Category: San Francisco Giants

 Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo hits a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

 By Jeremy Harness

 The Giants temporarily fixed their road issues by taking two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals and winning the opener of this four-game series at Wrigley Field. However, the Chicago Cubs have given them a reality check in these past two games.

 After the Giants’ victory in Monday’s opener, the Cubs have made their imprint in this series by winning the last two contests, the most recent coming in a 5-4 Chicago win over the Giants Wednesday night.

 Cubs first basemen Anthony Rizzo has been on a tear lately, and he continued that on Wednesday, blasting two solo homers in the first four innings to keep the Cubs in the game before his teammates brought in the runs to win the game in the late innings.

 Chicago used sacrifice flies to get out to a 5-2 lead heading into the ninth inning, but the Giants would not go away so easily.

 Mac Williamson nailed a two-run homer just beyond the railing of the right-field wall off closer Wade Davis to narrow the lead to just a run. The Giants put a runner on second with two outs, but Joe Panik was called out on strikes to end the game when Davis’ curveball was found to have nipped the outside corner.

 Kyle Hendricks picked up his fourth win of the year by going seven strong innings and giving up only a pair of runs on five hits, striking out five and not walking a single batter. Meanwhile, Matt Moore (2-5) was saddled with the loss, as he surrendered three earned runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out four.

 The Giants are currently 11 games behind the first-place Colorado Rockies, who own an astounding 31-14 record at this point. They are now sitting in third place, three games ahead of the cellar-dwelling San Diego Padres.

 The Giants will look to break even in the series Thursday afternoon, after which they will head home to begin a six-game homestand against the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals.

 

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester delivers in this double exposure during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Tuesday, May 23, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

By Jeremy Kahn

Jon Lester showed why he helped the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series in 108 years with a dominant performance against the San Francisco Giants.

Lester scattered just four hits in throwing the Cubs first complete game of the season, as they defeated the Giants 4-1 at Wrigley Field.

In what was the first game between the two teams since last season’s National League Division Series that saw the Cubs defeat the Giants in four games, Lester defeated his opponent from Game 1, Johnny Cueto.

Lester got help from a two-run home run from Anthony Rizzo, and solo home runs from Jason Heyward and Kyle Schwarber and the defending World Champions are now 7-2 on their current homestand.

The left-hander struck out 10 and did not allow a walk in throwing the 15th complete game of his career

Cueto pitched six innings, allowing those three home runs and struck out eight, as the blisters on his right hand, more specifically his middle and index fingers took effect and Cueto saw his record on the season drop to 4-4.

Brandon Crawford drove in the only Giants of the game, as he doubled in the top of the fifth inning to score Buster Posey.

Lester threw just 99 pitches, as he struck out rookie Christian Arroyo for the final out of the game and the four-game series is now tied at one game apiece.

With the loss, the Giants fall to 3-2 on their current seven-game road trip thru both St. Louis, where they took two out of three from the Cardinals and Chicago, where they are 1-1 with two games remaining before heading home for a weekend series with the Atlanta Braves beginning on Friday night.

The game was delayed 65 minutes due to rain. Cueto struck out the first four batters, but Schwarber got the Cubs got on the board in the bottom of the second inning, as he planted a Cueto pitch onto Sheffield Avenue.

Heyward extended the lead to 2-0, as he hit a home run into the basket in the right field bleachers in the bottom of the second inning and Rizzo closed out the scoring for the Cubs, as he hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

NOTES: Matt Moore looks to clinch the road trip on Wednesday night, as he takes the mound versus Kyle Hendricks.

Denard Span missed his second consecutive game due to a sprained left thumb, as he suffered the injury in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals on Sunday at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter (13) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run as third base coach Chris Maloney (77) watches during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, May 21, 2017, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

By Jeremy Kahn

After a 13-inning victory on Saturday afternoon, the San Francisco Giants looked to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals behind Matt Cain.

Unfortunately, the sweep did not occur, as Matt Carpenter hit a home run and Randall Grichuk drove in four runs, helping the Cardinals to a 8-3 victory over the Giants at Busch Stadium.

The win by the Cardinals not only helped them salvage the series finale from the Giants, but the Cardinals also snapped their four-game losing streak.

Adam Wainwright pitched 6.1 innings of great baseball, as he gave up just one run on five hits and also picked up a RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning.

This was the second strong start in a row for Wainwright, who threw strong seven innings in a 5-0 victory on May 10 against the Chicago Cubs.

Carpenter hit a two-run home run off of Cain in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Cain went 5.1 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits, as his overall record in his 13-year career at Busch Stadium falls to 0-4 in six career starts there.

Grichuk got the Cardinals rolling in the bottom of the first inning, as he hit a bases-loaded double, when the Cardinals scored four runs off of Cain. The fourth and final run batted in came in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he picked up his second double of the game.

The loss by the Giants stopped their two-game winning streak, but the Giants have still won seven out of their last nine games after being a major-league worst 12-24.

Brandon Crawford and Eduardo Nunez hit back-to-back home runs for the Giants in the top of the eighth inning. The last 15 home runs by the Giants have been solo home runs.

NOTES: After catching all 13 innings in their 3-1 victory on Saturday night, Buster Posey was given the day off by Bruce Bochy.

Ty Blach takes the mound in the opener of their four-game series against the Cubs on Monday night, while the Cubs will send John Lackey to the mound for the defending World Champions.

San Francisco Giants Christian Arroyo, right, watches his two run-double off of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kevin Siegrist, foreground, in the 13th inning during a baseball game Saturday, May 20, 2017, in St. Louis. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

By Jeremy Kahn

After not seeing a run cross the plate for 12 innings, the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals scored four runs in the 13th inning and the visitors left the field shaking hands.

Christian Arroyo hit a two-run double in the top of the 13th inning, and Nick Hundley added a sacrifice fly and the Giants defeated the Cardinals 3-1 at Busch Stadium.

Arroyo’s double came on the 12th pitch of the at-bat against Kevin Siegrist drove in Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford. Posey, Crawford and Eduardo Nunez each singled to load the bases just prior to the Arroyo double off the left-center field wall.

Jeff Samardzija pitched a strong eight innings, allowing just four hits and struck out eight.

Hunter Strickland picked up his first win of the season, as he pitched two innings, allowing two hits and struck out three.

Despite giving up a run in the bottom of the 13th inning, Mark Melancon picked up his eighth save of the season and the Giants have won eight out of their last nine games.

The relief quartet of Josh Osich, Derek Law, Strickland and Melancon pitched the final five innings, and allowed one run on five hits, not walking a batter and striking out five.

Following the bottom of the 10th inning, the game was delayed for 42 minutes due to rain.

Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez was outstanding, despite the fact that he did not fare in the decision. Martinez pitched nine innings, allowing just two hits, striking out five and threw 93 pitches on the evening.

Matt Carpenter gave the Cardinals a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he hit a ball just out of the reach of Nunez in left field. Instead of stopping at second base and giving the Cardinals a chance to win the game, Carpenter tried to extend the double into a triple and Nunez threw to Arroyo for the first out of the inning.

NOTES: Matt Cain looks for the sweep on Sunday afternoon, as he takes the mound for the Giants. Adam Wainwright will be on the mound for the Cardinals, as they look to stop their four-game losing streak.

Conor Gillaspie went 1-for-3 in his first rehabilitation game for the Sacramento Rivercats on Friday night.

San Francisco Giants’ Eduardo Nunez watches his two-run double during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, May 19, 2017, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

By Jeremy Kahn

What a difference from the last road trip to the beginning of this seven-game road trip for the San Francisco Giants.

Eduardo Nunez came up with a huge two-run double in the top of the ninth inning, helping the Giants to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

This was the Giants sixth win out of their last seven games, and are now 7-15 outside of AT&T Park, where they have won two games in a row.

In their last road game on May 10, the Giants scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning and defeated the New York Mets 6-5 at Citi Field.

Bryan Morris picked up his second win of the season, as he pitched a perfect eighth inning, where he struck out two batters before giving way to closer Mark Melancon, who was able to end the game on a nifty double play to end the game. It was the seventh save of the season for Melancon.

Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh gave up two runs in the top of the ninth inning on the Nunez double, as it was the second blown save of the season for Oh.

Nunez drove in Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford with his two-run double up the left-center field alley. Both Belt and Crawford singled prior to the Nunez heroics.

Matt Moore went six innings, giving up two runs on five hits, while walking three and struck out five.

Cardinals starter Michael Wacha returned to the mound for the first time in 11 days, as he scattered four hits in six innings of work. Wacha struck out five and walked three in his six innings.

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija takes the Busch Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as he looks for his second win in as many starts. Carlos Martinez looks his fourth consecutive win after beginning the season 0-3 for the Cardinals.

Conor Gillaspie, who is out with back spasms will begin his rehab assignment with the Sacramento Rivercats

Giants reliever Cory Gearrin spent his off-day at San Francisco City Hall, as he married Maddi Reynolds. Gearrin joined the team prior to the game.

San Francisco Giants third baseman Eduardo Nunez (10) and San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto (47) taking care of a fly ball during a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California during Wednesday’s matinee. Valerie Shoaps/CSM (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

By Jeremy Harness

Just as it looked like they would continue to go in the wrong direction, the Giants have found a way to pull things together.

A week ago today, the Giants lost their fourth straight game to the Cincinnati Reds, as they were struggling to find an answer for the team that they came back and beat in the 2012 Division Series en route to a World Series championship.

From that point, however, they would go on take three straight from the Reds to take the four-game series. If that was not enough, they kept things rolling and took two of three from the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.

They did, however, drop a 6-1 contest to the Dodgers Wednesday afternoon, to snap a five-game winning streak. Despite the setback, the Giants have won six of their past eight games. In the process, they have managed to pull themselves out of the cellar of the National League West.

They now face a tough challenge right in front of them, as they hit the road to face the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game series that starts on Friday, and once they are done in St. Louis, a rematch of last year’s Division Series awaits them as they pay their first visit of the season to Wrigley Field to face the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs.

The Giants will not only try to keep their winning ways going, but they will also look to put an end to some serious road misery. They are currently tied for the worst road record in the National League, which explains a great deal how they are in fourth place in the West at this point.

To be exact, San Francisco currently holds a 6-15 record away from the familiar confines of AT&T Park.

To help put his team’s road woes to an end, Matt Moore (2-4, 5.67 ERA) will take the hill in Friday night’s series opener against St. Louis’ Michael Wacha (2-1, 3.19 ERA)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Sergio Romo (54) watches a solo home run by third baseman Eduardo Nunez (10) during the ninth inning of a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers 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 Michael Duca:

#1 Giants are rolling winning their last five of six and had their five game win streak end on Wednesday at AT&T Park against the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1.

#2 Michael talks about how much Brandon Belt has made a difference during the Giants win streak

#3 Belt had four homers in his last six games before Wednesday. Buster Posey had two hits as the Giants are starting to feel their way around again

#4 The Giants are 5-1 on this homestand and it’s notable that they took three out of four from Cincinnati the week before the Giants were swept in Cincinnati. Then the Giants took two out of three from the Dodgers.

#5 While the Giants are out of the cellar San Francisco need to continue it’s drive to move into second place as the Giants open a road series in the mid west with St Louis and Chicago

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

 

 

San Francisco Giants’ Justin Ruggiano, left, and Mac Williamson celebrate the team’s 2-1 defeat of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a baseball game Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-As the San Francisco Giants continue their recent hot streak, so does Brandon Belt with a hot streak of his own.

Belt hit a solo home run leading off the bottom of the fourth inning, helping the Giants to their fifth straight victory after a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, before a crowd of 41,366, the 509th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

Brandon Crawford came up with the biggest hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he singled to right field to score Belt, who singled to lead-off the inning, went to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a Buster Posey groundout.

The Crawford single came off of eventual losing pitcher Luis Avilan, who pitched one-third of an inning, allowing one run on two hits before being replaced by Pedro Baez.

Ty Blach pitched seven strong innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking two and striking out three on his way to his first win of the season.

Blach got some huge defensive support in the top of the fourth inning, as he gave up a single to Justin Turner and then a double to Kike Hernandez. Following the Hernandez double, Austin Barnes hit a ball to second base and Christian Arroyo threw home, where Buster Posey tagged Turner out at the plate. Blach then ended the inning, as Yaisel Puig grounded out to Brandon Crawford at shortstop to end the threat.

The Dodgers finally got to Blach in the top of the sixth inning, as Chris Taylor planted a Blach pitch and put it into the garden beyond the centerfield wall to tie up the game.

After the Taylor home run, Franklin Gutierrez singled, but then Blach got Turner to strikeout for the first out of the inning and then Hernandez singled under the glove of Eduardo Nunez at third base. Blach then got Barnes to fly out to Mac Williamson in right field for the second out, and then Puig flew out to Williamson for the final out of the inning.

Rich Hill pitched five strong innings for the Dodgers, as he gave up just one run on six hits, not walking a batter and striking out six. Hill did allow the solo home run to Belt, hit a batter and also committed a balk.

Things got interesting in the top of the eighth inning, as Taylor singled off of reliever Hunter Strickland; however, Strickland was able to stop the bleeding, as pinch hitter Corey Seager grounded into a double play; however, Turner hit a single just out of reach of Arroyo.

Strickland got out of the inning, as Hernandez lined out to Belt at first base.

The Dodgers batters in the five thru nine hole went 0-for-19.

NOTES: Johnny Cueto will take the mound in the series and home stand finale for the Giants, while Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the Dodgers.

Following Wednesday’s game, the Giants and the Dodgers will not see each other until the weekend of July 28-30 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers will make their third and final AT&T Park appearance from September 11-13.