Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Phillies come in one of the toughest in the NL to face Giants at AT&T Park tonight

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Photo credit: @Phillies

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 The Philadelphia Phillies are just one game back in the NL East. Atlanta holds the top spot as the Phillies are in third. The Giants in third in the NL West. How do you see this series, which starts tonight?

#2 Giants starter Chris Stratton comes into the contest 6-3 ERA 4.97. Michael talks about Stratton facing the Giants’ lineup.

#3 The Phillies’ Aaron Nola came out throwing 90 MPH heat against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in the Phillies’ 2-1 win. Nola struck out seven in seven innings. The Phillies have been getting some good pitching of late and Nola was a huge contributor.

#4 The Giants have recalled pitcher Tyler Beede from Triple A Sacramento. Beede joins the Giants with a 0-1 and a 8.22 ERA. Beede is taking pitcher Jeff Samardjiza’s spot on the roster.

#5 Michael talks about the big breakout month that Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford had in May.

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

 

 

Giants hope to erase memories of Phillies’ sweep

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The last time the Giants saw the Philadelphia Phillies, it got ugly very quickly and did not get much better for the rest of the series.

The end result was a three-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, and the Giants hope to make that a very distant memory this time around. They start a three-game series at AT&T Park Friday night.

The Giants (26-30) currently sit four games behind the first-place Colorado Rockies, with whom they won only one of a three-game series at Coors Field, in the National League West. Meanwhile, the 31-23 Phillies are in third place in the highly-competitive NL East, but they are only a game behind the front-running Atlanta Braves.

For the series opener, Chris Stratton (6-3, 4.07 ERA) will take the hill for the Giants opposite Phillies righty Nick Pivetta (4-3, 3.26 ERA). Pivetta was a hard-luck loser in his most previous decision, a 5-3 loss at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays, during which he went five innings and surrendered only two runs on four hits.

Stratton, meanwhile, has won each of his previous three outings, going five innings in each of them. In his last outing, a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs, Stratton gave up three runs on only four hits, walking three and striking out six but gave up a pair of home runs in the process.

On Saturday, Ty Blach (3-5, 4.96 ERA) will face Philadelphia righty Vince Velazquez (4-5, 4.08 ERA). For the Sunday finale, left-hander Andrew Suarez (1-4, 5.65 ERA) will face Phillies righty Jake Arrieta (5-2, 2.16 ERA), who came over from the Cubs and was the Phillies’ biggest free-agent acquisition.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Panik’s return is near; Cueto to throw on flat ground; plus more

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Photo credit: @zesty_mlb

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

Just mentioning that Giants second baseman Joe Panik is super itchy to get back. Panik expects to play and have a seamless transition in case anyone is trying to throw him in the minor leagues for any amount of time.

Also, Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto is going to start throwing on flat ground sometime this week. The Giants need him, it’s just not Cueto; it’s Bumgarner the Giants are seeing that breaking point in terms of the rotation. With the Giants having to fill all these holes, Suarez pitched great, but now starter Jeff Samardzija has an issue, but not with the shoulder.

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

Giants survive Coors Field with late 7-4 win over Rockies

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

It did not look good early for the Giants at all, and it looked like so many other horror shows that have been disguised as road games that the Giants play at Coors Field over the years.

However, the Giants survived the rough start and rallied for a comeback win, a much-needed 7-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies that sent them to the airport in a delightful mood as they prepare to head back home.

Nolan Arenado, who has had his share of big games against the Giants, started things off with a three-run homer off starter Derek Holland in the very first inning.

The Giants, however, didn’t take much time to respond at all, as they got two runs in their half of the second inning off Colorado Jon Gray, with Pablo Sandoval singling in a run to narrow the Rockies’ lead to one.

They eventually tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth and chased Gray from the game, when Gorkys Hernandez and Buster Posey each drew bases-loaded walks. The Giants took the lead for good in the fifth, when Evan Longoria’s triple brought in a run, and Brandon Crawford singled in a run.

Nursing a three-run lead in the ninth, Hunter Strickland had to survive a bit of a scare from the Rox, and it started after he struck out Gerardo Parra. The strikeout pitch, however, got away from catcher Buster Posey, and Parra was able to reach base, thus nullifying the out.

Two batters later, Ryan McMahon lined a two-out double, and Strickland had to deal with Arenado, who represented the tying run. However, Strickland was able to get Arenado to pop out harmlessly to second, as his team escaped with the win.

The Giants will now head home to face the Phillies for a three-game series that starts Friday night at AT&T Park. The series opener is set for 7:15 pm PST.

Two more pitchers injured in Giants’ 11-4 loss to Rockies; Samardzija and Rodriguez leave game due to injuries

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skgoabc7.com photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija last just an inning before leaving due to tightness in his throwing shoulder while pitching against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday night

By Jeremy Kahn

There is one or two things that the San Francisco Giants did not need with just two games remaining on their three-city, eight-game road trip.

Jeff Samardzija lasted just one inning, where he gave up two runs on three hits and the Colorado Rockies defeated the Giants 11-4 at Coors Field.

Samardzija was forced to leave the game with his tightness in his right shoulder, the same right shoulder that saw the right-hander begin the 2018 season on the disabled list for the first time in his major-league career.

With the loss of Samardzija after just one inning, the Giants turned to Dereck Rodriguez, who made his major-league debut.

Rodriguez, who is the son of hall of fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez, went 3.1 innings, allowing four runs, with just one of them earned. He also drove in the Giants first run of the game, as he doubled over the head of Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez in the top of the fifth inning that cut the Rockies lead down to 5-1.

Unfortunately, Rodriguez’s debut ended on a sour note, as he took a line drive off the right calf in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Ian Desmond hit a ball up the middle.

Once again, the Giants defense was subpar, as they committed four errors on the evening, including two in the bottom of the fourth inning that saw the Rockies break the game wide open, as they scored three runs.

After Rodriguez was able to get the first outs of the inning via the strikeout, the floodgates of shoddy defense began. Kyle Freeland doubled, then Charlie Blackmon hit a ground ball to Kelby Tomlinson that he was unable to handle for his second error of the evening that allowed Freeland to scored. Blackmon went to third base on a throwing error by Brandon Belt and then both Gerardo Parra and Nolan Arenado each hit run-scoring doubles.

Tomlinson committed a third error in the bottom of the eighth inning, as his throw to Brandon Crawford on a Trevor Story groundball that pulled Crawford off of second base.

It was a good night on the mound for Freeland, as he went 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, he also did not walk a batter and struck out three. Freeland evened up his record on the season at 5-5.

Evan Longoria hit two home runs in the same game for the first time since July 17, 2016, when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. Longoria reaches 10 home runs on the season, just two months into the season, during the 2017 season, the Giants third basemen combined for eight home runs.

Buster Posey hit his third home run of the season.

NOTES: Derek Holland looks for his third win of the season, as the Giants look to end the road trip on a high note. Through the first seven games on the road trip, the Giants are 1-6. Rockies will send Jon Gray to the mound, as he looks for his first career win against the Giants. In his career, Gray is 0-2 with a 4.26 earned run average in four starts.

Madison Bumgarner will make his second rehab start on Thursday night, as he will throw between 70 and 75 pitches for class A San Jose.

Bumgarner is slated to make his season debut on June 5th at AT&T Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies continue their series Wednesday at 5:40 pm PST.

What’s New? Giants experience another long, frustrating evening at Coors Field

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By Morris Phillips

For the second time in 12 days, the Giants are digesting a bitter, extra-inning loss to the Rockies.

Chris Iannetta’s base hit off Hunter Strickland in the bottom of the 10th scored Nolan Arenado to win it, but a whole bunch transpired in this one across the 314 pitches before Iannetta’s walk off single.

The Giants had an opportunity to win it in the top of the 10th when Evan Longoria and Brandon Crawford delivered back-to-back base hits. But closer Bryan Shaw steadied, retiring Austin Jackson, Kelby Tomlinson and Gregor Blanco on ground balls to end the threat.  The Giants had plenty of other opportunities as they stranded 10 of the 12 baserunners they placed in scoring position.

Ultimately, the Giants blew a 2-0, first inning lead, and a 5-4 lead they carried into the eighth inning. That second lead was the first the Giants have blown after the seventh inning all season, as they fell to 21-1 when leading that late in a ballgame.

And the Giants failed to win when scoring four runs or more as well, falling to 23-5 in those situations.

“We did what we were hoping to do (which is) create those situations you like,” said manager Bruce Bochy.

Just five games into a 19-game oddysey with the rival Rockies, the Giants can’t afford to concede much more the first place Rockies, who remain a 1 1/2 games ahead of the faltering Diamondbacks, and increased their lead to four games over the Giants. The NL West has been a haven for struggling clubs over the last month with Arizona coming back to the pack, but that appears to be changing with the fourth place Dodgers playing well, and the Rockies stringing together a pair of important wins.

“This is an opponent that we respect,” Rockies manager Bud Black said of the Giants. “This is a team in our division that is made up of a lot of veteran players.  It’s a good team. It’s well run. And they’re hard fought games.”

Rookie Andrew Suarez started his first ever game at Coors Field, which afterwards he likened to a Pacific Coast League venue with its prodigious dimensions and propensity for offensive mayhem. But Suarez acquitted himself quite well outside of a hanging breaking ball served up to Trevor Story, who deposited into the left field bleachers for a three-run shot that wiped out the Giants 2-0 lead in the first inning.

But from that point, Suarez steadied, pitching five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out seven.

The game was delayed by rain for 55 minutes. When it started, both pitchers had early struggles, but Colorado’s Chad Bettis found his way out a situation that could have landed the Rockies in a huge, early hole.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Crawford has breakout May, hits .446 and defense has been looking Golden Glove-like

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Photo credit: @MLB_News247

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris talks about Brandon Crawford he’s been on a roll for the month of May, hitting a MLB best .446.

#2 Crawford was hitting .189 in the month of April. Morris talks about what Crawford is doing differently.

#3 Crawford also did some handy work with his glove in Chicago making an off-balance throw from short to get the Cubs’ Wilson Contreas on Sunday at Wrigley Field.

#4 The Giants starter Madison Bumgarner could be back as soon as Friday night. Bumgarner in rehab has thrown 47 pitches, going 3 2/3 innings and eight strike outs. He said his hand feels good.

#5 The Giants will open a three-game series on Monday night in Colorado to end this current road trip and they’re hoping to get some success at Coors Field.

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

 

Cubs take finale in comeback fashion, down Giants 8-3

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Things were looking good for the San Francisco Giants at the end of the first inning, but then the Chicago Cubs came to the plate.

Between the two teams, they scored six runs on five infield hits, that included a great play by a first time second baseman and a ball off of the second base umpire.

All things got worse for the Giants in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Jorge Baez hit an opposite field three-run home run and the Cubs defeated the Giants 8-3 at Wrigley Field Sunday night.

Neither starter made it out of the fourth inning, as Ty Blach went just three innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking four and striking out three, as he fell to 3-5 on the season.

Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood went only 2.2 innings, as he allowed three runs on six hits, walking five and struck out three. It was the second consecutive horrific start for Chatwood, who also went 2.2 innings in his last start against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night in a 10-1 Cubs loss.

Pablo Sandoval, who made his first ever start at second base for the Giants got them on the board in the top of the first inning, as he beat out a throw from Addison Russell that scored Brandon Belt.

Mac Williamson then extended the Giants lead up to 3-0, as he an opposite field single that scored Evan Longoria and Brandon Crawford respectively.

Longoria was one of two walks in the inning off of Chatwood, and then Crawford loaded the bases with an infield single just prior to the Sandoval base hit that scored Belt.

The Cubs got right back into the game in the bottom of the inning, as Alex Almora, Jr., reached on an infield single. After an out by Baez, Kris Bryant got the Cubs on the board, when he doubled off the right-center field wall and then came the bizarre play of the game.

Anthony Rizzo hit a comebacker that Blach knocked down, and then ricocheted off of second base umpire Cory Blaser and bounced to Sandoval, who threw too late to Belt and Bryant all the way around from second base to score.

After Wilson Contreras struck out for the second out, Kyle Schwarber singled to send Rizzo to third and then Russell tied up the game.

Things were looking good for the Giants in the top of the second inning, as they loaded the bases with nobody out; however, Chatwood was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run.

Blach got into his own bases loaded nobody out jam in the bottom of the third inning, as he gave up three consecutive walks to Bryant, Rizzo and Contreras, but then he was able to regroup to get Schwarber and Russell to strikeout swinging and then Jason Heyward flew out to left field to end the threat.

Pierce Johnson came on to replace Blach in the bottom of the fourth inning after Blach walked eventual winning pitcher Randy Rosario, and then Almora ended Blach’s day after he doubled to centerfield.

Baez then greeted Johnson by hitting a three-run home run into the right field bleachers to give the Cubs the lead for good.

Tommy La Stella hit for Rosario in the bottom of the fifth inning, and he hit a single that scored Heyward. Almora continued then his hot hitting, as he doubled to right-center field that scored La Stella from first base.

Rosario went 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on one hit, walking two and striking out three, as he won for the first time this season.

NOTES: Andrew Suarez looks for his second win of the season on Monday, as the Giants open a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Chad Bettis looks to improve to 5-1 on the season, as he takes the mound for the Rockies.

Buster Posey, who missed Saturday’s game with a sore right hip also missed Sunday’s game, but could available for the Giants opener in Colorado.

UP NEXT: Giants open a three-game series against the Rockies in Colorado starting Monday at 4:10 pm PST.

Stratton put a stop to losing streak as Giants edge Cubs for 5-4 victory

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Photo credit: sfexaminer.com

By Jeremy Kahn

Chris Stratton put a stop to the San Francisco Giants modest three-game losing streak, and it was the bullpen that held down the fort down the stretch.

Stratton went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking three and striking out four and the Giants defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-4 at Wrigley Field Saturday night.

As for Stratton, it was his third straight win. He’s now 6-3 on the season.

It was a huge comeback victory for the Giants, who fell behind 2-0 at the end of the second inning, but then Brandon Crawford continued his hot hitting, as he hit a huge two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning that tied up the game.

After the Cubs retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Giants took the lead back for good in the top of the fifth inning, as Andrew McCutchen doubled to centerfield that scored Gorkys Hernandez. Brandon Belt gave the Giants the lead for good, as he singled to center to score McCutchen.

It was the third loss in their last four games for the Cubs, who were swept in a two-game series against the Cleveland Indians earlier this week at Wrigley Field.

Belt added a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning to score Hernandez from third base, and Evan Longoria moved up an additional 90 feet to second base.

Hernandez is turning out to be a god send for the Giants, as he recently became the Giants everyday centerfielder, replacing Austin Jackson, who came to the Giants during the offseason from the Cleveland Indians. On the game, Hernandez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and raised his average to .311 on the season.

The Cubs got within one run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Anthony Rizzo hit an opposite field single off of Tony Watson to score Kyle Schwarber; however, that would be the closest that the Cubs would get.

Closer Hunter Strickland came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the Cubs in order for his 10thsave of the season.

Stratton gave up three walks in the bottom of the second inning, as the Cubs took a 1-0 lead and look to extend the score; however, a Javier Baez comebacker that Stratton snared and threw to Nick Hundley for the first out of the inning. Jose Quintana then was unable to help out his own cause, as he grounded into double play to end the inning.

Schwarber then extended the Cubs lead in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his ninth home run of the season.

After Crawford tied up the game with his sixth home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning, Baez gave the Cubs the lead in the bottom of the half of the inning, as he hit his 12th home run of the inning.

The bullpen quartet of Reyes Moronta, Sam Dyson, Watson and Strickland pitched four innings, allowing one run on three hits, not walking a batter and striking out one.

Quintana pitched just 4.1 innings, as he gave up four runs and five hits and saw his record fall to 5-4 on the season.

NOTES: Ty Blach looks for his fourth win of the season on Sunday night, as he takes the mound against Tyler Chatwood, who also looks for his fourth win of the season. Chatwood leads the major leagues with 40 walks on the season.

Buster Posey is currently day-to-day with soreness in his right hip.

Joe Panik, who is out with a sprained left thumb will begin a rehab assignment on Monday with the Sacramento Rivercats.

Alen Hanson, who replaced Panik at second base and was then injured himself with a strained left hamstring will play an extended spring training game on Monday in Arizona, and then will begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday with San Jose.

Madison Bumgarner began his rehab assignment in Sacramento, and pitched 3.2 innings, not allowing a run or a hit, walking one and striking out eight. Bumgarner also went 1-for-1 in his only plate appearance.

Mark Melancon pitched an inning, and struck out a batter in his only inning of work.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Cubs conclude their series in a nationally televised game on ESPN Sunday night at 5:08 pm PST.

Hendricks, Cubs send Giants to third straight loss

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Photo credit: @playtheapp1

By Jeremy Kahn

After opening their three-city, nine-game road trip against the defending World Champion Houston Astros, the San Francisco Giants moved onto the winners of the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs for their next series.

Kyle Hendricks gave up just one run on two hits in seven innings of work, as the Cubs defeated the Giants 6-2 at Wrigley Field.

Hendricks, who improved to 4-3 on the season, struck out seven and walked two, as the Cubs bounced back from a two-game sweep against the Cleveland Indians on a high note.

This was the Giants third straight loss to open the road trip, and have been outscored 21-5 through their first three games with five games remaining.

Gorkys Hernandez picked up two of the four Giants hits on the afternoon, including a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth inning that broke up Hendricks’ perfect game.

Evan Longoria picked up a RBI single in the top of the ninth inning that scored Brandon Belt, who singled, then advanced to second on indifference and then scored the Giants first run since the fourth inning when Longoria singled off of Pedro Strop.

The Cubs broke the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh inning, when they ended Holland’s day. Will Smith gave up a two-run double to Ben Zobrist, and then Cory Gearrin gave up a two-run single to Kris Bryant. Former Oakland A’s prospect Addison Russell hit a RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning for their final run of the afternoon.

Strop retired the first batters of the inning, but then Belt and Longoria picked up back-to-back hits for another run. That was the end of the day for Strop, as Joe Maddon turned the ball over to Brian Duensing, who eventually walked Brandon Crawford.

That was all for Duenisng, as Maddon brought on his closer, Brandon Morrow, who struck out the returning Mac Williamson to end the game and picked up 11thsave in 12 opportunities this season.

Holland allowed three runs (two of them earned) in six innings of work, and allowed five hits before being replaced by Smith. Before being replaced, Holland hit Javier Baez and then walked Ian Happ.

NOTES: Chris Stratton looks to stop the Giants three-game losing streak, as he takes the mound against the Cubs Jose Quintana.

Madison Bumgarner looks to begin his rehab assignment on Saturday for the Sacramento Rivercats, where he will throw approximately 45 pitches. Joe Panik is making progress and could begin a rehab during the Giants road trip that will end on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Cubs meet again for Game 2 Saturday at 4:15 pm PST on FOX.