Category: San Francisco Giants

Longoria helps Giants clinch series with three-run jack in 4-2 win over Dodgers

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Photo credit: @MLBONFOX

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Evan Longoria is learning fast what the rivalry between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers means.

Longoria smashed a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, as the Giants defeated the Dodgers 4-2 before a sellout crowd of 42,020 at AT&T Park Sunday. The Giants won three out of four in the series.

This was the third consecutive series that the Giants have won, and it was the first time that they have won three series in a row since May 11-21 of last season, when they won series against the Cincinnati Reds, the Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

With the victory over the Dodgers, the Giants are now 6-4 versus them this season and the two teams will not face each other until June 15-17at Dodger Stadium. This is the Dodgers last appearance at AT&T Park until the last three games of the season from September 28-30.

The Longoria home run was his sixth home run of the season, and his second of the series, as he hit one on Friday night.

“Monkey off my back with that hit yesterday,” said Longoria.

Buster Posey, who doubled with two outs got the rally started, then Brandon Belt walked and then Longoria put a Kenta Maeda pitch into the left-center field bleachers.

“What a great two-out double, then a walk and a three-run homer,” said Bruce Bochy.

Ty Blach pitched a fantastic game, as he went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walked just one and struck out four on his way to his second win of the season.

Earlier in the week, Blach, who suffered a case of food poisoning on the last road trip, where he lost eight or nine pounds, “Felt better today,” said Blach.

Brandon Belt added a run-scoring double in the bottom of the third inning, as he drove in Posey, who walked just in front of Belt.

Maeda also went six innings for the Dodgers, as he gave up four runs on five hits, walking four and striking out three and saw his record fall to 2-2 on the season.

Brandon Crawford made the defensive play of the game, as he made a diving catch on a hit by Kyle Farmer and was able to double up Cody Bellinger at second base for the third out of the inning.

The Dodgers cut the Giants lead in half in the top of the seventh inning, as Joc Pederson drove in Max Muncy, who pinch hit for Cody Bellinger.

Hunter Strickland pitched a perfect ninth inning to notch his seventh save of the season, as he picked up two saves in the series.

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija will look for his second win of the season, as he takes the ball in the opener against the San Diego Padres on Monday night, as they will send left-hander Eric Lauer to the mound, as he looks for his first win.

Reliever Will Smith, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery is currently with Triple-A Sacramento and has appeared in five games, going 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with seven strikeouts. Hunter Pence, who is out with a sprained right thumb began his rehab assignment on Friday night and is 1-for-8 with a hit by a pitch in two games in Sacramento.

This was the 10th time this season that the Giants and Dodgers have played so far in 2018, which marks just the second time in major league history that two teams have faced each other 10 times before the end of April. The Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays did it in 2003. They are three different sets of teams are doing it this month, the Padres and the Colorado Rockies, the Rays and Boston Red Sox and the Dodgers and Giants.

Cueto and Jackson help Giants salvage split in doubleheader with 8-3 win over Dodgers

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–After getting demolished in the first game of the day-night doubleheader, the San Francisco Giants came back with vengeance in the nightcap.

Johnny Cueto went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking two and striking out three and the Giants took Game 2 of the day-night doubleheader over the Los Angeles Dodgers by the final score of 8-3 before a crowd of 40,608 at AT&T Park.

Cueto got off to a rocky start, as Chris Taylor hit a double to leadoff the game and then Corey Seager hit a line drive home run onto the arcade to give the Dodgers a quick 2-0 lead. Yasmani Grandal then hit a single, and then after a Cody Bellinger fly out for the first out, Chase Utley reached on a fielders’ choice and he would be the last runner to reach base until Alex Verdugo walked to lead off the fifth inning.

All in all, after the Utley fielders’ choice, Cueto retired the next 10 batters. Verdugo and Kyle Farmer both walked in the fifth inning, but Cueto was able to get out of the jam.

Austin Jackson came up with the biggest hit of his short Giants career, as he hit a bases clearing double in the bottom of the fifth inning that gave the Giants the lead for good.

After an Evan Longoria fly out to start the inning, Brandon Belt continued his hot streak, as he singled, then both Kelby Tomlinson and Brandon Crawford each singled to load the bases before Jackson’s long double that cleared the bases.

Belt picked up his second hit of the night in the bottom of the sixth inning, as his base hit scored McCutchen, who walked to lead off the inning.

After the Dodgers got within one run in the top of the seventh inning, when Austin Barnes grounded into a double play that scored Pederson from third base, that would be the last of the scoring of the evening for the Dodgers.

The Giants blew the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Longoria hit a two-run double that sent Buster Posey to third base. Following an intentional walk to Belt, the strategy backfired, as Kelby Tomlinson hit a JT Chargois offering up the middle to score both Posey and Longoria.

D.J. Snelten made his major league debut in the top of the eighth inning, and like Pablo Sandoval in the first game, Snelten retired the Dodgers in order.

Snelten pitched into the ninth inning, as he was able to help out a bullpen that threw a lot during the first game, especially Roberto Gomez and Derek Law. Hunter Strickland mopped it up and the Giants got their split.

The Giants will conclude the rivalry series against the Dodgers with Game 4 at 2:05 pm PT on Sunday afternoon.

Sacramento River Cats Report: April 28, 2018

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River Cats

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Sacramento River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. A Triple-A team serves two purposes for a major league franchise:

  1. It is the place where the major team stashes its backup players they may need if injuries or poor performance require an immediate roster change without having to make a trade or having to go to the waiver wire.
  2. Triple-A is the highest rung on the minor league ladder. It is where the final determinations are made whether a player can or cannot make it in “the show”. Being promoted to Triple-A is no guarantee of making a major league roster before your career is over. Triple-A can also be the end of a very long road for a player.

PCL

The River Cats play in the Pacific Coast League Pacific Northern Divison along with the Fresno Grizzlies (Astros), Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) and Reno Aces (D-Backs). There are four divisions and 16 teams in the PCL. The other Triple-A association is the International League which is comprised of 14 teams.

The Pacific Coast League has traditionally been known for high batting averages and inflated Earned Run Averages. This is due in part to the fact that many of the teams play at higher altitudes or in weather conditions where the ball tends to carry farther. Player personnel directors have always had to hope that pitchers ERA’s would improve over their Triple-A stats and expect that hitters batting averages would be at least 50 to 100-points less in the majors than they were in the PCL.

The Giants called up three players from Sacramento on Saturday. Because of the doubleheader on Saturday, San Francisco was able to expand the roster to 26 for Saturday only. RHP Derek Law from the River Cats was called up to cover that special spot.

The Giants had to place second baseman Joe Panik on the 10-day disabled list due to a left thumb strain. San Francisco selected the contract of Alen Hanson from Sacramento to take Panik’s place on the roster.

Right fielder Mac Williamson has been put on the seven-day disabled list because of a possible concussion. River Cats outfielder Austin Slater received the temporary promotion to the MLB.

Sacramento can also be a rehab location

Pence
Hunter Pence in SacTown Photo: @RiverCats

Giants outfielder Hunter Pence went on the 10-day disabled list on April 20 with a right thumb sprain. Pence was batting just .172 when he went on the DL, but the Giants would certainly be happy to have a player with his experience and leadership ability back with the club as soon as possible because Pence will not stay below the “Mendoza Line” much longer.

Pence played in Sacramento on Friday night on a rehab assignment. He played in right field and went 0-3 at the plate striking out twice but Pence did score the first run of the game for the River Cats. Pence reached first base on a throwing error in the bottom of the first inning and ultimately came home to score. Sacramento won the game downing Reno 6-4. It was the River Cats third consecutive win.

River Cats current situation

Sacramento is 10-11 so far in the month of April and is in third-place in the PCL Pacific North. They are 4.5 games back of division-leading Fresno. The River Cats are 5-4 at home and 5-7 on the road. They are 5-5 in their last 10-games and have won three games in a row.

It is important to keep in mind that winning games, divisions and league championships is not the number goal for a Triple-A franchise. The number one goal is player development followed closely by keeping backup players for the “big club” in shape and ready to go at a moments notice.

The Giants would we very happy to see the River Cats fighting for the PCL championship because it would mean their prospects are playing great baseball and their backup players are not needed in the majors because the major league stars are not getting injured. That is a perfect scenario that seldom exists as the Giants have already demonstrated this season.

Who to watch in Sacramento

The key prospects to watch in SAC are:

  • OF/1B – Chris Shaw – he is not on the 40-man roster. Currently, Shaw is playing left field which makes sense with Brandon Belt having a career year at first base. He is batting .247 with an on-base percentage of .310. Shaw has hit five home runs and has posted 15 RBI in 19 games. He is rated the number two prospect in the Giants minor league system.
  • OF – Steven Duggar – another player who is not on the 40-man roster. Duggar is playing outfield and leading off for the River Cats. He is currently hitting .274 with a .354 on-base percentage. Duggar has walked nine times and has three steals. He has one home run, six RBI and has scored 14 runs in 18 games. Duggar is the number three rated Giants minor league player.
  • RHP – Tyler Beede – this player is on the Giants 40-man roster. Maybe no other minor league player in the Giants system has been talked more about than Beede. Drafted in the first-round in 2014, Giants fans have been expecting him to join the starting rotation almost every year. There was much anticipation that Beede might be brought up last season but control issues and a season-ending groin injury put that idea to an end. He did make two starts this season for San Francisco recording a no-decision in the first start and a loss in the second start. Beede is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts with the River Cats since being sent back to Triple-A. He is ranked the number four best prospect in the system.
Beede
Tyler Beede Photo: @RiverCats
  • OF – Austin Slater – has been called up to the Giants because Pence and Williamson are on the DL. In 14 games with the River Cats, Slater was hitting .358 with a .435 OBP. He posted one home run, eight doubles, and 13 RBI. Slater scored 13 runs. He is rated the number five player in the system.
  • LHP – Andrew Suarez – he is a member of the 40-man roster. Suarez did get a start with the Giants vs Arizona and was hung with the loss. He has made three starts for SAC and has a 2-0 record with a 1.08 ERA. Suarez has struck out 16 hitters, walked 7 and has a WHIP of 1.02. He listed as the number 10 prospect. Keep your eye on this pitcher.
Saurez
Andrew Suarez Photo: @RiverCats
  • LHP – D.J. Snelten – another member of the 40-man roster. This 6-foot-6 lefty is making the transition to becoming a reliever. Snelten has made six appearances for Sacramento and has a record of 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in 9.0 innings of work. He has allowed just six hits (no home runs), walked five, struck out seven with a 1.22 WHIP. He is listed as the 27th best minor league player in the Giants system.

There will be many moves to come

With April just coming to a close, there are many more moves involving the Sacramento River Cats to made during the 2018 season. More players will travel west to San Francisco. Some players will travel east to SAC. Other player players will get promoted from Richmond and will go from being a Flying Squirrel to being a River Cat.

Watch for weekly updates, special features, and updates as needed as Sports Radio Service keeps you informed on the happenings down on the farm in Sacramento.

Stratton shells, Sandoval pitches in Giants’ 15-6 loss to Dodgers in Game 1 of doubleheader

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Everyone knew on both the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers that this was going to be a long day.

Chris Stratton lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits, walking four and striking out three and the Dodgers took Game 1 of the doubleheader with a 15-6 victory over the Giants before a sellout crowd of 41,809 at AT&T Park.

The Dodgers got to Stratton for three runs in the first two innings, and he was replaced by Roberto Gomez after allowing a triple to Joc Pederson that made the score 6-2 Dodgers with one out in the inning.

Gomez went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out two, before giving way to Derek Law, who pitched three innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and the Dodgers extended the lead to 12-2 at the end of the sixth inning.

Cory Gearrin pitched one-third of an inning, but the story of the day was the last pitcher that went to the mound for the Giants in the top of the ninth inning.

Pablo Sandoval, who started the game at third base for the Giants pitched the ninth inning and on 13 pitches, he got the Dodgers to ground out all three times. It was only in the game that the Dodgers were retired in order on the afternoon.

“Felt good, my first time being a pitcher,” said Sandoval.

Alec Hanson made his Giants debut, a memorable one, as he took a Pedro Baez offering and planted it on the arcade near the third archway in right-center field, a home run that measured at 405 feet.

“I was planning on going shopping with my wife this morning, but I got the call,” said Hanson.

Hanson was added to the roster this morning after the Giants were forced to place Joe Panik on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb.

The Panik move was not the only one by the Giants, as Mac Williamson was placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list, Stratton was reinstated from the Paternity List, Law was designated as the 26thman. Austin Slater, who was optioned after last night’s game was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

To make room for Hanson on the 40-man roster, Mark Melancon was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

Giants’ 4-run seventh inning helps them down Dodgers 6-4

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–You never know what you are going to see in a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and this game was the epitome of that statement.

Pedro Baez committed a balk when he tripped on the mound that allowed Gorkys Hernandez to score from third base, as the Giants came back from a 4-2 deficit to defeat the Dodgers 6-4 in the opener of the four-game series before a sellout crowd of 41,936 at AT&T Park Friday night.

Hyun-Jin Ryu helped out his own cause, as he drove in two with a two-run double down the left field line.

Yasmani Grandal cut the Giants lead in half, as he doubled in Matt Kemp, who walked just prior to the Grandal double.

After a Cody Bellinger walk, Yaisel Puig tied up the game with a double down the left field line and it looked like Bellinger was going to score; however, a fan down the line touched the ball and Bellinger was forced to stay at third base.

Kyle Farmer then struck out for the first out of the inning, and then Ryu took a Holland pitch down the left field line to score both Bellinger and Puig.

Ryu went 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, not walking a batter and struck out seven; however, he did not fare in the decision.

It was a different story for Holland, who was pulled after the Ryu double. Holland went 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on four hits, walking four and striking out four. Like Ryu, he did not fare in the decision.

Things looked for the Giants after they took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, as Evan Longoria hit a long solo home run to straightaway centerfield and then three batters later, Brandon Crawford deposited a Ryu offering onto the arcade.

Brandon Belt extended his hitting streak up to nine games, as he legged out an infield single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Belt went to second on a Tony Cingrani wild pitch, but was then thrown out at third base by Kike Hernandez, who threw to Kyle Farmer for the first out of the inning.

Crawford then walked, and then Hernandez got the Giants within one run, when he singled in Austin Jackson.

Tomlinson then took a Cingrani offering and doubled into left field to tie up the game, and then most bizarre play of the night took place, when Baez fell off the mound, for a balk to give the Giants the lead for good.

Joe Panik then extended the lead up to 6-4, as he hit a sacrifice fly to score Tomilnson from third base.

Former Dodgers reliever Tony Watson came on in the top of the eighth, and despite giving up two hits that put runners on first and second with one out, he was able to get out of the jam, when both Chris Taylor and Austin Barnes flew out to Hernandez for the last two outs of the inning.

NOTES: Chris Stratton will take the mound in the first game of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, while the Dodgers have not decided on a starter.

Stratton became a father on Wednesday night at 11:53, as his wife Martha Kate gave birth to a daughter named Mary Bennett and she weighed in at eight pounds, four ounces and 20 inches long.

Johnny Cueto will take the mound in the second game, as he looks to improve to 3-0 on the season, while Alex Wood will go for the Dodgers, as he still looks for his first win of the season.

This is the first doubleheader between the Giants and Dodgers since September 27, 2003, where the Giants and Dodgers split the twin bill at AT&T Park.

Mac Williamson, who crashed into the wall near the Giants bullpen in the game on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals was placed in the concussion protocol.

The Giants improved to 10-3 on the season, when they score first.

UP NEXT: The Giants play a doubleheader Saturday with Game 2 at 1:05 pm PT and Game 3 at 7:05 pm PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Williamson day to day; Samardzija work in progress; Moronta Express

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SFGAuthentics photo: Mac Williamson who hit a tape measure shot last Monday against the Washington Nationals and another homer the next night pictures his bats he used in spring training in March

On the Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Mac Williamson the Giants outfielder is listed as day to day with a stiff neck caused by crashing into the AT&T Park padding while chasing down a fly. Williamson missed Wednesday’s game and is anxious to get back into the line up

#2 Williamson has impressed manager Bruce Bochy not only for his hustle but those tape measure home runs during the Washington series and his bat speed making solid contact

#3 In his second start on Wednesday pitcher Jeff Samardzija was rocked and early over four innings of work, eight hits, six runs, and we asked Michael is Samardzija really ready after his rehab

#4 Giants pitcher Reyes Moronta has been the talk for his first win on Tuesday night he was able to retire Washington hitters either from the left or right side of the plate. In Moronta’s debut he pitched for a 0.64 ERA.

#5 The Giants open a four game series tonight at AT&T Park against the Los Angeles Dodgers which includes a double dip on Saturday to make up for a rain out earlier this month. Michael goes into the length of time that the players, coaches, managers (from both teams) and stadium employees put into working both ends of a day night doubleheader. The first game starts at 1:00PM and the second game starts at 7:00PM on Saturday night.

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

 

Giants and Dodgers will meet once again

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Photo credit: @Laurel_Inn_SF

By Jeremy Kahn

Coming off of back-to-back series wins for the first two times this season, the San Francisco Giants return to play in the National League West and an old rival comes to town.

The reigning National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers make their second of three trips to the Bay Area this season for a four-game series at AT&T Park.

This will be the last time that the Dodgers come to AT&T Park until the last weekend of the season, as they will face the Giants from September 28-30.

Derek Holland will take the AT&T Park mound, as the left-hander looks for his first win as a member of the Giants, while the Dodgers will send Hyun-Jin Ryu, who looks to improve to 4-0 on the season.

The Giants are coming off a 15-2 loss to the Washington Nationals, as Jeff Samardzija made his second start of the season, but he did get out of the fourth inning.

Samardzija went 3.2 innings, allowing six runs on eight runs, walking three and striking out three in his first AT&T Park start of the season.

Ryu is coming off a seven inning performance against the Nationals on Saturday night, as he went seven innings, allowing no runs on just two hits, walking three and striking out eight.

This is the third consecutive start that Ryu won, as he did not fare in his first start of the season, as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 8-7 at Chase Field.

Brandon Belt continues to hit the ball well, as he went 2-for-4 in Wednesday’s loss to the Nationals and is now batting .304 on the season.

Mac Williamson was a late scratch to Wednesday’s game, as he suffered a neck strain from the attempt at a foul ball in Tuesday night victory over the Nationals, where he hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Rude Guests: Nats rob Giants’ momentum with rout, then rush off to the airport

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hi-res-e33bbc643f885a8a0c785a69f48590e3_crop_north

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–From the Giants’ perspective, finally achieving a .500 record after an adversity-filled start to the season would have been a nice storyline.

But it didn’t happen, so maybe focusing on April 25–today’s date–and the still early stage of the long season will temper their momentary disappointments.

Either way, for the 25 guys trudging out the Giants’ clubhouse on Wednesday, perspective will be needed. 15-2 defeats aren’t easy to swallow.

The Nationals pounded out 18 hits, led 10-0 in the sixth, amply supporting starter Max Scherzer, who went six innings, and earned themselves a relaxed flight back to the Nation’s Capital.

“One of those games that started off rough and gradually got worse,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We gave up crooked numbers. That’s not going to work.”

The Giants still covet a 14-14 record after Sunday, their way of standing up to a brutal stretch to start the season that ends Sunday against the Dodgers. But after getting blown out they’ll have to regain their recent form immediately if they want to grab three of four from LA.

Concerning issues cropped up before the first pitch, and multipled in the game’s initial pitches. First, Buster Posey was given a day off to rest, then hard-swinging Mac Williamson was scratched due to a sore neck, a result of his sliding catch attempt on Tuesday that sent him tumbling into the low wall bordering the left field line bullpen. Giants starter Jeff Samardzija looked good in his season debut over the weekend at Anaheim, but lugged an 0-5 record against Washington in his last five starts to the mound Wednesday. That was essentially the opposite of Scherzer, who dominated the Giants in his last two appearances, striking out a combined 21 batters.

Then the game commenced, and the Nats took a quick 3-0 lead as Samardzija gave up three hits surrounding his wild pitch with Bryce Harper at bat.

The traffic on the basepaths never subsided after that. Samardzija escaped trouble in the second and third, then got torched in the fourth, allowing three more runs. Pierce Johnson gave up a pair of runs, then Josh Osich allowed four. Throughout, the last out of an inning became slippier than a piglet in soapy, bath water. In all, four relievers threw over 100 pitches, that after Samardzija threw 86 and couldn’t finish the fourth inning. Johnson allowed as many runs as he gave up in eight, previous outings.

“You’re looking for someone to put up a zero and we had a hard time doing that,” Bochy admitted.

And the AT&T Park crowd of 35,126 squirmed, then left, figuring they could realize greater entertainment value sitting in afternoon commute traffic. The game somehow ended after three hours, 13 minutes, partly attributable to Scherzer who struck out 10, and closed doors immediately after they opened.

“You just want to go out there and put up zeros to get the offense back in and have everybody run to the bat rack. That’s what makes it fun,” said Scherzer.

Andrew McCutchen (hitting .205), Brandon Crawford (.200) and Austin Jackson (.213) combined to strike out five times against the Nationals ace. Evan Longoria (.222) was spelled at third base by Pablo Sandoval. In a seventh inning, pinch-hitting role, Longoria faced reliever Trevor Gott and struck out swinging.

All four will likely be back in the starting lineup Friday to face Los Angeles’ Hyun-Jin Ryu. But Ryu’s undefeated with an ERA under two. The Giants won’t face Clayton Kershaw this weekend, and the Dodgers haven’t announced a starter for Saturday’s first game, but trouble could arise regardless for the Giants if the dead spots in their lineup don’t respond.

Derek Holland opposes Ryu. He’s yet to defeat the Dodgers, but with just two, previous starts, it’s a limited sample.

Giants Notes: Twists and Turns Keep on Coming

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Ana Kieu

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals by close scores of 4-2 and 4-3, in that order. However, San Francisco was unable to complete a three-game sweep over Washington at AT&T Park Wednesday afternoon as they fell behind early and never came close to their opponent.

April 25, 2018
Final: 15-2 Nationals
Attendance: 35,126
Time: 3 hours, 13 minutes

Here are some Giants news and notes:
– Giants manager Bruce Bochy tweeted just minutes after the Giants’ 4-3 win over the Nats Tuesday night. Bochy and his team are 1-0 when he’s on Twitter.
– The Giants congratulated the Golden State Warriors on eliminating the San Antonio Spurs to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. They also announced their Bay Area Unite night at AT&T Park during their home game versus the San Diego Padres on April 30 at 7:15 pm PT. You can purchase your tickets here: atmlb.com/2qYFhQA
– The Giants congratulated the nearby San Francisco Dons on their recent win.
– The Giants brought fans a double dose of No. 25 Wednesday by giving out a collectible figurine of father-son duo Barry and Bobby Bonds.
– Longtime Giants fan Marci Salvador turned 100 last week, but celebrated her birthday at AT&T Park Wednesday.
– Dylan, who’s dealing with pediatric cancer, got to meet some of his favorite Giants players on the field prior to Wednesday’s game. Sam Dyson let Dylan use his glove and played catch with the little boy.
– Mac Williamson was scratched Wednesday due to neck stiffness.
– Chris Stratton was placed on paternity leave.
– Roberto Gomez was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
– Jeff Samardzija made his AT&T Park debut Wednesday.

Up Next: The Giants host the rival Dodgers this weekend. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, April 27 at 7:15 pm PT on KNTV and SNLA. Games 2 and 3 are scheduled for Saturday, April 28 at 1:05 pm PT on KNTV and SNLA and NSBA and SNLA, respectively. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday, April 29 at 2:05 pm PT on NSBA and SNLA.

Williamson and Belt each go deep in Giants’ 4-3 win over Nationals

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–It maybe early in the year, but the San Francisco Giants are beginning to show why they have three World Series in the past eight years.

Mac Williamson hit a towering home run to straightaway centerfield in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Giants made it three straight victories with a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals in front of a crowd of 37,147 at AT&T Park Tuesday night.

The Williamson home run measured at 423 feet went deep over the centerfield wall to give the Giants the second series win in a row.

There was a scary moment for Williamson in the top of the fifth inning, as he attempted to catch a Bryce Harper foul, Williamson went crashing into the padded wall near the bullpen area.

“Feeling fine, spiked my calf,” said Williamson.

Brandon Belt continued his hot hitting, as he extended his hitting streak to seven games, as he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. It was the fifth home run for Belt in the last six games.

Joe Panik went three-for-four at the plate, as the Giants have won four out of their last five games.

Reyes Moronta pitched two innings, as he allowed just one hit and struck out two and won his first major league game.

“Reyes is doing a great job,” said Ty Blach.

Blach went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out three, as he did not fare in the decision.

Blach was looking good until he got into trouble in the top of the fourth inning, as he walked Ryan Zimmerman, gave up a single to Moises Sierra and then Michael Taylor tied up the game with one swing of the bat. Taylor took a Blach pitch to the right-field arcade for a three-run home run that tied up the game.

It was a tough few days for Blach, as he suffered food poisoning in Anaheim, and was on IV yesterday, according to Bruce Bochy.

“Down eight or nine pounds,” said Blach.

Tanner Roark pitched six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walked two, struck out four. Roark also threw two wild pitches, and gave up two home runs, as hid record fell to 1-2 on the season.

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija heads to the mound on Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants look for the sweep. The Nationals will send Max Scherzer to the hill, as they look to salvage the series finale.

In his last five starts against the Nationals, Samardzija is 0-5 with a 6.43 earned run average in 28 innings pitched.

On the other hand, in his last two starts versus the Giants, Scherzer has 21 strikeouts and just one walk.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Nationals conclude their three-game series Wednesday afternoon at 12:45 pm PT.