Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants have two two-game splits so far on homestand; Diamondbacks take first place team into AT&T for three-game set against Giants

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@sfgiants photo: San Francisco Giants starter Ty Blach makes a delivery against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday at AT&T to conclude the two game series

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Seems like the Giants couldn’t do much with the Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw, who went eight innings and gave up a run.

#2 Fortunately for the Giants they got good pitching as well from Ty Blach, who pitched six innings giving up four hits and a run.

#3 The Dodgers in extras did get help from their bench as pinch hitter Kyle Farmer, who hit a opposite field double for an RBI to score teammate Cody Bellinger for the go-ahead and winning run.

#4 This was a tightly-played series between the two rival teams with both games of the rain shortened two-game series going extra innings.

#5 The Arizona Diamondbacks (7-2)–first place in the NL West–open a three-game series at AT&T Park tonight as this will be another test for San Francisco, who will try and use a strong offensive line up against the competitive D-Backs.

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

 

Farmer’s Insurance: Dodger’s Farmer wins it in extras clutch RBI double for 2-1 win

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on twitter @thecaryoz photo: Los Angeles Dodger hitter Kyle Farmer takes a hack at an opposite field double that scored teammate Cody Bellinger in the tenth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Kyle Farmer was sitting on the bench for nine innings, and then Dave Roberts called his name.

Farmer hit an opposite field double over the head of Andrew McCutchen in the top of the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-1 before a sellout crowd of 42,374 at AT&T Park.

The double off the right field wall scored Cody Bellinger, who came on in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement at first base for Kike Hernandez.

Bellinger doubled off of eventual losing pitcher Pierre Johnson to open the 10th inning, for the Dodgers, who gained a split in the brief two-game series.

Josh Fields pitched a perfect ninth inning for the victory, while Kenley Jansen came on to close it out for the Dodgers, as he picked up his first save of the season.

Despite giving up a base hit to Hunter Pence in the bottom of the 10th inning, Jansen struck out the other three batters he faced.

Matt Kemp’s single scored Yasmani Grandal with the first run that the Dodgers would get on the afternoon against Giants pitching.

It was a no-decision for Kershaw, who opened the season with two consecutive losses, his worst start to a season since 2009 when he also started 0-2.

Kershaw is 22-10 all-time versus the Giants in his career, and in 22 career games at AT&T Park, 21 of them being starts, Kershaw is still 13-4.

The Dodgers also helped out Kershaw on defense, as Chris Taylor robbed Kelby Tomlinson of extra bases in the bottom of extra bases, when he made a diving catch of the Tomlinson hit ball. Kershaw then helped out his own cause, as he pounced off the mound like a cat to get Ty Blach on a little dribbler up the third base line.

After retiring 11 in a row from the bottom of the second inning to the bottom of the sixth inning, the Giants began to get to Kershaw, as they picked up back-to-back singles; however, a great catch by Yaisel Puig in right field for the second out. Following the catch, Puig was able to get up and throw Gorkys Hernandez at third base for the final out of the inning.

Evan Longoria picked up two of the hits for the Giants, as he doubled off of Kershaw in the bottom of the second inning with one out, but was left stranded at second base. Longoria then came up in the bottom of the seventh inning, but like in the second inning, Longoria was left stranded at second base, as Pablo Sandoval grounded out to Chase Utley to end the inning.

The Giants finally got to Kershaw in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Hunter Pence and Kelby Tomlinson each singled off of Kershaw and that would be the end of the day for Kershaw.

JT Chargois replaced Kershaw, and Buster Posey greeted the reliever with a base hit that tied up the game for the Giants. Austin Jackson then grounded into a double play, and then Joe Panik flew out for the third out of the inning.

Kershaw went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits, while walking no one and striking out six.

It was not a bad outing for Ty Blach, who pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking three and striking out just one.

NOTES: Derek Holland takes the mound on Monday night, as he looks for his first win of the season, while Zack Goldey looks to improve to 2-0 on the season for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

McCutchen walks it off in the bottom of the 14th in Giants’ 7-5 win over Dodgers

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Welcome to one of the biggest rivalries in all of major league baseball, Andrew McCutchen of the San Francisco Giants.

McCutchen hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 14th inning, helping the Giants defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 before a sellout crowd of 42,302 at AT&T Park Saturday.

It was the sixth hit of the game for McCutchen, whose previous career high was five that he picked up on May 14, 2010, while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The three-run home run by McCutchen capped a 12-pitch at-bat against Wilmer Font to give the Giants a dramatic come-from-behind victory.

McCutchen was down 1-2 against Font and then fouled off seven consecutive pitches, and then on the 12th pitch of the at-bat he launched the pitch into the left-center field seats for the victory.

Kelby Tomlinson and Joe Panik each singled off of Font before McCutchen’s first home run as a member of the Giants.

“I was just trying to fight him off, fight him off, until I got comfortable enough to whatever he threw up there I was ready to hit,” McCutchen said. “He didn’t elevate it too much there, and I was able to elevate.”

It was a four-RBI game for McCutchen, who saw his batting average raise from .083 to .258.

“Finally showed up today. Finally,” McCutchen said. “It’s only what, Game 7, but when you’re not getting hits, it feels like it’s forever. Feels good to show up today and do the job.”

Buster Posey also hit his first home run of the season for the Giants, as they improved to 4-3 on the young season, while the reigning National League Champion Dodgers fell to 2-6 on the season, their worst start in 42 years.

The Giants led on three different occasions, as they led 1-0, 3-1 and 4-3; however, the Dodgers tied it up every time and took the lead for the only time in the top of the 14th inning.

Roberto Gomez pitched the 14th inning to pick-up his first major league win, as the Giants used all nine relievers.

The Dodgers took their only lead of the game in the top of the 14th, as Logan Forsythe drove in Yasiel Puig with a single.

After just the sixth rainout in the history of AT&T Park, and first since April 11, 2006, the two old rivals played a 14th inning, five hour 16-minute game that started at 3:05 (local time) and ended at 8:21 (local time).

Font was the last reliever for the Dodgers, as manager Dave Roberts used Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu as pinch hitters.

Chase Utley tied up the game in the top of the seventh inning, as he launched a pitch that landed on the arcade in right field. Utley’s double play mate, Corey Seager picked up two hits and reached five times and Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger also picked up two hits.

“We just came up short again,” Roberts said. “That’s five runs in 14 innings. You have to look at each at-bat and the quality needs to get better. There needs to be a better pitch-to-pitch focus.”

Chris Stratton pitched five innings for the Giants, as he gave up two runs and walked four in a no-decision.

Veteran Rich Hill gave up three runs on five hits, while walking just two and striking out six.

NOTES: Kershaw, who came up as a pinch hitter will start the brief two-game series finale on Sunday for the Dodgers. Ty Blach will take the mound for the Giants in a rematch for opening day at Dodger Stadium.

The Giants struck out 18 times against Dodgers, tied for the second most in team history. This was the second time in team history that they struck out 18 times in the same game.

They struck out 18 times on September 1, 1967 against the Cincinnati Reds, and it ties the most ever against the Dodgers, as the Dodgers also did to the Giants on August 31, 1959.

The San Diego Padres struck out 20 Giants on June 18, 2001.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Dodgers conclude the series Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants offense awakens after Wed’s 10-1 laugher against Seattle; Rain out shortens series to two games with Dodgers this weekend

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Photo credit: @HunterPence

On the Giants podcast with Michael;

#1 The San Francisco Giants are coming off a two game win split with the Seattle Mariners last Tuesday and Wednesday. All the talk has been about the Giants breaking out the bats in their 10-1 win.

#2 Some of the hits were from some of the guys that were expected to get around on the ball and it was a break out for some of those guys

#3 It seemed like they went out and were comfortable at the plate and just played their kind of game on offense

#4 Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto had his second good outing on Wednesday he allowed only one run against the Seattle Mariners in the 10-1 win

#5 The NL Champions the Los Angeles Dodgers are back at AT&T Park they’ve come out with a slow start at 2-5 but never underestimate them they can have a break out series and as Giants manager Bruce Bochy says don’t let that record fool you.

#6 If the Dodgers-Giants are rained out tonight a doubleheader will be scheduled for over the weekend

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

 

 

SF Giants’ series opener against Dodgers postponed due to rain; make up doubleheader Apr 28th

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Photo credit: sf.curbed.com photo

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — It does not happen to the San Francisco Giants in the Bay Area often, but it happened in the first two weeks of the season.

The Giants’ series opener against the defending National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers is being postponed due to rain.

With the rainout tonight, tomorrow’s game will now begin at 3:05 pm instead of the scheduled 1:05 pm start due to the weather. Derek Holland will start for the Giants, as his home debut will be pushed back one day.

The makeup game between the Giants and Dodgers will now be part of a day-night doubleheader that will take place on Saturday April 28, as the first game will begin at 1:05 pm and the scheduled 6:05 pm game for that night will be pushed back to a 7:05 pm start.

This is the first rainout at AT&T Park since April 12, 2006, when the Giants game against the Houston Astros postponed due to rain. That was the second game in a row that the Giants and Astros were postponed by rain, as the game on April 11 was also postponed.

Since moving into AT&T Park in 2000, this is only the sixth rainout and the second against the Dodgers. The game between the Giants and Dodgers was also was on April 12, 2003.

Other Giants games postponed since moving to AT&T Park came in the first month that the park opened back in 2000, as the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks was postponed due to rain with then President Bill Clinton in attendance. Just three weeks later, the game against the Colorado Rockies was also postponed due to rain.

In the 60-year history that the Giants have been in San Francisco, this is just the 33rd postponement. A game on May 1, 1992 against the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed due to a city curfew.

Suddenly surging Giants to face Dodgers again

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The last time the San Francisco Giants saw the Los Angeles Dodgers, Joe Panik was the only one in a Giants uniform to generate any offense.

The second baseman accomplished a rare feat by hitting solo home runs in consecutive 1-0 wins to start the 2018 season, but the lack of offense caught up to the Giants last Saturday and Sunday, and the Dodgers were able to rally and get a split of the four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Lefty Derek Holland will take the hill for Friday night’s series opener at AT&T Park opposite Dodgers righty Kenta Maeda, who shut out the Giants over five innings in a 5-0 win Saturday night.

Holland, meanwhile, was on the wrong side of that contest, as he gave up five runs – three earned – on three hits, walking three hitters and striking out four of them.

One thing that is drastically different for the Giants, which was nonexistent in the opening series of the season, is the offense. The Giants split a two-game series at home against Seattle, during which they scored 14 runs.

Even more remarkable was the 10-1 explosion Wednesday afternoon, most of those runs coming against Seattle ace Felix Hernandez. The day was punctuated in the fifth inning, when Pablo Sandoval, noticeably trimmer than his days in Boston, launched a three-run homer into McCovey Cove beyond the right-field bleachers.

Things figure to be a little tougher against Dodgers pitching, as Rich Hill will take the mound for the Dodgers on Saturday, as he faces Chris Stratton. To close out the series, Ty Blach will hope to follow up his stellar effort in the season opener in beating Clayton Kershaw head-to-head, and he will be opposite Kershaw again on Sunday.

Giants look the part, hitting four homers in rout of the Mariners

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — Like a latenight infomercial, the Giants looked like the newest tonic for a more youthful, vibrant lifestyle on Wednesday.

In a 10-1 rout of the Mariners, the Giants hit, pitched, and played defense like it was… well, like it was 2012.

Johnny Cueto was exceptional, going six innings to pick up the win. Cueto won 19 games for the 2012 Reds, his breakthrough campaign, and after two starts this season, he again looks capable, allowing just one run in 13 innings of work. Cueto slipped and tweaked his ankle in his final inning pitched on Wednesday, but afterwards declared himself healthy and humorous.

“I struck him out everytime,” Cueto answered when asked if teammate Pablo Sandoval once again looked like a nightmare of an opponent after launching a three-run, splash-hit home run off Felix Hernandez. The Panda may not have impressed Cueto, but he’s impressed thus far, adjusting to a role as a reserve, and looking svelte as well. His home run off King Felix was smoked, the highlight of the Giants’ five-run fifth, and the end of the evening for the Mariners’ ace.

“He called it. He said he was going to hit a homer today,” Andrew McCutchen said of Sandoval.

Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford also homered in the fifth, and both left the yard as authoritatively as did Sandoval. Of course, both Crawford and Belt first assumed starting roles in 2012, and with both coming off a subpar 2017, the two infielders need bounce back campaigns. Belt’s been the more impressive so far, hitting .353 after a 3 for 4 day.

Contrary to baseball’s ever-changing wisdom, the Giants brought back numerous pieces from last year’s 98-loss disaster, stubbornly maintaining that the group could rebound offensively. The opening weekend in Los Angeles wasn’t close, as the offense produced just two runs–only one earned–the worst opening to a season offensively by any club in 30 years.

But with 14 runs scored in a two-game split with the Mariners, the questions have subsided. And the work put in by the returners in the off-season has started to draw attention.

Sandoval is tremendous shape, following a fitness regimen that challenges him daily, the perfect counter to his reduced playing time. Gorkys Hernandez, who started in center field and homered in the third, is 10 pounds heavier after an off-season, weight lifting program. Belt has shortened his swing, emphasizing a more direct path to the baseball. Hunter Pence, who was scratched due to a hand injury, pinch hit in the eighth. Pence also has assumed a fitness, lifestyle program to keep himself healthier.

The Giants open a three-game set with the Dodgers on Friday night with Derek Holland facing Kenta Maeda in the opener.

Panik and Longoria go deep in Giants’ 6-4 loss to Mariners

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — After looking fantastic against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the season opener, Ty Blach returned to earth in the San Francisco Giants’ home opener.

Blach lasted 4.1 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits, while walking two and striking out two, as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Giants 6-4 before a sellout crowd of 40,901 at AT&T Park.

“He made some good pitches,” said Bruce Bochy.

Due to the Opening Day Pomp and Circumstance, the 1:35 scheduled first pitch actually was 11 minutes later at 1:46.

Within minutes of the first pitch thrown by Blach, the Mariners scored four runs on five hits in the first half inning and never looked back.

“Get out there and compete,” said Blach.

The first six batters to face Blach reached base, as Dee Gordon, Jean Segura, Robinson Cano, and Mike Haniger each scored off of Blach.

It could have been much worse, but Andrew McCutchen was able to catch Kyle Seager leaning off of second base and Brandon Crawford tagged him out for the first out of the afternoon.

That first inning began a huge day for Segura, who picked up hits in his first three at-bats. Following hits in his first at-bats of the game, Segura walked against Pierce Johnson in the top of the sixth inning.

Like in Los Angeles, where he hit two home runs in the Giants first two games of the season, Joe Panik continued his assault on a baseball.

Panik gave the Giants their first run since the ninth inning on Friday night, a span of 21 scoreless innings, as he hit his third home run of the season, when he led off the bottom of the fourth inning for the Giants.

“Obviously you want to come away with the win,” said Panik.

Reyes Moronta pitched 0.2 innings, walking two and striking out two, before giving way to Johnson in the top of the sixth inning.

Austin Jackson picked up his first hit in his new home in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he narrowly beat out a Seager throw. Jackson was originally called out; however, after a 69-second review, Jackson was indeed deemed safe by home plate Ted Barrett.

After the Jackson base hit, the Giants reverted back to their futility of the 2017 season, as Panik hit a ground ball to Cano, who threw to Ryon Healy at first base for the second out and then Healy, threw to Segura, who tagged out Jackson for the final out of the inning.

Evan Longoria picked a great time to get his first hit as a member of the Giants, as he hit a two-run home run of Mariners starter Marco Gonzales in the bottom of the seventh inning.

“Couple of things have not gone our way,” said Longoria.

Gonzales ended up going 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking no one and striking out two on his way to his first win of the young season.

Gregor Blanco got the Giants rally started in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he doubled down the left field line. Kelby Tomlinson then singled Blanco to third base, and then Jackson drove in his first run as a member of the Giants, when he hit a sacrifice fly to Gordon in centerfield to score Blanco without a throw.

Panik then picked up his second hit of the game, as he legged out an infield hit that sent Tomlinson to second base, as he was running on the pitch.

After a McCutchen fly out to right field that advanced Tomilnson an additional 90 feet, Buster Posey grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

NOTES: Prior to the game, the Giants paid their respects to the late San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee, who passed away from a heart attack in December. Former San Francisco Mayors Art Agnos, Frank Jordan, Willie Brown, current State Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, London Breed and Mark Farrell were in attendance. The wife of the late George Moscone, was also in attendance. Anita Lee, the wife of 37 years to Mayor Lee was honored by Giants President and CEO Larry Baer and Giants Manager Bruce Bochy.

In honor of the Giants 60th anniversary of moving to San Francisco, the Giants honored players and managers going back to when they played at Seals Stadium, Candlestick Park and AT&T Park.

Such notables as Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Barry Bonds, Vida Blue, Felipe Alou, Chris Speier, Joe Amalfitano, Dave Dravecky, Duane Kuiper, Mike Krukow, Jeffrey Leonard, Kevin Mitchell, Robby Thompson, Marvin Benard, Robb Nen, Travis Ishikawa, Brian Johnson, Cody Ross, Dusty Baker and special guest Brian Wilson, who in full uniform, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

From 1958 to the present, over 115 million people have come through the gates at Seals Stadium (1958-1959), Candlestick Park (1960-1999) and Pacific Bell, SBC and AT&T Park (2000-present).

During that time frame, from April 15, 1958 to today. Seals Stadium, in their two years saw 2,694,755, in 40 years at Candlestick Park, 54,134,580 people went through the turnstiles and at AT&T Park from 2000-present, 58,181,967 people have entered the ballpark. That is a total of 115,011,302 that have seen games in the City and County of San Francisco since 1958,

UP NEXT: The Giants and Mariners meet again Wednesday at 4:15 pm PT.

Dodged a bullet?: Giants either crafty or overmatched in season-opening weekend

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Photo credit: @TwitVI

By Morris Phillips

If the Giants’ bats come around, they’ll laugh heartily about it.

If they don’t, the entire club will be visibly upset for the next six months.

It’s that serious–and that inconsequential–the Giants scored just two runs in four games to start the season in Dodger Stadium. Ultimately, what matters is what’s yet to come. But if the offense tanks, we’ll all remember the Giants started a subpar season with the most inept opening weekend in terms of offense in the last 30 seasons…

Of any team since the 1988 Orioles lost 12-0 on Opening Day–and 12-1 four days later on the way to 107 defeats–and after the two major upgrades in Longoria and McCutchen, all the faith invested in the holdovers, and the similarity to the last two campaigns, a collapse would be a mouthful to swallow.

Of course, this is a sobering juxtaposition. Could the Giants provide more of the same for a third straight year?

With the increasing ominous signs, it bears watching.

If not, the Giants may have shown that given their tenacity and level of engagement, they may have what it takes to compete. After all, the Giants assumed the most arduous opening of any team in the National League–on the road, against the penant winners with four different start times–and scraped together two, memorable, hard fought wins.

Without a couple of major pieces, that’s an accomplishment.  The precedent set by Joe Panik with his pair of solo shots says it best.

But if the Dodgers can claim the distinction of being the first team in baseball history to allow two or fewer runs in a season-opening four game series than that’s not good. Only one of the two runs were earned? That’s the Giants sending the competition off on their merry way brimming with confidence.

“They’ll get clicking,” Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s a matter of time. … They’re too good. We know that. Hopefully [during] this day off, they’ll get a chance to relax.”

Here’s a snapshot of the numbers from the weekend:

Evan Longoria started the National League portion of his career hitless. The former Tampa Bay Ray went 0 for 15, despite saying he saw some good pitches to hit.

Johnny Cueto was lights out on Friday night, allowing one hit over seven innings, no walks, with four strikeouts. So far no mention of reoccurring issues with blisters. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts astutely pointed that Cueto is especially tough with no baserunners pitching out of the stretch.

Joe Panik’s feat of solo homers in consecutive 1-0 wins is a once in the history of the sport achievement. Forget the distinction of Opening Day, no player has ever solo homered in consecutive games with that game result, period.

Opening the season with a pair of 1-0 wins? That’s been done before. 76 years ago by the Reds in wins over the Cardinals with a huge assist to Johnny VanderMeer. The Reds’ pitching staff one-upped the Giants by winning in extra innings both days, 21 innings total.

The Giants are hitting .192 as a team, ranking them 27th, just in case you mistakenly thought they generated a decent share of traffic on the basepaths, but couldn’t summon any big hits.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Goose eggs for Dodgers; Goose eggs for Giants; Home opener vs. Seattle starts Tuesday

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Back-to-back to back-to-back shutouts to start the 2018 season between the Giants and Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium saw the Giants in game three of the series on Saturday get shutout 5-0 and then again on Sunday 9-0. San Francisco didn’t end up scoring one run in the last two games.

#2 Obvious Giants pitchers missing in either the starting rotation or their star closer are Madison Bumgarner, Jeff Samardzija, and Mark Melancon, which will have felt impact on the rotation very soon

#3 The bullpen struggled Sunday. Giants starter Chris Stratton left with the Giants trailing 2-0, relievers Josh Osich gave up two runs and Miguel Gomez gave up four runs.

#4 Jeff Samardzija will start his rehab assignment with a 20-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday and Friday then Samardzija will start pitching in Triple-A Sacramento, and after that, is scheduled to rejoin the big club on April 15th in San Diego.

#5 The Giants have Monday off before the home opener on Tuesday afternoon at AT&T Park. The Giants open the series with a brief two-game meeting with the Seattle Mariners.

Morris Phillips is the San Francisco Giants beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com