Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants Wednesday game wrap: Giants blow lead late, continue 2nd-half slide

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By Jeremy Harness

AP photo: San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto delivers against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Ball Park on Wednesday night

It’s pretty safe to say that the Giants have entered into a sort of a panic mode at this point.

The Giants (60-46) are now 4-13 since the All-Star break, and even though they still have the lead in the National League West, that advantage is only two games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers, who just made a big trade to bolster their lineup, adding outfielder Josh Reddick and starter Rich Hill.

The latest installment of the melting-down process came Wednesday night, as they found themselves with a 4-0 lead but ended up surrendering that lead and could not get it back, falling to the lowly Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, at Citizens Bank Park in 12 innings.

Starter Johnny Cueto carried a 4-2 lead into the eighth inning, but the Phillies (50-59) got to the tiring righty, to the point where they tied the game on a two-run single by Maikel Franco, which finally chased Cueto from the game.

The bullpen, which has been spotty at best for much of this season, held up pretty well until the 12th inning. At that point, the Phillies got to reliever George Kontos, loading the bases on him and forcing manager Bruce Bochy to go to former starter Jake Peavy out of the bullpen.

It did not go very well. The very first batter he faced was Franco, and he did not waste any time seizing the opportunity, ripping a single up the middle to win the game and take the second game in a row from the Giants.

If there was a positive that came out of Wednesday, it was that Will Smith, the reliever whom the Giants acquired from Milwaukee at the trade deadline, faced one batter in the eighth inning and struck him out.

The Giants will test out another recent trade acquisition, left-handed starter Matt Moore, who will take the ball Thursday in an attempt to salvage at least one game from the three-game series in Philadelphia before heading to Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals that starts Friday

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: For Duffy, Moore and Smith the first trade is always the toughest

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AP photo: Newest San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Moore poses at the batting cage during batting practice before Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Ball Park

On the Giants podcast with Michael Duca, they say the best trades that help both sides and the deal that sent over Matt Moore from the Tampa Bay Rays and Will Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers. You have Matt Moore and had Matt Duffy your not missing any Matts here as former Giant third baseman Matt Duffy shared the namesake. Moore and Smith were traded out of their original organizations that drafted and developed them.

This is the first trade for each of them and their first one is always the toughest one, always the most emotional one. It’s always the one that your finally realize that the game you played since you were five years old is not a game anymore it is a business. Having said that San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Henry Schulman has written how personable and how congenial how Moore is. Get more on the Giants below on the podcast.

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

 

Giants prospect Chris Shaw Richmond Flying Squirrels

Giants Minor League Spotlight: Chris Shaw 1B Richmond Flying Squirrels

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Giants prospect Chris Shaw Richmond Flying Squirrels

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The number three rated prospect in the San Francisco Giants farm system is Chris Shaw – a first baseman who is currently assigned to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Eastern League.

The 22-year old Shaw is a 6-foot-4, 235 pounder who bats left and throws right. His key attribute is his above average power. Shaw hit 16 home runs in 72 games at high Class-A San Jose before being promoted to Richmond. In 28 games with the Squirrels, he has hit five doubles, two triples, one home run and he has collected 14 RBI.

Shaw is seen as a solid hitter who possesses a good arm. His fielding is rated as below average – good hands but his footwork needs to improve. Shaw’s downside is his lack of speed. Even though he played some right field in college, Shaw’s lack of speed will limit him to first base at the pro level.

Shaw really uses his power against right-handed pitching. The majority of his home runs have come off righties. The one problem Shaw does have is that he can become too aggressive at the plate. In Richmond, he has 26 strike outs and just eight walks.

Shaw has had some problems adjusting to life at Double-A. He was batting .285 when he was promoted from San Jose. Shaw is currently hitting .211 with an on base percentage of .267 in Richmond.

On Tuesday night, Shaw went 1-for-4 with a RBI in a 5-2 loss to Altoona. Shaw hit a single to center with two men on base and two out to bring a runner home to score the first run of the game.

The Giants will have some decisions to make about Shaw in the future. With Brandon Belt signed to a long-term deal, the question becomes what do you do with a talent like Shaw? His skill set might be better suited to an American League team where he could play first and DH – think Billy Butler. Shaw could become a valuable trade piece in the future for the Giants.

 

 

San Francisco Giants Tuesday game wrap: Wild one in Philly

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: San Francisco Giant pitcher Madison Bumgarner got racked up by the Philadelphia Phillies for eight runs on ten hits in the loss at Citizens Bank Ball Park on Tuesday night

After finishing their recent home stand with two straight victories over the Washington Nationals, things began to turn around for the San Francisco Giants, well that was until the opener of their series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Aaron Altherr broke up an 8-8 tie with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Phillies defeated the Giants 13-8 at Citizens Bank Park.

Altherr also hit a home run and drove in five runs, as the Phillies regrouped to take the opener after blowing a 6-0 lead against Giants starter Madison Bumgarner. Cameron Rupp added a three-run home run, Cesar Hernandez picked up four hits in the victory and Mikael Franco went 4-for-4.

The 13 runs were a season high for the Phillies, who entered the game ranked second to last in the major leagues in run scored. Also, the 15 hits by the Phillies were just two shy of a season high.

Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford and Angel Pagan each hit home runs for the Giants, who have now lost 12 out of 16 since the All-Star break.

Newly acquired reliever Will Smith made his Giants debut in the fateful eighth inning, as he retired the first batter he faced, then gave up a single to pinch hitter Odubiel Herrera and then a double to Hernandez and his night was done.

Sergio Romo came on to replace Smith, and then gave up what turned out the game-winning hit to Altherr.

Just two batters later, Rupp then hit a three-run home run to lengthen the Phillies lead up to 12-8.

Bumgarner lasted just five innings, allowing eight runs (four of them) earned on 10 hits, while walking two and striking out four.

By the end of the second inning, the Phillies led 6-0, as Altherr hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning and then added four runs in the bottom of the second inning. The big blow in the second inning was a three-run home run by Franco.

Crawford got the Giants on the board in the top of the fourth inning, as he hit his 10th home run of the season.

The Giants tied up the game in the top of the fifth inning, as Crawford hit a two-run single and then Belt tied up at six with a three-run home run. All five runs scored in the inning came with two outs.

After Tommy Joseph gave the Phillies a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Pagan gave the Giants their only lead of the night, when he hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning. Franco tied up the game in the bottom of the sixth, as he hit a run-scoring single.

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: Giants try giving pitching a shot in the arm; plus where the A’s are headed after dealing Reddick and Hill

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mlb.com file photo: It’ll be a matter of time to see if trading former Giant Matt Duffy to the Tampa Bay Rays pays off for the San Francisco Giants

On That’s Amaury’s podcast, since the All Star break the San Francisco Giants pitching hasn’t been the same, Giant pitcher Jake Peavy is at the end of his career, Matt Cain has been inconsistent this season. They acquired this lefty Matt Moore from the Tampa Bay Rays which I saw him pitch in Anaheim last week pitching for the Rays. Moore pitched very well against the Angels.

The Giants in order to get Moore they had to trade a very popular player third baseman Matt Duffy who they also sent Michael Santos a 21 year old pitcher and Lucas Fox an 18 year old prospect at shortstop all to Tampa Bay and it was a calculated risk. Moore has been hurt he went through Tommy John surgery a couple of years ago in the month of May he didn’t have too much control.

Listen to Amaury’s podcast on the latest trades involving the A’s and Giants plus his commentary on the 2016 Summer Olympics from Rio at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants acquire left handers Moore and Smith with Duffy, Susac and Bickford among those shipped out

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By Morris Phillips

The Giants consummated a pair of trade deadline deals on Monday and the cost of acquiring reliever Will Smith from Milwaukee and starting pitcher Matt Moore from Tampa Bay was enormous.

Gone are 21-year old Phil Bickford, youthful shortstop prospect Lucius Fox, former big league catcher Andrew Susac, and the biggest surprise, starting third baseman Matt Duffy, who was thought to be on track to rejoin the Giants on the upcoming road trip to Philadelphia and Washington.

Instead, Duffy appears to be on his way to becoming the starting shortstop for the Rays.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t heartbroken about leaving the group of guys and fans in SF,” Duffy said. “But I’m also excited about the opportunity to help push the Rays over the top and be a contender in the AL East.”

Moore, a left handed starter, is two years removed from Tommy John surgery and has pitched extremely well over his last 10 starts for the Rays. While the cost to acquire Moore was high, the Giants get a starting pitcher that’s under control for several seasons going forward, and can slot into the third starter position, temporarily dropping struggling Jeff Samardzija down a spot, and likely bumping Jake Peavy out of the rotation.

Most recently, Moore won at Dodgers Stadium against the lefty-leaning Los Angeles lineup, pitching into the seventh inning and allowing just one run, four hits. Previous to that, Moore won in Oakland, holding the A’s in check for seven innings. Moore had demanded that the Rays allow all of the starters to pitch deeper in ballgames, and Moore benefitted when the Tampa coaching staff relented. He’s thrown at least six innings in each of his last 10 starts with the one sore spot being the eight home runs Moore allowed.

Fox, 21-year old pitcher Michael Santos and Duffy were all shipped to Tampa Bay for Moore. In the other deal, Susac and Bickford went to Milwaukee for Smith.

Smith, a quality, left handed setup man, has not pitched at his best over the last month, but is envisioned as a replacement for the retired Jeremy Affeldt, and the struggling Javier Lopez. Smith obviously is not the knock out acquisition that Aroldis Chapman was for the Cubs, or Andrew Miller was for the Indians. But the Giants quickly found out that they were short can’t miss prospects to complete a deal for an elite closer, and Smith was the next step down in terms of what pitchers were available.

Smith’s acquisition likely means that Santiago Casilla will continue to be the closer for the Giants, and Smith will slip into a setup role with Sergio Romo. Since the Giants did not acquire a big-time closer, expect the Giants’ coaching staff to challenge the relievers they have—most importantly George Kontos, Derek Law, and Hunter Strickland—to pitch better down the stretch as they get more acclimated to being in more defined roles.

On Tuesday, the Giants start a three-game set in Philadelphia with Madison Bumgarner facing the Phillies’ Zach Eflin at 4:05pm.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Will Smith is coming to Philly to pitch for the Giants

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AP file photo: Former Milwaukee Brewer Will Smith joins the San Francisco Giants in Philadelphia he will be in the relief role

On the Giants podcast with Morris, the Giants acquired left hander Will Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday and he will be with the team on Tuesday at Citizen’s Bank Ball Park in Philadelphia. The Giants paid heavy to get Smith giving up their number one draft pick from 2015 right hand pitcher Phil Bickford and Giants catcher Andrew Susac who was Buster Posey’s back up catcher for parts of two seasons.

The Giants are hopeful that they can get back on track after losing 11-13 before Saturday when they won two straight over last weekend against Dusty Baker and the Washington Nationals. . The Giants before Smith on Friday dealt for infielder Eduardo Nunez who came from the Twins. Nunez gives the Giants depth, he’s a guy who can steal a base and led the American League in stolen bases. He adds a lot to the Giants line up.

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

 

Cain gets 100th win in series finale

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain pitching in the first inning to the Washington Nationals in the final game of the series.

SAN FRANCISCO-What a great way for the San Francisco Giants to end a home stand and the month of July than with a milestone victory for Matt Cain.

Angel Pagan drove in the first run when he reached on a Trea Turner throwing error that scored Conor Gillaspie from third base in the bottom of the third inning, as the Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 3-1 before a crowd of 41,795, the 461st consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park. Gillaspie led off the frame with a triple to the 421′ mark in right-center field.

The win gave Cain his 100th career victory, joining Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Tim Lincecum, Kirk Rueter and Mike McCormick as the only members of the 100-win club since the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958.

When Cain left the game, he pinch-hit for by Madison Bumgarner, who lined a double off the third archway in right-center field. To make matters even more unique, Friday’s starting pitcher Jeff Samardzjia came into the game to run for Bumgarner. After back-to-back fly outs by Eduardo Nunez and Angel Pagan, Hunter Pence reached on a throwing error by Anthony Rendon that scored the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver from second base to give the Giants a 2-0 lead.

Cain pitched five innings of no-hit ball before being replaced by George Kontos, who was greeted by Bryce Harper and he ended the no-hitter with a single off of Kontos. After a Wilson Ramos groundout, Rendon doubled to right-center field to score Harper with the only Nationals run of the afternoon.

Ryan Zimmerman made it three hits in the inning, but Rendon was unable to advance on the short hit to left field. Rendon was then forced out at third base, as Chris Heisey hit a short fly ball to left that saw Mac Williamson fall down on the play, hurt his left shoulder; however he was able to recover and get the force of Rendon at third base.

The Giants extended the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Denard Span came off the bench to hit a triple to Triples Alley in right-center field, and then following another Nunez fly out, Angel Pagan drove in Span single to right field.

With the victory, the Giants ended the month of July with a record of 11-13, their lowest win month of the season.

NOTES: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants begin another three-city, nine-road trip that begins on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Phillies, when Madison Bumgarner will take the Citizens Bank Park mound and the Phillies will send Zach Efflin to the mound. Following three in Philadelphia, the Giants head to Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals and then the road trip ends with a three-game series in Miami versus the Marlins.

Marichal is the all-time SF Giants leader in wins in 238, then Perry with 134, Lincecum with 108, Rueter with 105, McCormick with 104 and Cain with 100.

Christy Mathewson holds the all-time record with wins, as he won 372 games for the New York Giants, while Carl Hubbell is second with 253, Mickey Welch with 240 and Marichal is fourth with his 238 wins.

Pence returns in comeback victory

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By Jeremy Kahn

AP photo: San Francisco Giants Hunter Pence gets a fifth inning single, Pence also had a double in the ball game against the Washington Nationals on Saturday at AT&T Park

SAN FRANCISCO-This was a win that the San Francisco Giants most definitely needed to win after the rut that they have been in since the All-Star break.

Joe Panik hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning that scored Buster Posey from third base, as the Giants came back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Washington Nationals 5-3 before a crowd of 41,743, the 460th consecutive regular season sellout at AT&T Park.

The Giants added another run in the inning, as Trevor Brown drew a pinch-hit bases loaded walk to Hunter Pence. Posey singled got the seventh inning rally started, as he singled then Pence walked and then Brandon Belt singled to load the bases to bring up Panik.

Anthony Rendon got the Nationals on the board in the top of the second inning, as he smashed a two-run home run off of Jake Peavy into the left field seats.

Danny Espinosa gave the Nationals a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as he doubled in Ryan Zimmerman, who led off the inning with a single just prior to Espinosa’s double.

Finally in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Giants got Nationals pitcher Reynaldo Lopez, as they scored three runs to tie up the game.

Brandon Belt led off the inning with a walk, then Panik singled, then after Gregor Blanco struck out looking and then Mac Williamson, pinch hitting for Peavy walked to load the bases to bring up newly acquired Eduardo Nunez, who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. Nunez delivered, as he hit a two-run double to score Belt and Panik.

Angel Pagan then tied up the game, as he grounded out to Zimmerman to score Williamson, who dove in head first to cross the plate and to tie up the game.

Peavy went four innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking just one and striking out seven. The home run to Rendon was the sixth home run that Peavy allowed since the All-Star break.

In his return after missing 48 games with a right hamstring injury, Pence went 1-for-3 with a run scored, a double and a walk.

Six different relievers pitched the final five innings, as they allowed three hits, walking just one and striking out three.

The victory went to Derek Law, who pitched one inning and struck out one to pickup his fourth win of the season. Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect ninth inning to pickup his 23rd save of the season.

Former Giants pitcher Yusmeiro Petit picked up the loss for the Nationals, as he allowed two runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out one. It was the first run that Petit allowed in his last seven appearances.

Brandon Belt drew three walks on the afternoon, and it was the sixth time this season that he walked three or more times in a game. Belt came into the game with the fourth most walks in the National League.

Rock bottom? Giants optimistic things will turn around

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By Ben Leonard

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants made history Friday night. But not the type of ground you’re usually looking to break. On a hard line drive to first off Brandon Crawford’s bat, San Francisco became the first eighth inning L3-3-5 triple play in major league history.

That kind of play would devastate a lot of teams. When you’ve won two games in as many weeks, an unlucky, bizarre play like that could be crippling to most clubs. But not the Giants.

One of the most resilient teams in recent years has pledged to keep fighting after another soul-crushing loss.

“These guys are fighting,” Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said Friday. “They’ll be fine. We’ll keep grinding through this thing and we’ll come out of it.”

This isn’t your average press conference mumbo jumbo. When it came out of the players’ mouths, it sounded like they believed it. You should believe it. Brandon Crawford looked reporters in the eye, asserting that, yes, it would turn around. He didn’t have to convince himself.

Neither did starter Jeff Samardzija, who took taking the streak cooly and with veteran savvy. Just a little downturn, nothing more.

A lot of it has just come down to poor luck, something that’s particularly devastating when you’re running out a 4-A type of bottom half of the order.

Sure, some of it has been sloppy play — like Gregor Blanco’s slow throw that cost Samardzija a run in the fourth — but you notice those things more when a team has lost eleven of thirteen games.

But largely, this has come down to a lack of clutch hitting, a smidge of poor luck, and inevitable regression from a team that was held together by a string. Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto couldn’t keep pitching like Greek gods, and a team without three regulars was due to fall off offensively.

Most of the time, they’ve been competitive and feel they can wriggle their way out of this deepening rut.

“We’re right there,” Samardzija said after the Giants’ fifth loss in his last six outings. “We’re in all these games. It’s not like these things are out of reach… You just keep working hard and eventually those bounces will go your way.”

They wouldn’t have had the chance to be right there had they not been resilient. Down 4-1, the Giants stood up and rallied in the eighth to load the bases with no outs, when they made broke infamous, silencing ground.

 

This team has proven that it has what it takes when it matters — a one-game lead in the NL West should be motivation enough for this crew. They didn’t fall down when Hunter Pence did earlier in the season. They didn’t fall down in 2012 when down 2-0 and 3-1 in the playoffs. Why would they now? It’s not in their DNA.

Plus, the silver lining to all of this is that it could force management’s hand with the trade deadline rapidly approaching. There’s certainly pressure on general manager Bobby Evans to make another move — Eduardo Nunez probably isn’t going to be the second coming of Mike Trout — and a move could inspire this club. Marco Scutaro was the catalyst in 2010, Pence inspired this club in 2012, and Jake Peavy gave the club a lift in 2014. Even a mid-level name could fit right in in this welcoming, laidback California club house

Even a mid-level name could fit right in in this welcoming, laidback California clubhouse and help the club take off. The public acknowledgement that this team needs to do more inherent in such a move would put more pressure — the good kind — on this club.

As they’ve proven time and time again, pressure is nothing but motivation for the Giants. Don’t expect them to press like this for much longer.