on Monday, the Giants will begin a three-game series against the Rockies beginning on Tuesday night. Derek Holland will take the mound in the opener, while the Rockies will counter with Chad Bettis.

Johnny Cueto went 3.1 innings on Saturday night, as he allowed one hit and struck out four, while pitching in 99-degree heat at Raley Field in Sacramento. Cueto threw 48 pitches, 33 for strikes.

“I want to do just one more,” said Cueto.

The 17 days between days off ties for the teams longest stretch of the season, and they ended the stretch 9-8 against Washington, Miami, Los Angeles (NL), Miami (again) and San Diego.

They also went 17 days from May 4th, when they opened their series against the Atlanta Braves at Sun Trust Park in Atlanta and it ended on May 20, when they hosted the Rockies. During that stretch, the Giants went 8-9 against the Braves, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Colorado.

Robert Stock made his Major League debut for the Padres in the bottom of the ninth, and pitched one inning, allowing one hit and striking out two.

UP NEXT: The Giants will welcome the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

Crawford goes 3-for-3 in Giants’ 5-3 win over Padres

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — After being mired in an 0-for-18 slump, Brandon Crawford broke off that slump in a big way.

Crawford hit a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 5-3 before a crowd of 40,348 at AT&T Park on Saturday afternoon.

Alen Hanson got the rally started in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he dove headfirst into first base to beat out an infield single. Hanson then stole second with Andrew McCutchen at plate, and went to third base on a Brandon Belt single.

Both scored easily on Crawford’s double, his second extra base hit in as many at-bats, as he tripled in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie up the game and score McCutchen, who walked to lead off the inning.

Crawford ended up going three-for-three on the afternoon, as he picked up a double to lead-off the bottom of the eighth inning against Robbie Erlin.

“It was a matter of time, and today he found it,” said manager Bruce Bochy.

Austin Slater, who was recalled from Sacramento prior to the game was robbed of an extra base hit, as Renfroe made a terrific catch in the right field corner; however, Crawford was able to score easily from third base and Slater got an RBI on the sacrifice fly.

“Slater did a good job today,” said Bochy.

The Padres took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, as Hunter Renfroe hit his fourth home run that was just out of the reach of Hanson in left field.

Andrew Suarez pitched a strong 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on eight hits, walking one and striking out four.

Despite not getting the win, Suarez joined some very elusive company in the history of major league baseball. He became the first Giants pitcher ever to begin his career with 12 starts or fewer since 1913 and to allow two walks or fewer. The only other pitcher to have more two walks or fewer in consecutive starts is Trevor Williams, who started his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates with 15, Williams did this from 2016-2017, this is according to STATS, LLC.

Suarez was helped out by his defense on the field, as the Giants turned double plays to end the second, third and fourth innings. The second double play to end the top of the third inning was started by Suarez, who made a leaping stab at the Wil Myers ball, he then threw to Crawford and then onto Brandon Belt to end the inning.

“Didn’t have my slider today,” said Suarez.

Reyes Moronta pitched an inning, allowing a walk and striking out one, as he won for the third time this season.

Padres starter Jordan Lyles never even made a pitch, as he was scratched from his start mere moments prior to the game. It was confirmed that Lyles was unable to pitch due to tightness in his right forearm.

“We did not know about Lyles,” said Bochy.

Matt Strahm replaced Lyles on the mound, and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking two and striking out five.

Former USF Dons pitcher Adam Cimber took the loss for the Padres, as he gave up two runs on three hits, as his record dropped to 3-4 on the season.

The Giants turned their fourth double play in the top of the eighth inning, as Renfroe grounded to Crawford, who threw to Hanson, who in turn threw to Belt to end the inning and stop the potential Padres rally.

The four double plays turned by the Giants are their most in a game since they turned four against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 15, 2016.

NOTES: Dereck Rodriguez looks for his third win of his career, as he takes the mound in the series finale on Sunday afternoon for the Giants. Left-hander Eric Lauer will take the mound for the Padres, as he looks to even his record at 4-4 on the season.

Slater was recalled from Sacramento, and Mac Williamson was optioned to the Rivercats to make room for Slater.

Johnny Cueto, who is out with a right elbow and missed the last 50 games will go for the Rivercats tonight against El Paso at Raley Field. Cueto is expected to throw around 45 pitches.

Jeff Samardzija is going to make his next rehab start on Tuesday night, as the Rivercats play the Albuquerque Isotopes at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque.

UP NEXT: The Giants conclude their series versus the Padres on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT.

MLB The Show podcast with Matt Harrington: Barreto comes through for A’s in a big way; Giants’ Stratton pitched well, but Padres get 9th inning rally

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Photo credit: @957thegame

On the MLB The Show podcast with Matt Harrington:

The Oakland A’s Franklin Barreto wasted no time in his return to the A’s line up with six RBIs and two home runs. Barreto is playing second while Jed Lowrie is playing third in place of the injured Matt Chapman during the first game of the doubleheader in Chicago Friday. Trade talk has the A’s looking to shop either Jonathan Lucroy and Jed Lowrie to get some young prospects.

The Giants starting pitchera Chris Stratton sailed into the ninth with the Giants trailing by one run 3-2. The Padres scored three runs in the top of the ninth to get some insurance runs for a 6-2 lead. Stratton said the loss was his fault and Stratton almost had a complete game.

Matt Harrington does the MLB The Show podcast on Saturdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Clayton Richard stifles Giants 6-2, Padres snap 5-game losing skid

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Chris Stratton tried to get the San Francisco Giants over the .500 mark on the season, but the San Diego Padres did not help out at all.

Cory Spangenberg scored the eventual game-winning run, when Nick Hundley attempted to throw out Freddy Galvis at second base, but the throw by Hundley went into centerfield and the Padres defeated the Giants 6-2 before a crowd of 40,546 at AT&T Park on Friday night.

The win by the Padres broke a five-game losing streak, their longest losing streak since September 24-29, 2017.

Hundley tried to stop the wild pitch thrown by Stratton, but it bounced and when Hundley picked it up, his throw was out of the reach of either Alen Hanson and Brandon Crawford that allowed Spangenberg to score easily from third base.

“Nick yanked the throw a little bit,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “From our angle (in the dugout) it is hard to tell.”

The key play in that inning was an amazing diving by Buster Posey, who dove to prevent the ball from going down the right field line on the ball hit by Spangenberg. Posey got up to throw to Stratton and first base umpire Pat Hoberg called the feet first sliding Spangenberg out at first, but Padres manager Andy Green challenged the call and after a 32-second review, the call was reversed.

“That was 100 percent on me,” said Stratton.

The Giants got off to a quick start against Padres starter Clayton Richard, as Gorkys Hernandez doubled off of Richard to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Posey then hit a long fly ball that sent Hernandez to third, and he then scored on a Richard wild pitch.

Manuel Margot tied up the game in the top of the second inning, as he doubled to score Spangenberg, who doubled to lead off the inning.

Richard retired 17 in a row before Hernandez doubled in the bottom of the sixth inning, but he was stranded at second, when Posey flew out to Wil Myers in left field.

The left-hander won for the seventh time this season, as he went six innings, allowing two runs on just three hits, walking no one and striking out three.

It was a tough loss for Stratton, who saw his record fall to 8-5 on the season, as he went six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, not walking a batter and striking out three.

This was the first time that Stratton allowed nine hits in a game since May 14th, when he did it against the Cincinnati Reds.

Pablo Sandoval got the Giants within a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he singled off of Craig Stammen to score Andrew McCutchen, who singled to lead off the inning against Richard. McCutchen then stole second, and scored on the Sandoval single, it was the sixth stolen base of the season for McCutchen.

Pinch hitter Joe Panik led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a sharp single, but Padres reliever Kirby Yates regrouped and retired Hernandez, Posey and McCutchen in succession to get out of the jam. Yates did have a hiccup with McCutchen at the plate, as he uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Panik to move up to second base; however, Yates got McCutchen to strikeout swinging to end the inning.

The Padres then broke the game wide-open in the top of the ninth inning, as they scored three runs off of Pierce Johnson and Will Smith. Johnson walked the first two batters before getting Matt Szczur out on a sacrifice bunt.

Following an intentional walk to Myers, Eric Hosmer then singled in both Manuel Margot and Raffy Lopez. Jose Pirela then singled in Myers, but Pirela was caught in a rundown to end the inning.

This was the first loss for Stratton at AT&T Park since losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 15-6 on April 28th. In that game, Stratton went only 1.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits, walking four and striking out three.

Brandon Crawford is hitless over his last 18 at bats, the third longest streak of his big-league career. The only streaks are longer are 21 at bats from June 26-July 3, 2013 and then a 20 at-bat hitless streak from April 9-15, 2015.

NOTES: Andrew Suarez looks to get the Giants back into the win column on Saturday afternoon, as he takes the mound against the Padres Jordan Lyles.

Jeff Samardzija, who is currently on the disabled list with right shoulder tightness went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and seven strikeouts in his second rehab start for the Sacramento Rivercats. Samardzija last pitched for the Giants on May 29th, a span of 21 games.

In his last four relief appearances, Ty Blach has not allowed a run, a span of 9.2 innings.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Padres meet again on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT.