Category: San Francisco Giants

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.

photo courtesy of Mothers Cookies: Former San Francisco Giants catcher circa 1986 Brad Gulden was called the original Humm Baby by then manager Roger Craig

By Tony The Tiger Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO–He was a Giant?

Gulden was more than your prototypical, chunky legged back-up catcher – he was also the original Giants’ “Humm-baby.”

The well traveled receiver would appear in just 17 games for the plucky 1986 club, but the hard-nosed style of play Gulden displayed in training camp helped spark a rebirth of the club’s winning clubhouse culture.

After one particularly gritty Cactus League game performance, new Giants manager Roger Craig gushed over the third stringer, calling him a legitimate “Humm-baby.”

Whatever that was.

We soon came to know that “Humm-baby” was practically the highest honor the San Fran skipper could bestow on a Giant.

A derivation of “come-on-baby” , the term “Humm-baby” would come to capsulate the blue collar Giants club over the course of Craig’s seven year Giants managerial term to praise a hustling player, an old school winning play or uncompromising effort.

The slogan was additionally used in Giants marketing campaigns, was emblazoned on bumper stickers and came to define one of the most exciting periods of west coast Orange & Black baseball.

Why was he a Giant?

Based purely on his physical tools Gulden was a major leaguer by the skin of his teeth, but it was his gamer attitude that helped land the backstop a spot on the Giants ’86 opening day roster as a third string catcher behind Bob Brenly and Bob Melvin. Initially he remain with the club into May before going to Triple-A Phoenix before returning to the majors in September.

Before & After

Gulden originally arrived in the majors with the Dodgers but didn’t stay long, moving on to the Yankees, Expos, Mariners and Reds, before signing with the Giants in ’86. In 1979, Gulden auditioned to replace the late Thurman Munson in New York, but hit just .163 in a career high 40 contests. The Giants were is final big league stop.

He wasn’t Terry Kennedy. But…

Gulden batted just .091, (2-for-22) with San Francisco, but still found a way to crack on the Dodgers (5/11/86), driving home the winning run with RBI single off Tom Niedenfuer in the 11th inning of a 9-8 win at Los Angeles.

Giants Footprint

Coincidently, in Gulden’s final big league game, it took a classic “Humm-baby” team-wide Giants performance to topple the Dodgers 6-5 in 16-innings, nearly six hour game (9/28/86). Candy Maldonado tied the game in the ninth with a pinch home run, then Bob Brenly plated the winning run with a single in the 16th. The Giants used 25 players, including a couple pitchers who were forced into outfield duty. Gulden struck out in a pinch hitting at bat.

 

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Consecutive victories, playoff caliber opponents, 12 plus innings and no earned runs allowed? Chris Stratton is establishing himself as a big league starter, news that couldn’t be more welcome for the officially postseason-eliminated Giants.

Stratton followed up his gem in Washington against the Nationals with six, shutout innings against the NL Central contending Brewers on Monday. The Nats were without a couple key, offensive threats, but Stratton excelled with ten strikeouts. The Brewers had their heavy hitters in the lineup, but managed just four hits. Consequently, on a club where opportunities are to be had by those that are ready, Stratton is moving toward the top of the list.

“Jones, Parker, Stratton, they’re trying to show they belong in the major leagues,” manager Bruce Bochy said after the Giants 2-0 win, their first shutout victory at home this season.

So good was Stratton, he not only carried the Giants past the Brewers and 14-game winner Zach Davies, he lightened the mood in the clubhouse after the game. While being interviewed by the assembled media, Stratton was interrupted by catcher Nick Hundley, making light of the rookie pitcher’s only strikeout on Monday. Stratton took the slight in stride.

“I just left all the strikeouts in Washington, I guess,” Stratton shot back.

Stratton’s scoreless streak is the longest by a rookie pitcher since Chris Heston went more than 15 innings without allowing a run in 2015. Stratton spotted his fastball and changeup with consistency, and he and three relievers kept the Brewers without a hit after Stephen Vogt singled in the fourth inning.

“He did a good job of just not going over the middle of the plate,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “The wind early in the game killed some balls we hit to right. But it was more of how good he was.”

Brandon Crawford’s RBI double in the fourth got the Giants on the board, and two outs later, Hundley’s groundout scored Hunter Pence. The rail-thin Davies grew stingy after that but lost on the road for the first time in 2017 after seven victories.

The Brewers had won six of seven coming in, but fell 2 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central and 3 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks with the loss. The Giants are 10-1 against Milwaukee in their last 11 meetings in San Francisco.

Jeff Samardzija looks to continue his mid-season surge in a matchup with the Brewers’ Jimmy Nelson  at 7:15pm on Tuesday.

 

 

 

San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) is hit by the first pitch thrown from Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Hector Neris (not shown), during a MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. Valerie Shoaps/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

1.San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey said that Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Hector Neris deliberately hit him on the back with a pitch during Sunday’s game at AT&T Park. Neris said in that situation in the eighth inning you don’t want to hit anybody as the Phillies were trying to hold onto a two run lead at that point. Neris said it didn’t make sense to hit Posey.

2.The Giants in dropping the 5-2 decision to the Phils, Giants manager Bruce Bochy says the team’s job was to go out and beat the Phils and the last thing Bochy wanted to do is go out and lose to the worst team in the NL

3.Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner went six innings giving up four hits and a run. Mad Bum looked good enough to complete the game but the pitch count caught up with him at 111 and he was lifted and the bull pen couldn’t finish.

4.On the concussion front Brandon Belt is still working and rehabbing in the gym and Giant second baseman has moved up to the batting cage and took some swings on Monday night before the Giants game against Milwaukee.

5.The NL Central’s second place team the Milwaukee Brewers will be AT&T Park Mon-Wed. The Brewers are playing for keeps as their headed for post season. This is a series that Bochy doesn’t want to lose.

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

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) delivering in the first inning, during a MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. Valerie Shoaps/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-One could imagine if Madison Bumgarner did not injured and missed the two months that he missed due to his shoulder injury, where would the San Francisco Giants be in the National League West.

Unfortunately, the lead that Bumgarner left with disappeared, as the Philadelphia Phillies scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning on their way to a 5-2 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 39,921 at AT&T Park.

With the loss, the Giants are the first team to be officially eliminated from the division race.

The Phillies got five consecutive singles that turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead, as all the runs and hits came off of Hunter Strickland.

Former Sacramento State star Rhys Hoskins started the rally with his first hit of the inning, then Maikel Franco, Jorge Alfaro, Nick Williams and Pedro Florimon each singled.

It was the Florimon single that eventually gave the Phillies the lead for good, as they were able to salvage a series split against the Giants.

The score could have been worse, but Gorkys Hernandez threw out Williams at the plate for the second out of the inning.

After falling behind by two runs, and with two outs, the Giants began to mount a rally, as Kelby Tomlinson singled, as did Jarrett Parker to bring Buster Posey up with two on and two out. Phillies reliever Hector Neris then nailed Posey in the ribs, and in a rare show of emotion, Posey began to jaw with Neris as he walked down the first base line.

Bumgarner went six innings, allowing one run on just two hits, while walking one and striking out seven.

In his seven starts since returning from the disabled list, Bumgarner is 3-2 during that stretch, with two no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers at July 30 and on Sunday.

Not only did Bumgarner pitch well, he also drove in a huge run as he singled in Ryder Jones, who doubled down the right field line with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Bumgarner’s battery mate, Buster Posey drove in the only other Giants run, as he singled in Kelby Tomlinson, who walked to lead-off the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Phillies took an 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as Florimon doubled to left field to score Nick Williams, after he singled with two outs.

Florimon also came up with a big throw in the bottom of the second inning, as he threw out Posey at the plate on a Brandon Crawford single.

The Florimon throw was not the only big time defensive play by a left fielder in the game, as Jarrett Parker threw out Cameron Perkins trying to score the eventual tying run in the top of the seventh inning.

Hoskins put the finishing touches on the scoring, as he hit a solo home run off of Kyle Crick in the top of the ninth inning.

The Sacramento native is the first Phillies player in team history (since 1913) to hit five home runs in his first 11 games.

Hoskins went 5-for-13 with two home runs and four RBIs in the four-game series.

NOTES: Chris Stratton takes the mound on Monday night, as the Giants open up a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Zach Davies looks for his 15th win of the season, as he takes the ball in the opener for the Brewers.

With his two hits on the afternoon, Posey extended his hitting streak against the Phillies up to 22 games, the longest hitting streak against any team in his major-league career.