Category: San Francisco Giants

San Diego Padres’ Manuel Margot, center, is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

By Jeremy Kahn

Things started out good for the San Francisco Giants, especially after they took an early 2-0 lead over the San Diego Padres.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, as rookie Manuel Margot hit a three-run home run off of Matt Moore in the bottom of the fourth inning and the Padres came back to defeat the Giants 6-3 at Petco Park.

It was the 13th home run of the season for Margot, as he helped Luis Perdomo picked up the victory.

Perdomo went six innings, allowing two runs (one of them earned), he also allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out three, as Perdomo worked at least six innings for the eighth consecutive start.

Brad Hand was the final of three relievers for the Padres, as he pitched the ninth inning for his 13th save of the season.

As for the Giants, this was their 81st loss of the season, meaning that they would have to win 28 straight just to get to the .500 mark. The major-league record for consecutive wins is 26, held by the Giants.

This was the fourth loss in the Giants last five games, as the Padres continue their dominance over the Giants, as they have won eight out of their last 11 versus them.

The nightmarish season for Moore continues, as his record on the season falls to 4-13. Moore gave up five runs and eight hits, walking one and striking out two.

Asides from the Margot three-run home run, Moore gave up a solo home run to Jabari Blash that tied up the game.

The Giants got on the board in the top of the second inning, as they were helped out by errors, courtesy of the Padres.

Cory Spagenberg committed a throwing and fielding error that helped the Giants scored two early runs versus Perdomo.

Joe Panik got the inning started, as he singled off of Perdomo and then Nick Hundley reached on a fielding error by Spangenberg. Moore helped out his own cause, as his sacrifice bunt ended up in a single and Spangenberg’s throwing error allowed Panik to score.

Denard Span, who picked up three hits on the evening, drove in the second run of the inning with a single.

Panik closed out the scoring for the Giants, as he hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning; however, they were not able to get any closer.

NOTES: Ty Blach closes out the road trip, as he takes the mound for the Giants on Wednesday, while the Padres will send Travis Wood to the mound.

Buster Posey missed his second straight game, as he is nursing a sprained left thumb and it is doubtful that he will play on Wednesday.

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy takes in batting practice before the baseball game against the San Diego Padres Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

On the Giants Podcast with Morris:

1 Giants Pitcher Matt Cain who got rocked for nine runs in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game in Phoenix no one wants to say it out loud but how much longer will San Francisco stick with Cain?

2 Giants manager Bruce Bochy went through his bullpen on Sunday all of the four pitchers called in relief it was set up man Matt Cain who was shelled so badly. He just simply couldn’t get anybody out and left many questions about his future.

3 Making matters worse for SF Giant closer Mark Melancon is looking at having surgery while Giants brass team VP Brian Sabean and general manager Bobby Evans contemplates who they’ll get to revamp the bullpen for 2018.

4. The Giants open a three game series starting Friday night at Petco Park in San Diego. After getting tattooed in Arizona the Giants are looking to bare down and get some good pitching going against the Pads.

There’s much more on the Giants stay with Morris click to listen and each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants’ Matt Cain, right, paces on the mound after giving up a three-run home run to Arizona Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 11-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Sunday, August 27, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – At the end of Sunday’s NL West game between San Francisco and Arizona, Matt Cain took one for the team, and the Diamondbacks made it hurt.

Cain, the former Giants ace, was called on in the bottom of the eighth to keep San Francisco in a two-run game. Ten batters and eight runs later, the D-Backs led 10-0 when Cain was mercifully removed.

In all, Arizona sent 12 batters to the plate in a nine-run eighth, cruising to an 11-0 victory, their fourth in a row.

The Diamondbacks (73-58) maintain a 1 1/2-game lead over Colorado in the National League Wild Card race, with Milwaukee and Miami trailing the Rockies by 5 and 5 ½ games, respectively.

Patrick Corbin (12-11) struck out eight and walked one in seven scoreless innings, earning his fourth straight win. D-Backs relievers Andrew Chafin, David Hernandez and Jake Barrett combined to complete the shutout.

For the second game in a row, the Giants saw a quality start come up short of a victory. Chris Stratton (2-3) gave up four hits and two earned runs in six innings while striking out 10 with five walks.

After giving up a one-out single to Gregor Blanco and walking A.J. Pollock in the Arizona seventh, Josh Osich left after Jake Lamb flied out to deep right. Kyle Crick struck out Paul Goldschmidt to end the threat.

San Francisco (52-80) had runners at first and second with nobody out in the eighth before pinch-hitter Brandon Crawford hit into a double play and Gorkys Hernandez lined out to center.

Then, for the Giants, came the disastrous Diamondback eighth.

Cain, making his fourth appearance out of the bullpen, walked J.D. Martinez and Daniel Descalso singled. After Adam Rosales reached on a well-placed bunt single, Chris Hermann singled to right, driving in Martinez and Descalso.

Pinch-hitter Brandon Drury delivered a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Hermann, and the rally continued. Cain issued a walk to Blanco and Pollock flied out to right before the veteran righthander hit Lamb with a pitch.

Goldschmidt belted his 31st home run of the season to left, a three-run blast, followed by Martinez’s second homer of the game. Cain was pulled in favor of Cory Gearrin, who was greeted by Descalso with a home run to right.

A manufactured run in the bottom of the third inning gave Arizona the first lead of the game. Hermann led off with a walk, was sacrificed to second, and went to third on David Peralta’s infield ground out. Hermann then scored when Stratton uncorked a wild pitch on strike three to Ray Fuentes.

In the D-Backs sixth, after Paul Goldschmidt walked and was thrown out trying to steal second, Martinez homered to right, making it 2-0.

Kelby Tomlinson had two of the Giants’ five hits.

The Giants move on to San Diego for a three-game series with the Padres. Jeff Samardzija (6-12, 4.67) faces Jhoulys Chacin (11-9, 4.10) Monday in a matchup of righthanders.

GIANT JOTTINGS: San Francisco has dropped 7 of its last 11 games against the Diamondbacks. … A 54-second video challenge overturned a possible fielder’s choice for Buster Posey, and was reversed to a 6-4-3 double play that ended the Giants’ first inning. … Arizona’s David Peralta was ejected after striking out in the fifth inning. It was his first career ejection. … Giants RHP Chris Stratton has thrown 18 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three starts. … It was the sixth time in team history the D-Backs hit back-to-back-to-back home runs. The last time was on July 21 against Washington. … Martinez’s 12th and 13th home runs with Arizona give him 29 overall on the season. This was Martinez’s fourth multi-home run game this season, and the fifth of his career. … Attendance at Chase Field was 21,210. The roof was closed – 106 degrees outside, 78 inside.

TAGS: San Francisco Giants,Arizona Diamondbacks,NL Wild Card,Sports Radio Service

San Francisco Giants’ Madison Bumgarner throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 2-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, August 26, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – It happens so often over the course of a baseball season – Madison Bumgarner pitching well enough to win on Saturday at Chase Field with nothing to show for it.

The San Francisco lefthander scattered five hits over seven innings, struck out seven and his only walk was intentional. But two of those hits were solo home runs by A.J. Pollock and J.D. Martinez, providing Arizona with enough offense to earn a 2-1 win over Bumgarner the visiting Giants.

It was the third win in a row for the Diamondbacks (72-58), who continue to lead the National League Wild Card race by 1 ½ games over Colorado and 5 ½ over Milwaukee.

It was Bumgarner’s ninth start since returning to the Giants from a three-month stint on the disabled list (left shoulder sprain). Bumgarner (3-6) threw 109 pitches before giving way to Hunter Strickland in the eighth.

“(Bumgarner) looked fine; looked like he’s back to normal,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “Throwing 109 pitches isn’t that uncommon. He felt fine. He could have gone back out there.

“Two solo home runs given up in this ballpark, that’s a great job. These days, you don’t give up as many hits, but you’re giving up more home runs. That’s how the game is today.”

Early on, it was looking like Diamondbacks starter Taijuan Walker (7-7), looking for his first win since June 21, would be the night’s hero. Walker retired the first 11 batters he faced until Giants leftfielder Jarrett Parker broke up Walker’s no-hit bid with two out in the fourth, driving a towering home run to center, tying the game at 1-1.

“Jarrett squared one up and that was it,” Bochy said. “(Walker) was good. He has great stuff, throws around 95, has good movement.

“We had our chances, but didn’t take advantage of them today.”

It was the long ball that got the job done offensively for Arizona. A.J. Pollock’s seventh home run of the season put the Diamondbacks up 1-0 with two out in the bottom of the first inning.

After Parker’s solo blast, Arizona regained the in the bottom of the fourth on J.D. Martinez’s home run off Bumgarner that landed in the seats just left of the 413-foot marker. It was the 11th home run for Martinez as a Diamondback, and his 27th of the season.

“The 3-2 pitch to Martinez, was spotted more toward the middle. I thought I would beat him, and I didn’t,” Bumgarner said. “Pollock has gotten real good at hitting high fastballs in the last year or two, because he’s hit two of them off me this year in almost the same spot.”

The Giants (52-79) threatened in the fifth when Brandon Crawford led off with a single and advanced to third on Joe Panik’s single. But Walker struck out Ryder Jones and Bumgarner to end the rally.

“I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate, seeing the ball good,” Bumgarner said. “I felt good going up there today and that just didn’t work out. That’s the way it is sometimes and I was glad to stay in the game.”

Bumgarner added that, at the same time, he has no interest in seeing electronic umpires working the plate.

“I’ve said this many times before, I’m not advocating for the stupid electronic strike zone,” he said. “I don’t even like replay. I wish we’d go back to playing baseball the way it’s supposed to be played. That’s just my opinion; everybody has one.”

“Bum is pretty good with a bat so I let him hit there in that situation,” Bochy said. “That was a tough pitch he was called out on. I got word the pitch was off the plate. He’s a pretty good hitter, he shortens up with two strikes. He saw it good, the call went their way, and that’s a tough break.”

Relievers Andrew Chafin, David Hernandez and Fernando Rodney blanked the Giants over the final 2 2/3 innings. Rodney struck out Crawford and Pablo Sandoval to close out save No. 32.

The two teams complete their weekend series Sunday, with righthander Chris Stratton (2-2, 3.98) pitching for San Francisco, while the D-Backs counter with lefthander Patrick Corbin (11-11, 4.09).

GIANTS JOTTINGS: Arizona SS Ketel Marte left the game in the sixth inning with left hamstring tightness. He’s day-to-day. … Attendance was 25,709 as fans sought to escape the 110-degree heat. It was 78 degrees inside with the roof closed.

TAGS: Madison Bumgarner,San Francisco Giants,Arizona Diamondbacks,Sports Radio Service,NL Wild Card

Arizona Diamondbacks’ Paul Goldschmidt (44) follows through on a single after knocking the glove off of San Francisco Giants catcher Nick Hundley, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Friday, August 25, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Paul Goldschmidt demonstrated again Friday night why he’s a solid contender for National League Most Valuable Player.

Goldy, as depicted on the back of his special Players Weekend jersey, cracked a three-run home run on his first at-bat of the game, giving Arizona a permanent lead en route to a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

The Diamondbacks (71-58) have a 1 1/2-game lead over Colorado for the top NL Wild Card berth, and a 4 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee.

Zach Greinke did his part. The D-Backs’ ace won his National League-leading 15th game of the season, logging four strikeouts without a walk and two earned runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings.

The Diamondbacks bullpen crew of Jorge De La Rosa, Archie Bradley and Fernando Rodney finished the game with 2 1/3 scoreless innings on one hit. Rodney notched his 31st save.

“Greinke’s been a big part of the Diamondbacks’ turnaround,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “Their starters are doing a good job and that’s why they’re in the thick of things.”

San Francisco scored first with an erratic sequence in the second inning off Greinke. With one out, Brandon Crawford singled, moved to second on Pablo Sandoval’s base hit, and was picked off trying to steal third.

“It looked like Craw read something; we didn’t have anything on,” Bochy said. “He’s one of our better baserunners. I guess he felt Greinke was getting into some sort of pattern and guessed wrong. Greinke has pretty good game awareness. He smelled it and got him.”

Sandoval scored from first base on Nick Hundley’s double to the left-center field gap, but Hundley was thrown out after reconsidering his decision to advance to third, ending the inning.

The Diamondbacks surged ahead in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs while sending eight hitters to the plate against San Francisco starter Ty Blach (8-10). Goldschmidt delivered the key hit – a three-run homer, well past the 376-foot marker in left, to put Arizona ahead 4-1.

“(Goldschmidt) got a good pitch and took advantage of it. He kind of muscled it out,” Bochy said. “You try not to have guys on base when he’s coming up there. But the way the inning started, that became a tough inning for Blach.”

Arizona tied the game with David Peralta singled with one out, moved to third when Chris Iannetta singled to center and took second on an error by Denard Span. After Peralta scored on A.J. Pollock’s base hit, Goldschmidt followed with his 30th home run, also reaching 100 RBIs for the season.

Blach gave up four earned runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked two. Albert Saurez, Josh Osich, Kyle Crick and Cory Gearrin shut the D-Backs out over the last four innings.

“Blach threw pretty well, he was hitting his spots,” Bochy said. “He’s had two of three games where we just have not played our best ball behind him. He’s had some tough luck. But he’s young; he’s learning.”

The Giants cut Arizona’s lead to 4-2 in the fifth, when Brandon Crawford doubled, moved to third on a Sandoval single, and scored as Hundley grounded into a fielder’s choice.

San Francisco pulled to within 4-3 in the seventh when Brandon Crawford doubled and scored on a throwing error by D-Backs shortstop Ketel Marte. Jorge De La Rosa then replaced Greinke and struck out Joe Panik, ending the threat.

“We had some good at-bats, but we just couldn’t finish off those opportunities,” Bochy said.

Crawford continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-4 while scoring two of the San Francisco runs. Sandoval was 2-for-4, raising his average to .288 since returning to the Giants.

“(Crawford) has been swinging it well,” Bochy said. “We need to get some guys on base for him.”

Peralta, Iannetta and Goldschmidt each collected two hits for Arizona.

On Saturday, Giants lefthander Madison Bumgarner (3-5, 2.87) faces Arizona righthander Taijuan Walker (6-7, 3.66) in a 5:10 p.m. start.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: Prior to the game, the Giants activated INF Joe Panik from the seven-day disabled list (concussion). Panik was 0-for-5 in a rehab stint at Triple-A Sacramento and Single-A San Jose. … Paul Goldschmidt is the first player in Diamondbacks history to have three 30-home run, 100-RBI seasons. … Attendance at Chase Field was 31,924. … Both teams were sporting the special nickname jerseys being worn throughout MLB. Names and numbers both difficult to pick up. … This was the first game of a six-game road trip for the Giants.

TAGS: Sports Radio Service,San Francisco Giants,Arizona Diamondbacks,NL West Wild Card

San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Ty Blach who will start on Friday night in Arizona bunts for a single in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Mathew Sumner)

By Jeremy Harness

 Well, the Giants’ fate has long been sealed, the season heading absolutely nowhere, and that the only redeeming quality left is seeing how the young guys play from now until the end of the season, as part of a year-end evaluation.

 They will get their next test starting Friday night as they head to Arizona to face the second-place Diamondbacks for a three-game series.

 Ty Blach (8-9, 4.59 ERA) will take the hill Friday night opposite Arizona righty Zack Greinke (14-6, 3.16 ERA).

 Blach has lost his previous two outings, including a defeat at the hands of the hapless Philadelphia Phillies during which he surrendered six runs on eight hits over only 5 1/3 innings. Overall, the lefty has lost four of his last six decisions.

 Greinke has dropped two of his past three decisions, the most recent coming in a 5-0 loss to Minnesota that saw him give up four earned runs (five total) on seven hits and lasted only four innings while doing so.

 If they were in any other division in the majors, the Diamondbacks would be at or near the top spot. However, the 90-win Dodgers happen to play in the National League West, and Arizona, which sports a 70-58 record, is 21 games out of first place.

 The Diamondbacks, however, currently own a playoff spot. Arizona has the inside track on the first of two wild-card positions in the National League. They have a half-game advantage over the Rockies, who have the second wild-card spot.

 

On the Giants Podcast with Miguel:

1 Matt Cain’s role as reliever and how it will work out. Cain pitched an inning of relief on Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers and got the Giants out of that inning

2 Jeff Samardzija had another great performance going innings, six hits, two runs both earned

3 Despite the loss Samardjiza improved his record going forward since July 21st to 4-1 and lowered his ERA to 3.43

4. Pablo Sandoval has actually played a lot better than expected coming out of Boston where he was dubbed a flop but since return to San Francisco has hit .280.

5. Hunter Pence says his hamstring was tightening up on him since Monday night and is currently out of the line up but knowing Pence he’ll get  better quick and get back in the line up

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

Milwaukee Brewers’ Stephen Vogt slides after being tagged out at home plate in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in San Francisco. Vogt attempted to score on a single by Brewers’ Orlando Arcia. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Things were looking good for the San Francisco Giants, but then the seventh inning happened.

Travis Shaw doubled off of Albert Suarez in the top of the seventh inning to score Neil Walker with the eventual game-winning run, as the Milwaukee Brewers came back to defeat the Giants 4-3 before a crowd of 39,523 at AT&T Park.

The Shaw double just after Ryan Braun tied up the game with a sacrifice fly off of Suarez that scored Eric Thames from third base. Thames walked with one out, and then went to third on a Walker double.

With the loss, coupled with the Los Angeles Dodgers victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, the Giants fell 40 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West.

This is the first time since the 1943 season that the Giants have been behind by 40 games in a season. When the season ended, the Giants finished 49.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals.

With a chance to tie up the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, Kelby Tomlinson hit an infield single; however, he was then thrown out at second base by Manny Pina for the first out of the inning.

Corey Knebel was then able to get Jarrett Parker to pop out to Orlando Arcia at shortstop and then struck out Buster Posey for his 27th save of the season.

The throw out of Tomlinson was the second big defensive play by the Brewers in as many innings, as Hector Perez threw out Nick Hundley at the plate on a perfect tag by Pina.

Brandon Crawford hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the Giants the lead. The two-run home run by Crawford also scored Posey, who walked just prior to Crawford’s 11th home run of the season and his first since he went deep against Zach Eflin of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

Keon Broxton gave the Brewers the lead in the top of the fourth inning, as his fly ball to Gorkys Hernandez was dropped for an error that allowed former Oakland A’s second baseman Eric Sogard score from first base. Sogard singled with two outs, as he picked up two hits and a walk on the evening.

Broxton drove in the Brewers first run of the game and the series in the top of the second inning, as he singled to score Domingo Santana, who walked with one out in the frame.

Hernandez tied up the game in the bottom of the second inning, as he singled to score Posey, who led off the inning with a single.

It was a tough no-decision for Jimmy Nelson, who pitched five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out six.

Like Nelson, it was a tough no-decision for Jeff Samardzija, who pitched six strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, while walking two and striking out four.

NOTES: Matt Moore closes out the series and the home stand, as he takes the mound on Wednesday afternoon, while the Brewers counter with Matt Garza.

Hunter Pence was in the original starting lineup, but was scratched from the game with a tight left hamstring.

Pence made a pinch-hitting appearance in the bottom of the eighth inning with two outs against Anthony Swarzak, and he walked on five pitches.

Johnny Cueto made a rehab start for the Sacramento Rivercats, and he pitched three innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, walking no one and striking out one. Cueto threw 47 pitches 32 strikes.

Cueto was not the only Giants player to be in Sacramento on the evening, as Joe Panik also made a rehab start for the Rivercats, as he went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

It was the 200th career victory for Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who replaced Ron Roenicke as manager in May of 2015.