Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants complete sweep of D-backs with 9-6 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, July 1, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The San Francisco Giants had its bats going Sunday, completing its three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 9-6 win and a 16-hit attack at Chase Field on Sunday.

Yet, it was a defensive gem that helped make it possible. That, and a key pinch hit from Hunter Pence.

By sweeping the D-backs, San Francisco pulled to within 2 ½ games of first-place Arizona in the NL West race.

“It started with our pitching,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Today, (Derek) Holland wasn’t quite on top of his game and worked pretty hard out there, but he kept us in the game. It was timely hitting too; the guys got some big hits. Our defense, the bullpen, everything.

“To win all three, you have to play really good ball, especially against this team.”

In the fourth inning, the D-backs closed their deficit to 4-3. With two out, a run in and bases loaded, Christian Walker sent a scorching grounder down the right field line that first baseman Brandon Belt snared on the edge of the outfield grass.

Belt’s throw to Cody Gearrin, sprinting from the pitcher’s mound, beat Walker and snuffed out the Arizona rally.

“Holland had 90 pitches at that stage,” Bochy said. “That was a huge out, a huge play. At first, I thought it was going to get through, but that was a beautiful play that Belt made.”

Pence, pinch-hitting for Gearrin, greeted D-Backs reliever Silvino Bracho with a two-run double down the left-field line, driving in Austin Slater and Joe Panik. Two batters later, Pence scored on Brandon Belt’s base hit.

“Hunter is our spiritual leader,” Bochy said. “I know his role has changed and it’s not easy. He went up there today and delivered for us. It’s going to take everybody and these guys need to know that – off the bench or playing regularly.

“Hunter has such a great attitude. He just wants to do anything he can to help the club win.”

San Francisco broke the game open with a four-run rally in the fifth, chasing D-backs starter Zack Godley (9-6) and taking an 8-3 lead. After Godley issued back-to-back walks to Alen Hanson and Slater, Panik’s RBI single to center scored Hanson, setting up Pence’s pinch-double.

Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh off Giants reliever Pierce Johnson – his 18th of the season – pulled Arizona to within 8-5. Goldschmidt homered after Nick Ahmed led off with a triple.

In the ninth, pinch-hitter Austin Jackson doubled and scored the Giants’ ninth run on Crawford’s two-out double. The D-backs responded with a run in the bottom of the ninth on John Ryan Murphy’s two-out RBI single off Mark Melancon.

With runners at first and second, Will Smith replaced Melancon and struck out Jake Lamb to earn his second save.

“Melancon’s stuff is fine,” Bochy said. “He’s still finding his way, I think, a little bit. His confidence will grow the more work that he gets. With all the time that he missed, I think he’s still trying to get to mid-season form.”

Noting that the bullpen is in flux, Bochy said, “We’ll use everybody. We have guys that are interchangeable and can pitch the seventh, eighth or ninth. We’ll mix it up.”

The Giants manufactured a run in the second inning to open the scoring. Nick Hundley walked, moved to second on Pablo Sandoval’s single, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Joe Panik’s base hit.

An alert play by D-backs catcher John Ryan Murphy squelched the rally. When Holland’s swinging bunt died in the dirt a foot in front of the plate, Murphy pounced on it and fired a strike to shortstop Nick Ahmed to start an inning-ending double play.

Arizona answered by taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second. After Murphy walked and Lamb doubled, Chris Owings hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Murphy. With two out, Jerrod Dyson sliced a bloop single to left, scoring Lamb.

San Francisco scored twice in the third to regain the lead at 3-2. Gorkys Hernandez led off with a base hit, and after Belt flied out to center and Andrew McCutchen struck out, Brandon Crawford singled before Hundley delivered a base hit to score Hernandez.

Holland helped himself in the fourth when he led off with a double and scored on Belt’s one-out single, extending the Giants’ lead to 4-2.

The D-backs cut their deficit to 4-3 in the fourth when Lamb scored on Dyson’s one-out single. Arizona loaded the bases with two out, and after Holland was replaced on the mound by Cory Gearrin (1-1), the D-backs failed to capitalize.

Hundley was 3-for-5, while Belt, Crawford, Slater and Panik each collected four hits. Dyson, Ahmed, Walker, Murphy and David Peralta each had two hits for Arizona.

San Francisco used seven pitchers in a game where neither starting pitcher lasted past the fourth inning. Gearrin faced one batter to get the win.

Godley gave up seven of San Francisco’s nine runs – all earned – on nine hits in four-plus innings.

After winning the first two games with its pitching, Bochy felt it was important to win one by outhitting the opposition.

“Over the course of a season, you’re going to have starters that occasionally aren’t on top of their game,” Bochy said. “So, you have to slug it out with the other club occasionally and put some runs on the board. They did that today.”

The Giants’ road trip continues Monday through Wednesday in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. San Francisco’s probables for the series, in order, are Madison Bumgarner (1-2), Chris Stratton (8-5) and Andrew Saurez (3-4).

GIANT JOTTINGS: 3B Pablo Sandoval left Sunday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the third inning. Sandoval suffered a right elbow contusion; X-rays were negative. … RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder tightness) is scheduled to start for Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, and RHP Johnny Cueto (right elbow sprain) is slated to throw a bullpen session on Monday. … Attendance at Chase Field Sunday was 29,721 for the three-hour, 45-minute contest.

UP NEXT: The Giants will travel to Colorado to take on the Rockies. Game 1 is Monday night at 5:40 pm PDT.

Rodriguez takes control as Giants shut out D-backs 7-0

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, June 30, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – San Francisco used a long inning to build an early lead Saturday, a strong start from Dereck Rodriguez, and the Giants defeated the Diamondbacks 7-0 in the second game of their weekend series at Chase Field.

The Giants have won nine of their last 11 games and cut their deficit in the NL West division to 3 ½ games behind the first-place D-backs.

D-backs starter Shelby Miller (0-2) struggled through five innings, giving up six earned runs on nine hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Most of the damage occurred when San Francisco batted around in the third, scoring four runs.

“I thought Shelby had pretty good stuff. That four-run inning really put us behind the 8-ball,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “Shelby was making mistakes out over the plate with an aggressive fastball. At this time of year, it’s hard to be patient. We just have to remind him that this is part of the progression.”

It was Miller’s second start since returning to the D-Backs from over a year of rehab following Tommy John surgery in May 2017.

“This is to be expected,” Lovullo said of Miller’s progress. “These are situations where coming back from Tommy John isn’t going to be perfect. This is just part of the process. We know this outing was better than the last. He got nicked for a run in the fourth, but came back at the heart of their lineup and got them 1-2-3.

“Shelby got through that fifth inning, and that was progression to me.”

While Miller struggled, Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez (3-1) threw 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Rodriguez fanned five, walked two and scattered six hits before being pulled after throwing 102 pitches. It was Rodriguez’s first career start against the Diamondbacks.

Giants catcher Buster Posey said, “It was execution, moving the ball down and out and changing speeds,” Posey said. “He’s got a really nice feel for what he’s doing out there.”

After Rodriguez departed, Ty Blach and Cory Gearrin combined to retire eight of the last nine Diamondback hitters.

Posey said that “execution” has been the key to the success of Rodriguez and the other young San Francisco pitchers.

“That, and gaining confidence,” Posey said. “They’re able to come out with a game plan and they’re able to execute it. It’s been fun to watch their progression and hopefully, there’s more of that to come.”

The offense backed the shutout effort with a 12-hit attack, led by Andrew McCutchen (3-for-5) and Gorkys Hernandez (2-for-4). Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik each drove in two runs.

With one out in the San Francisco third, consecutive singles by Posey, McCutchen and Brandon Belt loaded the bases. An RBI walk issued to Crawford made it 2-0, and Sandoval followed with a two-run single.

Joe Panik’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Crawford with the fourth run of the inning. McCutchen added a solo home run in the fourth, extending San Francisco’s lead to 6-0. It was McCutchen’s ninth home run of the season.

At that point, Miller had thrown 80 pitches.

Panik tacked on a solo home run to right – his fourth of the season – in the eighth inning.

Crawford’s solo home run to lead off the San Francisco second put the Giants up to stay at 1-0. The blast – Crawford’s 10th of the season – cleared the right-center fence inside the 413-foot marker.

With Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija on the disable list, the emergence of young pitchers like Rodriguez has been crucial to the Giants’ recent success.

“It’s no secret that good pitching is what it’ going to take to get to the playoffs and win another championship,” Posey said. “It’s good to see him having this success.”

On Sunday, left-hander Derek Holland (5-7, 4.24) starts for the Giants, facing right-hander Zack Godley (9-5, 4.58). First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: Arizona SS Ketel Marte pulled up with a right leg injury while running out an infield single in the seventh inning. Lovullo said Marte had a right hamstring cramp and is day-to-day. … Giants RHP Johnny Cueto (right elbow sprain) threw 4-plus scoreless innings in his second rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento. Cueto threw 69 pitches, struck out five and walked one. RHP Jeff Samardzija (right shoulder tightness) will make his fourth rehab appearance on Monday for the PCL River Cats. … Arizona OF David Peralta played in his 500th MLB game on Friday. … D-Backs are 9-3 in their last 12 home games against San Francisco, going back to last season. … Outside temperature at game time was 105 degrees, 81 inside. Attendance was 38,117.

UP NEXT: The Giants and D-backs conclude their three-game set on Sunday at 1:10 pm PDT.

Slater continues hot hitting, Giants nip D-backs 2-1

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, June 29, 2018

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento last Saturday, San Francisco Giants outfielder Austin Slater has merely picked up where he left off.

Slater’s hot bat continued to sizzle on Friday night at Chase Field, where he drove in both Giants runs in a 2-1 NL West victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“It’s really fun to see the young guys come up and have success up here. It’s hard,” Giants closer Will Smith said. “Slater had an incredible night, and Andy (Suárez) threw the ball great too.”

Slater, hitting .368 as a Giant, was batting .344 for the PCL River Cats with 24 doubles, five home runs and 32 runs batted in in 53 games. On Friday, Slater was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles.

“Slater really stepped up and delivered for us,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He had some good at-bats in the clutch, too. He did the damage today. He uses the whole field and has great hand-eye coordination.

“We were looking for someone against Corbin who could hopefully knock in some runs, and he’s the one who came through for us.”

The Giants (43-40) surged ahead to stay at 2-1 when Brandon Crawford led off with a walk against Arizona reliever Andrew Chafin (1-3) and scored on Slater’s double to right-center.

San Francisco, third in the NL West Division, trails the first-place Diamondbacks by 4 ½ games. With the victory, the Giants have won eight of their last 10.

“It was a great win to start the trip against a lineup like that,” Bochy said.

While both bullpens did well, the Giants’ Reyes Moronta, Tony Watson, and Will Smith held the D-Backs scoreless and hitless over the last three innings. Smith earned his first save.

“No extra pressure, really. I just tried to get guys out, put up a zero,” Smith said.

Smith struck out two of the three hitters he faced in the bottom of the ninth, including pinch-hitter John Ryan Murphy to end the game.

“I just tried to make good pitches, keep the ball down,” Smith said. “In a one-run ballgame, you don’t want to elevate anything he can put a good swing on.”

Giants starter Andrew Suárez (3-4) worked six innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits – five of them infield hits – striking out five and issuing two walks.

“What a terrific job he did,” Bochy said. “Good stuff today, had everything going. He had some tough luck with five infield hits, but that kid pitched his heart out. He really kept his composure out there; he’s got some saavy out there and knows when to make his pitches. He got out of pretty tough jam (in the sixth inning) but his stuff was still there – that’s what was impressive.”

On the unusual amount of infield hits he gave up, Suárez said, “It happens, so I made sure not to overreact and minimize damage and try to get some groundouts. It was just weird; I’ve never seen it like that. But it worked out, thankfully.”

Suárez, 2-0 in five June starts, said he doesn’t worry about other pitchers eventually coming back from the disabled list, saying, “Whatever happens, happens. I’m just focused on the next start.”

San Francisco opened the scoring in the second inning off D-Backs starter Patrick Corbin. Buster Posey led off with a single and took second on centerfielder Chris Owings’ error, then scored on Slater’s double to center.

A video review helped the Diamondbacks tie the game in the sixth at 1-1. After Ketel Marte led off with a double, Chris Owings was ruled safe at first on a sharp grounder to third that was reviewed. Jake Lamb followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Marte, who moved to third on Owings’ hit.

Earlier, Arizona (47-35) threatened in the bottom of the third, but came up empty. With two out, Nick Ahmad singled, Paul Goldschmidt walked and David Peralta reached on an infield single to load the bases. But Saurez worked out of the jam by retiring Marte on a grounder to short.

Corbin, 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three previous starts against the Giants, wound up with a no-decision. In his six innings, Corbin surrendered one earned run on four hits, with five strikeouts and two walks.

The weekend series resumes on Saturday night with a battle of right-handers – Dereck Rodriguez (2-1, 3.82) pitching for San Francisco against Shelby Miller (0-1, 12.27) for the D-Backs.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Attendance was 30,981; time of game was 2:41, even with seven pitching changes and a video replay challenge (:38 on Owings’ hit in the sixth). … RHP Johnny Cueto made his second rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento Friday against Fresno. Cueto has missed the Giants’ last 55 games with a right elbow sprain. … Arizona RHP Yoshihisa Hirano set a team record with his 25th consecutive scoreless appearance, passing J.J. Putz, who had two streaks of 24 scoreless games in 2012. … D-Backs OF A.J. Pollock (fractured left thumb) began a rehab assignment Friday at Triple-A Reno.

UP NEXT: The Giants and D-backs will square off again Saturday night at 7:10 pm PDT.

Colorado goes Coors, Rockies nip the Giants 9-8

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Rockies

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — Those top-of-the-order guys that were stymied by Madison Bumgarner and the Giants’ bullpen on Wednesday, showed up big for the Rockies at AT&T Park on Thursday.

DJ LeMahieu capped his three hit, five RBI day with a game-winning, two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, and the Rockies rallied to beat the Giants, 9-8.

Nolan Arenado hit his 19th homer, and Trevor Story racked up three hits as the Rockies snapped the Giants’ streak of 15 games in which their starting pitcher allowed three runs or less.

Chris Stratton began the afternoon looking for his ninth win, but only lasted four innings, allowing eight hits and five runs.

The Giants scored twice in the eighth to take the lead, giving Sam Dyson a chance to record the final three outs, but the Giants’ closer allowed LeMahieu’s home run to left field with a runner aboard. The Giants fell to 36-2 in games they led after eight innings.

“Tough one when you have a lead in the ninth and we couldn’t hold on to it,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Sam was just a little bit off.”

“I felt like we got some big outs, and some big hits and it turned into a win. We just got to keep it going,” LeMahieu said.

The Giants finished their homestand 7-3 and failed to win eight times on a homestand for the first time since 2012. They travel to Arizona and Colorado on a six-game trip beginning Friday night.

List of 1-0 home run walk-offs in Giants history

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — When Brandon Crawford took a Harrison Musgrave pitch and planted it onto the right field arcade to send everyone happy, it was not the first walk-off this season for the San Francisco Giants.

The Crawford home run in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the Giants a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. It was the Giants’ sixth walk-off win this season.

Andrew McCutchen came up with the first walk-off of the season, and did so in dramatic fashion, as he hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the Giants a come-from-behind 7-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Just three days later, McCutchen was at it again, as he singled in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Giants a 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Nick Hundley got in on the act on April 30, as he singled in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Giants a 6-5 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Crawford picked up his walk-off of the season on June 6th, as he singled in the bottom of the 10thinning to propel the Giants 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This past Sunday, as the Giants trailed the San Diego Padres, Hunter Pence hit a two-run double just out of the reach of Eric Hosmer, to give the Giants a huge 3-2 victory over the Padres.

Crawford joined the walk-off club for a second time on Wednesday night, as he took the Musgrave pitch and put it for the 1-0 victory.

The Crawford home run on Wednesday night marked just the seventh time in team history that a home run ended the game with the score between tied at zero.

Bobby Thomson was the first Giants player to snap a scoreless tie with a walk-off home run, as he did it on April 30, 1953 against the Milwaukee Braves at the Polo Grounds.

Ten years later, on July 2, 1963, Willie Mays put an end to a pitcher’s duel at Candlestick Park, as he took a Warren Spahn pitch in the bottom of the 16th inning and put it into the seats to give the Juan Marichal the victory.

Just three years later, Mays did it again on August 12, 1966, as he gave the Giants the victory the Houston Astros.

A little over a year later on September 22, 1967, Tom Haller put an end to the game, as he won the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It would be almost nine years before Bobby Murcer sent the Candlestick faithful home happy, as he turned the trick against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 16, 1976.

Steve Decker was the last Giants player to snap a 0-0 tie with a home run, as he did so on April 21, 1991 against the Houston Astros.

Crawford joined that club last night with his walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Giants the win.

The last National League shortstop to accomplish this feat was Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs, who did it against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 17, 1960 at Wrigley Field.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Morris Phillips: Can Giants play as well on the road as they do at home?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

larrybrownsports.com photo file: San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy would like to get the club’s road record up to .500 by season’s end

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael and Morris:

The San Francisco Giants are now 26-13 at home and the old saying goes if you win two out of three at home and play .500 on the road, you should do alright well the Giants haven’t played .500 on the road the Giants are 16-26 on the road.

If the Giants had played .500 on the road, they would be in first place. Right now, that’s how well they’re doing at home. What’s interesting is why would a veteran team such as the Giants have such disparity in what their doing at home than what they’re doing on the road?

Manager Bruce Bochy scratching his head after the game last night was asked with his veterans should have had better results with the team he has on the road and play maybe a little closer to what their doing on the road. The Giants are on pace to lose 50 road games and they’re on pace to win 50 or 51 home games.

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

Bumgarner sets the tone, Crawford provides the pop in Giants’ impressive 1-0 win over the Rockies

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Madison Bumgarner couldn’t remember his pitch mix, or how often he relied on his terrific slider Wednesday night. The World Series hero didn’t put much stock in his impressive spring training that ended with him breaking a bone in his hand in his final tuneup. And he knew he felt better entering his last two starts–both dominating outings–but he surely didn’t know exactly what it was that had him feeling so good.

What Bumgarner did know was bluntly specific: He needed to do his thing on the mound Wednesday, and his club, the Giants, needed to post a win. With those two things hand delivered, little else mattered.

With Bumgarner dealing, followed by Will Smith and Reyes Moronta and their microscopic ERA’s, then followed by Brandon Crawford’s majestic game-winning homer, the Giants looked like a force Wednesday, one far more impressive than their 42-39 record at the season’s halfway point. But they’ll take it, especially with their key guys doing what they envisioned them doing before the season-to-date took its winding course.

Crawford, who delivered the game-winning blast off Rockies’ Harrison Musgrave, explained the importance of his decisive blow.

“We have a day game (Thursday), so everybody wants to go home,” Crawford said. “You’re excited to get around the bases and get to the guys at home plate. Those are the reasons you play baseball.”

In a game that went scoreless until there was one out recorded in the bottom of the ninth inning, you’re not necessarily going to run home impressed. But this tightly contested ballgame showed off the Giants’ star power and provided a clear example of how the veteran-laden club could impact the National League postseason portrait.

Bumgarner and Buster Posey, the HOF battery mates, shut down the Rockies’ lineup, allowing two hits, while striking out eight in seven, scoreless innings. When things got tight in the fifth, after Bumgarner walked consecutive batters to load the bases, he struck out Rockies’ pitcher Kyle Freeland to end the inning. Power guys Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, as well as table-setters Charlie Blackmon and D.J. LaMahieu were completely shutdown. Blackmon’s sixth inning base hit was the only dent the Colorado quartet managed versus Bumgarner.

The Giants have won 12 of 15 at AT&T Park and moved within 4 1/2 games of division-leading Arizona.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Crawford’s key to Giants making postseason; Crawford heading for an MVP and All Star game

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @carmenkiew

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

What a season for San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, who hit an eighth inning bloop single that put him on the bases to later steal a base, and then scored the go-ahead run to help San Francisco get by the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Crawford has been proving it all year and he’s earned a spot on the NL All-Star Game starting lineup for top vote getter leading as of today by 800,000 votes ahead of all NL second basemen in the running for the starting position.

The Giants’ third baseman Evan Longoria, who had hand surgery, is now doing physical therapy and Longoria is still expected to be back in six to eight weeks. Also, Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija is expected to return to San Francisco soon.

Samardzija suffered shoulder tightness pitched in Triple-A Sacramento, throwing 88 pitches, six runs, seven hits, and two walks, and four innings of work. Marko says this was 88 pitches that gave Samardzija a chance to work on a few things.

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

Hernandez comes up big in Giants’ 3-2 win over Rockies

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @elbee37

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Gorkys Hernandez and maybe the San Francisco Giants are unsung heroes thus far during the 2018 season.

Hernandez walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, helping the Giants to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies before a crowd of 36,070 at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.

After Pablo Sandoval struck out for the first out of the inning, Brandon Crawford came up with his third hit of the night. Crawford proceeded to steal second base, then losing pitcher Adam Ottavino intentionally walked Joe Panik.

Austin Slater was unable to move the runners over, as he struck out for the second out of the inning; however, Ottavino was unable to get that elusive third out, as he walked pinch hitter Alen Hanson and then Hernandez to give the Giants their third win in a row and sixth in eight games on this 10-game home stand.

The Rockies attempted to tie up the game in the top of the ninth inning, as Tom Murphy came up with bloop hit and he was able to get second base, when no one was covering the base, but Sam Dyson got Gerardo Parra to strikeout for the third time in four at-bats.

Dyson was then able to induce DJ LeMahieu to ground into a game-ending double play, but it did not come without some looking into by the umpires. Rockies manager Bud Black challenged the close play at first base, as Black thought that LeMahieu was safe; however, after a 36-second replay review, the play stood and the Giants got their 14thwin of the month against nine losses.

Chris Iannetta then walked following the Parra strikeout that sent the Giants bullpen scrambling, as Will Smith immediately got down there to start throwing

Ian Desmond gave the Rockies a 1-0 in the top of the second inning, as he took a Derek Holland offering and put it into the left field seats.

Hernandez got the Giants on the board, as he hit his 10thhome run of the season, as he led off the bottom of the third inning against Chad Bettis.

Coming into the season, Hernandez’s previous career high for home runs in a season was three, when he played for the Miami Marlins in 2012. During the 2017 season, Hernandez went to the plate more times than player in the major leagues without hitting a home run.

The defense of Brandon Belt kept the score 1-0 in the top of the third inning, as he snared a Charlie Blackmon line drive and immediately stepped on first base to get LeMahieu to complete the double play.

Holland went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking two and striking out eight, as he was replaced by Reyes Moronta with two outs in the top of the seventh inning after he was able to get Bettis to sacrifice for the second out of the inning. Moronta got out of the inning, as he was able to strikeout LeMahieu for the final out of the inning,

LeMahieu would be the only batter that Moronta would face, as Sunday’s hero, Pence came on to pinch hit for Moronta and came up with an infield single and stayed fair, as he hit off the third base bag to stay fair. The hit by Pence was the second in a row allowed by Bettis, as Slater led off the inning with a sharp single to left field.

Slater got a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning started, as he singled off of Chad Bettis to lead off the inning.

Following the Slater single, Bettis then gave up an infield single to Hunter Pence that stayed fair, as it hit off of third base. After a sacrifice bunt by Hernandez, and an intentional walk to Buster Posey, Bettis was replaced by Adam Ottavino.

McCutchen then hit a sacrifice fly to Parra in left field, and Slater slid underneath the Murphy slide to give the Giants the lead.

Bettis went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walking four and striking out four and like Holland, he did not fare in the decision.

Unfortunately, the usual lights out Giants bullpen was unable to hold the late lead, as Mark Melancon gave up a single to Trevor Story and then scored the tying run, when Desmond came through in the clutch for his second RBI of the game, as he doubled just out of the reach of McCutchen in right field. Melancon was then replaced by Tony Watson, who was able to get out of the jam, as he got Carlos Gonzalez to ground out to end the inning.

The Rockies tried to get a rally started in the top of the fifth inning, as Carlos Gonzalez and Tom Murphy each singled to lead off the inning, but Holland settled down to get Parra and Bettis out on strikes and then Holland got LeMahieu to fly out to Hernandez in center field to end the threat.

Bettis also got out of a mini-jam in the bottom of the second inning, as he gave back-to-back singles to Brandon Crawford and Joe Panik, but Bettis then regrouped to get Slater out on strikes and then Holland grounded out to Bettis to end the inning.

After the fifth inning jam was thwarted by Holland, the Rockies put together another attempt at a rally in the top of the sixth inning, as Nolan Arenado walked and then Story singled with one out; however, Holland was able to end the threat, as he got Desmond to strike out for the second time in a row and then Gonzalez grounded out to Crawford, who on the other side of second base in the shift to end the Rockies second threat in a row.

NOTES: Madison Bumgarner goes for his second win in a row, as he takes the mound on Wednesday for the Giants, while the Rockies will send Kyle Freeland to the hill and looks to improve on his 7-6 record.

Jeff Samardzija went four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits (two home runs), two walks and six strikeouts in his third rehab start. Samardzija threw 88 pitches, 53 for strikes.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rockies will meet again on Wednesday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

San Francisco Giants Feature: Butch Metzger–He Was a Giant?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

allsportsauctions.com photo: 1973 jersey of former San Francisco Giant Butch Metzger

BUTCH METZGER — He Was a Giant?

By Tony ‘Le Tigre’ Hayes

Butch Metzger — RHP — 1974 — #48

Sure, the Giants were steamrolled by the meat-grinding Reds and Dodgers mega teams of the 1970s, but the decade that brought us Watergate and neck ties as wide as Van Ness Avenue was not a total disaster for the Orange & Black.

The ’70s SF Giants looked cool – a good portion of that era’s crew sported corkscrew perms, gravity defying Afros and droopy Fu Manchu mustaches.

But more impressive, the cash depleted farm system of the Orange and Black of the ’70s amazingly managed to produce a steady stream of future stars.

The group included hitters Chris Speier, Garry Maddox, Dave Rader, Jack Clark, Chili Davis and pitchers Gary Lavelle, Bob Knepper and Ed Halicki.

More prominently, the Giants system produced three official NL Rookies of the Year Award winners in the ’70s: OF Gary Matthews (’73), RHP John Montefusco (’75) and RHP Butch Metzger (’76).

Wait. Butch? Who?

You mean the guy who sawed off parts of three fingers by mistake? No, that was late 1980s Giants SS Roger Metzger.

Say you don’t remember RHP Butch Metzger’s record setting 1976 season when he dazzled the Senior Circuit with a 11-4 record 2.92 ERA and 16 saves.

That’s because Metzger’s ROY campaign came as a Brown and Yellow outfitted member of the San Diego Padres – two full seasons after a blink and you missed it Giants cameo.

Why Was He A Giant?
Metzger was drafted by SF in the second round of the June 1970 draft out of Kennedy high school in Sacramento.

After a 12-10, 4.72 season at Triple-A Phoenix in 1974, Metzger, 22, was promoted to the big leagues.

He made his MLB debut as a Giants reliever at Atlanta on 9/8/74.

After the first three Braves reached base off Giants starter Ron Bryant to begin the 5th, Metzger was summoned. He retired Dusty Baker on a fly ball and exited the inning unscathed.

He finished his lone Giants season with at 1-0, 3.55 in 10 relief outings.

Before and After
Metzger had just fully digested his Thanksgiving dinner when word came on 12/6/74 that he had been dealt to San Diego with 2B Tito Fuentes in exchange for utility man Derrel Thomas.

Metzger would spend most of 1975 in the minors before breaking camp with San Diego in 1976. Still technically a rookie, Metzger was phenomenal for another wise miserable Padres club.

He would appear in a rookie record 77 games. In addition, Metzger would win his first 10 decision of the campaign to begin his career a composite 12-0 – tying a big league record.

For his heroics Metzger was named co-winner of the 1976 NL ROY award, sharing the honor with Cincinnati RHP Pat Zachary.

He Wasn’t Elias Sosa. But…
As a Giant, Metzger pitched a scoreless top of the 10th inning (9/21/74) to earn the his first major league win in an 8-6 win vs. the visiting Reds.

He would go on the win his next 11 decisions to tie Hooks Wiltse’s longstanding MLB record.

Giant Footprint
After ’76, mound success proved elusive for Metzger and he left the pro ranks by the early 1980s.

Though he embarked on a career as a Sacramento firefighter, Metzger kept his pitching toe in the game, playing in hardball senior leagues.

When MLB labor strife forced a player lock out in 1994-95 one of the players who contested for a spot on a never to be fielded replacement Giants squad was a 42-year old Metzger.

Tony the Tiger Hayes looks back on former San Francisco Giants at http://www.sportsradioservice.com