Headline Sports podcast Charlie O Sun Apr 27, 2025: Yanks skipper Boone demotes Williams as closer; Bucs Skenes demonstrates the mental part of his game; plus more MLB news

New York Yankees starter Devin Williams has been demoted as the closer after a blown save against the Toronto Blue Jays on Fri Apr 26, 2025 at Yankee Stadium. Williams was booed off the field after the loss and will be a middle reliever. (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Charlie O Sun Apr 27, 2025:

#1 New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is considering removing Devin Williams as the closer his return the closer role would be based on improved pitching. On Friday Williams blew a save and the Yankee fans were unmerciful booing him off the field as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 4-2. Boone said he’ll do everything he can to get him back on track.

#2  Pittsburgh Pirates pitching ace Paul Skenes was facing Los Angeles Dodger mega star Shohei Ohtani in the fifth inning and had a 3-1 count on the Dodgers two way player. Skenes knew his back was to the wall and grew some extra confidence and threw two pitches that was on the outer edge of the strike zone. Then Skenes delivered a wicked curve ball that was going down Broadway but dropped at Ohtani’s shoe tops and Ohtani taking a big cut for strike three. That was some test of skill right there.

#3 Minnesota Twins obtained the services of infield Kody Clemens from the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies received cash for the exchange. Clemens was struggling for the Phils going 0-6, a walk, in seven games he was designated for assignment on Wednesday. The Twins added him to the 26 man roster and he made it in time for the Twins game on Saturday versus the Los Angeles Angels in Minneapolis. The move was made to fill infielder Luke Keachall who on the 10 day IL with a right forearm fracture.

#4 Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham was suspended by Major League Baseball for one game for “inappropriate actions toward fans” at Angels Stadium this week. Pham was supposed to be suspended for Friday’s game vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers but that suspension is in abeyance after Pham appealed. Pham 37 was caught on camera using a lewd hand gesture towards fans over the left field wall. Later a ball that was hit down the left field line that Pham made a play on a fan stuck out his glove on Pham. That fan was later moved to a different part of the park.

#4 Charlie, the Sacramento A’s who started the season in dead last in the AL West and at one time had a 2-7 home record have turned things around after sweeping the Chicago White Sox on the road and coming back to Sacramento this week taking two out three games from the Texas Rangers and and the first game of the three game set from the White Sox the A’s have added three more wins to their home record at Sutter Health Park to 5-9 as of Saturday. Was the rough beginning just a matter of getting used to the park for the A’s or was it a matter for the A’s to get their chemistry going?

#5 The San Francisco Giants paid tribute for former All Star and two time World Series Champion shortstop Brandon Crawford at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Saturday with former players on hand celebrating his retirement from baseball. Crawford career had 1404 hits, 147 home runs, 674 runs, and 748 RBIs and a career average of .249. Crawford played in San Francisco from 2011 to 2023 and finished his career in St Louis his last season was in 2024.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman Sun Apr 27, 2025: Hicks gets the start for Giants today; SF Bailey’s walk off single edges Rangers in ninth 3-2 Saturday

San Francisco Giants pinch hitter Patrick Bailey (center) is congratulated by teammates Heliot Ramos (17) and Willy Adames (right) after his walk off single that scored Ramos in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Apr 26, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 San Francisco Giants Patrick Bailey hit his fourth career walk hit as a pinch hitter that scored Heliot Ramos from as they Giants who were down at one time 2-0 came back and defeated the Texas Rangers 3-2 at Oracle Park on Saturday.

#2 The Rangers starter Tyler Mahle who came into Saturday’s game with a 3-0 ERA 0.68 got touched up for eight hits and two earned runs. The Giants were facing a tough competitor in Mahle but came away with a comeback win.

#3 The Giants Willy Adames has been key in the line up he tied the ball game in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two run RBI single. Adames now has 14 hits that has either tied up a game or gave the Giants the lead.

#4 Pitching wise Giants starter Robbie Ray went seven innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs and eight strike outs. Ray didn’t get the decision but again another good outing and enough for the Giants to pick up their 17th win of the season.

#5 The series is tied 1-1 and the stage is set for game 3 of the series today here at Oracle Park. The Rangers will be going with RHP Jack Leiter (2-0 ERA 0.90) and the Giants will be going with RHP Jordan Hicks (1-3, 6.59) first pitch slated for 1:05pm PDT. It’s been a competitive series so far how do you see the match up going into the rubber match.

#6 Big tribute for former Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford who retired from baseball after playing for the Giants from 2011-2023 that brought speeches from former Giants players and Giants personnel before Saturday’s game, Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, former Giants manager Bruce Bochy, and CEO Larry Baer.

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bailey walks off Rangers, as Giants win 3-2 on Brandon Crawford Day

Former San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford addresses the crowd in his retirement speech at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Brandon Crawford Day Sat Apr 26, 2025 before the Giants hosted the Texas Rangers (AP News photo)

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Texas Rangers 2 (15-12)

San Francisco Giants 3 (18-10)

Win: Ryan Walker (1-1)

Loss: Jacob Webb (2-1)

Time: 2:38

Attendance: 40,153

By Stephen Ruderman

Patrick Bailey capped off a festive and an exciting afternoon by sending everybody home happy with a pinch-hit walk-off base-hit to propel the Giants to a 3-2 win over Bruce Bochy’s Rangers on Brandon Crawford Day.

Even though the Giants and Rangers had a game Saturday, the only thing on anyone’s mind today was Brandon Crawford. Crawford, one of the greatest shortstops in Giants’ franchise history, and possibly the greatest shortstop in San Francisco Giants’ history, had his official retirement ceremony prior to the game.

Some of Crawford’s former teammates, including Buster Posey and Hunter Pence were there, as was his old manager, Bruce Bochy. Something tells me that having this ceremony when Bochy was in town with the Rangers was a calculated decision, and a good one at that.

Crawford, who is beginning to look the part of a retired ballplayer with noticeable gray whiskers, took to the podium and made his speech. Afterwards, Crawford threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Posey, who was in the squat behind home plate in his executive attire, and he and his family took a lap around the field.

There was of course the ballgame that was supposed to be played Saturday. The Rangers shut out the Giants in the series opener Friday night, and the Giants looked for some of the old mojo and vibes to lead them to victory Saturday.

It was also a matchup of two undefeated pitchers in Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle. Both pitchers came into today’s game with 3-0 records, though Ray’s ERA was substantially higher.

Both pitchers were slow to get their feet on the ground, Ray even more so. The Rangers plated a run off Ray in the top of the first inning, as Wyatt Langford doubled with one out; advanced to third base on an infield hit; and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Burger.

Mahle worked his way out of jams in the bottom of the first and second, and Ray somewhat settled down with a scoreless top of the second.

However, Ray ran into problems again in the top of the third. Well, it was really a problem, and that problem was former Giant and Willie Mac Award Winner Kevin Pillar, who played for Bochy in his final season at the helm of the Giants in 2019.

Pillar lined a base-hit to left field to start the inning. He then stole both second and third, and then he scored on the second sacrifice fly of the game by Burger.

Mahle pitched scoreless innings in the bottom of the third and the fourth. Ray got his first one, two, three inning of the day in the top of the fourth, and did the same in the top of the fifth.

Mahle had pitched four shutout innings, but he was far from dominant. He had yet to throw a one, two, three inning, as the pesky Giants did everything they could to get on the board.

The Giants would finally break through in the bottom of the fifth. Christian Koss started the inning with a base-hit to right, and Sam Huff got him over to third with a double. Mike Yastrzemski popped up to Nick Ahmed, another former Giant, at short for the first out, but Willie Adames lined a base-hit to left-center to knock in both runners and tie it.

Mahle ended up going five innings, while giving up two runs.

Robbie Ray, on the other hand, was in complete control. He threw another one, two, three inning in the sixth, and he ended up setting down 13-straight Rangers. Josh Smith broke the streak with a two-out base-hit in the top of the seventh, but Ahmed then flew out to end the inning and a really strong start for Ray.

In seven innings, Ray gave up two runs and five hits. He walked just one, and he struck out Ray. While neither pitcher got a decision in this one, Ray definitely won the battle of undefeated starting pitchers.

Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless top of the eighth, and this game sailed into the ninth. Neither team could get the lead back, and this game was going to be settled one way or another.

Ryan Walker was once again entrusted with the top of the ninth, but the Rangers pounced on him right away. Marcus Semien and Jonah Heim both singled, and Texas had runners on first and second to start the inning.

Walker was in trouble again, but he bore down. Kyle Higashioka attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Walker got him to pop out to the catcher, Sam Huff, in foul territory. Walker then struck out Josh Smith and Joc Pederson to get out of it unscathed and with the game still tied.

The Giants went to the bottom of the ninth in perfect position to win it, and you kinda just knew they were going to win it.

Jacob Webb, who finished the bottom of the eighth for the Rangers, was back out for the bottom of the ninth. The Giants wasted no time, as Heliot Ramos singled to center, and LaMonte Wade walked on four pitches. Unlike Higashioka, Christian Koss was able to get the sacrifice bunt down, as he got the runners over to second and third.

Bob Melvin then sent in Patrick Bailey to pinch-hit for Sam Huff. Bruce Bochy countered by bringing in the left-hander, Jacob Latz, to force the switch-hitting Bailey to hit right-handed. For Bailey it was no problem. Bailey took the first pitch, a changeup at the bottom of the knees, and flipped it out to right for a base-hit, and Ramos scored to win it.

It was the Giants’ fourth walk-off win of the season, as they improve to 18-10.

Ryan Walker was rewarded for his hard work and perseverance during this long week with the win. Jacob Webb took the loss for the Rangers. And yes, Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle still remain undefeated at 3-0.

The Giants will try to win the series in the finale Sunday afternoon. Jordan Hicks (1-3, 6.59 ERA), who has had some rocky starts early on, will take the ball for the Giants. Jack Leiter (2-0, 0.90 ERA), the son of former major leaguer, Al Leiter, and the nephew of former Giant, Mark Leiter, will make the start for the Rangers.

First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

Saturday was also the fifth sellout for the Giants so far this season at Oracle Park. Since 2019, the most games the Giants have sold out in a single season at Oracle Park is 10, which they did in both 2022 and 2024.

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Evoldi stymies Giants, as Verlander can’t get support in Rangers’ 2-0 shutout

Texas Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi deals to the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Apr 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

Friday, April 25, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Texas Rangers 2 (15-11)

San Francisco Giants 0 (17-10)

Win: Nathan Evaldi (2-2)

Loss: Justin Verlander (0-2)

Save: Luke Jackson (8)

Time: 2:40

Attendance: 40,080

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense was unable to give Justin Verlander the runs he needed for his first win, as Nathan Evoldi just stymied them with six strong shutout innings and seven strikeouts, and the Rangers shutout the Giants 2-0 in the series opener Friday night at Oracle Park.

I know this next sentence is going to sound odd, but Bruce Bochy brought the Rangers into town for a 2010 World Series rematch to start what will be a series and weekend of celebrating old times.

Speaking of old times, two longtime pitchers in Nathan Evoldi and Justin Verlander squared off, as the Giants looked to build on another big comeback win yesterday. Oh yeah, and our old friend, Joc Pederson, was also on with the Rangers.

However, there was one little problem. The game would be on Apple TV, which most fans do not have, so at best, they would have to listen to Friday night’s game on the radio.

Both pitchers started off well, as they traded zeros in the first two innings. The Rangers then fired the opening salvo in the top of the third, as Jake Burger hit a leadoff double, and Wyatt Langford got him in with a two-out base hit to left field.

Evoldi continued to shut the Giants down, as he pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the third, and threw a one, two, three bottom of the fourth. Verlander also continues to deal, as he threw back-to-back one, two, three innings in the fourth and fifth.

Evoldi threw another scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth, but Verlander ran into trouble in the top of the sixth. Josh Smith led off the inning with an infield hit, and up came Langford. The Ranger appeared to have made it 2-0 when Langord hit a double that bounced off the wall left-center. However, upon review, the ball had bounced up against the back wall at the left end of the Giants’ bullpen, so it was ruled a ground-rule double, and Smith was sent back to third base.

However, the Rangers would get that second run when Joc came up. Joc had snapped his brutal 0-for-41 stretch on Wednesday, so of course he would burn his old team. Joc hit a ground ball to second that hit off the glove of the diving second-baseman, Tyler Fitzgerald, into right for a base-hit, and Smith scored to make it 2-0.

Oddly enough, Verlander would get out of the rest of the inning without any further damage. Verlander struck Adolis Garcia out swinging, and he got Marcus Semien to ground into a double play to end the inning.

That did it for Verlander, who had a good night. He threw six solid innings and gave up two runs to a strong Rangers’ team.

Evoldi completed his strong night by striking out the side in a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth. Evoldi ended up striking out seven in his six innings of work.

Randy Rodriguez pitched a pair of scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Ryan Walker then came in for a big outing in the top of the ninth. Walker blew a save in Anaheim on Sunday when the Giants led 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth. He then nearly blew a non-save situation on Wednesday against the Brewers before Doval came in and got the emergency save. Plain and simple, he needed a big inning.

Yesterday, Bob Melvin insisted after Camilo Doval’s second-straight save that Ryan Walker would be the man tonight. Tonight, Walker’s job was to keep the deficit at 2-0. Walker proceeded to get the one, two three inning he desperately needed.

Lefty Robert Garcia had thrown a one, two, three, bottom of the eighth, and Bruce Bochy had him go back out to face the left-handed-hitting Jung Hoo Lee to start the bottom of the ninth. Lee had the count at 2-2. Garcia’s 2-2 pitch was a fastball in on Lee that appeared to hit him on the back of his left hand.

Rangers’ catcher Kile Higashioka asked Home Plate Umpire Austin Jones to appeal down to Third Base Umpire Nestor Ceja. Ceja ruled that he went around, and Lee suffered a rough first out.

Replays then showed that the ball that hit the handle of Lee’s bat and not Lee himself, which means that it should have been a foul ball and Lee’s at-bat should still be alive. Crew Chief and First Base Umpire Todd Tichenor gathered the crew and then explained the call to the crowd.

What’s weird is that before the Rangers appealed down to third, they were the ones that would have wanted the ball to hit Lee’s bat. Now the Giants wanted that. However, since a non-hit by pitch call would not have originally benefited the Giants, they were not able to have the call reviewed according to Major League Baseball’s rules on replay.

The Giants essentially got burned and had to move on. While everything was going on, Bochy quietly brought in his closer, Luke Jackson. Jackson got Matt Chapman to ground out, and struck Wilmer Flores out to end it.

Nathan Evoldi got the win; Justin Verlander took his second loss to fall to 0-2; and Luke Jackson picked up his eighth save.

The Giants fall to 17-10, and despite their strong and exciting start, they have now weirdly been shut out for the fourth time this season, tying the Pirates for the most times shut out in Baseball. Even the best teams have their issues. The Giants have also struck out 240 times the season, the fourth-most in Baseball.

I’m not too worried about the shutouts. Weird things like that happen. However, the Giants do need to get the strikeouts down.

Saturday is Brandon Crawford day, and he will have his official retirement ceremony on the field prior to the game.

Then two undefeated pitchers will square off. Robbie Ray (3-0, 4.07 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants, and he will be opposed by Tyler Mahle (3-0, 0.68 ERA.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m PT, but with Crawford’s ceremony, that could be delayed, which is worth it.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Duca Thu Apr 24, 2025: Giants win another comeback game against Brewers

San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (right) is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (left) after hitting a third inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Apr 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Duca:

#1 For the third time in four days the the San Francisco Giants came back from behind late in the ball game and the Milwaukee Brewers furnished the mistakes that help the Giants win three out of the last four games.

#2 The Giants just edged out the Brewers on Friday 6-5. Brewers starter Tobias Myers who was making his Brewers debut and pitched in a short start. The Brewers reliever Tyler Alexander couldn’t hold the Brewer lead in the eighth inning as the Giants picked up two runs that proved to be the game winner.

#3 Giants starter Landon Roupp whose had a couple of good outings struggled in this one pitching 3.2 innings giving up six hits, four earned runs, walked three batters and struck out two. Michael kind of get your evaluation on Roupp’s outing today?

#4 In the eighth inning the Giants Mike Yastrzemski hit a into a fielders choice to second it allowed Tyler Fitzgerald to score tying the game at 5-5. Then Willy Adames hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Christian Koss to score which gave the Giants the 6-5 lead.

#5 For the second consecutive game Camilo Doval shut the door on the Brewers although he gave up one hit and left runners on at first and second Doval got three hitters to fly out and put away the game. For Doval it’s his fifth save. Do you see him coming back with more confidence in the relief role now?

#6 Next up for the Giants Bruce Bochy and the Texas Rangers. The Rangers took a tough loss in Sacramento to the Sacramento A’s on Wednesday night 5-2 the loss evened the series up between the two clubs. The Rangers are a first place club but can struggle on the road as they are 4-7 when away from Arlington. Starting pitchers for Friday at Oracle Park for the Rangers Nathan Eovaldi RHP (1-2 ERA 2.61) for the Giants RHP Justin Verlander who is looking for his first win after five appearances. Verlander (0-1 ERA 5.47) first pitch 7:15 pm PDT at Oracle Park.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants come back to win wacky thriller and series over Brewers 6-5

San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (right) is congratulated by teammate Jung Hoo Lee (51) after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Apr 24, 2025 (AP News photo)

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Milwaukee Brewers 5 (13-13)

San Francisco Giants 6 (17-9)

Win: Tyler Rogers (2-0)

Loss: Tyler Alexander (1-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (5)

Time: 2:50

Attendance: 28,592

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants came out on top in a wacky and semi-wild series finale at Oracle Park on Thursday, as they picked up a dejected Landen Roupp, and came back to beat the Brewers and take the series with a big 6-5 win.

Landen Roupp led the Giants out onto the field on a gray and foggy day at the ballpark, and as this writer would describe it: a beautiful and tranquil day for baseball. Unfortunately, things didn’t start well for Roupp. He walked Brice Turang to start the game, and Sal Frelick singled to right to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

You know the old saying: When you come to the ballpark, you may see something you’ve never seen before. Christian Yelich came to the plate, and knocked in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field. However, Freclick was subsequently doubled off at first base, as he took off on the pitch and was all the way around second when the ball was caught by center-fielder Jung Hoo Lee. It was just your routine sacrifice double play.

It was very much a break for Roupp, who was getting hit hard. Rhys Hoskins and Jake Bauers both singled, but the double play allowed Roupp to get out of it without giving up more than one run.

On the mound for the Brewers was Tobias Myers, who was making his 2025 debut. As Steven Rissotto, the host of Rizzocast, and a producer for 95.7 The Game, noted, the Giants have tended to respond to the other team scoring, and that is exactly what they did in the bottom of the first.

Mike Yazstrzemski led off the inning with a base-hit to center and got to second on a balk when Myers tripped as he started his delivery from the set. Willy Adames grounded out, but Lee lined a double into the corner down the right field line to bring in Yaz and tie the game.

The Brewers got their lead right back, as Roupp’s struggles carried over into the second inning. It was actually quite simple. Garrett Mitchell walked to start the inning; stole second; got to third on a groundout; and scored on a wild pitch.

Mike Yastrzemski led off the bottom of the third, and he tied the game with a home run to the green tin atop the 24-foot-high Willie Mays wall in right. The Giants were in a great position to get their first lead of the day, as Adames and Lee walked, but Mitchell was able to wiggle his way out of it with the game still tied.

The Giants were unable to take the lead, and the Brewers made them pay in the top of the fourth. The Brewers had runners at the corners with one out for Eric Haase, who laid down a safety squeeze, but after Matt Chapman came in from third to field it, his throw was dropped by LaMonte Wade at first, and both runners scored to give Milwaukee a 4-2 lead.

Brice Turang singled Haase over to third, and up came Sal Frelick, who knocked in Haase with a chopper along the first base line to make it 5-2. Wade fielded the ball, and threw to second-baseman Tyler Fitzgerald, but Frelick was called safe by First Base Umpire Alex MacKay.

The Brewers had a 5-2 lead, and they had runners at first and second with one out. The Brewers were poised to blow this one open just as they did on Tuesday. However, the Giants challenged MacKay’s call at first, and it was overturned for a much-needed second out.

That did it for Roupp, and Bob Melvin brought in Spencer Bivens. Bivens’ first pitch to Christian Yelich was a cutter on the inside corner for a called strike, and Turang stole third. However, the Giants challenged the call by Third Base Umpire Brian Walsh, and the Giants were able to overturn back-to-back calls on back-to-back pitches for the final two outs of the inning.

That stymied the momentum for the Brewers, and eventually proved to be a massive turning point in this game.

The Giants were unable to do anything with a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth, but they struck in the bottom of the fifth against Abner Uribe. Lee walked to lead off the inning, and Matt Chapman hit a two-run home run to right-center to send a message and make it 5-4.

The Brewers took their 5-4 lead into the bottom of the eighth, as they brought in their left-hander, Tyler Alexander. Tyler Fitzgerald worked a walk to start the inning, and Wilmer Flores pinch-hit and lined a base-hit the other way to right to put runners on the corners with nobody out.

Luis Matos grounded out, and then Yastrzemski fouled off three-straight two-strike pitches from Alexander. Yaz then hit a ground ball to Durang at second, who was playing in along with the rest of the Brewers’ infield. Fitzgerald came home, but Durang’s rushed throw was high, and Fitzgerald scored to tie the game.

Brewers Manager Pat Murphy brought in Trevor Megill to face Adames. Adames worked the count full, and then hit a line drive right to left-fielder Christian Yelich, who was trying to position himself to make the catch and make a throw home to cut pinch-runner Christian Koss at the plate. However, Yelich dropped the ball, and Koss scored to give the Giants their first lead of the day.

Following his emergency save last night, Camilo Doval was summoned by his skipper, Bob Melvin, to close things out again today. However, things did not start well for Doval, who walked pinch-hitter Caleb Durbin on four pitches to start the inning, and fell behind 2-0 to Turang.

You couldn’t help but harkin back to last season, when Doval, as the full-time closer, had his ninth inning implosions. Doval was once again entrusted with picking up the save, and he was once again about to implode.

We have already seen numerous examples early on of how different 2025 has been than 2024 for the Giants, and we were about to see it again. After Patrick Bailey, who had just entered the game to catch, went out to talk to Doval, Doval settled down to retire Turang and Frelick.

Up came Yelich, who lined a base-hit to center to move the tying run to second. It wasn’t going to be easy, but Doval got Rhys Hoskins to fly out to center, and everyone went home happy.

The Giants are back to their season-high eight games over .500 at 17-9. This was their eighth comeback win of the season, and their third win when trailing after seven innings.

Through all of the madness, it was Tyler Rogers who got the win. Tyler Alexander took the loss, and Camilo Doval notched his fifth save, tying Ryan Walker. However, Bob Melvin was quick to stress that Walker would still be the guy in a potential save situation Friday night.

Speaking of Friday night, Bruce Bochy’s Rangers are coming in for a 2010 World Series rematch, and it will be a weekend of old friends and memories. Former Giant Joc Pederson will also make the trip with the Rangers, but most importantly, Brandon Crawford will have his official retirement ceremony before the game on Saturday.

Justin Verlander (0-1. 5.47 ERA), who will remain on the opposite end of Bruce Bochy, will take the ball for the Giants Friday night, and look for his first win in the orange and black. The veteran right-hander, Nathan Evoldi (1-2, 2.64 ERA) will make the start for Texas.

First pitch will be at the accustomed Friday night time of 7:15 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips Thu Apr 24, 2025: Giants four run sixth enough to get by Brewers 4-2

San Francisco Giants second baseman Christian Koss (left) and shortstop Willy Adames (2) both jump for joy after the Giants defeated the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 23, 2025 in game 3 of the four game series (San Francisco Giants X photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1  Wilmer Flores’ two run single helped the San Francisco Giants get back in the drivers seat scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Wednesday night.

#2 Jung Hoo Lee remained consistent at the plate with three hits and the Giants record against right handed pitching improved to 14-2 which leads Major League Baseball.

#3 The Giants starter Logan Webb improved his record to 3-1 and he out pitched Brewer starter Freddy Peralta who dropped his record to 2-2. Webb pitched 6.1 innings, striking out six batters, walking three and dropped his ERA to 1.98.

#4 Giants reliever Ryan Walker got into a base loaded jam and the Brewers were able to score two runs off Walker in the ninth. With the score 4-2 Giants reliever Camilo Doval came in and got the last two out and picked up his fourth save of the campaign.

#5 Game 4 concludes this series the Brewers will be going with starter RHP Tobias Myers (season debut) he’ll be matched up against RHP Landen Roupp (2-1 ERA 4.09) first pitch at 12:45pm PDT at Oracle Park.

Morris Phillips does the SF Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Brewers explode for eight-run top of the sixth in 11-3 route of Giants

Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich gets around on the baseball for his fifth home run of the season for a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Tue Apr 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Milwaukee Brewers 11 (13-11)

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-9)

Win: Jose Quintana (3-0)

Loss: Jordan Hicks (1-3)

Time: 2:48

Attendance: 28,573

By Stephen Ruderman

An eight-run top of the sixth inning did the Giants in, as Brewers smoked their way to an 11-3 win on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

After a tough loss in Anaheim on Sunday, the Giants bounced back with a 5-2 win Monday night. Tuesday night, the Giants would try to build on that, and get back to their season-high of eight games over .500.

Before the game, Hunter Pence threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his wife, Alexis. Pence was at the ballpark for Earth Day on behalf of his organization, Healthy Planet Project, which focuses on efforts to clean the city, reduce pollution and bring awareness to Global Warming.

The Giants took the field for the second time this season in their new City Connect jerseys. Jordan Hicks took the ball following a shaky start in Philadelphia last Thursday, and he pitched a pair of scoreless innings to start his night. Meanwhile, the veteran left-hander, Jose Quintana, who pitched in five games for the Giants in 2021, threw a one, two, three bottom of the first, as well as a scoreless bottom of the second.

However, Hicks had his doldrums in the top of the third. Caleb Durbin led off the inning with a double, and Brice Turang singled him over to third. Jackson Churio grounded into a fielder’s choice to open the scoring, and after Christian Yelich doubled Churio over to third, William Contreras knocked them both in with a base-hit to left field to make it 3-0.

The Giants of course responded to the Brewer’s three runs in the bottom of the third, as David Villar led off the inning with a double. Villar got to third on a ground out by Patrick Bailey, and then scored on a broken-bat bloop single to right by Tyler Fitzgerald to put the Giants on the board.

Hicks pitched through some more trouble in the top of the fourth, and he finally threw his first one, two, three inning of the night in the top of the fifth. Quintana was back in control, as he pitched two more scoreless innings in the fourth and fifth.

Unfortunately, Hicks and the Giants just ran into a brick wall in the top of the sixth. A pair of base-hits and a wild pitch made it 4-1. Hicks then walked Garrett Mitchell, and that ended his night.

Lou Trivino was brought in, and things didn’t get any better. Trivino got Durbin to fly out for the first out of the inning, but Turang singled to right to make it 5-1. Churio was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and up came Christian Yelich. What did Yelich do? He hit a grand salami to straightaway center to turn this into a laugher.

The Brewers now led it 9-1, and they still weren’t done. Sal Frelick walked with two outs, and Jake Bauers added insult to injury with a two-run shot to right-center to make it 11-1.

As for Hicks, he gave up five earned runs in five-plus innings. Trivino ended up giving up five runs as well.

You really have to give it to the Giants. They never gave up, and in fact, they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Unfortunately, they were unable to come through in the sixth, but they rallied again and scored runs in the seventh and eighth to make it 11-3. The Giants even rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but nothing came out of it, and the Brewers won it 11-3.

Jose Quintana, who pitched six innings got the win, and Hicks took his third loss of the young season.

The Giants fall to 15-9, and they will look to bounce back Wednesday night with their ace, Logan Webb (2-1, 2.40 ERA) on the hill. Freddy Peralta (2-1, 1.91 ERA) will take the ball for Milwaukee.

First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m., something I’m still getting used to in the Giants’ seventh season of 6:45 weeknight games.

Giants News and Notes:

Giants’ top prospect, Bryce Eldridge returned from his left wrist injury to make his 2025 debut for the Giants’ Double-A affiliate, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, who were in Akron, Ohio tonight.

In his first at-bat, Eldrige picked up right where he left off last season and the beginning of Spring Training this year, as he hit a home run to right-center.

Giants score a run in each of last four innings to beat Brewers 5-2

Monday, April 21

Oracle Park San Francisco

By Lewis Rubman

Milwaukee 12-11) 020 000 000 2 6 1

San Francisco (15-8) 010 011 11x 5 8 0

Time: 2:30

Attendance: 31,758

Although your San Francisco Giants started off on their recently completed grueling ten day tour of New York, Philadelphia, and beautiful downtown Anaheim like a house on fire, they cooled down when the weather got heated up in Orange County. The Giants started their homestand on Monday night with a 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Sunday’s game, which began with Jason Verlander’s first satisfying start and ended with Ryan Walker’s sudden loss of control (with a little help from Lázaro Díaz behind the plate) to peter out with a 5-5 record for their paschal peregrination, this chilly Monday evening, in the first of a three game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Giants chose as their starter their current ace, Robbie Ray, who has a tendency to get into trouble early but right himself before the damage is irreparable.

Ray ran true to form, coughing up a couple of runs to fall behind, 2-0, but allowing the visitors only a single additional tally for the remainder of his five innings on the mound, leaving with the score knotted at two.

The runs he surrendered were earned, and they came on five hits, including ninth place batter Caleb Durbin’s two inning dinger that accounted for all of Milwaukee’s scoring. Ray threw 92 pitches in his abbreviated start; 37 of them were balls.

Ray struck out four and lowered his ERA from 4.19 to 4.07. Hayden Birdsong, originally a starter, but blossoming as a middle reliever, got the win, holding the brew crew to one hit and two walks in three frames. He, too, threw a lot of pitches, 49 (19 balls) while retiring four opponents on strikes.

He now owns a record of 1-0, 1.38). Wrapping up the victory and earning his third save on the season was Camilo Doval, trying to redeem his lost promise, and looking good, being credited with strikes on six of the seven pitches he threw in a hitless ninth.

Ray’s opposite number, the Brewers’ newly acquired Quinn Priester, Pittsburgh’s first round draft choice in 2019 and now with his third team since making his big league debut with the PIrates in 2023. From there he went to Boston in ’24 and then on to Milwaukee this March. He toed the rubber with a too good to be true mark of 1-0, 0.90 and left after four innings at a more down to earth but still outstanding 1-0, 1.93.

He, like Ray, allowed two runs, both earned. They came on four safeties and an equal number of walks. Priester was followed by a parade of five relievers over the game’s remaining four frames. They were Nick Mears, Grant Anderson, charged with the loss that dropped his numbers to 1-1,3.38.

The run came on Wilmer Flores’s 309 foot solo home run over the Hanwha Insurance sign in left center field. Jared Koenig (2/3 of an inning), Joel Payamps (1/3), and Craig Yoho (1), gave up a run apiece, except for Payams, who faced only one batter, Matt Chapman, who ended the Giants’ rally in the fifth with a fly to the warning track in dead center field.

Wilmer Flores and Tyler Fitzgerald were the only Giants to have multi-hit nights. The former hit the tie-breaking and ultimately game winning home run, and the latter managed to scratch out a pair of infield single. Matt Chapman did some nifty fielding, as did Patrick Bailey. Mike Yastrzemski, 이정후 (Jung Hoo Lee), whose seventh inning triple drove in one time Brewer Willy Adames, in the seventh, LaMonte Wade, Jr., and Bailey had one hit apiee.

The teams will go at it again Tuesday, evening at 6:45. Southpaw José Quintana (2-0, 0.71) will start against starboarder Jordan HIcks (1-2, 6.04)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Giants Walker not too shaken up after Angels 4 run pile on; SF now just 2 games back of Padres in NL West

Los Angeles Angels Jo Adelle second from right celebrates his winning double that beat the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Sun Apr 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Morris taking a look at Sunday’s tough loss in Anaheim the Los Angeles Angels Jo Adelle hit a three RBI double that in four run ninth inning that beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 for a walk off hit at Angels Stadium.

#2 San Francisco closer Ryan Walker was trying to shut the door but was credited with a blown save that saw the four run ninth ending with the one run loss. It was just a tough way to end the game for the reliever with just one pitch.

#3 After losing a tough note like that and losing two out of three to the Angels do you see other clubs picking up on some of the Giants weak spots or the Angels for example just got a lucky break getting a walk off double like that?

#4 The Giants concluded their road trip with the Angels that saw them going 6-4. The Giants are now just two games back of the first place San Diego Padres in the NL West playing the next 11 of 13 games at Oracle Park gives the Giants a shot at moving into first place. For Monday night the Brewers are starting RHP Quinn Priester (1-0 ERA 0.90) the Giants going with LHP Robbie Ray (3-0 ERA 4.19). On Tuesday night the Brewers will be starting RHP Freddy Peralta (2-1 ERA 1.91) for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (2-1 ERA 2.40)

Morris does the San Francisco Giants podcasts at his normal time slot Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com