Category: San Francisco Giants

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Chase Anderson acknowledges the crowd as he is taken out of the game during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Tuesday, June 6, 2017, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

By Jeremy Kahn

Chris Anderson pitched another great game for the Milwaukee Brewers, as they took an early lead on the San Francisco Giants.

Anderson pitched 7.2 strong innings, not allowing a run, walking one and striking out four and the Brewers defeated the Giants 5-3 at Miller Park.

This was just the third win in 17 games for the Giants, as Anderson extended his scoreless inning streak up to 21.2.

The Brewers came up with three double plays, with two of them started by hitting hero Hernan Perez. The third baseman hit a home run, helping the Brewers to a win over the Giants, who are now 2-3 on their current seven road trip.

Anderson came up his first RBI of the season and the fifth of his big-league career, as he doubled in the bottom of the third inning.

Matt Cain gave up 10 hits, walking two and striking out three in five innings of work. Cain last won on the road on August 6 in a 7-1 victory over the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.

Cain gave up four runs in the bottom of the second inning, that included Perez’s home run, a two-run double from former Oakland A’s second baseman Eric Sogard and Domingo Santana drove in a run with a single.

The Giants tried to make a game of it in the top of the ninth inning, as they scored three runs, two of them off of Carlos Torres, who allowed two runs on three consecutive singles. Buster Posey drove in a run with a single, and then Torres committed a throwing error that allowed another run to score.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell saw enough, as he went to his bullpen again and brought on Craig Knebel, who was able to retire the three batters he faced in a row to pick-up his sixth save of the season.

NOTES: Ty Blach makes his first ever start against the Brewers on Wednesday night, while the Brewers counter with Jimmy Nelson.

Hunter Pence started his second game in a row after being activated prior to the finale on Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Giants acquired reliever Sam Dyson and cash considerations from the Texas Rangers, while the Rangers will get a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Dyson was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Friday, as he is 1-6 with 10.80 earned run average in 17 games this season.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) throws a pitch during the MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Christopher Szagola/CSM(Credit Image: © Chris Szagola/CSM via ZUMA Wire) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images

By Jeremy Kahn

Just a few years ago, this matchup between the San Francisco Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies would have been a playoff preview and now it is just another matchup.

Maikel Franco broke a 7-7 tie with a in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Freddy Galvis hit his second home run of the game and the Phillies defeated the Giants 9-7 at Citizens Bank Park.

Galvis hit home runs from both sides of the plate, and Odubel Herrera hit a home run, as the Phillies won their first series since in six weeks.

The switch-hitting Galvis became the first Phillies player to hit home runs from both sides of the plate since Jimmy Rollins turned the trick on July 20, 2011 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

This is the first winning streak for the Phillies since they won six games in a row from April 20-27.

Brandon Crawford helped out on the offensive side, as he hit a home run and drove in four runs and Eduardo Nunez gave the Giants an early 1-0 lead, as he hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning.

It was a back and forth game all day, as the Phillies were unable to hold leads of 4-1 and 6-3 before the Giants took a 7-6 lead in the top of the seventh inning on a Crawford two-run single.

Herrera hit a RBI double off of reliever Josh Osich in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie up the game.

Just one inning later, Franco led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a home run off of losing pitcher Derek Law, who fell to 3-1 on the season.

Pat Neshek pitched the eighth inning for his first win of the season. Closer Hector Neris came on to pick-up his fifth save in six opportunities this season.

Nunez gave the Giants an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he connected for a solo home run off of Jeremy Hellickson.

The Phillies took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as Herrera and Howie Kendrick hit back-to-back doubles to give the Phillies their first lead of the game.

Galvis lengthened the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the second inning, as he hit a two-run home run off of Matt Moore. It was the first home run for Galvis since May 1.

Moore lasted four innings, giving up five runs (four earned), while Hellickson went 5.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned).

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija looks to get the Giants back on the winning side on Monday night, as they open a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

Hunter Pence was activated prior to the game and was a late inning replacement, as he came into the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.

To make room for Pence on the roster, the Giants optioned Christian Arroyo to Triple-A Sacramento.

AP Photo file: San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (15) in the dugout during the Major League Baseball game between the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants on May 8, 2017, at Citi Field in Flushing, NY. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Giants drop their second straight game to the struggling Phillies 9-7 now the other shoe has dropped

#2 The Giants loss today marks two out three to the major’s worst the Philadelphia

#3 Giants manager Bruce Bochy went off on a reporter who asked what Bochy does to keep the team positive “what do you want me to convey? They’re men out there we have meetings. They know where they’re at.”

#4 Giants starter Matt Moore got racked up going 4 innings and giving up five Phillies runs

#5 The Giants who sent Christian Arroyo to Triple A activated Hunter Pence. Can Hunter Pence add some punch to this line up

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

 

Philadelphia Phillies’ Ben Lively in action during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Saturday, June 3, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

By Jeremy Kahn

After a series-opening 10-0 victory on Friday night, the San Francisco Giants turned to Johnny Cueto to the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately, it was a pitcher, who was making his major-league debut came out on the winning end.

Ben Lively pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking three and striking out none and the Phillies hung on to defeat the Giants 5-3 at Citizens Bank Park.

Lively became the first Phillies starter to win a game since Jeremy Hellickson on April 27. Prior to being recalled to the Phillies, Lively was 6-1 with a 2.40 earned run average in Triple-A.

Tommy Joseph tied up the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a solo home run to left field.

Phillies centerfielder Odubel Herrera drove in three runs in a four-run seventh inning, helping the Phillies to end their five-game losing streak. It was just the seventh win in the last 33 games for the Phillies, who have the worst record in the major leagues.

Orlando Calixte drove in the first Giants run of the afternoon in the top of the second and that would be the only run that Lively would allow in his major-league debut.

The Phillies scored their final four runs of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Maikel Franco singled to lead-off the inning, and went to third on an Andrew Knapp single that ended Cueto’s afternoon.

Hunter Strickland, who is waiting hear the decision on his six-day suspension came on to replace Cueto and immediately gave up a single to Freddy Galvis to score Franco with the eventual game-winning run. Cesar Hernandez singled and then Herrera doubled to break the game wide open.

Cueto gave up three runs on eight hits, striking out nine and did not walk a batter, as his career record fell to 1-5 against the Phillies.

The Giants scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning, as Brandon Crawford singled and then Aaron Hill singled in Crawford to narrow the Phillies lead down to 5-3. Jeanmar Gomez got Nick Hundley to groundout to end the game.

NOTES: Matt Moore takes the mound for the Giants in the series finale, while Hellickson takes the mound for the Phillies.

Hunter Pence could return to the Giants either on Sunday in the finale, or on Monday in the series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

San Francisco Giants’ Ty Blach in action during a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, June 2, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

By Jeremy Kahn

Ty Blach maybe just a rookie, but this rookie is pitching like the veteran he replaced in the San Francisco Giants starting rotation, Madison Bumgarner.

Blach walked three times during the game, and pitched his first complete game and the Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-0 at Citizens Bank Park.

Denard Span picked up his first five hit game as a member of the Giants, as they opened their six-game road trip with a huge win over the struggling Phillies, who have lost five in a row, dropping 26 out of their 32 and are now a major-league worst 17-35 on the season.

As for Blach, it was just another day at the office for the left-hander, as he threw his first complete game, allowing seven hits, not walking a batter and struck out seven on his way to raising his record to 4-2 on the season.

It was the fourth straight win for Blach, who became the first pitcher since Aaron Cook of the Colorado Rockies on October 1, 2009 against the Milwaukee Brewers to walk three times in the same game.

Eduardo Nunez picked up three hits and drove in three runs for the Giants, who won for the first time since Sunday’s 7-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves at AT&T Park, snapping their three-game losing streak.

The Giants led 4-0 by the end of the second inning, as Brandon Crawford hit two sacrifice flies and Nunez came up with a huge two-run double in the sixth, as the Giants blew the game open with a four-run sixth inning.

Not only did Blach walk in his first three at-bats, but he struck out in his final three at-bats against Phillies pitching.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto looks to make it two straight for the Giants, as he takes the mound for a 1:05 (Pacific) start, while the Phillies will right-hander Ben Lively to mound for his major-league debut.

Hunter Pence continues his rehab with Single-A San Jose, and he is 2-for-6 in his first two games.

The contract of Justin Slater was purchased from Triple-A Sacramento, and to make room for Slater, the Giants designated Justin Ruggiano for assignment.

Slater started in right field, and went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy blows a bubble in the dugout during the eighth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, in San Francisco. Washington won 3-1. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

By Jeremy Harness

 After a brief winning streak, the Giants have once against hit the skids and have found themselves right back in the cellar of the National League West.

 After getting swept in a three-game series by the Washington Nationals, a series that concluded Wednesday at AT&T Park, the Giants currently share last place with the San Diego Padres with matching 22-33 records.

 The Giants are expected to call up outfielder Austin Slater from Triple-A Sacramento in tome for their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies that starts Friday night at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.

 A Stanford product and an eighth-round draft pick, the 24-year-old Slater had been swinging a hot bat for the River Cats, sporting a .322 average with four home runs while driving in 26 runs in 174 at-bats for the Triple-A club this season.

 Slater is expected to get a good look at left field when he starts his big-league career.

 Thankfully for the Giants, the Phillies are not having a very good season, either. In fact, they have the worst record in the National League with a 17-34 mark, so this will be a very good opportunity for the Giants to get back on track.

 And it will also be a great time for Slater to get his feet wet in the major leagues, and also for the Giants to start to see what will become of its young prospects.

 Meanwhile, right fielder Hunter Pence, who has missed the Giants’ past 17 games due to a left hamstring strain, will start a rehab stint with Class-A San Jose on Wednesday. According to reports, he is expected to play five innings on Wednesday and another seven innings on Thursday.

 

photo by Topps Baseball cards: 1970 Topps Baseball Card of former San Francisco Giant pitcher Bob Garibaldi

Bob Garibaldi – Tale of Two Worlds (Series)

By Tony “The Tiger” Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO–With the College World Series just days away we take a look back at the Bob Garibaldi’s unusual 1962 campaign that saw him star in the College World Series for Santa Clara University and then weeks later appear on the active roster for San Francisco Giants in the world’s World Series.

Will Clark, Jeff Kent, Tim Hudson and Barry Bonds are all veterans of playing in the World Series for the San Francisco Giants and in the College World Series for their respective universities, but in each case each had long gaps between each appearance.

Tim Hudson for instance was in his penultimate season of a long and successful big league career before he appeared in the fall classic.

Garibaldi, just 20 in 1962, did the unheard of, going from a Madison Bumgarner-like iron man performance in the College World Series to staying loose and ready to pitch in Game 7 of the MLB World Series vs. the New York Yankees if needed.

Yet, despite the whirlwind beginning to his professional career, the Stockton born hurler would appear in just 15 major league games over the course of four sporadic seasons (all with the Giants) and never post a big league win.

After a brilliant performance for Santa Clara University in the ’62 college championship, the Giants won a bidding war for the sophomore – beating out the likes of the New York Mets, who who sent skipper Casey Stengel on a recruiting trip to the young hurlers house in a helicopter – to inking the pitcher to a $150,000 “bonus baby” contract.

The club was required to immediately place the 20-year-old on the major league roster. Though not obligated to carry Garibaldi on the World Series active list, they did so any ways, and the hard -throwing righty was in the bullpen when Willie McCovey lined to New York’s Bobby Richardson to end the classic Game 7.

Garibaldi’s ’62 college World Series performance is legendary – setting series records for innings pitched (27.2) and strikeouts (38). Like Mad-Bum did in the Giants 2014 championship run, several times Garibaldi came out of the Broncos bullpen to rescue the team after starting the pervious day. He was the losing pitcher in the championship game to Michigan, but only after coming into the game in the seventh inning and holding the Wolverines hitless for nine innings before being victimized by a misplayed fly ball in the 15th frame.

After making nine appearances for San Francisco in ’62 (all regular season) and a handful in 1963, the big righty would spend most of the next decade in the minors battling arm ailments. Many blamed “over-use” in the college World Series, but Garibaldi maintains he didn’t injure his arm until 1964 when he altered his pitching motion.

Though he never did achieve a big league win, Garibaldi was effective when given a chance to pitch, maintaining a 3.08 ERA in 26.1 innings spread out over four seasons. In his final big league appearance (and only start) he allowed one earned run in five innings vs. the visiting Padres, but was dinged with the defeat in the 9-4 loss (10/1/69).

After retiring from baseball, Garibaldi worked for many years as a WAC basketball referee, among the players games he officiated were future Giants outfielders and collegiate hoopsters Randy Winn (Santa Clara) and Terrell Lowery (Loyola-Marymount).