Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants get too-close-for-comfort 5-3 win over White Sox in series opener

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San Francisco Giants third coach Matt Williams (9) congratulates Matt Chapman (right) who scored on a sixth inning home run at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Aug 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, Aug. 19, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago White Sox 3 (30-96)

San Francisco Giants 5 (64-63)

Win: Kyle Harrison (7-5)

Loss: Jonathan Cannon (2-7)

Save: Jordan Hicks (1)

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 29,209

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants got back over .500 with a 5-3 win that was too close for comfort against a team like the White Sox, but their offense came back to life with runners in scoring positions, as the Giants were saying so we’ll take it!

After the Giants snuck out of Oakland with a 4-2 win thanks to their home run-happy offense Sunday, they returned home across the bay to play the worst team in Baseball, the Chicago White Sox. Every couple of years or so, we get that one really bad team that threatens to overtake the 1962 New York Mets, who went 40-120, for the most losses in a single season.

The White Sox came into tonight’s game 30-95, on pace to go 39-123. Perhaps, the 2024 Chicago White Sox will be that team. With the Giants fighting to stay in contention for the third and final wild card spot in the National League, they were playing a team that they not only had to sweep, but that they had to absolutely pound into the ground.

Left-hander Kyle Harrison made the start for the Giants Monday night, and he got his night started with a pair of one, two, three innings. Though Harrison owes it to center-fielder Grant McCray, who took a hit away from Luis Robert Jr. with a great diving catch with one out in the top of the first inning.

Jonathan Cannon made the start for the South Siders, and he also got his night started with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the first. Cannon then threw a scoreless bottom of the second.

Harrison ran into trouble in the top of the third, as the White Sox loaded the bases with nobody out. Harrison struck Lenyn Sosa out on three pitches for the first out, and that brought up Robert, who would get robbed by great defense again.

Robert hit a ground ball to the right side, and second-baseman Thairo Estrada, who was activated off the Injured List and in the lineup for the first time since July 25, dove to his left to field it and turn an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

Cannon threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the third, and Harrison escaped another jam in the top of the fourth.

Harrison was in trouble again in the top of the fifth, as the White Sox had Brooks Baldwin at second with two outs. Robert, who was robbed of hits in the first and third, would not be robbed this time, as he lined a base-hit the other way to right field to score Baldwin.

The Giants had wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the fourth, and now they were losing to the worst team in Baseball.

Estrada and McCray singled with one out, and the Giants had themselves another golden opportunity. Curt Casali then came up and shot a base-hit off the end of the bat to right-center that knocked in Estrada to tie it. It was a much-needed RBI hit with a runner in scoring position for the Giants, who were surprisingly not done yet.

Tyler Fitzgeraled lined a double down the left field line to score McCray and give the Giants the lead. LaMonte Wade hit a sharp ground ball to first that shot off the glove of the diving Lenyn Sosa, and Casali scored to make it 3-1.

The Giants were getting big RBI hits with runners in scoring position and keeping the line moving. They have been more than capable of doing that all year, which makes it all the more disappointing that they have struggled doing so throughout the season. If this offense kept doing this after the Giants won 10 of 12 at the end of May, who knows where they would stand right now.

Heliot Ramos was then able to knock in Fitzgerald with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-1. The Giants had their first four-run inning since their four-run 10th inning on Aug. 8 when they won that insane game in our nation’s capital in their effort to skip down before Tropical Storm Debby got in.

After three-straight rocky innings, Harrison settled down to end his night on a high note with a one, two, three top of the sixth. Harrison gave up just one run over six innings, but his outing was pretty much half and half, as he had three one, two, three innings, and three shaky innings. Harrison was quite lucky that the offense picked him up in the bottom of the fifth.

Matt Chapman led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to left off Cannon to make it 5-1. For Chapman, it was his 20th home run of the season. Cannon then retired the side to end his night.

Erik Miller threw a scoreless top of the seventh for the Giants, and the Giants wasted an opportunity to add on against Gus Varland in the bottom of the seventh. It was a wasted opportunity that would make this game a bit scary in the final two innings.

Bob Melvin brought in Spencer Bivens for the top of the eighth, and he ran into trouble when the White Sox put runners at second and third with one out. That would be it for Bivens, as with the Giants trying to stay in contention, Melvin wasted no time going to his eighth inning man, Tyler Rogers.

Miguel Vargas hit a sacrifice fly to left, and Robert scored to make it 5-2. White Sox Manager Grady Sizemore then had Gavin Sheets pinch-hit, and Sheets floated a base-hit to center to knock in Korey Lee and make it 5-3.

Rogers escaped further damage in the top of the eighth, and Chad Kuhl pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth for the White Sox.

Ryan Walker pitched two innings in Oakland yesterday, so he was not available Monday night. Instead, Melvin went with Jordan Hicks, who had 12 saves last season. However, the White Sox made things scary for Hicks and the Giants in the top of the ninth.

Brooks Baldwin singled to lead off the inning, and Robert lined a base-hit to left with one out. It was Robert’s third hit of the game, and if it wasn’t for the defense of Grant McCray and Thairo Estrada, Robert may have very well had himself a five-hit night.

The White Sox had runners at first and second with one out. Andrew Vaughn flew out to left for the second out, but with Korey Lee at the plate, a passed ball by Casali allowed the runners to get to second and third.

The White Sox were quite possibly a base-hit away from tying this thing. Lee worked the count full, but on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Hicks threw a sinker at the top of the zone that Lee just got a bit too much underneath of, and he flew out to left-center to end it.

Kyle Harrison got the win; Jonathan Cannon got the loss; and Jordan Hicks picked up his first save of the season.

The Giants finally had an inning where they got RBI hits with runners in scoring position, but it was their pitching that let them down Monday night. I get that we should be celebrating after a win, and we should, but against a team like the White Sox, this game was a lot closer and scarier than it should have been. The Giants did win though, so we’ll take it, but just make it cleaner Tuesday!

The Giants are back over .500 at 64-63, and since the Braves were off Monday night, the Giants are three and a half games back of Atlanta for the third wild card.

The Giants and White Sox will be at it again in this 1917 World Series Rematch Tuesday. Robbie Ray (2-2, 6.00 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and Davis Martin (0-1, 3.00 ERA) will take the ball for Chicago. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 71-55 +4.0
  2. Diamondbacks 70-56 +3.0
  3. Braves 66-58 —

Mets 65-60 1.5

GIANTS 64-63 3.5

Cardinals 61-63 5.0

*Reds 61-64 5.5

*Cubs 61-64 5.5

*Tiebreaking procedures taken into account.

Giants News and Notes:

With Thairo Estrada being activated off the Injured List prior to the game, Brett Wisely was sent back down to Triple-A Sacramento.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants host sliding White Sox for three game set at Oracle tonight

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (left) is congratulated by Tyler Fitzgerald (49) after the Giants 10th inning win over the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 18, 2024 (@SFGiants X photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Marko, the San Francisco Giants who won the second game of the brief two game series at the Oakland Coliseum did some damage in the top of the tenth inning with the score tied 1-1 when Jerar Encarnacion belted his second home run of the season a two run shot to center to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.

#2 Michael Conforto followed up Encarnacion with his 13th home run of the season a blast to right for 395 feet to give the Giants a 4-1 lead and it looked like the Giants were going to put this one away.

#3 Not so fast the Oakland A’s in the bottom of the tenth inning never a team to give up made a valiant effort to get back in the ball game when they cut the Giants lead in half to two runs when Max Schuemann hit a ball to Giants second baseman Brett Wisely who made a fielding error and allowed Lawrence Butler to score making it 4-2.

#4 With the bases loaded and two out and a chance to tie it up A’s hitter Shea Langeliers struck out swinging and the Giants came away with a 4-2 win to conclude the final Bay Bridge Series resulting in a split.

#5 The Giants will open up a three game series starting Monday night at 6:45pm PT against the Chicago White Sox. The Sox will start RHP Jonathan Cannon (2-6, ERA 4.02) for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (6-5, ERA 4.14)

Marko Ukalovic does the San Francisco Giants podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Home run-happy Giants pull out dramatic 4-2, 10-inning win in final Bay Bridge Series game

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San Francisco Giants Mark Canha cracks his belt against the Oakland A’s in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Aug 18, 2024 in the final Bay Bridge Series game (AP News photo)

Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

San Francisco Giants 4 (63-63)

Oakland Athletics 2 (53-71)

Win: Ryan Walker (8-3)

Loss: Danny Jimenez (1-3)

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 32,727

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The Giants’ home run-happy offense was not able to get Blake Snell, who made another strong start, a win, but they were able to pull off a 4-2 win in 10 innings at the Oakland Coliseum to win a thrilling and emotional most-likely final-ever game of the Bay Bridge Series on Sunday.

Sunday was set to be the final ever game of the Bay Bridge Series. The two Bay Area rivals with so much history would play this final game on a perfectly-sunny but sad afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.

I have said words like “most likely” and “set,” because while it seems the A’s are leaving Oakland at the end of the season, this thing has been such an epic embarrassment that you never know what will happen.

Right now, the plan is for the A’s to move to Las Vegas with the three-year pitstop in Sacramento. However, with the fact that John Fisher has still yet to show that he has the dough to cover his part of the new stadium, as well as the fact that there will need to be serious conversations about playing on artificial turf in the heat of Sacramento, anything could happen.

The Giants came in four games back of the Braves for the third wild card spot in the National League. The A’s were once again looking to play spoilers after they shut out the Giants 2-0 in the series opener yesterday. The Giants were also looking to avoid getting swept in Oakland for the second year in a row.

Left-hander JP Sears made the start for Oakland, and he got the day started with a one, two, three inning in the top of the first. Blake Snell, coming off a strong 11-strikeout performance in his start against the Braves last Monday, took the ball for the Giants. Snell, too, started his day with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the first.

Sears then threw three-straight scoreless innings. Funny thing is that Sears faced the minimum in all three, but none of them were one, two, three innings.

Snell threw another one, two, three inning in the bottom of the second, and he retired the first eight men he faced overall. Max Schuemann lined a base-hit to left-center field for the A’s first hit with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Daz Cameron struck out swinging to end the inning. Snell also gave up a two-out base-hit in a scoreless bottom of the fourth.

The Giants finally got something going against Sears in the top of the fifth, as Matt Chapman and Jerar Encarnacion both got seeing-eye base-hits to put runners on the corners with one out. However, this was the Giants, so the question was how they would waste this one.

Well, let me tell you. Casey Schmitt laid down a bunt, and when he bunted in the error in foul territory right behind him, A’s catcher Shea Langeliers raced to make an incredible sliding catch. Patrick Bailey then flew out to center, and of course the Giants’ snakebit offense wasted this golden opportunity.

Snell threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the fifth, and then Sears threw another non one, two, three inning where he faced the minimum in the top of the sixth.

The A’s had their rally of the day against Snell in the bottom of the sixth. Daz Cameron and Brent Rooker both singled to put runners at first and second with one out, and JJ Bleday grounded into a fielder’s choice to move Cameron over to third.

That brought up Miguel Andujar, who took a high fastball from Snell and lined a base-hit the other way to right to knock in Cameron for the game’s first run. Bleday tried to take third, but right-fielder Mike Yastrzemski threw a perfect strike to nail Bleday to end the inning.

The home run-happy Giants would strike back against Sears in the top of the seventh. Heliot Ramos led off the inning with an absolute bomb that hit off the blocked off doors where they attach bleachers for football games out in left-center. After getting shut out yesterday, this was the first run the Giants scored in this series.

The Giants had tied the game at 1-1, but Snell ran into trouble again in the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Nevin singled with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Zack Gelof walked, and A’s Manager Mark Kotsay had Seth Brown pinch-run at second for Nevin.

Darrell Hernaiz then walked to load the bases with one out. The Giants had action going in the bullpen, as Snell was on the ropes. Max Schuemann struck out swinging for the second out, but Snell fell behind 3-0 to Cameron.

Snell threw a fastball right at the top of the zone that Home Plate Umpire Emil Jimenez called for strike one. Kotsay and the A’s dugout were livid, and they let Jimenez know just how they felt. Cameron took another fastball for strike two, and then he grounded out to second to end the inning. Snell got out of it, and the Giants escaped disaster, as the game stayed tied at 1-1.

It was also the end of the day for Snell, who had another strong outings. Snell went seven innings; gave up just one run; and struck out ten.

It was off to the eighth, as Sears came back out. Mike Yastrzemski stepped in to lead off the top of the eighth, and after Sears’ first pitch to Yastrzemski was clearly inside for a ball, Kotsay kept yelling at Jimenez. At that point Jimenez ran Kotsay, and the A’s manager came out to get his final say before departing.

After McCray doubled with two outs, Sears was done. Tyler Ferguson came in, and he struck out Tyler Fitzgerald to end the inning.

Submariner Tyler Rogers came in to throw a one, two, three bottom of the eighth, and A’s Closer Mason Miller came in for a one, two, three top of the ninth. Bob Melvin brought in his interim closer, Ryan Walker, for the bottom of the ninth, and Walker pitched through a one-out single to send this game to the tenth.

Dany Jimenez came in for Oakland in the top of the tenth, and former A Matt Chapman was the runner at second. Jerar Encarnacion stepped up to the plate to lead off the inning, and on the first pitch, he hit a leadoff two-run home run to right-center to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.

Melvin then sent Michael Conforto to pinch-hit for Casey Schmitt, and Conforto made it back-to-back with a home run to right to make it 4-1.

Melvin left Walker in for the bottom of the tenth, and Lawrence Butler was the runner at second for the A’s. Schuemann led off and hit a ground ball right to Brett Wisely, who had just come in to play second, and the ball went under Wisely into right-center, which allowed Butler to score to make it 4-2.

Ryan Walker walked Abraham Toro on four pitches, and Brent Rooker lined a base-hit to left to load the bases. Now the A’s had a chance to win it with Bleday coming up to the plate.

Giants Pitching Coach Bryan Price came out to speak to Waker, and it seemed to work. Walker struck Bleday out looking. Miguel Andujar struck out swinging, and Shea Langeliers came to the plate with two outs. Walker struck Langeliers out swinging on three pitches, and Walker had pulled a houdini act to close this one out.

Ryan Walker got the win, and Dany Jimenez took the loss.

If this was indeed the final-ever game of the Bay Bridge Series, it had a fitting ending. The Giants won in a ten-inning thriller; Matt Chapman, who played for the A’s from 2017 to 2021, scored the go-ahead run; and Bob Melvin, who managed the A’s from June 2011 through the end of the 2021 Season was the winning manager for the Giants.

“It’s said,” a visibly-emotional Melvin bluntly said after the game.

Melvin led the A’s to some incredible moments. In 2012, the A’s were five games back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West with ten games to go. The A’s came back to win the division, and they clinched in on an epic final day of the Regular Season on Oct. 3.

Melvin led the A’s to three-straight playoff appearances from 2012 to 2014, as well as another three-straight playoff appearances from 2018 to 2020. He grew up in the Bay Area, and he managed on both sides of the bay. He knows just as much as anyone how much this rivalry means to the Bay Area, and how much the A’s mean to Oakland.

As I said above, while it appears that the A’s are leaving Oakland, the insane logistics of their move to Vegas and their three-year pitstop in Sacramento could leave the door open for a last-minute miracle that could keep the A’s here in Oakland. At this point, we can only hope that will happen.

If this is indeed the end of the Bay Bridge Series, the Giants will end up going 72-76 in the Regular Series Bay Bridge Series dating back to 1997, and they will end up going 32-42 at the Coliseum.

As for the Giants, if they got away with being home run happy, but they should absolutely not rely on home runs for wins. With this much-needed win, they improve back to .500 at 63-63, but they remain four games back of the Braves for the third wild card.

The good news for the Giants is that they’ll have the worst team in Baseball in the 30-95 Chicago White Sox coming into Oracle Park for a three-game set starting Monday night. This will be a must-sweep series for the Giants, who will begin a rough stretch on Friday in Seattle, in which 27 of 30 games will be against teams over .500.

Kyle Harrison (6-5, 4.14 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and Jonathan Cannon (2-6, 4.02 ERA) will take the ball for the White Sox. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 70-55 +2.5
  2. Diamondbacks 69-56 +3.5
  3. Braves 66-58 —

Mets 64-60 2.0

GIANTS 63-63 4.0

Cardinals 61-63 5.0

Cubs 61-64 5.5

Reds 60-64 6.0

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Fans saying goodbye to Bay Bridge Series for final time at Coliseum

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Former Oakland A’s Miguel Tejada (left) and Jose Canseco (right) made their final appearances at the Oakland Coliseum after being inducted into the Oakland A’s Hall of Fame on Sat Aug 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

On San Francisco Giants Ruderman:

#1 Stephen, the San Francisco opened up this brief two game series here in Oakland facing A’s starter Osvaldo Bido who no hit them in the six innings of work.

#2 Bido’s no hit bid came to an end when he gave up an infield hit to Grant McCray. It was quite the afternoon of pitching for Bido.

#3 Bido when he left pitched six giving up just the one hit to McCray and struck out six batters.

#4 Bido didn’t allow a baserunner until the fifth inning when he walked Mike Yastrzemski. So Bido was able to keep runners off the bases.

#5 Giants conclude this two games series this afternoon as a left handed Blake Snell (2-3, ERA 3.91) gets the start against the A’s left hand pitcher JP Sears (10-8, ERA 4.32) first pitch at 1:07pm PT.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Giants’ offense stays dead, as A’s open most-likely final Bay Bridge series with 2-0 shutout

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San Francisco Giants Tyler Fitzgerald (right) strikes out for the final out as Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (left) puts the squeeze on the ball behind the plate at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 

Oakland, California

San Francisco Giants 0 (62-63)

Oakland Athletics 2 (53-70)

Win: Osvaldo Bido (4-3)

Loss: Hayden Birdsong (3-3)

Save: Michel Otanez (1)

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 37,551

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense once again went dead, as the A’s shutout the Giants 2-0 in the opener Saturday of what will most likely be the final Bay Bridge Series at the Oakland Coliseum, and the Giants have been knocked back down under .500.

Saturday began what will likely be the Giants’ final series at the Coliseum, and this weekend would highlight the history between the two Bay Area rivals. Jose Canseco was inducted into the A’s Hall of Fame prior to the game on this mostly-cloudy late afternoon at the Coliseum.  

It was fitting that Canseco was inducted today, as he was of course a big part of the 1989 A’s, who swept the Giants in four games in the historic Bay Bridge World Series that fall. The series was most noted for the tragic Loma Prieta Earthquake that struck right before Game 3 was supposed to begin at Candlestick Park on Oct. 17.

Despite the tragic nature of the quake and the lives that were lost, the fact that many people left work early to either go to the Stick or watch the game on TV kept the freeways mostly empty during rush hour and saved many lives. The series resumed 10 days later on Oct. 27, and prior to the game, the two teams came together to celebrate the Bay Area and honor the lives that were lost in the disaster. 

Canseco broke down during his speech Saturday and described himself as an emotional wreck, as he felt the emotions of this likely final season for the A’s in Oakland. However, Canseco was the very man who ended the honeymoon after a pair of up-and-in pitches from Scott Garrelts caused Canseco to react and the benches to begin to empty in the top of the first inning of Game 3.

With the implementation of Interleague Play in 1997, these two teams created many more memories. Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth for second place on the All-Time Home Run list with his 714th-career home run on May 20, 2006 at the Coliseum. Nate Schierholtz electrified fans at then-AT&T Park with an inside-the-park home run on June 14, 2009.

As for A’s fans, they had their memories too. Eric Byrnes hit for the cycle at then-Pacific Bell Park on June 29, 2003. Another memorable moment for A’s fans was when Derek Norris walked off the Giants at the Coliseum with his first major league home run on June 24, 2012.

One memory that both teams’ fans will never forget was when Barry Zito and Tim Hudson squared off at the Coliseum on Sept. 26, 2015, as the two pitchers wound down their careers. Zito, Hudson and Mark Mulder constituted the Big Three, which played a vital part in the A’s success in the early 2000s. 

Zito then signed a seven-year deal with the Giants prior to 2007. After five brutal seasons across the A’s in San Francisco in which he drew the ire of Giants’ fans, he won the love, admiration and respect of the fans when he played a massive role in the Giants’ world championship in 2012.

Hudson signed with the Giants prior to 2014 and made his mark in the Giants’ world championship this season. Zito had re-signed with the A’s for the 2015 Season and was back with the Green and Gold after spending most of the season with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

Neither pitcher went very far on Sept. 26, but that game proved to be quite special for Giants’ outfielder Jarrett Parker. Parker hit three home runs that afternoon with the third being a grand slam en route to a dramatic 14-10 win for a Giants’ team that was grinding down the stretch with a roster of minor leaguers to defend their title.

The two teams created many more memories, and fans hoped that perhaps there could be some final memories created this weekend. The Giants looked to build off a desperately-needed win over the Braves on Thursday. The A’s have not had the greatest season, but they have been playing solid ball this second half, as they came into today 22-14 in their last 36 games.

The A’s were relishing in their role as spoilers, and they were going to make things difficult for a struggling Giants’ game that snapped a four-game losing streak with their win Thursday. Osvaldo Bido made the start for Oakland Saturday, and he got things started with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning.

Hayden Birdsong got off to a great start in his first six big league starts, as he went 3-0 and didn’t give up more than three runs in any of those starts. However, after the Nationals pounded him for seven runs on Aug. 6 in Washington, D.C., he struggled against the Tigers at Oracle Park on Sunday. 

Birdsong, like Bido, started his afternoon with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the first. This game turned into a pitcher’s duel, as through four innings, the A’s got just one hit off Birdsong, and the Giants didn’t get a single base-runner against Bido. Mike Yastrzemski drew a two-out walk in the top of the fifth to be the Giants’ first base-runner of the day, but Patrick Bailey then flew out to right field to end the inning.

Birdsong had pitched much better Saturday, but the A’s loaded the bases against him with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Lawrence Butler then put the A’s on the board with a sacrifice fly to center. It would end Birdsong’s day, and it was an unfortunate end, but he still had a strong start Saturday, as he gave up just a run and three hits, and he struck out five over four and two thirds innings.

The A’s led 1-0 going to the sixth. With one out in the top of the sixth, Grant McCray got the Giants’ first hit with a swinging bunt. Tyler Fitzgerald then walked to put runners at first and second with one out. However—you guessed it—the Giants were unable to come through and wasted it.

Spencer Bivens, who finished the bottom of the fifth, was back out for the bottom of the sixth, and he ran into trouble. Miguel Andujar doubled to left with one out, and he scored two batters later on a two-out base-hit off the bat of Seth Brown to make it 2-0.

Left-hander Scott Alexander, who pitched for the Giants the last two seasons, came in for Oakland in the top of the seventh. With one out, two former A’s made some noise. Matt Chapman walked, and Mark Canha lined a base-hit to left to put runners at first and second. However, just as they did in the sixth, the Giants wasted this golden opportunity in the seventh.

Jordan Hicks came in for San Francisco in the top of the seventh and survived a two-out jam to keep the deficit at 2-0 going to the eighth. 

As the sun broke through the clouds for the top of the eighth, McCray started the inning by lining a base-hit to right-center, and then he alertly took second, as A’s center-fielder JJ Bleday casually fielded the ball. However, it would just be another wasted opportunity for the Giants, as Grant Holman and T.J. McFarland combined to retire the side in order.

Erik Miller threw a scoreless bottom of the A’s, and with the fact that A’s Closer Mason Miller had to convert a six-out save on Thursday, Mark Kotsay went to rookie Michel Otanez instead for the top of the ninth. 

Otanez struck out the first two he faced in the top of the ninth. However, Canha extended the game with a swinging bunt, and Patrick Bailey walked to put runners at first and second for the potential go-ahead run in Casey Schmitt. 

The Giants had already wasted opportunities in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, so of course they were going to do the same in the ninth. Schmitt struck out on three pitches, and the A’s won 2-0.

Osvaldo Bido got the win; Hayden Birdsong took his first tough-luck and third-career loss; and Michel Otanez picked up his first big league save.

I can keep saying the same thing over and over about the Giants’ offense, but we all can see with our eyes that they just can’t buy a crucial hit with runners in scoring position right now. They are just floundering as the clock begins to wind down on the Giants’ already-slim playoff chances this year.

The Giants have now dropped five of their last six, as they fall back to under .500 at 62-63—so much for winning 100 games—and four games back of the Braves for the third wild card. They will look to get back to .500 again and split the series with Blake Snell (2-3, 3.91 ERA) on the hill Sunday. JP Sears (10-8, 4.32 ERA) will take the ball for Oakland in what will most likely be the final-ever game of the Bay Bridge Series.

First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

1. Padres 70-54 +4.5

2. Diamondbacks 69-55 +3.5

3. Braves 65-58 —

Mets 64-59 1.0

GIANTS 62-63 4.0

Cardinals 61-62 4.0

Cubs 61-63 4.5

Reds 60-63 5.0

A’s Bido takes no hitter into sixth; A’s two runs stands up to defeat Giants 2-0

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Oakland A’s starter Osvaldo Bido in the top of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Aug 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

San Francisco (62-63). 000 000 000. 0. 4. 0

Athletics (53-70). 000 011 00x. 2. 6 0

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 37,551

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The Athletics have been obscenely promoting this evening’s encounter with their soon to be erstwhile Trans Bay rival, the San Francisco Giants, as celebration of past Bay Bridge Series past and the culmination of a glorious tradition. The was a doozy in which five Athletics pitchers combined to shut the Giants out on four hits to the departing A’s two runs on six hits to defeat the Giants 2-0 at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday.

The pregame festivities centered around the induction of the members of the 2024, and last, class of the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame. The honorees were José Canseco, Terry Steinbach, Miguel Tejada, Dick Williams, Bill King, seven years after the major league HOF had awarded him the Ford Frick Award for broadcasting excellence, and Eddie Joost. Canseco was effusive in his praise of Tony LaRussa, the man who called him “the village idiot.”

The A’s starter, Osvaldo Bido, went 4-2/3 innings before allowing his first base runner. It came on a walk to Mike Yastrzemski after Bido had thrown 67 pitches. In the next frame, the Giants touched him for their first hit, a swinging bunt in front of the mound that the athletic Grant McCray beat out for a single.

That was the only safety Bido allowed in his six innings of work that got the win and improved his record to 4-3, 3.40. He walked two and struck out six of the 21 batters he faced. His final pitch count was 91,with 58 considered strikes.

Scott Alexander relieved him to open the top of the sixth and, in spite of walking Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski, escaped he seventh unscathed, thanks to Grant Holman, a right hander whom the A’s had promoted Saturday from Las Vegas and was making his major league debut.

The youngster came through, needing only four pitches to shut down the threat by getting a pinch hitting Casey Schmitt to ground out to Gelof at second. Holman gave up a leadoff double to fellow rookie Grant McGray and struck Tyler Fitzgerald out looking in the visitors’ eighth before TJ McFarland replaced him to face the left handed La. Monte Wade, Jr., who popped out to short.

The slumping right handed batter Héliot Ramos followed with a ground out to Darell Hernáiz at third. TJ Righty Michel Otáñez struck out Michael Conforto and Matt Chapman for a quick two outs in the top of the ninth.

Next up was one time Athletic Mark Canha, who worked a full count before scratching out an infield single, 1-3. Patrick Bailey also worked a full count. Otáñez walked him, putting the tying run on base and the potential leading run, in the person of Casey Schmitt, at the plate. Otáñez fanned him to earn his first save.

San Francisco’s rookie starter, Hayden Birdsong couldn’t match Bido’s performance, but he acquitted himself well, going 4-2/3 innings and allowing one run, earned, on three hits and an equal number of free passesand throwing 78, of which 30 were balls.

The Giants used three relievers. Spencer Bivens finished up the fifth and got one out in the sixth. He allowed the A’s’ second run, which was earned and came on JJ Bleday’s one out double down the left field line and Seth Brown’s single to right. Jordan Hicks allowed a single and a walk in the seventh, and Erik Miller allowed a walk and struck out two in the the eighth.

Seth Brown went three with an RBI. Lawrence Brown went one for three, also with one run batted it

The A’s will try to repeat their success Sunday, afternoon afternoon at 1:07, in a battle of southpaws. JP Sears (10-8, 4.32) for the Athletics and Blake Snell (2-3, 3.91) for the Giants.

Giants These Days Far More Interesting As A Collection of Individuals, Then As A Team

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO—Four critical ballgames against a contending opponent, and the Giants won once. It’s simply not good enough, given the money invested in the team, and the expectations of the team leadership and the fan base.

But it in 2024, it is exactly what it is. At 62-62, after Thursday’s 6-0 win, the Giants are a .500 team for the mind-numbing eighth time and the fourth time in just the last 11 days. When it gets better, it inevitably gets worse, for better or worse.

Inside the numbers, the Giants fare far better against bottom feeders than they do against teams with winning records like the Atlanta Braves, who got completely healthy over the first three games of this series, before suffering a hiccup on Thursday.

Manager Bob Melvin, a three-time manager of the year who reeks of success, was reduced to prefacing his post-game answers with a telling, tepid statement.

“We’ve been in that situation a bunch and haven’t scored, so we had to try something different,” he said.

That situation in the second inning was easily the coolest thing to transpire during a rough home stand (3-4 with a season-defining, four-game losing streak): Rookie Grant McCray raced to his first-ever hit on a bases-loaded, bunt single, RBI. The skeptical crowd (29,319) rejoiced, the seas parted, and the sky opened because the Giants had scrapped together an early lead.

McCray was really funny in the clubhouse, trying to say something about the play but not really having a bunch of different descriptive words to describe it.

“I did a job for my team and got the scoring going. I can’t be more thankful for that,” McCray said.

McCray’s dad, Rodney, lit up in the stands. He made an emotional, overwhelming, but brief exit, up the aisle to a bunch of hi-fives. Rodney McCray famously, yet cringeworthy to the game announcers, crashed through the outfield fence at a Pacific Coast League game in Portland in 1991 and wound up all over the airwaves, and SportsCenter, for decades.

Again, his son Grant was in the clubhouse, trying to be descriptive.

”Today I just came in with the mindset of it’s just another game. Play hard and do your job,” McCray said.

In the sixth, McCray homered, and his first two major league games gained heft and record-book notoriety. In fact, his father Rodney might want to stick around for the weekend in Oakland. Grant could surpass his dad’s 14 career at-bats and three hits in just four games.

Logan Webb was dialed in again, working into the eighth inning efficiently (21 first-pitch strikes to 27 batters) and decisively, another reminder that Webb could be the lead actor in Broadway play with the Giants’ roster as his supporting cast for many seasons to come. On Thursday, when Webb took his final bow, the crowd howled with approval. Braves manager Brian Snitker played witness.

“(Webb) was going to give their bullpen a break, and he did. And he was efficient. Very, very competitive guy with really good stuff. And with that sinker, really throws a lot of strikes,” Snitker said.

Tyler Fitzgerald continued his fantastic Major League debut season with a hit and an RBI sacrifice fly. Casey Schmitt hasn’t had a bunch of opportunities or success, but he had a productive game with three hits, including a two-run homer.

A lot of good storylines and individual progress, those Giants, but not any more wins than losses. That’s them.

Again, Grant McCray in the clubhouse, beginning to warm to the occasion.

“It might be a fielder’s choice, but I’ll take a free hit,” McCray said of his bunt, which appeared to be a play in which no way, no how, was any throw going to clip him at first. “It doesn’t hurt my feelings.”

https://x.com/SFGiants/status/1824199908129378572?t=UVPHWx6Uz3RUosawWlV6-Q&s=19

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Webb, relievers shutout Braves 6-0; SF avoids getting swept at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb waves to the crowd after leaving in the top of the eighth inning after pitching against the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Aug 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb pitched shutout baseball against the Atlanta Braves into the eighth inning and the Giants avoided getting swept in a 6-0 win at Oracle Park on Thursday afternoon.

#2 Rookie outfielder Grant McCray who made his MLB debut on Wednesday night hit his first home run on Thursday in the sixth inning. McCray went 2-3 on Thursday after going hitless on Wednesday.

#3 McCray also got an RBI single in the first inning that scored a run for his first MLB hit. McCray’s father Rodney who was in the stands was shown on the big board after Grant’s hit excited for his son. As Rodney is a former major leaguer.

#4 Webb picked up his fourth straight win and has allowed a run or less in his last four starts. Webb pitched 7.2 innings, allowed four hits and struck out seven.

#5 The Giants will have Friday off and do battle with the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday night at 4:05pm. Starting pitcher for San Francisco RHP Hayden Birdsong (3-2, 5.40) for Oakland RHP Osvaldo Bido (3-3, 3.92 ERA). Talk about how you see this match up and the Giants last appearance at the Oakland Coliseum.

Join Michael Duca for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Offense comes alive to back Webb, who pitches 7 2/3 shutout innings, and Giants pick up desperately needed 6-0 win over Braves

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb was dealing against the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Aug 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Atlanta Braves 0 (64-57)

San Francisco Giants 6 (62-62)

Win: Logan Webb (11-8)

Loss: Max Fried (7-7)

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 29,319

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Logan Webb gave the Giants seven and two thirds shutout innings, as the Giants were able to score some runs and salvage this series with a desperately-needed 6-0 win on Wednesday.

Following Sunday’s tough loss against the Tigers in which they missed a lot of opportunities and committed a pair of devastating base-running gaffes, the Giants have fallen into a predictable spiral.

On Monday, Blake Snell and Chris Sale squared off in what very well may have been the best-pitched game in Baseball this season only for the Braves to win 1-0 with their automatic runner in the 10th inning. On Tuesday, the Braves won again thanks to the automatic runner in the 10th. Then Wednesday night, Robbie Ray couldn’t even make it out of the first inning, as the Braves slaughtered the Giants 13-2.

The one thing that was consistent over the first three games of this series—well, other than the losing—was the Giants’ inability to get the big hit with runners in scoring position. The Giants went 3-for-24 with runners in scoring position in the first three games of this series.

Thursday, Logan Webb would once again have to be the stopper—seems like he’s had to be the stopper a lot this season—as the Giants looked to avert the sweep. The Giants came into today’s game four and a half games back of the Braves for the third wild card spot in the National League, so today was really a must-win game.

To further complicate things, the Braves won the season series against the Giants with their win Wednesday night, so they hold any potential tiebreaker. If the Braves were to win Thursday, the Giants would be five and a half games back and would have to gain six and a half games in their final 38 games. Simply put, the Giants really needed to win Thursday.

Webb got off to a nice start with a one, two three, inning in the top of the first, and the Giants would threaten against Braves’ starter Max Fried in the bottom of the first. Tyler Fitzgerald singled and stole second, but Fried retired the side, and it was another wasted opportunity for the Giants.

Webb threw another one, two, three, inning in the top of the second, and the Giants would mount a rally in the bottom of the second. Jerar Encarnacion, Mike Yastrzemski and Casey Schmitt all singled to load the bases with nobody out, so the question was how they would waste this opportunity.

Catcher Curt Casali struck out swinging for the first out, so yup, here we go again. Grant McCray—the son of former major leaguer Rodney McCray—who was called up to make his major league debut Wednesday night was now up.

Bob Melvin, who likes to bunt from time to time, put on the safety squeeze. McCray tried laying down a bunt at the first pitch from Fried, but he missed. Two pitches later, he got the bunt down right in front of the plate, but when Fried got it and flipped it to catcher Travis d’Arnaud, d’Arnaud juggled it and did not have full control of the ball. Encarnacion scored, and the Giants finally had their first lead of the series.

It wasn’t a base-hit to the outfield, but it was an RBI hit with runners in scoring position, and it was a tremendous shot in the arm, so hey, the Giants will take it! Plus, it was an interesting and cool way for McCray to get his first big league hit and RBI. Fitzgerald then got Yaz in with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.

Both teams went scoreless in the third, and then the Braves had their first real rally of the day in the top of the fourth. Michael Harris II led off the top of the fourth with a base-hit to left.

Austin Riley then hit a ground ball to short that Tyler Fitzgerald flipped to Casey Schmitt at second to try and get Harris. Schmitt had the ball and grazed the bag at second with his foot, but he dropped it on the transfer, which prompted Second Base Umpire Jeremy Riggs to call Harris safe. The play went to replay, but the call was upheld.

The Braves had runners at first and second with nobody out following a tough break for Webb and the Giants. With everything that has gone on in this four-game losing streak, it could have spelled disaster.

However, with how tough Webb is, it was no problem. Marcel Ozuna worked an 0-2 count into a full count, but Webb got Ozuna looking on a sinker at the knees for a much-need first out. Webb then caught a massive break when Matt Olson lined a bullet to Mark Canha at first, and Canha stepped on the bag to double off Riley for an unassisted double play to end the inning.

Webb escaped the jam without any damage, which was another shot in the arm for the Giants. He then settled down to throw a one, two, three, innings in the fifth and sixth.

Yastrzemski walked with one out in the bottom of the sixth, and that ended the day for Fried. Jesse Chavez then came in for Atlanta, and Casey Schmitt hit a line drive home run to left field to make it 4-0. Two batters later, Grant McCray, who had gotten his first big league hit and RBI with his bunt single in the second, hit his first big league home run to right-center.

Webb hasn’t had the greatest run support this season, but now, he had a 5-0 lead heading to the seventh. Webb pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the seventh, and back-to-back doubles by Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman off Chavez in the bottom of the seventh plated another run for the Giants to make it 6-0.

Bob Melvin let Webb go back out for the eighth, and Webb retired the first two hitters he faced. With two outs, Ramon Laureano was up with a 2-2 count. Webb threw a pair of pitches that were very close, but were called balls by Home Plate Umpire Dan Iassogna, and Laureano drew the walk.

Webb was a strike away from throwing eight shutout innings, but after Laureano walked, Whit Merrifield singled to right-center to put runners at the corners with two outs. That ended Webb’s day, and he exited to a standing ovation from this grateful crowd of 29,319.

Melvin wasted no time bringing in Tyler Rogers in a 6-0 game. It was definitely a move that would be made in a must-win game, especially with a powerful Braves’ offense very much capable of coming back. The move paid off, as Harris flew out to left to end the inning.

Webb didn’t get eight shutout innings, but seven and two thirds shutdown innings isn’t bad. He gave the Giants an outing they really needed, as he gave up just four hits and a walk, and he struck out seven.

Aaron Bummer, who finished the bottom of the seventh for Atlanta, pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Melvin then brought in Spencer Bivens, who was called back up this morning, for the ninth, and Bivens pitched a one, two, three, top of the ninth to end it.

Logan Webb got the win, and Max Fried took the loss.

The Giants were able to score six runs, and they did a bit better with runners in scoring position, going 3-for-11. However, they are still going to need to consistently get those key RBI hits with runners in scoring position if they want to make a run at the Playoffs.

The Giants get back up to .500, as they improve to 62-62. Funny thing: The Giants were 2-11 when having a chance to get back up to .500 prior to last week, but they have now won three-straight games in that situation.

The Giants also gained a game on the Braves and are three and a half back of the third wild card spot. The Giants will still have to gain four and a half games in their final 38 games, but it’s still a lot better than having to gain six and a half games in that span, which they would have had to do had they lost Thursday. The bottom line is that this was a desperately needed win.

The Giants will have their lone Friday off-day of the season Fri Aug 16th, and then they will begin a short two-game set in Oakland against the A’s on Saturday. It will most likely will be the Giants’ final series at the Oakland Coliseum, and most likely the final Bay Bridge Series ever.

Hayden Birdsong (3-2, 5.40 ERA), who is coming off a pair of rough starts, will look to bounce back as he takes the ball in the series opener at the Coliseum on Saturday. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (3-3, 3.92 ERA), meanwhile, will make the start for Oakland. First pitch will be at 4:07 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

*1. Diamondbacks 69-53 +4.5

*2. Padres 69-53 +4.5

  1. Braves 64-57 —

Mets 62-59 2.0

GIANTS 62-62 3.5

*Reds 60-61 4.0

*Cardinals 60-61 4.0

Cubs 59-63 5.5

*Tiebreaking procedures taken into account.

Giants News and Notes:

Randy Rodriguez was placed on the 15-Day Injured List prior to the game Thursday due to inflammation in his right elbow. Rodriguez has pitched in 33 games this season, and is 3-2 with a 3.93 ERA. He has also proven to be quite valuable in late-inning situations. It is unknown how long he will be out.

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

Rob Manfred is at it again. As if the atrocious rule changes he has implemented aren’t bad enough, he is now suggesting a rule in which starting pitchers would have to complete six innings with some possible exceptions. Those exceptions could include reaching the 100-pitch mark and giving up four or more runs.

As much as it would be good for the game to see starting pitchers go deeper into games, this is a move that is guaranteed to lead to more injuries.

Speaking of Manfred’s rule changes, the A’s beat the Mets 7-6 at Citi Field in what was the longest nine-inning game since the implementation of the pitch clock last season at three hours and 45 minutes.

The previous longest nine-inning game with the pitch clock was the first of the two games between the Giants and Padres in Mexico City on April 29, 2023. The Padres beat the Giants 16-11 7,350 feet above sea level. That game lasted three hours and 44 minutes.

Giants Ray rocked for 5 runs in first ; Braves win in a laugher 13-2; Yastrzemski relieves in ninth for SF

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San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray hit two batters, walked a batter with the bases loaded and gave up a grand slam home run to the Atlanta Braves Michael Harris in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

Atlanta (64-56) 501 012 022.   13 11 0

San Francisco (61-62).   100 000 100     2. 9 0

Time: 2:26

Attendance: 27,460

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Before Wednesday night’s 13-2 devastating loss to the recovering Atlanta Braves, the vacillating San Francisco Giants promoted Grant McCray from Sacramento. He had played in 47 games for the River Cats and produced a batting average of  only .270 in the hitter friendly triple A Pacific Coast League but his OPS was an encouraging .819. Earlier in the season, McCray’s numbers in those categories were .210 and .732 over 50 games for the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the  double A  Eastern League.

The 23 year old left handed batter started Wednesday evening in center field , occupying the ninth spot in the batting order.  The flip side of McCray’s unprepossessing  offensive record is that he’s considered outstanding in the field.

Anyone who was expecting a pitcher’s duel, or even a close game, after Monday and Tuesday’s ten inning thrillers would have been disappointed. Robbie Ray, only recently recovered from Tommy John surgery, made a cameo appearance as San Francisco’s starter – that’s “starter,”  not “opener” – in which he faced eight batters and hit the first two he pitched to, followed that with a strikeout and then two consecutive walks capped off by a grand slam by Michael Harris II.

Atlanta now led, 5-0. A strike out and a walk later, Ray was gone, and Sean Hjelle was on the mound. Tyler Fitzgerald tagged  Braves’ starter Grant Holmes’ first offering,a 93mph four seamer  for a 358 foot homer to left, the Giants’ shortstop’s 14th round tripper of the year. The loss left Ray with a record of 2-2, 6.00. 

After Ray’s departure,  Matt Olson’s  21st four bagger of the year, a leadoff  371 footer to left, restored the Braves’ five run advantage. Hjelle retired the next six Braves he faced, giving way to Erik Miller, who entered the game at the top of the fifth and promptly gave up a leadoff home run to Austin Riley.

Miller went 1-1/3 innings  and allowed two runs, both earned but one of which was posthumous . Melvin’s minions also used Landen Roup (1-2/3 innings, three hits, and a run, earned), Taylor Rogers (two runs in the eighth on a Laureano single and Sean Murphy’s seventh dinger), and Mike Yastrzemski, who threw soft tosses that resulted in two runs on two hits and a lot of hilarity.

Holmes, making his  fourth career start and 14th appearance  went to work  at 0-0, 3.79  gave a more than acceptable account of  himself. The 28 year old southpaw weakened in the seventh, surrendering a run on Bailey’s uncursed leadoff double and Wisely’s single to right before retiring the side on a fly by McCray to the warning track in left and a pair of  strikeouts.

The went seven frames and allowed two runs, both earned, on eight hits, one of them yard, and a walk while striking out half a dozen opponents. He threw 95 pitches, 68 qualified as strikes, to 29 batters, and went to the team hotel with a mark of 1-0, 3.60. 

Luke Jackson pitched the  eighth in Holmes’ stead and, in spite of a hit batter and a single to Casey Schmitt, kept the Giants off the scoreboard. Jimmy Hergel set the Giants down in order in the ninth.

The Braves’ baker’s dozen of runs was their season’s high. Harris’s homer was the first grand slam of his career and the first visitor’s grand slam splash hit. Atlanta’s leadoff hitter, Soler, hit by a pitch to start the game, now has a 22 game on base streak.

The ex-Giant left the game in the top of the fourth with tightness in his left hamstring. Yastrzemski’s misadventures on the mound were his big league pitching debut.

San Francisco will try to avoid the sweep Thursday, afternoon at 12:45. Logan Webb (10-8, 3.32) will start for the orange and black. He’ll face Max Fried (7-6, 3.56).