Marlins swam comfortably in Bay waters, and/or Pacific Ocean, beat Giants 7-5 and series (2-1)on a beautiful day in the City by the Bay.

Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (center-left) and left fielder Kyle Stowers (center-right) jump for joy after taking two out of three from the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Miami Marlins (51-86) were the fish that got away in McCovey Cove, as they beat the San Francisco Giants (68-70) 7-5, and clinched the series, 2/3 on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the 415.

The Marlins had a pedestrian first inning, with a strikeout and two infield ground outas. The bottom of the frame was worse. Starting pitcher Darren McCaughan gave up a solo leadoff home run to right fielder and legacy player, Mike Yastrzemski, hit two batters before getting out of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, the Giants scored another run, on a throwing error by Otto Lopez. After three innings, Miami was down 2-0 and one hit to show for themselves. It wasn’t until the top of the fifth inning that the South Florida visitors showed life.

The Marlins used this inning to put up four runs and take the lead from the home team.. Catcher Nick Fortes hit an RBI single (David Hensley), putting them within one run, 2-1 SF. Later, their leadoff batter and left fielder Kyle Stowers, belted a 3-run dinger (Hensley & Fortes) to catapult them in front of San Francisco 4-2. However, they could not celebrate for very long, due to the Giants immediate response.

In the bottom of the fifth, the G-Men managed to get the bases loaded with no outs tallied. This scenario has played out before for SF, with nothing to show for it. This time was different, as Matt Chapman grounded out, but allowed Yastrzemski to score.

With a one run deficit, the Giants put in Mark Canha asa pinch hitter and defensive replacement for LaMonte Wade Jr. That chess move resulted in an RBI single, tying the game at four. Next DH Jerar Encarnacion hits a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Michael Conforto, simultaneously putting San Francisco back in the lead, 5-4..

After the eventful inning on both sides, the Giants were done scoring for the day. Miami scored again in the top of the sixth inning, when Jonah Bride’s RBI single scored Jesus Sanchez, to tie the contest again. Otto Lopez had a productive ground out, as Bride made it home to put Miami back in front. 6-5 after six complete innings.

In Biblical form, Jesus sacrificed himself for the betterment of others in the top of the seventh inning. Sanchez’ fly ball allowed the last run of the game (Stowers), and solidified the series win. The Giants were unable to respond the last three innings and the Florida Fish sealed the game, 7-5.

A bookend scenario for Yastrzemski, as he scored the first run of the game with a homer (100), but made the last out on the game with a strikeout.

Both teams are off Monday, but the Marlins will head back to South Beach and host the Washington National Tuesday, September 3 at 3:40 PM EST. LHP Patrick Corbin (4-12, 5.50) versus RHP Max Meyer (3-4, 5.44)

The Giants will also host (Arizona Diamondbacks) a team on Tuesday 9/3 at 6:45 PM PDT.. Pitchers for both teams are TBA.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Marlins and Giants conclude series today at Oracle Park

Miami Marlins Griffin Conine (56) circles the bases after hitting after hitting his first big league home run in the top of the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Miami Marlins Griffin Conine hit his first Major League home run on Saturday night where all the runs were needed to edge out the San Francisco Giants 4-3 at Oracle Park. The sound off Conine’s bat on Saturday night you almost tell it was going to be a slash hit over the right field wall.

#2 Conine is the son of former Marlin Jeff Conine who the time passes since Jeff retired and Griffin getting his first home run at Oracle Park .

#3 Giants starter Mason Black gave up the Conine home run ball. Black took the loss going five innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs. Black raised his ERA to 7.45.

#4 Conine did get the ball back from the fan who fished it out of McCovey Cove and that fan received in exchange a bat, photo and another ball.

#5 Marlins and Giants conclude this three game series today at Oracle Park. Starting pitcher for the RHP Marlins Darren McCaughan (0-0, 8.62) and for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (11-8, 3.24).

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Conine gets first big league jack for Fish in 4-3 win over Giants at Oracle

The Florida Marlins Jonah Bride (41) congratulates Griffin Conine (56) after Conine hit his first MLB home run in the top of the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Aug 31, 2024 (AP News photo)

Miami (50-86) 020 001 100. 4. 7 2

San Francisco (68-69) 000 011 010. 3 7. 0

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 36,087

Saturday, August 31, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–On this cool Saturday evening, the Giants struggled for the second time in a row against the toothless Miami Marlins. This time there were no late inning heroics, and the home team went down, 4-3, falling once more below the .500 mark. That outside shot at a playoff berth is looking more and more unlikely.

Mason Black, Saturday night’s starting pitcher for the orange and gold was their third round choice in the 2021 draft. This year, he had divided his time between San Francisco, where he went 0-1, 8.79, and Sacramento, where his record was 5-6, 4.59 (2-1, 2.91 in August).

He was recalled to the parent club for tonight’s occasion. His performance wasn’t particularly impressive, but he still shows signs of promise. He was the losing pitcher, having allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits, one of them a homer.

That left him with no wins and two losses. But he didn’t walk anyone and struck out half a dozen opposing batters and managed to lower his ERA to 7.45. He threw 74 pitches to 18 batters. His five inning appearance was the longest of his so far short major league career.

Taylor Rogers, who replaced Black at the beginning of the visitors’ sixth, was ineffective in his 500th big league appearance, surrendering a leadoff homer to Connor Norby and leaving runners at the corners with one out when Spencer Bivens came on in relief and shut down the Miami rally by getting Jonah Bride to ground into a U6-3 double play.

Bevin stuck around to pitch another frame. The Marlins got a run off him, but they got some help from some unexpected sources. Otto López led off with a walk and tried to steal second. He was called safe, and the Giants tried to appeal the decision. Home plate umpire and crew chief Alan Porter disallowed the appeal, presumably because it hadn’t been requested within the required time limit.

López went on to score on ground outs by Griffin Conine and David Hensley. Erik Miller and Camilo Doval each pitched a hitless and scoreless inning..

Black’s opposite number, Edward Cabrera, brought an unimpressive 2-6, 5.60 record with him. His only previous appearance against the Giants came last year, when he was credited with the win in a game in which he held them to two runs, both earned, on six hits and two walks while garnering eight strikeouts. He lasted 5-1/3 innings tonight, permitting two runs, one earned, on six hits and a pair of walks. He threw 98 pitches, 61 for strikes. His record now stands at 3-6, 5.33.

Cabrera was followed by John McMillon (a perfect inning) and Jesús Tinoco, who surrendered a solo homer to Michael Conforto (his 15th), a 418 foot blast to right center in the eighth that travelled at 111.8 MPH and brought the Giants into a run of tying the contest. Calvin Fauche earned his fifth save with a perfect ninth that ended with strikeouts of Jerar Encarnación and a pinch hitting LaMonte Wade, Jr.

The rubber game of this three game set will take place Sunday, at 1:05 in the afternoon. Logan Webb (11-8, 3.24) will toe the rubber for the Giants. The Marlins haven’t announced who they’ll send to the mound

San Francisco Giants podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Giants rally in 8th to beat Marlins; Snell just needs some run support

San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell pitched seven innings allowing four hits and one run against the Miami Marlins on Fri Aug 30, 2024 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 San Francisco Giants were getting shutout by the Miami Marlins through seven innings until Matt Chapman came to the plate and with one swing of the bat hit a three run RBI double as the Giants took a 3-1 lead and eventually won by that score.

#2 The ball that Chapman hit was a slider on a two strike count. Chapman has been key all season long not only with his glove but also with the bat and Friday night was no different when he went yard in a the eighth inning Friday.

#3 Giants manager Bob Melvin was relieved on Friday night after Chapman’s big hit. The Giants had been struggling in particular the Giants had split a four game series with the Milwaukee Brewers but it was that fourth game loss 6-0 last Thursday which had Melvin worried.

#4 With the win on Friday the Giants are back at the .500 at 68-68 and are 6.5 games back for the last Wild Card sport. September will be a critical month for the Giants in order to try and catch up for a shot at the post season.

#5 It’s a Saturday night 6:07pm PT first pitch the Marlins will start Edward Cabrera (2-6, 5.60) and for the Giants RHP Mason Black (0-1, 8.79) at Oracle Park.

Jeremiah Salmonson is a Oakland A’s podcaster on Friday’s at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Chapman’s three run double is a gamer as Giants rally in 8th to defeat Marlins 3-1

San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman slugs a three run double to clear the bases in the bottom of the eighth against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park on Fri Aug 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

Miami (49-86) 000 000 100.  1. 4. 0

San Francisco (68-68) 000 000 03x.  3. 6. 1

Time: 2:21

Attendance: 33,606

Friday, August 30, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–In an unexpected pregame move, the  Giants outrighted valued veteran Thairo Estrada to Sacramento and recalled Brett Wisely to the big league club.  The outcome of the game was not unexpected, but the steps that led to it certainly were.

The floundering Marlins, 49-85 at game time, and  relying on the right arm of an undistinguished wannabe for six excellent innings, led the Giants, 1-0 after 7-1/2 frames before falling to their hosts, 3-1.

The come from behind triumph brought the home team back to its almost impenetrable glass ceiling of .500 at 68-68 and gave some hope that the orange and back might just sneak into the playoffs.

The Giants did not throw an undistinguished wannabe at the Marlins. They put Blake Snell on the mound to start the game. In spite of the defending Cy Young winner’s command problems in his last start, problems that him to leave that game after three innings, he had come out of the late-signing, injury induced first half ineffectiveness to earn a  2-0, 1.72 record in August when he threw his first pitch at 7:16 this pleasant Friday evening.

When he was through, Snell had thrown 96 pitches, 69 of which qualified as strikes, over seven innings, allowing only a single tally, on four hits and a walk. The only extra base hit off him was a first inning double to Jake Burger. Although the lefty had to settle for a no decision that kept his won-lost record  at 2-3, he reduced his ERA to 3.56.

Tyler Rogers relieved Snell to face the fish in the top of the eighth. He retired them in order, earning his third win against four losses and bringing his ERA down to 3.06. Ryan Walker earned his fifth safe by also setting the Marlins down one, two, three in the ninth.

The Marlins’ starter, Adam Oller, didn’t come to work with as impressive a resumé as Snell.He was 2-8, 6.30 in 2022 and 1-1, 10.07 for the departing Athletics last year. The Mariners claimed him on waivers in July and sent him to Tacoma,where he finished that season.

This year, he went to spring training as a non-roster invitee of the Cleveland Guardians. The Marlins signed him as a minor league free agent in July and sent him to their AAA farm team in Jacksonville before calling him up on the 18th of this month.

He pitched 10-1/3 in two starts since then and showed up at Third and King with a 1-1, 5.23 record. His work tonight was every bit as good as Snell’s. The rookie held the Giants to two hits and an equal number of walks over six frames.

One of those hits was an infield single by Mike Yastrzemski. The other was LaMonte Wade, Jr’s double in the third. He struck out eight of the 21 Giants he faced and, like Snell, chalked up a no decision. His ERA now is 3.31.

Mike Baumann, who followed Oller, was tagged with the loss and now stands at 3-1, 5.40. George Soriano, who allowed the three runners who were on base when he relieved Bauman in the eighth  to score, was charged with a blown save.

By the top of the seventh what had been a scoreless tie had evolved into a tense pitchers’ duel. The tension rose with Derek Hill’s leadoff single to right.

With Otto López at the plate, Hill stole his sixth base of the season, but he stayed when López flew out to Grant McCray deep into the right center field warning track. McCray made a good throw to third, which vindicated third base coach Griffin Benedict’s caution, especially after David Hensley smacked a line drive single to right to bring Hill home with the game’s first and Miami’s only run.

The Giants turned the game around in the home eighth.  Jerar Encarnación pinch hit for Casey Schmidt hit a lead off single to right center, McCray fanned, but Yaz drew a walk, sending Encarnación to second, where the newly returned Wisely pinch ran for him. Bauman fanned Michael Conforto for the second out.

It was at this point that Soriano replaced Baumann. He tagged Soriano’s sixth offering, an 85mph slider for a double to left center that cleared the bases and put the Giants ahead, 3-1

Mason Black (0-1, 8.79) will be recalled  from Sacramento to start Saturday, Saturday’s, game scheduled to begin at 6:05.  Edward Cabrera (2-6, 5.60) will be his opposite number for the Fish.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Marlins-Giants open series Friday night at Oracle

San Francisco Giants starter Hayden Birdsong pitches to the Milwaukee Brewers line up at American Family Ballpark in Milwaukee on Thu Aug 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

On San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael the lost two out of three to the Milwaukee Brewers with the three game series ending on Thursday afternoon at American Family Park. The Giants ran into pitching problems in the second, third and fourth innings giving up six runs which stood up for the Brewers win 6-0.

#2 Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong got the call and got shelled going 3.2 innings allowing four hits and five earned runs. Birdsong when he first joined the Giants had a couple good starts but it seems like teams are doing some serious study on his pitch location.

#3 Birdsong did have six strikeouts but just couldn’t settle down and struggled through his first three plus innings. Did it appeared that he was just taken out of his game mentally once the Brewers started getting around on his pitches?

#4 On the offensive side of things the Giants couldn’t get any offense going, the Giants got only two hits from Tyler Fitzgerald and Michael Conforto got a hit each but the line up just struggled against Brewers starter Aaron Civale.

#5 The Giants head home to Oracle Park on Friday night. The Marlins will start RHP Adam Oller (1-1, ERA 5.23) for the Giants LHP Blake Snell (2-3, ERA 3.76) first pitch 7:15pm PT.

Michael does the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Birdsong touched for five runs, Brewers Civale blanks SF’s dead offense over seven shutout innings, as Brewers take series with 6-0 win

Milwaukee Brewers starter Aaron Civale was dealing against the San Francisco Giants throwing a combined two hit shutout at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Thu Aug 29, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024

American Family Field

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

San Francisco Giants 0 (67-68)

Milwaukee Brewers 6 (77-56)

Win: Aaron Civale (5-8)

Loss: Hayden Birdsong (3-4)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 30,920

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense went dead Thursday, as Aaron Civale pitched a two-hitter over seven innings, and the Brewers got to Hyden Birdsong for five runs in a 5-0 win in the series finale in Milwaukee.

After a big 5-4 seesaw win for the Giants in the series opener on Tuesday, the Brewers exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning Wednesday night for a 5-3 win to even the series. The Giants were knocked back to .500 at 67-67, as well as a season-high six and a half games back of the third wild card in the National League.

Thursday, the Giants had a chance to win this series on the road against a powerful Brewers’ team. The Giants had an opportunity to get on the board early against Brewers’ starter Aaron Civale in the top of the first inning.

A one-out walk to Tyler Fitzgerald and a two-out base-hit by Michael Conforto put runners at the corners for Matt Chapman. Civale struck Chapman out swinging at a cutter on the outside corner, and the Giants had already wasted a golden opportunity right off the bat.

Hayden Birdsong took the ball for the Giants in the bottom of the first, as he was coming off a start in Seattle on Friday, in which his lack of control knocked him out after four innings. Birdsong threw 80 pitches, and 41 of them were balls. Brice Turang led off the inning with a base-hit to left field, but Birdsong retired the side in order while striking out a pair to end the inning.

Civale threw a one, two, three inning in the top of the second, and then Birdsong would run into trouble in the bottom of the second. First, Grant McCray, who has been impressing with his defense since being called up, robbed Wily Adames of a base-hit with a diving catch in shallow center to start the inning.

Unfortunately, Garrett Mitchell followed that up with a home run to right-center. Birdsong was not out of the woods yet. A walk to Gary Sanchez and a double by Joey Ortiz put runners at second and third with one out, and Blake Perkins knocked Sanchez in with a sacrifice fly to center.

The Giants were unable to do anything with a two-out base-hit by Fitzgerald in the top of the third, and Birdsong ran into more trouble in the bottom of the third. William Contreras drew a walk with one out, Adames singled him over to third two batters later.

Mitchell came up to the plate with runners at the corners and two outs. With a 1-2 count, Birdsong threw a fastball up and away for ball two, and Adames took off for second. The throw from catcher Patrick Bailey, who was activated off the Injured List today, went to shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald, and as Adames backed away and started retreating back towards first, Contreras took off for the plate. For whatever reason, Fitzgerald threw the ball to third, as Contreras scored to make it 3-0, and Adames retreated back to first.

Fitzgerald could have thrown home, but what he really should have done was start running towards Contreras to get him stuck in a rundown. Fitzgerald has been a great story for the Giants this season, but he made a mental mistake, something that has become far too common with analytics people running organizations and baseball people shoved out and unable to teach players basic fundamentals in their development.

Civale threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the fourth, and Birdsong just couldn’t stay out of trouble, as the Brewers rallied once again in the bottom of the fourth. Birdsong retired the first two men he faced, but walks to Perkins and Turang forced him out of the game.

Bob Melvin brought in Sean Hjelle, and he drew a rude welcome from Jackson Chourio, who lined a double off the end of the bat into the corner down the right field line to knock in a pair and make it 5-0. Contreras then singled on a ground ball that got through into left field, and Chourio scored to make it 6-0.

For Birdsong, his struggles with his control and just overall continued, as he gave up five runs and four hits over three and two thirds innings, while walking four and striking out six. He threw 92 pitches, and just 49 of them were strikes.

After a leadoff walk to Jerar Encarnacion to start the top of the fifth, Civale retired the side in order, and the Giants would not get another base-runner for the rest of the game.

Civale went seven shutout innings, as he gave up just two hits, walked two and struck out seven. Left-hander Aaron Ashby, the nephew of former right-handed starter Andy Ashby, then threw a pair of one, two, three innings in the eighth and ninth.

As for Giants’ pitchers today, Hjelle pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth, and Landen Roupp pitched three shutout innings. The six and seventh were rocky for Roupp, as he got out of a pair of jams. However, he finished his day nicely with a one, two, three bottom of the eighth.

Aaron Civale got the win, and Hayden Birdsong took the loss.

The Giants have been knocked back under .500, as they fall to 67-68. The Giants are now seven games back of the Braves, who will begin a four-game series Thursday night in Philadelphia against the Phillies.

The Giants will now return home for a six-game homestand with three against the Miami Marlins, and three against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants will begin their series against the Marlins tomorrow.

Blake Snell (2-3, 3.76 ERA), who is coming off a rough start in Seattle on Saturday, will take the ball for the Giants, and he will be opposed by Adam Oller (1-1, 5.23 ERA) on Friday night at Oracle Park. First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

Patrick Bailey went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his return from the IL.

To make room for Bailey on the 26-Man Roster, catcher Andrew Knapp was designated for assignment. Knapp had just been acquired last Friday, and he went 1-for-6 in three games for the Giants with a pait of strikeouts.

Matt Chapman played in his 1,000th-career game Thursday. However, it was nothing special, as like Bailey, Chapman went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants need change

San Francisco Giants team president Farhan Zaidi how safe is his job? He most likely will be evaluated by season’s end based on how the Giants finish in September. (SF Chronicle file photo)

Giants need Change

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Although their home base is San Francisco, the Giants hopes for a postseason in 2024 are fading “faster than a New York minute.” They are the “forever”.500 team. The Giants traded Jorge Soler and right-handed reliever Luke Jackson in late July to the Atlanta Braves.

Soler was the only certified slugger the Giants had in their lineup. Their offense is as average as any team, but that is not enough to compete, as it ranks 16th among all 30 MLB teams. There is no tie in baseball; if you can’t score, you can’t win, even if you have the best pitching in the world, and if you want to win the tight games, you need a bullpen as good as the starting rotation, and they do not have that type of bullpen this year.

When they traded Jorge Soler and pitcher Alex Cobb in late July. This was your typical salary dump. Thursday, they put second-baseman Thairo Estrada and relievers Taylor Rogers and Tyler Mazek on waivers. They could not lure great profile players like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Carlos Correa. The Giants were never in the class to compete in a division with three very good teams: the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks, and the Padres.

With 28 games left (including today in Milwaukee), the Giants are 6.5 behind the third Wild Card, the Atlanta Braves. On top of the Giants, on the way to catch the Braves also the Cubs and the Mets, and just 1/2 game behind the Giants, in that bunch, the St Louis Cardinals.

To navigate these numbers in their favor, the Giants need a sensational September charge, but that, for a .500 baseball team, 67-67 is very unlikely. They have not shown they have that team. Even with a strong starting rotation, they will have to deal with Robbie Ray out for 15 days IL. Bob Melvin is one of the best managers in the game, but he is not a magician. The best Jockey in the world cannot win the race if his horse is limping.

Giants need change. Changes should be on the way. One thing is certain, The president of Baseball Operations, Mr. Farhan Zaidi, will soon seek a new job.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Brewers rock Harrison for 5 runs in bottom of fifth, Giants fall short in 5-3 loss, drop 6.5 back of 3rd in NL Wild Card with 28 games left

Milwaukee Brewers Jackson Chourio reaction after hitting a RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at American Family Park in Milwaukee on Tue Aug 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024

American Family Field

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

San Francisco Giants 3 (67-67)

Milwaukee Brewers 5 (76-56)

Win: Freddy Peralta (9-7)

Loss: Kyle Harrison (6-7)

Save: Devin Williams (6)

Time: 2:43

Attendance: 23,247

By Stephen Ruderman

A five-run bottom of the fifth inning for the Brewers did Kyle Harrison and the Giants in, as despite the offense scoring three runs late, they ultimately fell 5-3 in Milwaukee to fall to six and a half games back of the third wild card with 28 games to go.

So far this road trip has been loss-win-loss-win. After losing two out of three to the Mariners in Seattle over the weekend, the Giants hit three home runs and a manufactured run enroute to a big 5-4 win in the series opener at American Family Field Tuesday night.

The Giants came into Wednesday night a game over .500 at 67-66, and five and a half games back of the Braves for the third wild card spot in the National League. That means win-loss-win-loss would not cut it. They had to start stringing together as many wins as possible, and they really had to start consistently hitting with runners and scoring position.

The Giants would be up against Freddy Peralta, who made the start for the Brewers Wednesday night. LaMonte Wade led off the game with a walk, but two batters later, Michael Conforto grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Kyle Harrison took the ball for the Giants, as he made his first start since his six-inning performance against the Chicago White Sox last Monday. Harrison started his outing tonight with a scoreless bottom of the first inning.

The game went along smoothly over the first four and a half innings, as Peralta set 14 of the first 17 hitters he faced, and Harrison gave up just one hit retired 12 of the first 14 men he faced. Harrison was also helped out by an incredible play by shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald in the bottom of the second, as well as a great catch by Michael Conforto in the bottom of the third.

Harrison made it 13 out of 15 when struck Rhys Hoskins out looking on a slurve to start the bottom of the fifth. Andrew Monasterio walked and stole second base, but Harrison struck Joey Ortiz out swinging for the second out.

Harrison was cruising, but all of the sudden out of nowhere, he just fell apart. Sal Frelick walked, and Jackson Chourio broke the ice with a base-hit the other way to right field, which knocked in Monasterio to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.

Blake Perkins knocked in a pair with a double off the bottom of the wall in left to make it 3-0. William Contreras then hit a home run to left-center, and the Brewers had suddenly gotten to Harrison for five runs on three-straight hits to knock him out of the game.

Harrison was dealing through four and two thirds innings, as he struck out seven, but the sudden onslaught of three-straight hits and five runs made his start a completely different story. Sean Hjelle then came in and got Wily Adames to fly out to end the inning.

Peralta came back out for the sixth and retired the first two men he faced. The Giants then made some noise with two outs when Fitzgerald hit an opposite-field single to right and Conforto walked. However, Heliot Ramos struck out to end the inning, and the Giants wasted another opportunity.

Peralta threw six shutout innings and struck out eight. He retired 17 of the 22 batters he faced.

Austin Warren made his Giants’ debut with a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning, and the Giants would finally have some luck against Trevor Megill in the top of the seventh.

Matt Chapman led off the top of the seventh with a double and advanced to third on a ground out by Mike Yastrzemski. Thairo Estrada finally got the Giants’ first RBI hit with a runner in scoring position since Saturday with an infield hit deep into the hole at third, and Chapman scored to put the Giants on the board.

Warren came back out to throw a scoreless inning in the bottom of the seventh, and Brewers Manager Pat Murphy summoned Jared Koeing for the top of the eighth. Koeing struck out the first two guys he faced, and then the Giants would put a two-out rally together.

Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to center, and Conforto hit an opposite-field double that bounced off the wall in left to knock Fitzgerald in and make it 5-2. Ramos then lined a base-hit to left-center, and suddenly, it was a 5-3 game.

Despite their struggles with runners in scoring position, you still have to give the Giants’ offense credit. They have been resilient and have grinded it out all season. They have never believed they were out of a game, and they were in a good position to pull off a big comeback Wednesday night.

Spencer Bivens got out of a jam in scoreless bottom of the eighth, but Devin Williams thwarted any hopes of a Giants’ comeback with a one, two, three top of the ninth, and the Brewers won 5-3.

Freddy Peralta got the win; Kyle Harrison got saddled with what truly was a sudden loss; and Devin Williams got his sixth save of the year.

The Giants fall back to .500 at 67-67, and with the Braves’ 5-1 win over the Twins in Minneapolis, the Giants are now a season-high six and a half games out of the nearest playoff spot with 28 games to go.

Time is truly now running out for the Giants, and if they want to have any hope of making a last-minute run in September, they need to start winning now.

The Giants can still take the series with a win Thursday. Hayden Birdsong (3-3, 4.57 ERA) will look to be the stopper, and he will be opposed by Aaron Civale (4-8, 4.84 ERA), who will take the ball for the Brewers. First pitch will be at 1:10 p.m. in Milwaukee, and 11:10 a.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Prior the Giants placed Thairo Estrada, Taylor Rogers and Tyler Matzek on waivers prior to the game. They will be available to any team that wants to pay the remainder of their 2024 salaries.

Giants hit three home runs and bullpen holds on through wild seesaw game for 5-4 win over Brewers in Milwaukee

San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (right) watches the flight of his two run home run in the top of the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Ballpark in Milwaukee on Tue Aug 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024

American Family Field

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

San Francisco Giants 5 (67-66)

Milwaukee Brewers 4 (75-56)

Win: Camilo Doval (5-1)

Loss: Joel Payamps (3-6)

Save: Ryan Walker (4)

Time: 2:52

Attendance: 24,354

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants began their toughest stretch of the schedule this season with a big 5-4 win over the Brewers Tuesday night in Milwaukee, as Logan Webb braved through five innings; the offense hit three home runs; and the bullpen came through in a wild seesaw game on Tuesday night.

The Giants are coming off a tough series loss in Seattle, and after having a day off Monday in Milwaukee to think about it, they were back at it against one of the best teams in Baseball in the Milwaukee Brewers.

It was the first time the Giants faced the Brewers this season. The Brewers have been one of the most successful teams in Baseball over the last eight years with six winning seasons and five playoff appearances.

With Brewers’ longtime manager Craig Counsell leaving for the Cubs, there were questions on how well they would do this season. However, the leadership of Manager Pat Murphy, as well as their pitching and defense has carried them to another great season. They came into tonight 75-55, and 10 games up on the Cubs for first place in the National League Central.

There was a lot of severe weather throughout the midwest Tuesday. The game between the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers just 96 and a half miles down the road in the South Side of Chicago was suspended just four pitches into the game.

The good news is that there is a roof at American Family Field. The storms would not even reach Milwaukee, so they were able to play the game Tuesday night with the rood open. However, it was 85 degrees and quite humid.

Tobias Meyers made the start for Milwaukee, and he began the game with a one, two three top of the first inning. Logan Webb once again had to be the stopper, as he took the ball for the Giants. An error and a walk put runners on first and second with one out for the Brewers in the bottom of the first, but Webb was able to get out of it thanks to a pair of ground balls.

The Giants wasted a leadoff double by Heliot Ramos in the top of the second, and Webb threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the second.

The Giants wasted a leadoff double by Heliot Ramos in the top of the second, and they would have a runner at second with nobody out again in the top of the third. Grant McCray walked to lead off the inning and stole second.

Curt Casali struck out looking, but McCray advanced to third on a balk with LaMonte Wade at the plate. Wade then grounded out to second, and McCray scored to put the Giants on the board.

After throwing a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the second, the Brewers got to Webb in the bottom of the third. Brice Turang lined a base-hit to left field, and then Jackson Chourio hit a towering home run to left-center to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead.

The Giants struck back with two outs in the top of the fourth, as Matt Chapman hit a solo shot to right-center, his 21st of the year, to tie the game 2-2. With that home run, Chapman reclaims the team lead in home runs.

After Webb pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the fourth, Thairo Estrada nearly led off the top of the fifth with a home run to left-center, but Brewers’ center-fielder Blake Perkins leapt over the wall to take the home run away from Estrada. Not to worry, though; Grant McCray immediately followed it up with an absolute bomb to left to put the Giants back ahead.

Webb pitched a one, two, three shutdown inning in the bottom of the fifth. Surprisingly, Wevv had thrown 97 pitches through five innings, which is quite unusual for him Tobias Myers was done after five innings, and Bryan Hudson came in for the Brewers to throw a one, two, three inning in the top of the sixth.

Bob Melvin had Webb go back out for the bottom of the sixth despite his high pitch count. It would be a move that came back to bite Melvin and the Giants, as Jake Bauers walked and stole second, and Wily Adames hit a long home run to left-center to put the Brewers ahead 4-3.

It was the fourth home run hit in Tuesday night’s game. Three of them were absolute bombs. It also ended the night for Webb.

In five-plus innings, Webb gave up four runs and four hits, while walking three and striking out four. Perhaps, pitching in the humidity in the cheap paper towel jersey he was forced to wear made things more difficult, but to Webb’s credit, he hung in there and still gave the Giants a solid outing.

Melvin brought in Camilo Doval, who struck out the first two hitters he faced. Sal Frelick then doubled with two outs, and Doval walked Joey Ortiz and Turang to load the bases. That brought up Chourio, as the Brewers had a chance to open this game up against Doval, who was once again in a jam. Doval was able to get out of it, as Chourio flew out to center to end the inning.

Murphy brought in Joel Payamps in the top of the seventh, and Matt Chapman led off the inning with a base-hit to left. That brought up Mike Yastrzemski, who hit a home run to right-center, and the Giants re-took the lead.

The Giants led 5-4, as Landen Roupp, who was brought back up prior to the game, was brought in for the bottom of the seventh. Roupp got into trouble thanks to a pair of walks, and Melvin lifted him for Tyler Rogers. Rhys Hoskins stepped up, and he hit a fly ball to deep left-center, but center-fielder Grant McCray made the catch at the warning track to end the inning.

Joe Ross pitched a one, two, three top of the eighth for Milwaukee, and Rogers was back out for the bottom of the eighth. Sal Frelick lined a base-hit to right to start the inning, and Ortiz struck out on a foul tip for the first out.

Turang was up at the plate, and he hit a ground ball to first. When first-baseman Mark Canha threw to second to try to initiate a double play, the throw veered off to the left, but shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald dove to his right to catch it, and he was able to keep his foot on the bag with full control of the ball in his glove.

It was an incredible play by Fitzgerald for the second out, and he very well may have saved the Giants from a complete disaster. With two outs and a runner at first, Chourio struck out to end the inning.

Ross threw a scoreless inning in the top of the ninth, and Melvin brought in his closer, Ryan Walker for the bottom of the ninth. Even with Doval back, Walker will most likely remain the closer for the rest of the season, and he was in Tuesday night to try and notch down his fourth save.

Walker set down the first two men he faced, but Adames lined a two-out base-hit to left. That brought up Blake Perkins, who hit a fly ball deep to right-center, but right-fielder Mike Yastrzemski made the catch at the base of the track to end the game.

Camilo Doval got the win; Joel Payamps got the loss; and Ryan Walker got the save.

The Giants are still overly relying on home runs and wasting opportunities with runners in scoring position. However, they are still playing hard, and they fully believe they can make a run over the final five weeks of the Regular Season to get into the Playoffs. They demonstrated that with a truly-spirited effort Tuesday night.

The Giants are once again back over .500 at 67-66, and they remain five and a half games back of the Braves, who beat the Twins 8-6 in Minneapolis Tuesday night. The Braves gained a half game on the Giants with a 10-6 win in Minnesota Monday.

Kyle Harrison (7-5, 4.00 ERA) will be back on the mound Wednesday night to make his first start for the Giants in nine days. Freddy Peralta (8-7, 3.86 ERA) will take the ball for the Brewers. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Robbie Ray was placed on the Injured List with a strained left hamstring, and Jordan Hicks was also placed on the IL due to inflammation in his right shoulder. Landen Roupp has been called back up from Sacramento. Right-handed pitcher Austin Warren, who the Giants signed in February, was also called up from Sacramento.