Category: San Francisco Giants

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

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?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Goodbye, San Francisco: Yankees acquire Andrew McCutchen in a trade

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Cut4

By: Ana Kieu

Well, Andrew McCutchen’s tenure as a San Francisco Giant didn’t last long. McCutchen, a five-time MLB All-Star from 2011-15, was acquired by the New York Yankees in a rather unexpected trade Thursday night.

The Yankees agreed to a trade with the Giants. As a result, New York will send Abiatal Avelino (infielder) and another Minor Leaguer to San Francisco for the Giants’ regular right field, according to multiple reports.

McCutchen is batting .255 with 15 homers, 55 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 130 games this season. The 31-year-old was a longtime face of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ franchise, and now, he’s on his way to the Big Apple.

McCutchen will likely help the Yankees boost their outfield production as they’re currently waiting for Aaron Judge, a Linden, Calif. native, to make his much-anticipated return from his right wrist injury. The Yankees’ move will also likely give the team a brand-new player an additional player to spell out Giancarlo Stanton, who has played in 83 consecutive games. In addition, Yankees manager Aaron Boone will receive more flexibility when it comes to the DH slot.

The only negative is that McCutchen hasn’t been an MLB All-Star since 2015, so we may have to see how everything works out.

Giants to host Mets for three-game series starting Friday night

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: goldstar.com

By: Ana Kieu

The Giants have been pretty darn good as of late. But let’s not forget that the Giants struggled in Flushing against the Mets in Citi Field and merely got out of the Big Apple with a 3-1 win to halt what could’ve been the Mets’ three-game sweep at home.

This weekend, San Francisco will host New York for a three-game series before embarking on a six-game road trip starting in Coors Field with the Rockies and then Miller Park with the Brewers. That’s quite a lot of airfare miles, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

The Giants, however, must avoid looking down on the Mets. Why’s that? The Mets are cellar-dwellers just like the Giants, so they can possibly play spoilers like they did with the Nationals and Phillies.

In other news, the Giants’ Twitter retweeted a tweet from Baseball Hall that announced an “On This Day in 1965” on Wednesday, writing that Willie Mays set a record with his 17th homer in the month of August in the Giants’ 8-3 win over the Mets. Coincidence, much?

The Giants’ Twitter also announced that on Tuesday that more than 50 volunteers from CarMax, the Giants and the American Red Cross put together 500 kits for aid in disaster relief efforts. Lou Seal and Chase d’Arnaud were also there. You can help by going on redcross.org/Giants.

And, if you have some extra bucks to spend, you can book your next three-day stay in San Francisco with Hilton–the official hotel partner of the Giants’ 60th anniversary season–and you’ll save 50% off on Sunday night stays.

The Giants host the Mets at AT&T Park for game one on Friday night at 7:15 pm PDT. You can watch the game on NSBA and SNY.

Duggar news, Godley’s baffling pitches put Giants’ offense in a tough spot in 3-1 loss to the Diamondbacks

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — The news regarding Steven Duggar’s shoulder injury didn’t help the Giants’ offense on Wednesday, and Zack Godley’s curveballs made things even more unbearable.

And, of course, the first-place Diamondbacks were in no mood to be swept in San Francisco.

The result was a much-needed win for Arizona, ahead of their big weekend with the Dodgers, and a damaging loss 3-1 for the Giants, who needed to find a way to sweep to maintain a presence in the NL West race. The D-Backs’ win puts them a half-game ahead of Colorado, a full game ahead of the Dodgers with the Giants under .500 and seven games back.

“You close out a series the way we did after losing the first two,” Arizona manager Torrie Lovullo said. “You get on a flight, you turn the page and you start to get that good feeling about where we’re going and what we have to do. L.A. is going to present a big challenge.”

All of the excitement derived from the win, easily translated to the upcoming series against the Dodgers for Arizona. For the Giants, the numbing news regarding Duggar was far less negotiable, and took its toll on Bruce Bochy’s lineup first off as the rookie centerfielder had taken residence at the top of the order in recent days and showed that he belonged. In his absence, Andrew McCutchen batted leadoff with Panik second, and that combo–with two knocks–provided almost all of the team’s output. The pair got no help, as McCutchen delivered the team’s only run scoring hit off reliever Archie Bradley after Godley departed.

With a pair of runners aboard, Panik then struck out to end the eighth, and the three final Giants hitters would strike out in the ninth.

Dereck Rodriguez was off his game Wednesday, allowing five hits, four walks and three runs. Steven Souza took a rare turn as leadoff man in Lovullo’s lineup and produced, with a double, home run and two runs batted in.

“I did everything that I could on my part, but if somebody goes down, it’s always that,” Rodriguez said referencing Duggar’s likely season-ending injury. “He’ll be stronger when he gets back.”

The Giants have Thursday off, then spend the weekend hosting the Mets with former Giant Zack Wheeler scheduled to face Andrew Suarez on Friday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: After losing Posey, team rallies around to battle D-Backs; McCutchen looks to stay in S.F.

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Deadseriousness

On the Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Buster Posey is done for the rest of 2018 due to hip surgery. Was his demise the key turning point where oddsmakers said the Giants’ season is pretty much done?

#2 Jeff Samardjiza looks like he could have surgery. He tried to rehab and tried throwing off flat ground, but he is being checked by an orthopedic surgeon. This is the second surgeon as he’s seeking a second opinion.

#3 The Giants in the Diamondbacks series starting Monday night have been getting some good pitching with Chris Stratton, who started, and the game ended up in a 2-0 shutout. Tuesday’s game was a 0-0 pitchers duel for most of the way between the Diamondbacks Andrew Chafin and the Giants Sam Dyson which San Francisco won 1-0.

#4 During their skid, the Giants seriously considered dealing outfielder Andrew McCutchen in their last trip to Cincinnati once that got out–the New York Yankees, Oakland A’s and St. Louis Cardinals were said to take an interest. The waiver talk has simmered down and the Giants have looked good during the current series in Arizona.

#5 Talk a little bit about Aramis Garcia and his role backing up catcher Nick Hundley. Giants’ catching instructor Bill Hayes has some high hopes for Garcia when he gets in the lineup.

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

Hernandez saves the day with a walkoff; Giants shutout the D-Backs 1-0

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — When the San Francisco Giants needed the biggest hit of the game, they turned to the spark plug of the first half, Gorkys Hernandez.

After sitting on the bench for eight and a half innings, Hernandez hit a single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 before a crowd of 37,276 at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.

With the victory, the Giants are now six games behind the D-Backs, who are now with the Colorado Rockies atop the National League West, while the reigning National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers are a game behind.

This was the first walk-off hit of Hernandez’s career, as the Giants have won four in a row and six out of their last nine since being swept by the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark from August 17-19.

As for the first-place D-Backs, this was their fourth loss in their last five games and it was seventh time this season that they have been shutout.

The Giants have held the D-Backs scoreless over the past 23 innings, as the D-Backs last scored in the bottom of the fifth inning of the series finale on August 5.

Steven Duggar came up huge on both the offensive and the defensive sides of the diamond in the shutout win for the Giants.

After Austin Slater grounded out for the first out of the inning, Duggar drew a walk against losing pitcher Brad Ziegler. Then Nick Hundley singled to left field, and Duggar rounded second and was heading to third before putting on the breaks and slid back into second.

It was on that play where Duggar slid into second that showed everyone why the Giants called him up to be their everyday center fielder, as he jammed his shoulder into the ground and after stretching for the training staff, Bruce Bochy and others, Duggar did a few stretches and stayed in the game. Alen Hanson was announced as a pinch hitter, but Torey Lovullo countered with left-hander Jake Diekman and Hernandez was called onto pinch-hit and he came up with the biggest hit of the night to win the game for the Giants.

Duggar came up huge on defense in the top of the eighth inning, as he cut off a ball hit by David Peralta, threw to Brandon Crawford, who in turn, threw to Hundley to get Nick Ahmed at the plate after he went through the stop sign of third base coach Tony Perezchica.

Madison Bumgarner was sharp once again, as he went seven innings, allowing just four hits, walking four and striking out five, as he did not fare in the decision.

Bumgarner got into jams in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but it was vintage Bumgarner and he got out of all the jams unscathed.

Ketel Marte led off the top of the fifth inning with a double, but then Bumgarner regrouped to get Jeff Mathis and Clay Buchholz, but then John Jay walked and then A.J. Pollock flew out to Duggar in center for the final out of the inning.

Things got real dicey in the top of the sixth inning, as Bumgarner gave up a base hit to Paul Goldschmidt off the left field wall that kept Goldschmidt at first base and then walked Eduardo Escobar. Bumgarner got Steven Souza for the first out, but then Ahmed singled to load the bases.

Evan Longoria made a heads up on a Marte hit ball, as he threw to Hundley for the second out of the inning and the inning nearly came out of control, as Brandon Belt snared the Hundley throw before it went into the outfield to give the D-Backs the lead. Bumgarner then got out of the jam, as he got Mathis to fly out to Duggar to end the inning.

Once again, things got a little hairy in the top of the seventh inning, as Bumgarner fanned Buchholz for the second time, but then Slater lost the ball in the lights for a three-base error that allowed Jay to get to third base. Pollock then walked, but Goldschmidt, who just feasts on Giants pitching, was not able to get the run across, as he popped out to Joe Panik for the second out of the inning and then Escobar grounded out to Panik to end the seventh inning and yet another escape for the Giants and Bumgarner.

Buchholz also went seven innings, allowing just five hits, walking two and striking out three, as like Bumgarner, he did not fare in the decision.

It was a tough start to the night for Panik, as he grounded into a double play just moments after it looked like Andrew McCutchen stole second base in the bottom of the first inning, but Panik fouled the Buchholz pitch back to the screen.

Two innings later, Panik hit a ball to centerfield that sent McCutchen to third base and it looked like Panik got into second safely; however, Lovullo challenged the call and after a nearly two-minute review, the call was reversed and Panik was called out to end the inning.

NOTES: This was the Giants’ 12th shutout of the season, and their sixth at home.

It was the third time this season that they have shutout their opponents in back-to-back games, as they shutout the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first two games of the season, then the Philadelphia Phillies on June 1-2 and now the D-Backs.

This was the ninth walk-off win of the season for the Giants, and the first since Buster Posey singled in the bottom of the 13th inning to defeat the Chicago Cubs on July 11.

UP NEXT: The Giants and D-Backs close out their series with a Wednesday night finale at 7:15 pm PDT.

Dereck Rodriguez looks for his seventh win of the season on Wednesday night, as he takes the hill in the series and season finale against the D-Backs, who will send 13-game winner Zack Godley to the mound.