Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Holland and Quintana matched up well in Tuesday’s contest; Former Giants coach Flannery is Giant PA announcer for a day

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mercurynews.com file photo: San Francisco Giants PA announcer Tim Flannery took the day off from his work at NBC Bay Area TV to work for Renel the regular Giants PA announcer who took the day off to M.C. Mayor London Breed’s  inauguration at San Francisco City Hall

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

Addison Russell of the Chicago Cubs hit a double off San Francisco Giants’ starter Derek Holland. Holland was lifted after Russell’s hit. Giant reliever Sam Dyson threw a wild pitch that allowed Russell to score. For Holland, it was a hard fought loss. Holland went 6.1 innings, one run, five hits, no walks and eight strikeouts.

The Cubs are a tough customer and their starter Tuesday Jose Quintana went six innings, three hits, two walks, three strike outs, Quintana improves his record to 8-6. The Cubs will be starting Mike Montgomery (3-3) going against Giants’ Johnny Cueto (3-1).

Cueto struggled in his last outing, giving up a combined five runs in the first two inning of his last start last Thursday at AT&T Park against the St Louis Cardinals.

Giants’ side note: Former San Francisco Giants third base coach Tim Flannery was the P.A. announcer for Wednesday’s Giants vs. Cubs game. Flannery was on NBC Bay Area Sports sitting in the P.A. booth practicing reading his notes in his P.A. voice on the live broadcast before the ball game.

Renel, who is the Giants regular P.A. announcer, missed her first two Giants games as announcer when her mother passed away and when Renel had a broken leg she was replaced by USF announcer Joey Hallisy both times. Renel was the announcer at the ceremony for Mayor London Breed’s inauguration at San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday. Renel will be back in the P.A. line up Friday when the Giants host the Oakland A’s.

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

 

Huge throwing error cost Giants in 2-0 shutout loss to Cubs

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — With the possibility of taking the series on the horizon, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy switched his rotation up and Derek Holland got the start.

Holland pitched well, but it was his double to Addison Russell that proved to what the Chicago Cubs.

Russell doubled off of Holland with one out in the top of the seventh inning, and that was the end of the line for Holland, who pitched a great game.

Sam Dyson uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Russell, and on the play, Nick Hundley’s throw went past Pablo Sandoval that allowed Russell to score and the Cubs defeated the Giants 2-0 before a crowd of 39,113 at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.

Dyson then walked Kyle Schwarber, but Hundley threw Schwarber out at second base for the second out of the inning. It looked like the Giants might get out of the jam, but Dyson walked Ian Happ and then Victor Cartini doubled to right field that allowed Happ to score from first base.

It was a hard-fought loss for Holland, who went 6.1 innings, allowing just one run on five hits, not walking a batter and striking out eight, as he saw his record fall to 5-8 on the season.

The eight strikeouts by Holland tied his season-high, as he also struck out eight on June 26 against the Colorado Rockies in a 3-2 Giants victory.

The two-run seventh inning made a winner out of Jose Quintana, who went six innings, allowing just three hits, walking two and striking out three, as he improved to 8-6 on the season.

Double plays cost the Giants as well, as they hit into two inning-ending double plays that could have possibly given them the lead.

With runners on first and second with nobody out in the bottom of the third inning, Hundley grounded into the first Giants double play of the evening.

Gorkys Hernandez led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk, but was cut down at second base, when Andrew McCutchen grounded into a double play that ended that frame and the Cubs took the lead in the following inning.

Hernandez, who was retired on the McCutchen double play to end the bottom of the sixth inning was the Giants runner to reach base, as the Cubs bullpen trio of Carl Edwards, Justin Wilson and Steve Cishek retired the final nine Giants batters.

Ray Black made his second appearance on the mound for the Giants after an inauspicious major league debut, where he walked two and gave up a pinch-hit three-run home run to Matt Carpenter in the top of the eighth inning in the Giants’ 13-8 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon.

Black struck out National League All-Star starting catcher Wilson Contreras to begin the inning for his first Major League strikeout. Russell then made it two strikeouts in a row, as he struck out for the second out of the inning. After falling behind Schwarber 3-1, Black regrouped to get Schwarber to pop out to Brandon Crawford for the third out of the inning.

Steve Cishek pitched a perfect ninth inning to pick up his third save of the season, just one night after being the losing pitcher in a 2-1 Giants win in the opener of the three-game series.

Even though he committed the error that ultimately gave the Cubs the game, Hundley was able to throw two runners out at second base. Hundley got David Bote to end the top of the second inning, after Bote got the first hit of the game for the Cubs.

Hundley then got Schwarber just after he walked in the top of the seventh inning, where the Cubs scored all the only runs of the game.

Chase d’Arnaud made his first start as a Giant, and responded by getting a single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto will take the mound on Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants look for the series win., while Mike Montgomery will take the hill for the Cubs.

Unless the two teams meet each other in the postseason, Wednesday afternoon will be the final time that the two teams will meet this season.

After not having a day off since June 25, the Giants will be off on Thursday before opening a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday night at AT&T Park.

During the 16-game stretch with one game remaining before the day off, the Giants are 8-7, as they faced the Rockies twice, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cubs.

Joe Panik could be back in about three weeks, instead of close to six weeks that was originally stated.

“It’s getting batter, still a lot of season left and the team is playing well,” said Panik.

Evan Longoria is increasing his baseball activity, and should be back around the first week of August.

“All hands are on deck, (meaning starters) for guys who need a break out of the bullpen,” said Bruce Bochy.

This was the first time that the Giants were shutout at home this season, and the first time since September 16, 2017 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

UP NEXT: The Giants conclude their series with the Cubs Wednesday afternoon at 12:45 pm PDT.

Feature: He Was a Giant? Former Giant Bill Bordley (1980)

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Photo credit: alchetron.com

By: Tony The Tiger Hayes

HE WAS A GIANT?
BILL BORDLEY — LHP — 1980 — #34

It made national news in 1979 when the Giants won the rights to acquire this strapping, hard-throwing, uber blue-chipper out of USC. Bordley was viewed as a southpaw Tom Seaver with a brilliant college pedigree and a ceiling as high as the moon.

But like a lot of scenarios for the Giants in the early ’80s, Bordley turned out to be more Fools Gold than a Golden Ticket.

Despite all the fanfare he arrived with, Bordley ended pitching in just eight games for the Orange and Black and never made it back to the majors.

Why was he a Giant?
Before the secondary phase of the ’79 draft, Bordley–who had a family medical hardship–stated a desire to play on the West Coast. Cincinnati drafted him anyways. After some legal posturing, Bordley was eventually released from the Reds’ grips and the names of five teams that fit the pitcher’s criteria were dropped in a hat. The Giants won.

Before and after
Bordley was a super star all the way up to joining the Giants. At Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, the southpaw set school records across the board, leading to a scholarship to USC. Once there He set the college freshman strikeout high watermark – a record that stood until Tim Lincecum broke it in 2004. After two seasons as a Trojan, Bordley’s record stood at 26-2 and led USC to the 1978 College World Series title.

Bordley was signed to a Major League contract and fast tracked through the minors. Within a year he was with the Giants. Two years and two elbow surgeries later, he was out of pro ball.

Bordley went back to USC earned a degree in finance and then began a career with the Secret Service. He was on President Bill Clinton’s detail for several years and was called upon to testify in the Monica Lewinsky mess.

Eventually, Bordley made it back to the big leagues and is now MLB’s Vice President for security.

He was no Tom Seaver. But…
He beat Tom Seaver. In his Giants debut, Bordley out-dueled the Hall of Famer, allowing three runs over six innings in an 8-4 win over the Reds at Candlestick Park (6/30/80). He also collected his lone big league hit that day off Tom Terrific.

Giants’ footprint
As a baseball security chief, Bordley is not only in charge of keeping every MLB player safe from harms way but also every fan, he has visited AT&T Park several times during his time with the commissioner’s office.

Tony The Tiger Hayes does Giants features for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Posey to sit out All-Star game to rest hip will get cortisone Sun ; Can A’s win a series in Houston?

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mercurynews.com file photo: Giants catcher Buster Posey slides in file photo will be out of the All Star game to rest hip and get a cortisone shot after Sunday’s game

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey announced before Monday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park in San Francisco that he will sit out next week’s All-Star game to rest his hip. The St. Louis Cardinals’ catcher Yadier Molina will be the National League’s signal-caller in place of Posey.

For the A’s-Astros series in Houston, the question is can the A’s break the spell and win a series at Minute Maid Field? The A’s have played some great ball of late with key hitting and great closer help from Blake Treinen, who has 22 saves, just might make a series out of it.

The Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu could be joining the Astros during this current Astros homestand. Abreu for the season is hitting .259 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. It would be ironic if he could join the Astros during this series against the A’s.

The Arizona Diamondbacks had an executive from the club scouting at Comerica Park last Sunday to watch pitcher Michael Fulmer 3-8 ERA 4.11. Last Sunday, Fulmer delivered seven strong innings. The Diamondbacks are looking to get some help in their quest to hold onto first place and the postseason and Fulmer is someone they feel that can help the club.

On Monday, there were possible trade possibilities between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles. The Brewers were very interested in obtaining Manny Machado’s services and sending Brett Phillips to the O’s. Phillips had a great minor league season last year, hitting .317; but has struggled in the Brewers’ triple-A system this year. The Yankees have also expressed interest in Machado, which actually is a very likely scenario for Machado.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio play-by-play talent and goes through all the trade rumors and All-Star break news at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Playoff Atmosphere: Giants show well in 2-1, extra innings win over the Cubs

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — Monday night’s tense, playoff-like meeting of the Cubs and Giants needed a hero. In the 11th inning, Pablo Sandoval emerged as that guy.

One day after Sandoval came up with five RBIs in the Giants’ 13-8 win over the Cardinals, the Panda delivered the game-winning hit against the Cubs. Never an insignificant feat, Sandoval gained difficulty points by delivering against a five-man infield while facing formidable reliever Pedro Strop.

“You can’t let that affect your at-bat, and I don’t think it affected Pablo at all,” said manager Bruce Bochy of the crowded infield and Sandoval’s cold-blooded approach.

When Sandoval delivered the two teams had been locked into a 1-1 duel for nearly six innings. While the Giants realized more run scoring opportunities, the Cubs and manager Joe Maddon had answers with starter Kyle Hendricks, who pitched into the ninth, and relievers Randy Rosario and Steve Cishek.

In the tenth inning, Cishek extricated the Cubs from a one-out, runner at third situation by striking out inexperienced hitters Chase d’Arnaud and Steven Duggar. That stranded would-be hero Hunter Pence, who tripled to put the Giants in position, prompting Maddon to move versatile outfielder Ben Zobrist to the infield the first time.

One inning later, the Giants were in the advantageous spot with Strop summoned to face the more dangerous Sandoval, after the Cubs elected to walk All-Star Brandon Crawford ahead of him.

“He’s our best hitter right now,” Sandoval said of Crawford. “I just dropped everything from my mind. I got the opportunity and I took advantage of it.”

Starter Andrew Suarez impressed again by allowing one run on three hits in six innings of work. Suarez struggled with his command, walking four, but got big outs when needed.

Five Giants relievers would follow Suarez, each pitching an inning without falling into stressful situations. Of the five, only closer Will Smith allowed a hit, Zobrist’s two-out double in the ninth. Smith recovered by retiring David Bote to end the inning.

The Giants improved to 3-2 on their lengthy, 10-game homestand, and moved within three games of the idle, first-place Arizona.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips and Michael Duca: The youth movement has begun; Giants get help from Suarez, Duggar and Hanson to hold off Cubs

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@NBCSGiants photo: It was a pitchers duel as the San Francisco Giants came out ahead 2-1 with starters for the Chicago Cubs Kyle Hendricks left and for the Giants Andrew Suarez (right)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris and Michael:

The youth movement at the San Francisco Giants has begun. They have a mix of veterans and youth. Steven Duggar started and led off on Monday night, Giants starter Andrew Suarez was consistent and has been more impressive than pitcher Chris Stratton.

Suarez went six innings, three hits, a run, earned, four walks and five strikeouts. Suarez was really on his game in beating the Chicago Cubs 2-1. It’s been a team of a cast of 1000s and guys are coming out of nowhere to make contributions.

Alen Hanson and Pablo Sandoval feel like starters. They don’t even feel like replacements at this point. At some point, you have to wonder if this is going to be a story of the Giants or individual achievements and we’re still waiting to see if this team can get hot.

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

 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Crawford and Posey named to All-Star team; Big day for Sandoval on Sunday with 5 RBIs

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sfexaminer.com file photo: Shortstop Brandon Crawford had himself an All Star first half for the Giants and will be going to Washington for the mid summer classic next week

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

The Giants’ Pablo Sandoval came through with a three-run blast in the fifth to help the Giants in a 13-8 five-run win at AT&T Park on Sunday. Sandoval’s blast was one of three hits by a Giant hitter. Andrew McCutchen and Alan Hansen also got three hits in Sunday’s game.

The Giants’ 13 runs against the Cardinals were the most since they did it off the Minnesota Twins on June 11, 2016. Sandoval hit for five RBIs for the third time in his career. The Giants host the Chicago Cubs tonight at AT&T Park. The Cubs are a a big draw and should sell out the park for all three dates and prove to be a great contest for the Giants.

Morris also talks about the elections of Giants’ All-Stars Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey to next’s week’s All-Star game.

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

Sandoval helps Giants gain a split with 3-run blast in 13-8 win over Cardinals

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theintelligencer.com photo: San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval follows the path of his 3-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 8, 2018, in San Francisco.

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Pablo Sandoval wanted to help the San Francisco Giants gain a split against the St. Louis Cardinals, and he helped out, both on offense and defense.

Sandoval launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, helping the Giants to a 13-8 victory over the Cardinals before a crowd of 38,855 at AT&T Park on Sunday. The 13 runs scored by the Giants were their most in a home game since they scored 13 against the Minnesota Twins on June 11, 2016.

The home run by Sandoval was one of three hits for him on the afternoon, as he was joined in the three-hit club by Andrew McCutchen and Alen Hanson.

Not only did Sandoval have three hits on the afternoon, he also drove in five runs for the third time in his career. It was the first time since September 4, 2013, against the Padres, a span of 1,768 games since last Sandoval’s five RBI game. In that game, Sandoval hit three home runs and drove in six runs.

Sandoval also helped out on defense, as he made a tremendous play on a Marcell Ozuna, as he stopped the ball from going down the line, threw from his knees to get Tommy Pham at second base. On the play, Sandoval sprained his left thumb and despite being looked at by the trainers, he stayed in the game.

The win by the Giants gave Madison Bumgarner his second win of the season, and saw the Major League debut of two of their two top minor league prospects, Ray Black and Steven Duggar.

Two Giants received good news after the game, as Brandon Crawford won the fan vote for the National League All-Star team and will start in the game on July 17 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Crawford will be joined by Buster Posey, who was selected by the players.

Brandon Belt will be part of the Final Player selected process, as he will join on the final ballot along with Jesus Aguilar of the Milwaukee Brewers, Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals, Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals.

Yairo Munoz drove in three runs for the Cardinals, as he gave them a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as he took a Bumgarner pitch and put it into the left-field seats.

The Giants changed all that in the bottom of the third inning, as they scored three runs, as Posey reached on a Paul DeJong fielding error that scored Gorkys Hernandez from second base, as he led off the inning with a double off of Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty.

Following the DeJong error that allowed Bumgarner to go to second base, he then scored on an McCutchen single. Brandon Belt gave the Giants a two-run lead, as he singled to score Posey.

Munoz tied up the game in the top of the fourth inning, as he singled to centerfield to score Marcell Ozuna and Jedd Gyorko.

Harrison Bader scored the fourth run of the game for the Cardinals, as he was hit by a pitch and then scored on a Jose Martinez single.

That was the score for one-half inning, as Sandoval launched his eighth home run of the season that landed on the arcade. The three-run home run by Sandoval scored Brandon Belt, who doubled with one out, went to third on a Crawford single and then Sandoval launched a John Brebbia pitch onto the arcade.

Flaherty lasted just 2.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned), walking two and striking out two, as he did not fare in the decision.

Bumgarner went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out six, as he improved to 2-3 on the season.

After starting the season without a hit in his first 14 at-bats, Bumgarner picked up a single in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Duggar made his major league debut an eventful one, as after he was 0-for-3, including two strikeouts, Duggar picked up his first major league hit in the bottom of the sixth inning on a double to centerfield off of Greg Holland.

The Giants broke the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Duggar led off the inning with a double, then Posey walked. After McCutchen grounded out for the first out of the inning, Belt was intentionally walked by Holland and it worked for the Cardinals, as Holland was able to get Crawford to strikeout for the second out of the inning.

Unfortunately for Holland, Crawford would be the last batter that he would retire, as Sandoval drove in two more runs with a single and then Hanson singled for the second time in as many at-bats. Gorkys Hernandez then got in on the act, as he singled to score Sandoval from second base and the speedy Hanson from first base.

This was the second time in the game that Hanson showed his speed, as he went from first to third on a Hernandez groundout in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The five runs allowed by Holland were the most that he allowed since August 27, 2010, while a member of the Kansas City Royals.

Black made his debut in the top of the eighth inning, as he pitched just one-third of an inning, allowing three runs on one hit, walking two and striking out no one.

Three of Black’s pitches reached 100 miles per hour, and mainly all of the pitches were 98 and above.

Carpenter cut the Giants lead in half, as he launched a three-run pinch-hit home run off of Black.

It was the 121st “Splash Hit” overall since AT&T Park opened on April 11, 2000, and the 43rd by an opponent.

This was the second “Splash Hit,” by a Cardinals player, as Carpenter joins Larry Walker, who hit into McCovey Cove, 13 years ago today on July 8, 2005.

Carpenter’s only other pinch-hit home run came on September 6, 2016 at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates, off of current Giants reliever Tony Watson.

The Giants added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Sandoval and Hernandez scored on a DeJong error on a ball hit by Hunter Pence.

Duggar then picked up his second hit of the afternoon, as he legged out an infield hit that sent Pence to third base.

Martinez went 3-for-5 in the loss for the Cardinals, who after a day off on Monday, open a brief two-game series against the Chicago White Sox on the corner of 35thand Shields on the South Side of Chicago on Tuesday night.

NOTES: Andrew Suarez looks his fourth win of the season on Monday night, as he takes the mound for the opener against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the hill.

Hernandez was forced to leave the game with tightness in his left calf in the sixth inning.

Pham was forced to leave the game with a left ankle contusion in the eighth inning.

UP NEXT: The Giants will host the Cubs Monday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

Giants transactions: Gearrin and Jackson traded, while Black and Duggar called up

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Photo credit: sfgate.com

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Sometimes, on Sunday morning, there is no news around the ballpark, but today is there is a lot of news surrounding the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants traded pitcher Cory Gearrin, outfielder Austin Jackson and Minor League pitcher Jason Bahr to the Texas Rangers in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

To replace both Gearrin and Jackson on the roster, the Giants purchased the contracts of right-handed pitcher Ray Black and outfielder Steven Duggar from Triple-A Sacramento.

Both Black and Duggar will be making their first appearances on a major-league roster, and Manager Bruce Bochy is wasting no time with Duggar, as he is hitting lead-off and playing center field in today’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.

It has been a tough road to the majors for Black, who was drafted by the Giants with their seventh selection in the 2011 draft, but missed his first two professional seasons in 2012 and 2013 due to a torn labrum.

That was not all of Black’s injuries, as he detailed all of his injuries he has occurred since his days at the University of Pittsburgh.

While with the Panthers, Black had knee and hand surgeries in both 2009 and 2010, then came the labrum. Black then tore the Lat muscle in his arm in 2015, and finally his elbow was scoped in 2017.

His first surgery came in 2006, as he underwent Tommy John surgery as a high schooler in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Duggar, who was drafted by the Giants out of Clemson University in the sixth round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft played in just 42 games between the Arizona Giants, San Jose Giants and the Sacramento Rivercats in 2017, as he missed the first seven weeks of the season with a flexor strain in his right elbow, and then he was out with a left hamstring strain.

This season with the Rivercats, Duggar was hitting .272 with four home runs and 21 runs batted in, as he played in 78 games for the Rivercats.

In 21.2 innings pitched this season, Black was 2-0 with a 2.91 earned run average in 22 games. Black walked just seven batters, while striking out 38 in those 21.2 innings for the Rivercats. He also picked up one save.

Samardzija looks good, despite Giants’ hard-fought 3-2 loss to Cardinals

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Photo credit: @mlbtraderumors

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — With the exception of one bad inning, it was a sufficient return for Jeff Samardzija to the San Francisco Giants’ starting rotation before game three versus the St. Louis Cardinals.

Carlos Martinez helped out his own cause, as he doubled in the top of the third inning, as the Cardinals defeated the Giants 3-2 before a crowd of 39,606 at AT&T Park on Saturday afternoon.

Martinez’s double scored Kolten Wong, who singled to lead-off the inning, went to second on a Francisco Pena ground out and then scored on the Martinez double.

With the loss, the Giants have lost five out of their last six following the sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks from June 29 to July 1.

During this six game stretch, the Giants are hitting .167, as they are 31-for-186 at the plate against the Colorado Rockies and the Cardinals.

The Cardinals added two runs in the top of the fourth inning, as Dexter Fowler hit a sacrifice fly that scored Marcell Ozuna. After the Ozuna singled with one out in the inning, Paul DeJong then singled Ozuna to third base.

Wong picked up his second hit in as many at-bats, and then Francisco Pena drove in DeJong with a sharp single of his own.

Through the first three games of the series, Wong has multi-hit games in all three games and is batting .500 (6-for-12) with a double, triple and two runs batted in.

Brandon Belt drove in the Giants’ lone run of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he doubled off the right field wall to score Gorkys Hernandez, who led off the inning with a single.

Belt got back in on the act in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he singled off of Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks, who replaced Martinez in the bottom of the frame.

Alen Hanson singled with one out, went to second on a Hicks wild pitch and then scored on Belt’s third hit in four at-bats.

The 41 runs batted in by Belt lead the team, as he drove in both runs in the one-run loss.

Martinez went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits, while walking no one and striking out three, as he improved to 6-4 on the season.

Samardzija ended up going five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking just one and striking out three, as he fell to 1-5 on the season.

This was the first game all season that the Giants’ top three starters of Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Samardzija were active at the same time. Bumgarner missed 60 games, Cueto missed 70 games and Samardzija missed 53 games.

NOTES: Bumgarner will take the mound on Sunday, as the Giants look to salvage the finale and he attempts to raise his record to 2-3 on the season. The Cardinals will look to take the series, as they will send Jack Flaherty to the mound, as he looks to improve to 4-4 on the season.

As expected, Joe Panik was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left groin strain, and the contract of Chase d’Arnaud was purchased from Triple-A Sacramento.

To make room for d’Arnaud on the 40-man roster, Hunter Strickland was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

With Samardzija coming off the disabled list, Chris Stratton was optioned to Sacramento. Prior to being optioned to Sacramento, Stratton was 8-6 on the season with a 4.93 earned run average.

Since the 2017 season, the Giants have lost six out of their last eight games against the Cardinals, and have been outscored 48-23 during that stretch.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Cardinals conclude their four-game series on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT.