Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants open 3 game series in Texas Friday night

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Erik Miller (68) deals against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the sixth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Jun 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, the San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores was key in the Giants 8-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Wednesday afternoon. Flores helped out with a third inning grand slam.

#2 The Giants who snapped their six game losing streak got a rally going with six runs for a 9-3 win. The run production came through to conclude the three game series for the Giants.

#3 The Giants also got a home run from Heliot Ramos in the third inning off Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery.

#4 Ramos found six ways to get on base with two hits and four walks, Flores got his first home run in 50 games so needless to say Giants manager Bob Melvin had faith in Flores.

#5 The Giants are headed for Texas for a three game series starting Friday night. They’ll start RHP Logan Webb (4-5, ERA 2.95) for the Rangers Michael Lorenzen (3-3, ERA 2.96) 5:05pm PT first pitch.

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Melvin motivates and six-run third inning leads Giants to much needed 9-3 win to snap six-game losing streak

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San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores salutes after getting a single in the top of the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Jun 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants 9 (30-33)

Arizona Diamondbacks 3 (29-33)

Win: Sean Hjelle (3-1)

Loss: Jordan Montgomery (3-4)

Time: 3:30

Attendance: 24,178

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants finally snapped their six-game losing streak, and the offense finally came back to life, as a six-run third inning, capped off by a grand slam by Wilmer Flores carried the Giants to a 9-3 win over the Diamondbacks to salvage a game in Phoenix on Wednesday.

The Giants weathered some massive blows, and they won 10 of 12 to get to a season-high two games over .500 at 29-27. However, they have since taken a couple more blows, and have fallen back on hard times with a brutal six-game losing streak.

The Giants were three outs away from salvaging a game in their three-game series against the white-hot New York Yankees on Sunday, but the Yankees scored four runs off Camilo Doval in the top of the ninth inning to sweep them.

The Giants then lost the first two games of their three game series in the Sonoran Desert against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They lost on a walk-off home run by Pavin Smith on Monday, and then they lost again last night and just seemed lifeless and out of it.

Manager Bob Melvin aired out his frustrations with the team in the clubhouse following last night’s game, and today, the Giants desperately needed a win. There was no other way to say it.

The Giants would turn to Jordan Hicks, who President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi has successfully converted from a reliever to a starter. Hicks came into Wednesday’s game 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 12 starts, and the Giants would need another solid start from him Wednesday afternoon.

The veteran left-hander, Jordan Montgomery would make the start for Arizona, and the Giants had him on the ropes in the top of the first inning. Heliot Ramos walked with one out, and Thairo Estrada lined a base-hit to left field to put runners at first and second.

However, it would be another wasted opportunity for the Giants. Matt Chapman grounded out softly to first base, and Jorge Soler struck out swinging, as the Giants once again came up empty handed.

Hicks also ran into trouble in the bottom of the first. Corbin Carroll singled to right to get things started, and he advanced to second when Hicks used three disengagements with Blaze Alexander at the plate. Hicks then struck Alexander out swinging, and he also struck Joc Pederson out looking.

Hicks was looking to get out of it without any damage, but Lourdes Gurriel lined a single to left to knock in Carroll and put Arizona on the board first.

Both teams went down scoreless in the second, and the Giants looked to finally break through in the top of the third. Austin Slater, who was activated off the 10-Day Injured List prior to the game, led off the inning and did what he does best, and that’s line a base-hit the other way to right. Heliot Ramos then stayed hot and hit a towering two-run home run to left-center, his fifth home run of the season, to give the Giants their first lead of the series.

The Giants were just getting started off Montgomery. Estrada lined a base-hit to left, and Chapman walked. Soler singled on a soft ground ball to center, as Estrada was held at third, and that meant the bases would be loaded for Wilmer Flores. Flores hit a grand slam to left, and suddenly the Giants’ offense had woken up to score six runs in the top of the third, as they led it 6-1.

The Giants were looking to keep going. Mike Yastrzemski grounded a single up the middle, and Montgomery’s day was done after just two-plus innings.

Logan Allen was the new pitcher for Arizona, and he immediately walked Tyler Fitzgerald to put runners at first and second with still nobody out. Curt Casali, who got the start behind the plate Wednesday, flew out to left for the first out.

The Giants had now batted around, as Slater came back to plate after leading off the inning with a base-hit. With Slater up, Yastrzemski and Fitzgerald executed a double steal of second and third, but Slater struck out swinging for the second out. Ramos walked to load the bases, but Estrada grounded out to third to end the inning.

Hicks had to sit for awhile, and he ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the third. Alexander started off the inning with an infield hit, and Gurriel walked with one out. Hicks was then able to settle down, and he struck Pavin Smith and Eugenio Suarez out, both looking, to end the inning.

Allen pitched a scoreless top of the fourth, and Hicks ran into more trouble in the bottom of the fourth. Jake McCarthy walked to start the inning, and Kevin Newman singled him over to second.

Catcher Tucker Barnhart tried to lay down a bunt, but he popped it back to Hicks. Hicks then struck Carroll out swinging for the second out, but Alexander reached on an infield hit up the middle to load the bases.

Hicks thought he had struck out Joc Pederson to end the inning on a 3-2 slider that nicked the outside corner, but Home Plate Umpire Chris Guccione called it ball four, and McCarthy scored to make it 6-2. Hicks had been getting pinched by Guccione throughout the day, and that helped drive his pitch count up to 92 pitches.

As a result, Hicks was done after three and two thirds innings. Hicks had a bloated pitch count, but he still received praise from his manager, Bob Melvin, when he got back to the dugout. Sean Hjelle came in for Hicks and got Gurriel to ground out to end the inning.

Allen pitched a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, and Smith made it a 6-3 game with a home run to right to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Hjelle then retired the side to send the game to the sixth.

The Giants looked to add on against Allen in the top of the sixth. Ramos led off the inning with a base-hit to left for his second hit of the day. Estrada reached on an error, and Chapman walked to load the bases.

Yastrzemski thought he had walked to knock in a run with two outs, but Guccione called it a strike. After Yastrzemski flew out to left to end the inning, he had a few choice words for Guccione, and Melvin tore into Guccione, but the cool and collective veteran umpire kept both Yastrzemski and Melvin in the game.

“You know what, that’s a hard time to call for an umpire,” said Melvin. “I went and told [Guccione] that afterwards. It really is. It’s excruciating to have to call a game like that [with] so many really really close pitches at the bottom of the zone. I’m very understanding of that, but you know, you’re trying to stand up for your team. I appreciate him keeping me in the game. I’m shocked I was still in the game after that play, so I thanked him for that.”

Bryce Jarvis came in for Allen, and just as soon as the Giants’ offense had finally awakened, they just as quickly reverted back to their old ways. Jarvis retired the side in order, and the Giants wasted a bases-loaded, no-out golden opportunity.

Left-handed flame thrower Erik Miller pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth, and the Giants wasted another opportunity against Jarvis in the top of the seventh. Ryan Walker came in and pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh for the Giants. Jorge Soler hit an absolute bomb to left off Brandon Hughes with one out in the top of the eighth to make it 7-3.

Submariner Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, and the Giants added on two more runs in the top of the ninth to open it up to 9-3. Thairo Estrada knocked in Michael Conforto with a double high off the wall in left-center with nobody out, and Wilmer Flores, who was up with the bases loaded for the third time today, knocked in Heliot Ramos with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Diamondbacks got two runners on against Randy Rodriguez in the bottom of the ninth, but Rodriguez closed it out to end it.

Sean Hjelle, who came in for Hicks in the bottom of the fourth, got the win, and Jordan Montgomery took the loss.

Bob Melvin’s message after Tuesday night’s game certainly worked, as the Giants looked like a completely different team. The Giants have finally snapped their six-game losing streak, and they improve to 30-33 on the year.

“It had nothing to do with me,” Melvin humbly said. “We just had good at-bats today.”

Now, the Giants will head to Arlington, Texas for a day off Thursday and the second leg of this all-2023 World Series road trip to take on former Giants Manager Bruce Bochy and the Defending World Champion Texas Rangers for a three-game series starting on Friday.

For Friday night Giants’ ace Logan Webb (4-5, ERA 2.95) will be on the mound. The Rangers will start Michael Lorenzen (3-3, ERA 2.96) First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. in Arlington, and 5:05 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Heliot Ramos had himself quite a day, as he went 2-for-2 with two runs and four walks. He also became the fifth San Francisco Giants’ number-two hitter to reach base six times in one game.

“I’m just staying with my pitch [and] trying to attack the right pitch and make the right decision,” said Ramos. “It was really tough [to take those four walks], because I like swinging the bat.”

“He’s just so balanced,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “Every take, every swing, he’s completely locked in. I mean who walks four times, especially when you’re hitting like he is? You want to swing…..It’s really cool to watch, because he’s such a good kid. It’s been kind of a hard road for him to get here, and he’s taking full advantage of it.”

Austin Slater was of course activated off the 10-Day IL prior to today’s game. Luis Matos, who has considerably cooled off since winning the National League Player of the Week Award with his historic 16-RBI performance from May 13-19, was sent back down to Triple-A Sacramento.

Diamondbacks score 3 in the third and 4 in the seventh in 8-5 win over Giants at Chase; SF suffers sixth straight loss

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison pitches in the bottom of the first inning against the Arizona Diamondback at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue Jun 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants 5 (29-33)

Arizona Diamondbacks 8 (29-32)

Win: Kevin Ginkel (4-1)

Loss: Kyle Harrison (4-3)

Save Paul Sewald (6)

Time: 2:59

Attendance: 23,548

By Stephen Ruderman

Make it six in a row for the Giants, as Kyle Harrison had better control, but he still gave up four runners over six innings; and while they showed a little fight later on, the offense was still pretty much shut down in an 8-5 loss to the Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Tuesday night.

The Giants came into Tuesday night losers of five-straight, and they turned to their young left-hander, Kyle Harrison, to be the stopper. It would be a matchup of left-handers, as Arizona went with Blake Walston.

Heliot Ramos, who was coming off a 2-for-4 game with a home run Monday night, was in the leadoff spot tonight and started the game off with a walk. Thairo Estrada, who was back in the lineup, struck out swinging, and Patrick Bailey grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Gabriel Moreno singled on a ground ball to left field with one out in the bottom of the first inning, but like the top of the inning, the three-hitter, in this case, Lourdes Gurriel, grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Giants threatened in the top of the second. Matt Chapman singled to left, and Michael Conforto walked to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Jorge Soler popped out to second, and Wilmer Flores walked to load the bases.

The Giants were in a prime position to get out to an early lead, but Casey Schmitt struck out on a foul tip, and Luis Matos flew out to left-center to end the inning. The Giants had wasted another opportunity, but Kyle Harrison helped atone for it by throwing a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second.

The top of the third was almost the exact same as the top of the first. Hellot Ramos reached first for free, though this time, it was due to a curve from Walston that awkwardly hit Ramos on the side of his left knee. The fact that the Giants’ trainers were laughing instead of coming out was a sure sign that the 76-MPH curve did not hurt Ramos. Like the top of the first, Estrada was retired for the first out, and Patrick Bailey grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Jake McCarthy grounded one the other way for a base-hit to start the bottom of the third. Blaze Alexander then doubled McCarthy over to third. That brought up Kevin Newman, who lined a base-hit off the glove of third-baseman Matt Chapman that ricocheted into left field. McCarthy and Alexander both scored to give the Diamondbacks a 2-0 lead, and Newman moved up to second on the throw from left-fielder Michael Conforto.

Ketel Marte singled Newman over to third, and Moreno knocked him in with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-0. Gurriel then grounded into his second double play of the game to end the inning. With that, both teams’ number-three hitters had grounded into double plays.

The Giants looked to get on the board in the top of the fourth, as Chapman doubled to lead off the inning, and he advanced to third on a ground out by Conforto. Soler then knocked in Chapman with a ground out to short. It wasn’t an RBI hit with runners in scoring position, which the Giants have been so-dearly lacking, but it was an RBI, period, with a runner in scoring position. Hey, the Giants were on the board, so they would take it.

Unfortunately for the Giants, their momentum would be short-lived. Christian Walker lined a double to left to start the inning, and he advanced to third when Randal Grichuk reached on an error by shortstop Casey Schmitt. Harrison looked to get out of it unscathed after Walker was thrown out at the plate for the first out, and McCarthy struck out swinging for the second out. However, Alexander knocked in Grichuk with a base-hit to left, and Arizona had their run back, as they led it 4-1.

The Giants were hoping to bounce back in the top of the fifth, and they were in a decent position to do so. Schmitt was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Ramos walked with one out. Kevin Ginkel came in for Walston and struck Estrada out swinging for the second out. The Giants would then finally get an RBI hit with a runner in scoring position, as Bailey knocked in Schmitt with a soft single to left to make it 4-2.

Harrison settled down with a scoreless bottom of the fifth, and Ginkel retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth. Wilmer Flores singled to left, and after Bob Melvin sent up Brett Wisely to pinch-hit for Schmitt, and Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo countered by bringing in left-hander Joe Mantiply. Lovullo’s move paid off, as Wisely grounded out to short to end the inning.

Harrison finished off what was a so-so outing on a good note, as he threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth. Harrison was in much better control, as he didn’t walk anyone in his six innings of work, but he still gave up four runs and eight hits.

“I could be better,” said Harrison. “[I’ve] been working on a lot of stuff with my mechanics. I’m just trying to get back to [being] the version of myself that I’m used to seeing. [It] was a good step forward for me today. [The] velo[city] was there, it felt good. The changeup was there, [and] the slider was there, so [this] was a good [outing] to build on for sure.”

Justin Martinez came in for Arizona in the seventh, and Luis Matos led off the inning with an infield hit. Matos eventually got to third after a ground out and a wild pitch, and Bailey walked with two outs to put runners on the corners. It was up to Matt Chapman, but he stood and stared at a 101-MPH sinker for strike three to end the inning. It was yet another wasted golden opportunity for the offense.

Luke Jackson came in for Harrison in the bottom of the seventh, and things imploded for the Giants. Alexander grounded a single to right and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Newman. Jackson had a chance to get the lead runner at second, but Wisely, who was now in at short, forgot to cover the bag, and Jackson had to settle for the out at first.

Marte walked, and then Moreno floated a base-hit to left to score Alexander and make it 5-2. Gurriel followed that up with a double down the left field line that scored two and opened up Arizona’s lead to 7-2. With two outs, Grichuk knocked in Gurriel with a base-hit to left, and the Diamondbacks had now made it a laugher at 8-2.

Bryce Jarvis came in for Arizona in the top of the eighth, and he set down the first two men he faced. Flores walked with two outs, but he got a couple of sinkers up and in, and he let Ginkel know that he didn’t like it. Perhaps, that might have woken up the Giants.

Wisely also drew a walk, and Mike Yastrzemski pinch-hit for Luis Matos and hooked a three-run home run down the right field line to suddenly but quietly close it back to just a three-run game at 8-5. Yastrzemski, who is one of the veteran leaders for the Giants, quietly rounded the bases, as he hoped to be a spark.

Left-hander Taylor Rogers, who finished the bottom of the seventh, threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Lovullo then brought in his closer, Paul Sewald for the ninth.

Estrada was hit by a pitch to start the top of the ninth, but it was an 82-MPH slider that Estrada leaned into with his bulky fastball orange elbow guard. Hey, it was a break for the Giants.

The Giants almost caught another break when Bailey hit a ground ball up the middle that Kevin Newman fielded from short, as when Newman fielded it, instead of taking the sure out at first, he flipped the ball behind his back to the second-baseman, Ketel Marte, to barely get Estrada at second. It was a mentally-boneheaded, but a physically-terrific play by Newman. Sewald then struck Chapman out swinging and struck Conforto out looking to end it.

Kevin Ginkel ended up getting the win, and Kyle Harrison took his third loss of the year, as well as his second-straight. Paul Sewald picked up his sixth save.

The Giants fall back to four games under .500 at 29-33, and they have also now lost six-straight, as things are beginning to spiral. They also looked out of it throughout a lot of the game.

“That was a terrible game by us today,” said a visibly-upset Bob Melvin after the game. “When you’re going through losing streaks, at least you fight. For the most part, we have. That was an awful game. We made it interesting at the end, but [we] didn’t play well…..We had [their] starter on the ropes every inning, [and we] couldn’t cash in. It’s a bad game and a bad stretch by us. We just look like we were running around in quick sand for awhile.”

The Giants will try to snap their losing streak and salvage a game in the finale of this three game series Wednesday afternoon its Jordan vs. Jordan with the Giants RHP Jordan Hicks (4-2, ERA 2.70) going against the Diamondbacks LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-3, ERA 5.48) . First pitch will be at 12:40 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

Jung-hoo Lee had successful surgery Tuesday to repair his dislocated left shoulder.

Lee dislocated his shoulder after crashing into the unpadded portion of the small right-center field wall at Oracle Park, as he was going for a fly ball in the top of the first inning of the Giants’ game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 12.

Lee’s recovery will take six months, and while he will be out for the remainder of this season, he should be good and ready to go when the Giants report to Spring Training next February.

Robbie Ray gave up a hit and struck out the side in the in the bottom of the first inning for the Giants’ team in the Arizona Complex League in their game against the Mariners’ team in Peoria.

This was Ray’s first appearance against live hitting since undergoing Tommy John surgery on his left elbow on May 3 of last year.

Keaton Winn followed up Ray’s outing, and gave up a run and struck out six over three and two thirds innings. Winn has been on the 15-Day Injured List since leaving his start on May 14 against the Dodgers with a right forearm injury.

MLB News and Notes:

Major League Baseball officially concluded their investigation into the gambling accusations of Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara on Tuesday after Mizuhara pled guilty to bank and tax fraud charges. Mizuhara faces up to 33 years in prison.

Major League Baseball banned infielder Tucupita Marcano for life for betting on his own team’s ganes.

Marcano placed bets for games in October 2022, as well as for games from July to November of last year. He made 387 bets in total, some of which were made involving games of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who Mercano played for last season.

Marcano, who is from Tucupita, Venezuela, played for the San Diego Padres in 2021, and spent 2022 and last season with the Pirates.

Marcano becomes the first player since Pete Rose to be banned from Baseball for placing bets on games.

MLB also suspended four other players for a year for placing bets on major league games.

Those players include pitchers Michael Kelly of the Oakland A’s, Andrew Saalfrank of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Jay Groome of the San Diego Padres, as well as infielder Jose Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pavin Smith and Diamondbacks hand Giants their fifth-straight loss with walk-off home run 4-2

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Arizona Diamondbacks Pinch hitter Pavin Smith thanks heaven above for the ability to hit the game winning walk off home run to defeat the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Jun 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, June 3, 2024

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants 2 (29-32)

Arizona Diamondbacks 4 (28-32)

Win: Ryan Thompson (3-2)

Loss: Randy Rodriguez(1-1)

Time: 2:12

Attendance: 21,551

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants took another brutal defeat on the chin tonight at Chase Field for their fifth-straight loss, as their offense remained stagnant for the most part, and Pavin Smith hit a pinch-hit walk-off home run in the bottom the ninth to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-2 win over the Giants in the series opener.

The Giants were looking to get a fresh start out on the road after suffering their worst loss of the season Sunday. Monday night, they would be up against the defending national league pennant winner Arizona Diamondbacks in the heart of the Sonoran Desert.

Right-handed Ryne Nelson made the start for Arizona, and he was perfect the first time through the Giants’ order, as he set down the first nine men he faced.

Bob Melvin decided to have a bullpen game for the Giants, and Erik Miller would do the honors as the opener. Miller immediately ran into trouble in the bottom of the first inning when Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno led off the inning with singles. Miller was then able to settle down, as he got former Giant Joc Pederson to fly out to center field, and he got Christian Walker to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Spencer Howard took the mound in the bottom of the second for the Giants, and he would not be so lucky. Lourdes Gurriel led off the inning with a line drive home run to left, and Arizona was still going. With one out, Eugenio Suarez hit a triple off the bottom of the wall in right-center, and two batters later with two outs, Blaze Alexander grounded a base-hit up the middle to knock in Suarez and make it 2-0.

Howard pitched a scoreless bottom of the third, and the Giants finally had their first base-runner when Brett Wisely singled to right to start the fourth. With one out and Wisely at second, Matt Chapman put the Giants on the board with a double out to the gap in left-center. The Giants were then looking to tie it, but Michael Conforto, who was in the lineup for the first time since May 11, popped out to second, and Heliot Ramos grounded out to second.

Spencer Howard then got into a groove. Starting with a Gurriel ground out to end the bottom of the third, Howard retired nine-straight until Melvin pulled him with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Sean Hjelle came in for Howard and got Gurriel to ground out to end the inning.

Nelson remained mostly in control for the Diamondbacks. The Giants left Wisely at second in the top of the sixth, but with one out in the top of the seventh, Ramos tied the game with a long home run to right-center.

“I’m just trying to stay confident and stay positive all the time,” said Ramos. “Not everyday I’m going to feel the same, but I just want to make adjustments and keep going.”

“I think he already has [established himself here], really,” said Melvin. “From the minute he got here, [he has] played with a lot of confidence…..[we’ve] hit him everywhere in the lineup, from in the middle to leadoff, and [he] continues to play with a lot of energy. He’s playing great.”

Hjelle hit Corbin Carroll with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, and Alexander singled him over to second. Hjelle was then able to get out of it after Marte popped out to catcher Patrick Bailey.

Casey Schmitt started the eighth with a base-hit to center, and then Trenton Brooks grounded into a double play. That would be it for Ryne Nelson, who ate up seven and two thirds innings for Arizona. Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo brought in Ryan Thompson, who got Brett Wisely to ground out back to the mound to end the inning.

Tyler Rogers pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth for the Giants, and Thompson was back out for the top of the ninth. Matt Chapman singled with one out, and with two outs and Ramos at the plate, Melvin put on the hit and run, as Ramos singled Chapman over to third.

The Giants were in position to take the lead. They initially did when Jorge Soler hit a ground ball down the line to third-baseman Eugenio Suarez, who made an off-line throw to first, and anx First Base Umpire Brian Knight called Soler safe. However, Lovullo challenged the play, and on review, Soler was out to end the inning.

It was another wasted opportunity for the Giants, as Randy Rodriguez came in to try and send this one into extra innings. Gurriel struck out swinging to start the bottom of the ninth, but Jake McCarthy blooped an opposite-field double to left, and Pavin Smith pinch-hit and hit a towering two-run walk-off home run to the right of straightaway center to end it.

Thompson got the win, and Rodriguez was shoved with the loss. This is the fifth-straight loss for the Giants, who now fall to 29-32, and this is the first time they have dropped five-straight this year.

Despite another rough ending, there were some positives in this game for the Giants. Ramos went 2-for-4, and he showed some range in the outfield with a couple of running catches.

“[I try to] be aggressive with my position, trust myself and trust my instincts,” said Ramos. “As long as they keep giving me the opportunity, I’m going to be grateful, and I’m gonna try and do what I do best: that is play baseball.”

Kyle Harrison (4-2, ERA 4.15) will try and be the stopper Tuesday night, as the Giants will try and get their first win in a week in Game 2 of this series. The Diamondbacks will start Blake Walston (0-0, ERA 2.16) First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.

News and Notes:

Michael Conforto was activated off the 10-Day Injured List prior to the game. In a counter move, Blake Snell was placed back on the 15-Day IL.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants Snell and Doval both touched up by Yanks

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San Francisco Giants Curt Calsali is plugged by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning by the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 The New York Yankees took game three of the three game set at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the San Francisco Giants 7-5. The Yankees took advantage of San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell scoring four runs off Snell and reliever Camilo Doval who pitched just two thirds of an inning and gave up four earned runs.

#2 The Yankees Juan Soto hit two home runs including a go ahead ninth inning homer against Doval in the top of the ninth.

#3 Once again Snell left the game in the fifth inning after suffering a groin injury. Snell will have a MRI and is scheduled to undergo an MRI. The Giants have placed him on the 15 day IL.

#4 The Yankees Anthony Volpe hit an RBI triple and Giancarlo Stanton hit an RBI ground rule double in the ninth.

#5 The Giants are on the road to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks starting Monday night. Bullpen game tonight The Giants starter Erik Miller (0-2, ERA 4.00) and the Diamondback will start Ryne Nelson (3-4, ERA 6.02) first pitch 6:40pm PT at Chase Field.

Join Marko for the Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Yankees come back in four run ninth to sweep Giants in utter disaster 7-5

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New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto flips the bat after hitting a two run ninth inning home run as the Yankees overcome the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, June 2, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

New York Yankees 7 (42-19)

San Francisco Giants 5 (29-31)

Win: Michael Tonkin (2-3)

Loss: Camilo Doval (2-1)

Save: Clay Holmes (17)

Time: 2:55

Attendance: 39,485

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Disaster struck today in San Francisco, as Blake Snell left after straining his groin, and Camilo Doval blew a 5-3 lead in the top of the ninth inning and gave up four runs, which allowed the Yankees to sweep the Giants with a 7-5 win.

Friday night, Giants’ ace, Logan Webb, was rocked for four runs early on, and the Giants dropped the second game in this three series. Saturday, they wanted to avoid getting swept, and Blake Snell, who was looking to finally get his first win as a Giant, was the man the Giants turned to as they tried to salvage a game in this series.

The game didn’t start well for Snell and the Giants. With one out in the top of the first inning, Juan Soto hit an absolute bomb out to right-center field to stake the Yankees to a 1-0 lead. Aaron Judge followed that with a single, and he stole second base with two outs, but Snell got Alex Verdugo to fly out to center to end the inning.

The Giants would be up against the Yankees’ left-hander, Nestor Cortes, and the Giants promptly went down 1-2-3 against him in the bottom of the first. DJ LeMahieu singled to left to lead off the second and got to second on a two-out walk to Jose Trevino. Snell was on the ropes again, but he got out of it, as Anthony Volpe flew out to left to end the inning.

Jorge Soler roped a double down the left field line with one out in the bottom of the second to get the Giants their first hit. Luis Matos struck out swinging, and it appeared that the Giants’ offense, which has reverted back to their old ways, was going to waste another opportunity.

Casey Schmitt then singled on a soft line drive up the middle just past the glove of the diving shortstop, Anthony Volpe, to tie the game. Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left-center to move Schmitt over to third, but the Giants were unable to take the lead, as catcher Curt Casali flew out to right to end the inning.

Snell walked Judge with one out in the top of the third and allowed Judge to get to second on a wild pitch, but Giancarlo Stanton and Verdugo each flew out to end the inning. Heliot Ramos then led off the bottom of the third with a high fly ball to left-center that he seemed to get a bit to much underneath, but the ball carried as it got into the wind, e-gift was blowing out to right-center, and the ball got out for a home run to give the Giants the lead.

Snell finally settled down with a 1-2-3 top of the fourth. Unlike many of his prior starts this season, Snell was able to pitch well the second time through the order, and this was no doubt shaping up to be his best start of the season. Casey Schmitt then hit his second home run in as many games in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-1.

The Giants held their 3-1 lead going to the fifth. Snell was solid the second time through the Yankees’ order, but now as he entered his third go-around through the order, things changed. Volpe and Soto singled with one out, and they advanced to second and third on a wild pitch to Judge.

Snell struck Judge out swinging for the second out, but he walked Stanton to load the bases. That brought up Verdugo. Snell threw a curveball on the outside corner for strike one, but after throwing a fastball high to even the count at 1-1, Snell re-injured his left groin that sidelined him for a month, and he had to leave the game.

Left-hander Erik Miller came in, and Verdugo lined a double to right to knock in Vulpe and Soto and tie the game at 3-3. LeMahieu then grounded out to short to end the inning.

It was a very unfortunate end to what was Snell’s best start of the season. He gave up three runs over four and two thirds innings, struck out seven and threw 99 pitches, which was his highest total of the season. He will have an MRI Monday, but he appears most likely to head back to the Injured List.

“I don’t think he’s moving around worse than last, but I don’t know how [he’s not going to the] IL,” said Manager Bob Melvin.

Brett Wisely singled off Cortes with one out in the bottom of the fifth, and Yankees Manager Aaron Boone pulled Cortes for Dennis Santana. Santana got Wilmer Flores to fly out to left and Matt Chapman to ground into a force play to send the game to the sixth.

Miller came back out and pitched a 1-2-3 top of the sixth. Soler and Luis Matos singled off Santana to start the bottom of the sixth. Schmitt popped into an infield fly, and Tyler Fitzgerald flew out to left. Casali was then hit in the hand to load the bases. Casali was examined, but he stayed in the game. That brought up Ramos, who lined a base-hit to left to score two and put the Giants back ahead 5-3.

Ryan Walker pitched a scoreless top of the seventh for the Giants, and San Francisco wasted an opportunity against Michael Tonkin in the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Rogers pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Giants, and Tonkin did the same for the Yankees in the bottom of the eighth.

The Giants were three outs away from salvaging a game in the series, and they had every reason to feel confident with their closer, Camilo Doval, in the game. However, the game was about to completely change.

Gleyber Torres led off the inning with a base-hit up the middle to center. Jose Trevino barely beat out the back end of what was nearly a 6-4-3 double play, and with one out, Volpe hit a triple to the gap in right-center to suddenly make it a 5-4 game with the tying run at third. Juan Soto then came up and hit his second home run of the game, a shot to the back of the Arcade in right to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead.

It was only the second blown save of the season for Doval, but things were about to get even uglier for the Giants. Doval completely lost it and proceeded to walk Judge, who stole second, but then advanced to third when Casali’s throw sailed into center field. Stanton followed that up with a ground-rule double to right-center to make it 7-5.

“I felt good with Doval,” said Melvin. “Anytime he’s in the game, we feel good…..I’ll take him against anybody. They just got him today.”

Taylor Rogers had to finish the inning, as the Giants were able to keep the deficit at 7-5. The Yankees brought in their closer, Clay Holmes for the bottom of the ninth, and he closed the game and the sweep out with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

Tonkin got the win; Doval suffered his first loss of the season; and Holmes picked up his 17th save. It was the worst loss of the season for the Giants, who were not only swept by the Yankees, but lost the final four games of the homestand to fall to 29-31.

“We played well today,” said Melvin. “You look at the way [the Yankees] played the first two games, and all the sudden, they’re ahead 1-0 again. I thought we responded well, then all the sudden, it’s tied again, and now we respond again. We played well today; [we] just didn’t shut it down in the ninth.”

The Giants will now head back out on the road for an all-2023 World Series road trip. They will head to Phoenix, Arizona for a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks that will start Monday night, followed by a three-game series against the defending world champion Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas starting Friday night.

“We [are] just [going to] go into tomorrow and expect to win the next series,” said Melvin. “It’s still tough, because we’re not looking at a full roster at this point.

News and Notes:

Thairo Estrada was out of the lineup for the second day in a row due to a bruise on his right hand.

“For him not to play, he’s banged up,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “So there’s a pretty good bruise on there.”

Shortstop Nick Ahmed played his first rehab game last night with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats after hurting his wrist on May 9, but his wrist did not seem to respond well.

“It didn’t feel great, so he might have had a little bit of a setback,” said Melvin.

Outfielders Austin Slater and Michael Conforto are also rehabbing in Sacramento. It is possible that Conforto could return and be in the lineup as soon as Monday night in Arizona.

Left-handed starter Robbie Ray, who the Giants signed over the off-season during his recovery from Tommy John Surgery, will face live hitters for the first time, as he will pitch one inning in an Arizona Complex game on Tuesday.

The Giants have yet to announce who will go in the series opener tomorrow night at Chase Field in Phoenix. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m. The Diamondbacks will be starting Ryne Nelson (3-4, ERA 6.02).

Judge Made Oracle Park his Courtroom, as he and his Yankees swept the Giants (3-0); they won the finale 7-5

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The New York Yankees puffed out their chests with Aaron Judge (99) and Juan Soto (right) after Soto’s first inning solo home run at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Aaron Judge used his gavel/bat frequently during his homecoming (Linden) to the Bay Area, as his New York Yankees (42-19) swept (3-0) the San Francisco Giants (29-31), and took the final game in dramatic comeback fashion, 7-5.

Judge grew up about 15 miles east of Stockton and 95+ minutes from San Francisco. Aaron Judge had the rare distinction of having both an American League team (Oakland Athletics) and a National League team (San Francisco Giants) in his rooting radius.

As a youth in the Early 2000’s Judge had a lot to see on both sides of the Bay. On the peninsula side Barry Bonds was breaking home run records left and right, and the Giants reached the World Series, but lost to the Angels in heartbreaking fashion. On the East Bay side the Athletics were experiencing Moneyball and a long winning streak.

In 2010, the Giants were beginning their Dynasty, while Judge was finishing up his high school career. Coincidentally, the neighboring Oakland A’s drafted him in the 31st round out of Linden High School. However, Aaron decided to take his talents down to California State – Fresno.

Three years later, Judge was a first round pick (32) by the mighty New York Yankees. He did not make his MLB debut until August of 2016. The rest is history.

Nearly eight years later, Judge came into this series on top of a few of the leaders’ lists. At the start of the final game, he was the MLB leader in home runs (21), slugging % (.657), OPS (1.067), extra-base hits (39), walks (46) and total bases (142)… He also made it on base in 28 consecutive games.

Judge added 2 hits (2-3), 2 walks, and two stolen bases to his already impressive weekend and season total. The Yankees had to rally in the ninth inning to pull out the final win. The New Yorkers were not going to be satisfied with just a series win, they were adamant about completing the sweep. This sentiment was uttered from manager Aaron Boone, Judge, and even Juan Soto, with his big two homers in the game.

“This was a pretty fun weekend, with cheers and boos. It lived up to all the hype.” Said slugger Aaron Judge.

I asked him how he distinguished a favorite team between the A’s, who are geographically closer, or the more cosmopolitan Giants? He stated, “My town (Linden) has a lot of Giants fans. My dad was a Giants fan; I had to follow suit.”

He also enjoyed the aforementioned home run derby that Barry Bonds put on early in the Millenium. Although he didn’t get to see them in person, but from his television, Bonds made Oracle/AT&T/SBC/Pac Bell look small. However, he realized it was not, as he played in the ballpark on the Bay.

Judge and the Yankees have Monday, June 3 off, but will host the Minnesota Twins the following night. The Giants travel to the desert and take on the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday June 3.

Judge will leave the Bay Area with fond memories and a very successful road trip, while his consecutive streak of reaching base safely is extended to 29 straight games.

ALL RISE for the Bay Area Homeboy Judge (Aaron). Linden California, STAND UP!!

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: Giants Hicks says you can tell from that sound off the bat when it’s going out

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks (12) gets lifted by Giants manager Bob Melvin (left in dark jacket) in the top of the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri May 31, 2024 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie it’s time for you to be the judge as the New York Yankees Aaron Judge opened the three game series with two home runs on Friday night and a home run on Saturday night leading MLB in homers with 21 at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants. He had a foot injury that hampered him for awhile but Judge is back on track now.

#2 Judge also set a high water mark with his home run surpassing Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig for a Yankee with the most home runs in the month of May with 25.

#3 Giants starter Jordan Hicks who served up the two home run balls to Judge said to the media after the game “can you guess” in reference to the to pitches he wished he could get back saying it was the two home run pitches. Hicks does tip his cap to Judge who took him deep twice. Hicks said you can tell by that sound of the bat that it’s going out of the park.

#4 Hicks said the Yankees travel well and they have a lot of fans behind them and there is no mistaking they come out to see their team when their on the road. There is no doubt that this is anticipated series with both teams having a lot of history and tradition.

#5 One thing about Hicks he’s been effective and he wanted to go back and look at some tape and see if he was giving anything away. Something to review for his next outing.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Yanks Judge crushes MLB leading 21st homer in 7-3 defeat of Giants at Oracle Park

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New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hits a two run home off of San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jun 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

New York-AL (41-19). 202 000 030. 7 11 1

San Francisco (29-30) 002 010 000. 3. 5.0

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 34,487

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–With tonight’s 7-3 loss to the red hot New York Yankees, the Giants slipped once more below the .500 mark.

They had been relying on Logan Webb to give some stability to their rotation and a chance for their bullpen to catch its breath. Those hopes were dimmed in the top of the first when New York’s number three batter, Aaron Judge, sent a three and two change up 464 feet into center field for his 21st home run of the season, a two run blast that drove in Juan Soto and put the Yanks ahead from the get go.

They padded that lead in the third on a leadoff single by DJ LeMahieu, a double by Anthony Volpe, Soto’s sacrifice fly to left that almost left the park, an intentional walk to Judge, and an RBI single executed to the opposite field by Alex Verdugo.

It now was 4-0 in favor of the Bronx Bombers. All four runs were earned, but Webb didn’t let them score again, leaving after seven innings on the mound and allowing seven hits and one base on balls. He struck out six and threw a total of 108 pitches, of which 74 were strikes, it was a gutsy performance, but Webb was the losing pitcher, and his record now is 4-5, 2.95. That he went as deep into the game as he did was a slight and possible long run help to this beleaguered team.

Cody Poteet, who started for the Yankees tonight, had been recalled from Syracuse on Thursday, when Clarke Schmidt was placed on the injured list with a right lateral strain. His loss was a serious blow to the Yanks; he was their second-best hurler in their rotation this year, going 5-3, 2.52 in 11 starts.

At the time of his promotion, Poteet was on two ILs, the International League and its Injured List thanks to a blister, which had healed just before his callup He had an ERA of 4.05 in his seven Syracuse starts and had given a fine account of himself in an April spot start for the Yankees against the Guardians in Cleveland, where he surrendered only one run in six innings of work.

He wasn’t that effective tonight, although the Yanks still were leading when he left the game and he got the win, making him 2-0. He had pitched five innings and allowed three runs, two of them earned, on three hits, one of them a home run, and a walk. His pitch count was 78, including 47 strikes. His big league ERA now is 2.45.

Casey Schmitt, the shortstop whom the Giants had just recalled from Sacramento cut the visitor’s four run lead in half in the bottom of the third with his 400 foot blast into the left field bleachers with Trenton Brooks, who had walked, on first. It was Schmitt’s first homer in his current stay in the show. He ended up going two for four.

The Yankees threatened again in the top of the fifth. Soto’s two out liner to center got past a charging Matos for a two out triple that brought the dangerous Judge to the plate. After falling behind, 2-0, Webb fanned the major leagues’ leading home run hitter.

The hosts narrowed the gap to one tally in their half of the frame. Ramos legged out a single to short and took second on Volpe’s errant throw to first. He was called out at third after he tried to advance on Schmitt’s fly to Judge in right center, but that call was reversed on video review, enabling Ramos to score on Brett Wisely’s single to right.

It still was 4-3 in favor of New York when Ian Hamilton took the mound to replace Poteet to open the home sixth. He set the Giants down in order and gave way to Caleb Ferguson the seventh inning stretch. He allowed a single and a walk but no runs.

When the Yankees next came to bat, Ryan Walker had relieved Webb. He fanned Volpe and Soto, but then Judge hit a grounder up the middle that Wisely. playing second, made a nice backhanded grab of but threw off balance, late and inaccurately past first.

Judge scored all the way from first on Vertigo’s punishing triple to right center and coasted home on Giancarlo Stanton’s 14th home run of the year, a 368 foot shot into the left field bleachers.

That gave Tommy Kahnie a 7-3 lead to work with in the bottom of the eighth, a cushion he protected by striking out two of the three batters he faced to set San Francisco down in order. Randy Ramírez faced three batters in the top of the ninth, and, with the help of a pitcher’s best friend, kept them from scoring.

The Giants will try to salvage one game of the series and claw their way back to .500 tomorrow, Sunday, at 1:05. The Yankees plan on starting Néstor Cortés ((3-4, 3.30). The Giants are relying, with their fingers crossed, on Blake Snell (0-3, 10.42). A lot could hinge on his performance.

Yankees Judge goes deep twice on Giants in 6-2 win; Judge’s first game in SF

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The New York Yankees Alex Verdugo (24) and Aaron Judge (99) leap for joy after Judge’s home run in the top of the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium in New York on Fri May 31, 2024 (AP News photo)

New York (AL) (40-19). 003 003 000 6. 9. 0

San Francisco (29-29). 010.001 000. 2 7. 1

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 35,018

Friday, May 31, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Friday night’s 6-2 loss to the American League leading New York Yankees was not entirely unexpected in spite of the home team’s just finished taking two out of three from the major league leading Philadelphia Phillies.

The Giants’ injury problems are too numerous and too well known to recount. Nevertheless, we have an update on them. Marco Luciano was placed on the 15 day IL after injuring his hamstring in last Wednesday’s game. Casey Schmitt has been recalled from Sacramento as his replacement. The good news is that Nick Ahmed is on the mind.

The visitors have an injury problem of their own. Clarke Schmidt, their number two starting pitcher, who was 5-3, 2.52 in 11 appearances this year, was placed on the 15 day injured list, retroactive to May 27, yesterday.

Dr. Neal ElAtrrache, whose name has become familiar to Giants’ fans in the past few weeks, diagnosed Schmidt with a right lateral strain. The right hander was the probable pitcher for Saturday’s, contest, but isn’t expected to throw for at least four weeks.

Cody Poteet will replace Schmidt in the rotation, and Cody Morris will take his place in the roster. Gerrit Cole, who went 15-4, 2.63 last year, still is out of action and will have to wait a few weeks before he can combat test his inflamed elbow

Jordan Hicks, who used to be a reliever, hasn’t acted in that capacity all this season. This was his 12th start of the year, and he brought a record of 4-1,2.33 to it. Some people wear their heart on their sleeve; the 27 year old righty wears the inscription “Type 1” on his cleats because he, like the A’s rookie phenom, Mason Miller, is a type one diabetic.

Hicks underperformed tonight. He exited the scene after hurling 5-1/3 innings, in which he delivered 101 pitches, 68 of which went into the books as strikes. Four of the five runs he was charged with were earned, and they came on eight hits, two of which left the park. He didn’t walk anybody, though, and notched four Ks. He was the losing pitcher and went home with a record of 4-2, 2.70.

Hicks was matched against nine year veteran and two time all-star Marcus Stroman. It also was his 12th start of the year, and he came into it at 4-2, 2.76, with an ERA of 1.78 in his previous five. He hadn’t allowed a run in three of his 11 starts.

Friday night, however, Hicks gave up two runs, both earned, before Luke Weaver relieved him with one out and the bases empty in the home half of the eighth and finished up the game by allowing only a ninth inning single to Estrada. Stroman threw 91 pitches, 56 for strikes, and allowed six hits and two walks on the way to gaining his fifth win and lowering his already impressive earned run average to 2.73.

San Francisco thwarted The Curse of the Leadoff Double to draw first blood in the second inning. Patrick Bailey followed Matt Chapman’s Texas League two bagger to right right with a line drive that just barely evaded second sacker Glyber Torres’ glove for a single to right that put runners on the corners. Jorge Soler’s sacrifice fly to right brought Chapman home.

That advantage was short lived. Aaron Judge gave it a death sentence with his 394 foot blast over the Hanwha Life advertisement for his 19th home run and 42nd, 43rd, and 44th RBI of the season. Anthony Volpe and Juan Soto, each of whom had singled, were on base with one man out at the time.

Judge homered again in his next at bat a towering 426 foot blast over the fence, into the net just to the right of the Giants’ bullpen, making it 4-1 in the top of the sixth. After that Hicks retired Verdugo, surrendered an infield hit to Torres, and retired for the night.

Taylor Rogers replaced him, and all hell broke loose. Anthony Rizzo smacked an authoritative double to right, moving Torres to third. In his attempt to relay Mike Yastrzemski’s throw from right Rogers overthrew home and allowed both Torres and Rizzo to score. The Bronx Bombers now held a 6-1 lead.

A two out double in the bottom of the inning by Mike Yastrzemski with Trenton Brooks, who had walked, on base inched the Giants closer by a run. They never got closer.

Luke Jackson set the visitors down in order in their half of the seventh. Sean Hjelle opened the top of the eighth by retiring Judge, who had gone three for three, on a fly to right and putting the Yanks down without allowing any one to reach base safely in that inning or the ninth.

However disappointing the defeat was, the Giants’ first baseman, Brooks had the consolation of getting his first major league hit, a single to right in third. He was wiped out in the next play when Luis Matos hit into a 6-4-3 twin killing and walked and struck out in his two remaining plate appearances.

Saturday, evening the plan is for the Giants’ RHP Logan Webb (4-4, 2.74) to face off against the Yankees RHP Cody Poteet (1-0, 1.50). It probably will offer San Francisco its best shot for winning one of the three games in this series. First pitch is slated for 7:05pm PT.