Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants hope to bounce back in Chicago against Cubs

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

So the Warriors and the Giants have something in common after Thursday: they will both hope to get bounce-back efforts after being humbled in the city of Houston.

The Warriors are facing elimination from the NBA playoffs after a loss to the Rockets in the Toyota Center on Thursday and will head home in search of answers. The Giants, on the other hand, had the day off on Thursday and have had a full day to process what happened to them.

Thankfully for the Giants, they don’t have to win their very next game to keep their season alive, but they do need to find a way to get things back on track after dropping two straight games to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

That starts with a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs inside of Wrigley Field, which starts Friday afternoon.

The Giants will start the series with left-hander Derek Holland (2-5, 4.94 ERA) on the mound against Chicago righty Kyle Hendricks (3-3, 3.40 ERA). Holland has lost two of the last three decisions, the latest being a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Rockies last Friday, during which he surrendered four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out three.

Hendricks, meanwhile, also gave up four runs on six hits in his last outing, a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati last Friday, but he got away with a no-decision. However, he enters Friday’s matchup having dropped two of his past three decisions as well.

Chris Stratton (5-3, 4.92 ERA) will take the ball on Saturday opposite Cubs lefty Jose Quintana (5-3, 4.47 ERA). Stratton has won three of his last four, as he beat Colorado last Saturday, 8-4, after giving up four runs on eight hits.

Quintana has won two of his past three decisions, his last outing being a dominant performance at Cincinnati last Saturday that saw him give up only a single hit over seven innings in a 10-0 win.

To close out the series, lefty Ty Blach (3-4) will take the hill against Chicago righty Yu Darvish (1-3).

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Posey visits Children’s Hospital for cancer patients; Giants open weekend series at Wrigley Field

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 San Francsico Giants catcher Buster Posey paid a visit to a Houston Hospital, also known as the Texas Children’s Cancer Center. They do cancer research in the fight of childhood cancer. Posey said visiting the center was good to see first hand for Buster and his wife Kristen.

#2 The Giants got swept in a two-game series in Houston 11-2 on Tuesday and 4-1 on Wednesday. The Giants just couldn’t get any offense going during their visit to Minute Field.

#3 Bruce Bochy was asked to what was more dangerous the old incline in dead centerfield at Minute Maid Field or the on field bullpens at AT&T Park. Bochy said the mounds at AT&T Park due to the fact that he lost outfielder Mac Williamson chasing down a fly and tripped and got a concussion.

#4 After a month on the DL Williamson who tripped over the bullpen mound looks to be on track to return this weekend at Wrigley Field and the Giants who can use some offense are looking forward to see him swing the bats.

#5 Giants open a three-game series with the Cubs on Friday night it’ll be the Giants’ Derek Holland (2-5) getting the start can Holland get a quality start against the Cubs lineup.Michael sets up Friday night’s game to open the series.

Catch Michael and Morris Phillips each week on the SF Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Verlander outduels Samardzija in Astros’ 4-1 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @LeopoldusEsq

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants’ up-and-down season continues.

They were facing an uphill battle from the very beginning, since they were going up against Justin Verlander, the man who lifted the Houston Astros to their first-ever World Series title last October.

It didn’t get much better for the Giants on Wednesday, as they fell to the Verlander-led Astros, 4-1, inside of Minute Maid Park. The star right-hander went six strong innings and surrendered only a run on three hits in the process.

He walked only one and struck out nine batters, as he improved his 2018 mark to 6-2 with an eye-popping ERS of 1.08.

Jeff Samardzija continues to struggle to stay in the game as he makes his way back from a pectoral strain he suffered at the start of the season. He failed yet again to reach five full innings – he went only 4 2/3 innings on Wednesday.

He actually matched Verlander for four innings, as the two hurlers put zeroes on the board for the first three frames before the Giants got a run off Verlander in the fourth. Houston evened things up in the bottom half of the inning, when Andrew McCutchen committed a fielding error that allowed a run to score.

The wheels came off for Samardzija in the fifth, when George Springer – who also came up huge for the Astros in the World Series – smashed a two-run homer over the short porch in left field. Carlos Correa followed that up with a run-scoring single to give Houston a three-run advantage that they would not relinquish.

Gorkys Hernandez and Brandon Belt each had two hits for the Giants, while Correa and Springer also had a pair of hits for Houston.

The Giants get a much-needed day off before taking on the Cubs for a three-game series starting Friday at 11:20 am PST.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Giants two below .500, but are only two games out of first place

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

Giants outfielder Mac Williamson who is missed and has missed about three weeks since his concussion injury. When Williamson was in the lineup, he hit some of the hardest hit balls on the team at that time. On Tuesday night, it was the 17th time in 49 games that the Giants have struck out 10 times.

Hard hit balls, strikeouts, the Giants are two games under .500. It might suggest that their not getting the most out of their hard hit balls. There’s a lot of contrary things going on with the Giants’ statistics.

This could be the season that baseball surpasses its previous strikeout record. Clubs are striking out at a fast pace. The Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is on a pace to reach 100 strikeouts at the fastest pace in the history of the game.

The game is changing there’s no doubt about it and if the Giants can get through April and May if they can get within hailing distance of the division leaders.  The Giants are still within hailing distance after tonight’s game as they are trailing first place Colorado and Arizona by two games. ‘

Listen lots more with Michael and Morris on the SF Giants podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cole dominates as Astros cruise past Giants 11-2

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Photo credit: @BR_MLB

By Jeremy Kahn

Like a fine wine, the defending World Champion Houston Astros got better with age, especially when they added another great pitcher to their vaunted starting rotation.

Gerrit Cole, who was the Pittsburgh Pirates first overall pick in the 2011 draft came to the Astros in an offseason trade and he continues to be dominant.

Cole pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and striking out eight and the Astros defeated the San Francisco Giants 11-2 at Minute Maid Park.

The two runs that Cole allowed was a family affair of sorts, as he allowed a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to Brandon Crawford, the Giants hottest hitter and who is the brother in-law of Cole.

Crawford’s sister Amy is married to Cole, who improves to 5-1 in his first season with the Astros, who continue to lead the American League West.

The Astros got on the board in the bottom of the third inning, as former Oakland A’s catcher Max Stassi doubled off of Andrew Suarez to score Evan Gattis. George Springer, the World Series MVP in their run to the World Championship over the Los Angeles Dodgers then singled in Stassi, and followed Alex Bregman doubled in Springer.

Tony Kemp added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he singled in Yuli Gurriel and J.D. Davis, who scored three runs and walked three times on the night.

Crawford finally got the Giants on the board in the top of the fifth inning, as he a Cole offering for his fifth home run of the season.

It was another tough night on the mound for Suarez, who went just four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out two.

The usual consistent Giants bullpen was roughed up against the Astros, as the trio of Pierce Johnson, Reyes Moronta and Josh Osich went the final four innings, allowing six runs on six hits walking four and striking out four.

The Astros blew the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Kemp hit a sacrifice fly to score Davis. Bregman then picked up his second double of the night that scored Gattis, and then reigning American League Most Valuable Player Jose Altuve got in on the act, as he hit a two-run single that scored Stassi and Bregman.

Kemp finished off the blowout, as he hit a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored Gurriel and Davis.

It was a career night for Kemp, who ended the night with two hits and a career-high five runs batted in and the Astros have won five out of their last six.

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija goes to the mound on Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants look for the split against the Astros Justin Verlander, who leads the major league with a miniscule 1.05 earned run average.

Samardzija is coming off a season-high 6.2 inning outing on Friday night against the Colorado Rockies, as he received a no-decision in a game that the Giants eventually lost in 12 innings.

Verlander threw a complete game against the Los Angeles Angels, where he allowed five hits and the Astros shutout the Angels 2-0 at Anaheim Stadium.

Madison Bumgarner, who is currently on the 60-day disabled list with a broken left pinkie, threw 30 pitched to live hitters for the first time since his injury and it was indicated by Bruce Bochy, that Bumgarner could begin his rehab assignment this Saturday for the Sacramento Rivercats at Raley Field.

Closer Mark Melancon, who like Bumgarner is on the disabled list, began his rehab assignment on Monday with the Rivercats and threw just six pitches. Melancon could throw again on Wednesday, as he threw just six pitches on Monday.

Osich was recalled by the Giants earlier in the day, as Jose Valdez was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Saturday with inflammation in his right elbow.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Astros finish the two-game series Wednesday at 11:10 am PST.

Giants nearly 50 games into 2018: steady with room for improvement

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Morris Phillips

In a lot of ways, the 2018 Giants haven’t tipped their hand in regards to what type of team they’ll eventually become.

First of all, they’re 24-24, after they were 19-19 and 14-14. That’s as .500 as a team can get with a sample size of 48 games, still not a third of the way through a 162-game schedule. The Giants are 13-14 against the NL West. They’re 7-7 in one-run games, 2-2 in extra innings, they were 13-13 in April, now they’re 9-10 in May.

The most games they’ve been over .500? Four.

The most games they’ve been under. 500? Four.

Immediately after winning a season-best four in a row, they lost six straight, their worst slide. And the Giants have 12 wins against right-handed starting pitchers, and 12 wins against left-handed starting pitchers.

Again, if the Giants were a poker-faced, Vegas-based, card wizard, they be a pretty good one.

But if they’re a post-season contender, one year after they lost 98 games, then we can’t quite confirm that to be true even as they sit just two games off the pace of division-leading Arizona, and a game-and-a-half behind second-place Colorado.

So what might happen next for baseball’s current over-the-hill gang?

While they eagerly wait for the return of Mark Melancon, Madison Bumgarner, Hunter Pence and Joe Panik (likely returning in that order), the schedule remains unrelenting. On Tuesday, the Giants wash down a challenging four-game set with the Rockies, with two at the home of the World Series champion Astros. They’ll see familiar face Gerrit Cole, the former Pirate with the uncanny ability to unleash 96 mph heaters on the black.

The Giants most immediate need? Not letting Cole get comfortable and mowing down San Francisco hitters in waves. Remember, Cole’s struck out 10 or more opposing batters in five of his nine starts, while the Giants collectively have fanned 10 or more times in 16 of their 48 games, exactly one-third of their contests.

No wonder the Giants languish at No. 22 in the latest ESPN Power Rankings while the defending champion Astros are No. 3: they haven’t proven anything yet.

The Giants could succeed or fail with or without their four, returning stars. They could go either way as well with their near, completely healthy offensive attack, or surge or regress once their starting rotation becomes whole. No outcome seems implausible.

But whatever happens, it starts with Cole on Tuesday, Justin Verlander on Wednesday, and continues Friday in Chicago with the Cubs’ Kyle Kendrick.

Now that’s challenging.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Ex-Giant Romo starts his first career game; Belting them out of the yard, Belt with 3-run jack

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@SFGiants photo: San Francisco Giant Brandon Belt goes yard for a three-run homer against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park Sunday.

Morris Phillips on the SF Giants podcast:

Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo pitched in his first career start for the Tampa Bay Rays. Romo used as a closer or reliever in his Giants, Dodgers and now Rays days, pitched an inning plus no runs, walking two, and striking out three against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

Brandon Belt: Belt has been hitting the ball out of AT&T Park like he’s auditioning for the Hall of Fame. Belt hit another majestic home run this time a three run shot that helped put the Giants in the win column with a four-run 9-5 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Belt’s been hitting as hard as anyone else and getting as many home runs as he has in a short amount of time this has been an incredible ride for him.

Next up at AT&T: The Giants are off Monday, but will hit the road starting with Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then they get another day off on Thursday 24th then open up a three-game series in Chicago on Friday night against the Cubs. Then they close out the road trip in Colorado next Monday night at Coors Field.

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

 

 

Belt continues power surge in Giants’ 9-5 win over Rockies

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Brandon Belt gave the San Francisco Giants the lead for good with one swing of the bat.

Belt hit a three-run home run off of Jake McGee in the bottom of the seventh inning, helping the Giants to a come-from-behind 9-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies before a crowd of 40,334 at AT&T Park Sunday.

“You feel good when he is up there,” said Bruce Bochy.

With the victory, the Giants gained a split in their first series against the Rockies, who they will see beginning on May 28 for a three-game series at Coors Field.

The Giants also finished the home stand on a high note, as they won the final two games of the home stand and went 4-3 against the Cincinnati Reds and Rockies.

Gorkys Hernandez hit his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning, a two-run blast to straightaway centerfield that looked like a lazy fly ball; however, the Bay Area wind let it sail over the centerfield wall to get the Giants within a run of the Rockies. Miguel Gomez hit a pinch-hit single just before the Hernandez home run.

“Gorkys had a huge hit, Tommy (Tomlinson) had a huge hit into the gap,” said Bochy.

Just one inning later, the Giants took their first lead of the game, as Kelby Tomlinson tripled to the left-center field wall that scored both Belt, who singled to lead off the inning and Brandon Crawford, who walked with one out.

“Just trying to put together a nice at-bat, swung the bat well today and yesterday,” said Tomlinson.

The Rockies tied up the game in the top of the seventh inning, as Ian Desmond walked to lead off the inning, then stole second and went to third on a Nick Hundley throwing error. Nolan Arenado then tied up the game with a single up the middle off of Giants reliever Sam Dyson.

Ty Blach went just 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out one, as he did not fare in the decision.

Like Blach, Tyler Anderson did not fare in the decision for the Rockies, as he went 5.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, walking one and striking out four.

Hernandez got the rally started in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he singled to lead off the inning, and after a Buster Posey fly out to centerfield, Evan Longoria then walked and then Belt hit his 11thhome run of the season. Hundley then extended the lead, as he hit his fifth home run of the season.

The Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Posey tripled to the 421’ mark in right-center field and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Noel Cuevas, who made a terrific catch to take an extra base hit away from Longoria.

The Rockies finally broke through in the top of the fourth inning, as Trevor Story doubled in Arenado, who led off the inning with a single. Cuevas then singled to score Story from second base.

Blach was then sent to the showers in the top of the fifth inning, as Anderson helped out his own cause, as he singled to lead off the inning and then on a Story single. After Chris Iannetta popped out for the second out of the inning, Cuevas drove in his second run of the game, with a bases loaded walk to give the Rockies a 4-1 lead.

Will Smith continues to make great strides as he comes back from Tommy John Surgery that kept him out for the entire 2017 season. In his only inning of work, Smith struck out the side.

“He has been throwing the ball so well,” said Bochy.

NOTES: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants open a brief two-game series at Minute Maid Park against the defending World Champion Houston Astros. Andrew Suarez will take the mound in the opener for the Giants, while Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Astros.

The off-day on Monday, will be their first off-day since May 3, the day before the beginning of their three-city, 10-road trip thru Atlanta, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. During the streak of playing 17 days in a row, the Giants went 8-9.

Mac Williamson continues to swing the bat well, as he through his first two games with the Sacramento Rivercats on his rehab assignment, Williamson is 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double and two home runs and six runs batted in.

Hunter Pence went 2-for-5 on Saturday night with an RBI, and is now hitting .321 (18-for-56) with two doubles, six RBIs, and four walks in his 14 games with the Rivercats, as he recovers from his sprained right thumb.

UP NEXT: The Giants will return to action Tuesday against the Astros at 5:10 pm PST.

Crawford continues to swing bat well; Giants defeat Rockies 9-4

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Photo credit: @MLB_News247

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Brandon Crawford continues to swing the bat well, and with that the San Francisco Giants broke out of their recent funk.

Crawford went 3-for-5 on the afternoon, as the Giants came back to defeat the Colorado Rockies 9-4 before a crowd of 39,195 at AT&T Park Saturday afternoon.

With the victory, the Giants put a stop to their modest three-game losing streak and defeated the Rockies best pitcher in the process.

After scoring just seven runs during the three-game losing streak, the Giants scored in every inning between the second and sixth innings.

Crawford got the ball rolling for the Giants in the bottom of the second inning, as they trailed the Rockies 2-0 at the end of an inning and a half.

After leading off the inning with a single, Crawford was forced out at second base on a Miguel Gomez ground out, Gorkys Hernandez continues his hot hitting, as he doubled to left field that sent Gomez to third base. Chris Stratton then helped out his own cause, as he drove in his first major league run with a ground out to Trevor Story at shortstop.

The Giants took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning, as they loaded the bases, as Andrew McCutchen singled, Buster Posey singled, then Brandon Belt walked to load the bases. After Evan Longoria flew out for the first out of the inning, Crawford lashed a double down the left field line that scored both McCutchen and Posey.

Gomez then got in on the act, as he singled in Belt for the third run of the inning and the Giants took a 4-2 lead.

After the Rockies cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth inning, as Daniel Castro grounded into a double play that scored Desmond, the Giants came back with a run of their run in the bottom of the inning.

Gregor Blanco tripled just past the second baseman, and after both McCutchen and Posey were unable to bring in Blanco, Belt greeted reliever Chris Rusin with a single to right-center field to extend the Giants lead up to 5-3.

The Rockies would not go away, as they clawed back in it to get within one run, as Blackmon led off the inning with a single of his own. Gerardo Parra then singled Blackmon to third base.

The defensive play of the game came up next, as Story hit a single to right that scored Blackmon and McCutchen came up throwing and tried to get Parra at third base. Bruce Bochy challenged the call, as it looked like Longoria tagged Parra and after a 1:57 review, the call was reversed.

McCutchen blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit a two –run double that scored Austin Jackson, who picked up a pinch-hit single off of Rusin and Gomez, who led off the inning with a single of his own.

Crawford capped off his big day in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a two-run home run off of Brooks Pounders.

Over his last 18 games, Crawford is 31-for-69 (.448) with 16 runs batted in and thru the first six games of the home stand, he is 12-for-22, a .545 clip.

Every member of the Giants starting lineup with the exception of Stratton picked up a hit, as McCutchen joined Crawford with three hits. Posey, Belt and Gomez each picked up two hits, as the Giants got 17 hits on the afternoon.

Stratton went the minimum five innings, as he allowed four runs (three earned), allowing eight hits, walking two and striking out one, as he won for the fifth time this season.

Gray, who was unable to get out of the fourth inning, allowed five runs on nine hits, walking one and striking out four and saw his record fall to 4-6 on the season.

NOTES: Ty Blach looks to end the series and the home stand on a high note, as he takes the mound on Sunday afternoon, while the Rockies will send Tyler Anderson to the mound.

Mac Williamson went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in his first rehab game on Friday for the Sacramento Rivercats against the Salt Lake Bees. Williamson last played on April 24, a span of 24 games after crashing into the wall near the Giants bullpen in left field and suffered a concussion.

Hunter Pence went 2-for-4 in the same game, as is now hitting .314 with two doubles and five runs batted in in his 13 games with the Rivercats. Over his last seven games, Pence is hitting .393, as he is 11-for-28 during that stretch.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies’ series finale is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm PST.

Desmond does a number on Giants in Rockies’ 6-1 win

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Photo credit: @MLB_News247

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Ian Desmond may be getting booed at Coors Field after his slow start with the Colorado Rockies, but he loves playing at AT&T Park.

After going 0-for-4 in the first game of the four-game series against the San Francisco Giants, the new Rockies first baseman could begin to change the opinion of Rockies fans with one swing of the bat.

Desmond cranked a three-run home run off of Derek Holland in the top of the fourth inning, as the Rockies defeated the Giants 6-1 before a crowd of 40,970 at AT&T Park Friday night.

Prior to going 2-for-4 on the evening, Desmond was 30-for-89 (.337) with a home run and 13 runs batted in.

Kyle Freeland went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits, while walking one and striking out five on his way to his fourth win of the season.

As for Holland, he went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out three and his record fell to 2-5 on the season.

Holland was cruising along until the top of the third inning, when Nolan Arenado walked to lead-off the inning, then Trevor Story singled and after a Noel Cuevas strikeout, Desmond took a Holland offering and planted it into the left-center field bleachers.

Gorkys Hernandez got the Giants off to a quick start, as he hit a home run to lead-off the bottom of the first inning. It was the third home run of the season for Hernandez and his second of the week, as he hit a solo home run to the top of the fifth inning on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Desmond added another run batted in, as he doubled off of Holland to score Arenado, who doubled to lead-off the top of the sixth inning.

Charlie Blackmon put the finishing touches on the scoring for the Rockies, as he hit a Jose Valdez offering and planted it on the right-field arcade for a two-run home run. It was the 12thhome run of the season for Blackmon.

Arenado also lived up to why he is the winner of the last five Golden Gloves, as he made a diving stab at a Kelby Tomlinson groundball and threw Tomlinson out from his knees behind third base.

NOTES: Chris Stratton will look to stop the Giants three-game losing streak, as he takes the mound on Saturday afternoon, as he looks for his fifth win of the season. The Rockies will send right-hander Jon Gray to the mound, as his looks to win his fifth.

Mac Williamson began his rehab assignment today for the Sacramento Rivercats, and he went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Austin Slater followed up the Williamson home run one of his own, as the duo went back-to-back, as Slater also went 1-for-4 in the 7-3 Rivercats win over the Salt Lake Bees.

Hunter Pence continues his rehab assignment for the Rivercats, and he went 2-for-4 on the evening in Salt Lake City.

The hitting star of the night for the Rivercats was Chase d’Arnaud, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and three runs batted in.

This was the 500th career appearance for Rockies reliever Bryan Shaw, who came on to replace Freeland in the bottom of the seventh inning.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies will face off for Game 3 Saturday afternoon at 1:05 pm PST.