Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants’ bats come to life for Logan Webb in much-needed win over Rays 11-2 at Tropicana

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the first inning at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg FL on Sat Apr 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Tropicana Field

St. Petersburg, Florida

San Francisco Giants 11 (6-9)

Tampa Bay Rays 2 (8-7)

Win: Logan Webb (1-1)

Loss: Ryan Pepiot (1-2)

Time: 2:27

Attendance: 17,411

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense came to life to give their ace, Logan Webb, some rare run support, and to give the Giants themselves a much-needed win, as they hammered the Tampa Bay Rays 11-2 in St. Pete.

Following a tough 2-1 loss at the Trop last night, in which the offense went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base, the Giants sent their ace, Logan Webb, who has severely suffered from a lack of a run support to the mound. Webb would be matched against the right-hander Ryan Pepiot

LaMonte Wade Jr. singled with one out in the top of the first, and after Jorge Soler struck out, Michael Conforto lined a double down the right field line to score Wade. Webb threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the first, as he set down the first five men he faced.

The Rays got to Webb for a run in the bottom of the third when Jose Siri scored on a double play ball off the bat of Yandy Diaz. The Giants struck back with two outs in the top of the fourth when Thairo Estrada hit a long home run to left to put San Francisco back ahead.

Webb pitched a scoreless bottom of the fourth, and Pepiot set down the first two men he faced in the top of the fifth. However, Jung-hoo Lee lined a double to right, and Wade hit a home run to right-center to make it 4-1. Like the fourth, Pepiot retired the first two batters, and the Giants worked some two-out magic.

Webb pitched a 1-2-3 shutdown bottom of the fifth, and Rays Manager Kevin Cash brought in Chris Devenski for the sixth. Devenski walked the bases loaded to start the inning, and Mike Yastrzemski, who has been off to a brutally-slow start at the plate, singled on a ground ball to right to score a pair and pad the Giants’ lead at 6-1. Patrick Bailey hit an opposite-field ground-rule double down the left field line to knock in a run and make it 7-1.

The Giants’ offense had finally come to life, but they were not done yet. Jorge Soler hit an absolute bomb just to the left of straightaway center with one out in the top of the seventh, and Thairo Estrada hit a two-run shot to left with two away for his second home run of the game.

Webb pitched through a single and a walk in the bottom of the seventh, and that would be it for the Giants’ ace. Webb gave up six hits over seven innings, and while he didn’t have his greatest outing, he was able to wiggle his way out of trouble. Most importantly, he had some real run support today.

“[We got] a good solid seven innings out of him,” said Manager Bob Melvin.

With the Giants up 10-1 and the game a blowout, Cash opted to have his starting catcher, Ben Rortvedt, pitch the top of the eighth. The Giants loaded the bases off Rortvedt with a double by Bailey and a pair of walks, but Rortvedt escaped the inning unscathed. It wasn’t a 1-2-3 inning,k but it certainly wasn’t the worst-pitched inning for a catcher.

Nick Avila came in for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth and surrendered a run. Rortvedt stayed out for Tampa in the top of the ninth, and Matt Chapman led off the inning with a home run to left to make it 11-2. Erik Miller came in and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to close it out.

The Giants’ offense clicked on all cylinders, as Wade, Chapman and Bailey all had two hits. Thairo Estrada led the way with a 3-for-4 day with a pair of home runs.

“I didn’t make many adjustments,” said Estrada, through interpreter Giants Spanish Play-by-Play Announcer Erwin Higueros. “I just kept my same adjustment, which is just looking for a good pitch to drive.”

Believe it or not, the Giants hit five home runs today after not hitting a single home run in their prior seven games. Their last home run came off the bat of Patrick Bailey at Dodger Stadium 10 days ago on April 3.

“Certainly the homers help[ed],” said Melvin, who said this was a win the Giants needed. “Scoring first in the first inning, that was big for us too. Then to be able to add on, especially in the middle innings, guys on base, got some big hits, hit some home runs. So it’s a much better feeling today for sure.”

“The conversation was all about going game-by-game, at-bat-[by]-at-bat, see your pitch,” said Estrada. “The season is just starting, we have 162 games and we knew we were going to get out of this bad slump.”

Not only did Logan Webb finally get some run support, but he also finally got his first win of the year. Ryan Pepiot took the loss for Tampa.

“We’re happy with the win,” said Estrada. “I mean, especially the way the offense worked, Webb did a great job. Seems like everything worked for us today.”

The Giants improve to 6-9, and they will try and take the series with a win tomorrow morning. Blake Snell will return to where his major league career started for the first time since his trade from the Rays to the Tampa Bay Rays following the 2020 Season. First pitch will be at 1:40 p.m. in St. Pete, and 10:40 a.m., a morning start, back home in San Francisco.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings struggling face Suns tonight in the second of back to back nights

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New Orleans guard Herbert Jones (5) goes up against the Sacramento Kings Harrison Barnes (40) in the first half at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Thu Apr 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The New Orleans Pelicans CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson both scored 31 a piece in the Pelicans 135-123 win over the struggling Sacramento Kings.

#2 Williamson went back to the New Orleans locker room to get his wrist worked on in the second quarter but the Kings couldn’t hold him back when he returned as Williamson scored 23 points in the second half.

#3 The Kings defense had a tough time shutting McCollum down who scored a season high of nine three pointers in 12 shots. McCollum also had seven assists and the Pelicans improved their post season chances in avoiding a play in.

#4 The Kings in the meantime are hanging onto eighth place they have now lost two straight and lost six of their last ten games what are the Kings chances in avoiding a play in?

#5 Kings get no rest they host the Phoenix Suns (47-33) tonight at Golden 1. The Suns are seventh place in the Western Conference and have won six out of their last ten games. How do you see this match up tonight?

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for the Sacramento Kings podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants get hitting from Ahmed and Fitzgerald and pitching from Hicks in 7-1 win

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San Francisco Giants hitter Tyler Fitzgerald connects for an RBI single in front of Washington Nationals catcher Drew Milas in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The San Francisco Giants took care of business Wednesday afternoon at Oracle Park avoiding a sweep and defeating the Washington Nationals by six runs 7-1. How important was it to avoid a sweep for the Giants especially on their first homestand.

#2 San Francisco pitcher Jordan Hicks allowed just one earned run in each of his three starts. Jordan said after the game that he feels he’s in a good spot.

#3 Giants manager Bob Melvin said that each of Hicks starts were very good each one of them. Hicks went six innings gave up four hits and just one earned run. Hicks said that his sinker was working for him.

#4 Nick Ahmed had two RBIs and scored three times. Melvin said that Ahmed is the fastest player on the team. That’s not to take anything away from Tyler Fitzgerald who stole two bases and score two times.

#5 San Francisco Giants starter Keaton Winn will get the start in the Giants next game in Tampa Bay. The Rays have not announced a starter for Friday yet.

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

#1

#2

San Francisco Giants Avoid The Series Sweep With 7-1 Win Over Washington Nationals at Oracle park

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San Francisco Giants starter Jordan Hicks throws to the Washington Nationals in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 10, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 10th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

Nick Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald had three hits apiece and Jordan Hicks allowed one run in six innings as the San Francisco  Giants avoided a three-game series sweep with a 7-1 win over the Washington Nationals.

Hicks (2-0) has allowed one earned run or less in each of his first three starts this season after signing with San Francisco this offseason. The right-hander allowed four hits and had two strikeouts today.

“He’s talented, but what’s impressed me most is the mix of pitches he uses now,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “It was mostly fastball/slider [as a reliever], now he’s got a sweeper, a split. His velocity will go anywhere from 92-100 mph, which is very tough for a hitter to keep track of.”

Ahmed drove in two runs and scored three times, while Fitzgerald stole two bases and scored twice.

Melvin indicated that Fitzgerald could see more playing time.

What are we, 1-0 [in games] with three stolen bases?” Melvin joked. “Fitzy has got a lot to do with that. He’s got the best speed on our team, and he needs to play too. It’s good that he got a really good game under his belt.”

Fitzgerald also had a big day at the plate, as he went 3-for-3 with a double.

“It’d been a while since I last played,” said Fitzgerald. “I just had a lot built up, and I was ready to get after it and ready to play. I just got my opportunity, and I’m excited I finally took advantage of it.”

Fitzgerald’s performance also excited his teammates.

“That was sick,” said Hicks. “I’ve been waiting to see what he has in his game. He showed today he’s a baller.”

Joey Gallo homered for Washington, his third of the season.

San Francisco banged out 12 hits and went 6 for 8 with runners in scoring position after going 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series.

The Nationals stole two bases in the loss, giving them a MLB-best 25 this season.

Patrick Corbin (0-2) gave up 11 hits and seven runs with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Despite the offensive outburst, San Francisco failed to homer for the sixth straight game.

Giants relievers Ryan Walker and Erik Miller pitched the final three innings, holding Washington hitless.

Nats CJ Abrams goes yard with 3 run homer beats Giants 5-3

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Ildelmaro Vargas Washington Nationals second baseman (center) takes a leap to avoid the sliding San Francisco Giant Matt Chapman and to attempt completing a double play at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

Washington (5-6). 002 010 101. 5. 8. 1

San Francisco (4-8). 010 002 000 3 10 0

Time: 2:41

Attendance: 24,380

SAN FRANCISCO–In the snippet of time since the start of the 2024 season, the home field of your San Francisco Giant has looked more like Playland at the Beach as Oracle Park. It’s been a roller coaster. After splitting their opening series at San Diego, the Giants were swept by Dodgers in Chavez Ravine came home to win two exciting games out of the three they played against the visiting Padres here by the shores of McCovey Cove, which gave Melvin’s mob its first series win of the year.

The Giants were poised to get a significant boost from the mound work of last year’s Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, who, along with Matt Chapman, was a last minute addition to the team’s roster. Those signings took the sting out of what had been an unproductive off season.

But Snell’s debut against the rebuilding Washington Nationals was a debacle, San Francisco’s offense was nowhere in sight, and the fielding left much to be desired. Tuesday night Bob Melvin’s crew had to pick itself up, dust itself off, and start all over again.

They sent the promising left handed rookie Kyle Harrison (1-1,4.91 at game time). The youngster was making his third start, but the first at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, of the season. He was 1-0, 2.66 and had held opponents to a batting average of .195 here before tonight.

His performance in tonight’s exciting 5-3 loss was impressive, especially in the. early innings but faded top adequacy later on. He lasted six innings and threw 93 pitches, 62 of them qualifying as strikes. The three runs he yielded were earned lowered his ERA slightly, to 4.76, and he ended the night with a no decision. He struck out eight Nationals and didn’t walk any.

The Nats had announced Josiah Gray as their starting pitcher, but the all round nice guy and clubhouse leader was placed on the 15 day injured list, owing to a flexor strain in and around the elbow of his right, pitching, arm. His replacement, announced after the Giants had posted their lineup, was Joan Adon, a right handed converted reliever with a five pitch arsenal and a lifetime big league record of 3-18, 6.45 whom they recalled today from their AAA, Rochester Red Wings farm team, although he obviously had joined the team earlier.

The 25 year old Dominican acquitted himself well, holding the Giants to one run, which was earned, on three hits and a base on balls over four innings of work. He notched a pair of strikeouts and threw 72 pitches, 42 for strikes. He left the game, replaced by Roberto García, and was not involved in the decision. The contest became a bullpen game for the capital crew when Jordan Weems replaced García after a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth.

A walk to Thairo Estrada, Mike Yastrzemski’s second hit of the season, a single in his 21st at bat, and Patrick Bailey’s sacrifice line drive to center put the home team ahead after two innings of play. That didn’t last long.

Harrison, who had retired the first eight Nats he had faced, seven by strikeout yielded a two out single to Jacob Young in the top of the second. He had Young picked off, but the speedy center fielder took off for second and slid beneath LaMonte Wade, Jr.’s throw to Nick Ahjed.

Young repeated his robbery on the next pitch and crossed the plate at a more leisurely pace when CJ Abrams sent a 423 foot blast over the right field fence for his third home run of the season and a 2-1 Washington advantage. Two frames later, Young singled to center and pilfered his third bag of the game and fourth of the season and then scored on Abrams ‘single to right.

San Francisco knotted the score in its half of the fifth. Chapman led off with a single and, after a called third to Estrada, which the video replay showed to have been erroneous, was forced out at second on a dazzling grab and behind the back toss from shortstop Abrams to second sacker Ildemaro Vargas. Bailey’s single to right moved Mike Yastrzemski into scoring position, and Ahmed’s single to right, combined with right fielder Lane Thomas’s errant throw, brought the tying runs in.

Ryan Walker, who relieved Harrison for the seventh, was the victim of bad luck. After issuing a lead off walk to Jesse Winker, he allowed a broken bat Texas League single to Riley Adams, Both runners advanced on an infield out, and Tracy Lipscomb’s sac fly to the right field warning track brought Winker in with the tie breaker, making it a 4-3 game.

Dylan Floro set the Giants down in order in the home seventh, and Taylor Rogers took over for them in the visitors’ eighth, retiring the first two batters he faced, hitting the third with a pitch, and passing the ball to his right handed brother Tyler the Submariner, who got the frame’s final out.

Hunter Harvey followed Flores in the eighth, retired Chapman and Estrada before being forced to leave the game when he was hit by a hard line drive off the bat of Yastrzemski. Kyle Finnegan replaced him, walked Bailey, and got Ahmed on a fly to left center.

Back to back DC doubles by Winker and Adams off Rogers to open the top of the ninth netted a run and seemed to put the game out of reach for SF. It did, but the Giants didn’t make it easy for them. Jung-Hoo-Lee, greeted by loud and premature chants of “MVP” led off with. a sharp single to left.

He moved up 90 feet on another single to left by Wilmer Flores, who had pinch run for Wade in the fifth and remained in the game to play first. Austin Slater then pinch ran for the erstwhile pinch runner. Finnegan got ahead of Soler, 0-2 before SF’s DH worked a full count and drew a bases loading walk.

That brought Conforto to the plate. He quickly fell behind, 0-2, fouled off two pitches, took a ball, and hit a nubber in front of the plate that Finnegan fielded and tossed to Adams for the force at home. It now was Finnegan vs. Chapman. Chapman swung and missed. And then bounced into a 6-4-3 game ending double play.

Weems (1-0, 1.89) was the winning pitcher; Finnegan got the save, his fourth. Walker was charged with the loss, He’s now 1-1, 2.70)

Tuesday, afternoon, at 12:45 the squads will go at it. again. Southpaw Patrick Corbin (0-1, 6.97) will be on the bump for Washington; right Jordan Hicks (1-0 0.75), for San Francisco. The Giants then will fly to St. Petersburg for a day of rest before the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday the 12th.

Tiger’s Treasure Trove: 1978 Topps Greg Minton

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1978 Topps Greg Minton (Topps Baseball Gum Chewing Co)

Tiger’s Treasure Trove

1978 Topps Greg Minton

By Tony “The Tiger” Hayes

The question of whether baseball trading cards – the iconic All-American corner store staple- falls into the category of legitimate Modern Art has long been debated by art critics and the card collecting community.

If original mass produced Andy Warhol lithographs of Campbell Soup cans can rival in auction prices as rare bubble gum cards – why is one considered incomparable art and the other frivolous pop culture tchotchkes?

That question is just as debatable as whether the brittle iridescent pink bubble gum that used to come with baseball cards was really edible or not.

But in the spring and summer of 1978 there was no question what kids were getting when they were lucky enough to pull a Greg Minton baseball card from a Topps wax or cellophane pack.

Whether the card was the first one ripped from the top of the stack with a tell tale sugary residue smudge or sandwiched between a Leroy Stanton and John Lowenstein card – it was absolutely clear what you were clutching in your clammy afterschool mitts.

You weren’t likely ever to find the ‘78 Minton card on a field trip to the De Young or the Palace of the Legion of Honor, but the archetypal card was undoubtedly a Work of Art.

The dang Minton showpiece was in fact a full face portrait PAINTING – – you might even call it a Cardboard Rembrandt – – depicting Minton aka the “Moon Man” – then a fledgling Giants right-handed pitcher outfitted in an orange billed Giants cap, and sporting silver wire rimmed eyeglasses, fashionable longish feathered black hair and a matching full mustache.

Despite the fact Minton had only pitched in two games for San Francisco in 1977 – Topps was all in on the 25-year old -so much so they curiously went out of their way to hand craft a completely customized airbrushed card for the Giant.

Minton would later become one of the Giants all-time ranking relief pitchers, but at the time the baseball card in question was produced, the Giants didn’t know what they had in the San Diego raised athlete.

Originally signed by Kansas City, the Orange & Black picked up Minton in a 1973 trade for big league backup catcher Fran Healy.

Minton pitched in 27 games with the big league club between 1975-78, but injuries slowed his progress. A major knee injury in the spring of 1978 slowed his roll that season.

It wasn’t until 1979, that Minton would start to make a big league impact, posting a marvelous 1.81 ERA in 46 games to go with 19 saves. Over one extended 19 game period, Minton did not allow an earned run. A homer-less streak lasted well into the following campaign.

Minton was also a Grade-A clubhouse character who earned his “Moon Man” nickname after a pants-less minor league river rafting adventure left his rear end with sunburn blisters resembling moon craters.

But for all his indelible zaniness and spectacular mound work, Minton’s lasting impression on baseball fans just might be that museum worthy baseball card.

By 1978, finding a sports card with airbush touch-up work was hardly unusual.

The airbrush, a small air-operated tool that sprays atomized paint and dyes had become a popular tool in the sports card industry during the 1970s as more players shifted teams at a more frequent rate than ever before.

Beginning in the early 1970s, the bubble gum card company began painting logos on the caps of players who switched teams after their photos were taken for the next season’s set. Initially, the work often looked slap-dash with little care taken to carefully reproduce cap lettering or matching team colors.

By 1976 however it seemed Topps’ collection of in-house painters had seemingly graduated from art school. An entire sub-set of “Traded” cards featuring players mocked up in their new team colors was introduced that year and a good portion of the artwork on those cards was serviceable.

While some cards were more convincing than others, as a rule the airbrush work on sports cards was not quite as lurid and fake looking as it was in the early days.

Replacement lettering on caps and jerseys had become more accurate looking as the artists began to clearly take more pride in their work.

The 1977 Topps baseball set would see the hobby’s air brushing fad hit it’s peak as the company issued more than 50 cards with add-on accects. Fueling the surge was the introduction of two new expansion franchises in 1977 and the maiden season of MLB wide free agency.

The establishment of the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners would task the card company with cobbling together two entire new clubs of players that had to be refitted with new airbrushed gear.

Meanwhile the dawn of the free agent era saw a myriad of veteran big leaguers jump from one club to another during the offseason that separated the 1976 and 1977 campaigns.

The 1977 Topps set for example featured nearly 10 former members of the once mighty three-time World Champion Swingin’ Oakland A’s who had jumped from the Bad Ship Charlie Finley via free agency or the expansion draft.

The most curious card however came in the form of the one issued to the anonymous Rick Jones, a right-handed pitcher selected by the first edition Seattle from Boston in the expansion draft.

The Jones card was a throwback to the earliest days to the Topps cards in which black and white photographs were meticulously painted over in color. The majority of the 1952 Topps set, featuring famous rookie cards of Willie Mays and Mickie Mantle were done in this majestic looking finish.

But by the mid-1970s Topps had long abandoned that style. All the cards images at that point featured color photography, any changes were done with the handy, dandy airbrush kit.

Apparently, however Topps had no color shots of Jones – who made his debut with the Red Sox in 1976 – and the company decided to return to their artistic roots.

But unlike the early 1950s baseball card paint jobs, which mostly presented big leaguers in a flattering, almost stately light , the airbrush job on Jones’ card made the new Mariner look eerie and haunting.

It’s possible that the bubble gum card company received angry letters from mothers across the country complaining about their boy’s developing phobia conditions about the Jones and strived to do better.

The next year they accomplished that goal with the production of the Minton card and a second entirely airbushed card for the Red Sox’s Mike Paxton.

Topps apparently also did not have a color photograph of Minton and were left with just a black and white handout art from the Giants public relations staff.

The Minton card in particular pops with personality and vivid coloring- the artist gave Minton a deep bronze tan.

It became an instant classic.

Today, the card can be found for sale on eBay. While not quite in the Mays and Mantle price range. The Minton card can be had for about one buck.

Washington Nationals Start Off Series Hot With 8-1 Win Over San Francisco Giants

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San Francisco Giants starter Black Snell got touched up by the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Snell pitched three innings gave up three hits and three earned runs on Mon Apr 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 8th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

The San Francisco Giants (4-7) continue their opening homestand with a three game series against the Washington Nationals (4-6)… SF is coming off its first winning series of the year after taking two of the last three games from the Padres over the weekend. The Nationals got a seven run win on Monday night over the Giants at Oracle Park with a series opening 8-1 win.

Blake Snell started his first game on the hill for the Giants at Oracle Park and first batter up. Jacob Young and he sat down on strikes. Only allowing one hit, but no runs that first inning. “[I] have a lot to learn. Facing big league hitters for the first time, I was pretty pumped up. There’s a lot to break down…..[I was] trying to nitpick too much instead of getting [it] over the plate…..There’s a lot going through my head right now, but I was pretty amped up, and I was trying to nitpick too much, [which] made the bullen have to cover a lot of innings that they shouldn’t have had to cover.” Said Snell.

The Giants got the first run on the board. Lamonte Wade Jr. doubles on a flyball, Jung Hoo Lee scores, 1-0 SF. 

Snell had back to back walks in the second inning and it required two mound visits, but Trey Lipscomb captalized on the rattled Snell and hit a line drive that scored Keibert Ruiz, 1-1. The Nats would take the lead as Luis Garcia Jr. singled to first and was still safe while also scoring Ildemaro Vargas, 2-1 Nats. Lipscomb steals home and Washington goes up 3-1, but Snell would get out the inning and that would be the end of his night. “I’m excited where I’m at, [and] how the ball’s getting out. I’m always going to get better, [and my stuff’s] going to get more crisp, so my first game, [I’m] happy it’s out [of] the way. [I have] a lot to learn from it, and [I’m] really looking forward to what I’ll be able to do Sunday [versus] Tampa. Said Snell.

The Nationals would pack that lead with a Lane Thomas two run homer and at this point, it seemed like the Giants were going to have to dig deep. 5-1 Nats. Vargas would hit an RBI double and drive in Joey Gallo and the Nationals were up 6-1 with a nail clearly in the coffin. 

Lane Thomas would end up with a 3 RBI night with a single that scored Jacob Young, 7-1 Nats. Tayler Rogers would come in with the bases loaded and get a walk and Nats would insure themselves an 8-1 lead in the ninth inning.

Matt Barnes would come in to close for Washington and other than a single for Thairo Estrada he’d knock down the side and the Nats would win 8-1. 

Next game in the series is April 9th with Josiah Gray (0-2, 14.04) on the hill for the Nationals and Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.91) for the Giants.

Giants score two after massive break in eighth to win series over Padres 3-2

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman swings for an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oracle Park against the San Diego Padres on Sun Apr 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 2 (5-7)

San Francisco Giants 3 (4-6)

Win: Ryan Walker (1-0)

Loss: Jhony Brito (0-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (1)

Time: 2:16

Attendance: 40,149

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants capitalized on a botched double play, and scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come back and beat the Padres 3-2 and win the series.

After the Giants’ dramatic walk-off win in the Home Opener on Friday, the Padres beat the Giants on a first inning grand slam by Jurickson Profar. Logan Webb took the mound to make his third start of the season for the rubber match, as the Giants looked to take the series.

Webb got off to a tough start in the top of the first. He got Xander Bogaerts to fly out to right to open the game, but Fernando Tatis Jr. lined a single to left, and then Jake Cronenworth knocked in Tatis with a double to right.

The knuckle-baller Matt Waldron made the start for San Diego, and the Giants threatened in the bottom of the first. Jung-hoo Lee singled on a ground ball up the middle to start the inning, and then got to third on a one-out double by Jorge Soler. However, Michael Conforto popped out to third, and Matt Chapman flew out to right.

Webb ran into trouble again in the top of the second when the Padres put runners on the corner with one out, but he got out of it when Kyle Higashioka hit a ground ball to third for a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

From there, both pitchers settled down. Waldron retired 14 of the 15 men he faced from Conforto’s popup through the bottom of the fifth inning. As for Webb, the inning-inning double play in the top of the second started a stretch where he set down nine-straight guys.

The Padres had Webb back on the ropes in the sixth, as three-straight singles by Cronenworth, Manny Machado and Ha-seong Kim plated a run to make it 2-0. 

The Giants caught a break when Lee reached on an errant throw by Kim to start the bottom of the sixth. LaMonte Wade Jr. then singled to right, and the Giants would be in business. Soler lined out sharply to center, and Padres Manager Mike Shildt came out to the mound to pull Waldron for Steve Koek, who walked Conforto to load the bases. 

Matt Chapman came up and hit a chopper to short that the shortstop Kim fielded and flipped to second to get Conforto for the force. Lee scored on the play to put the Giants on the board, but that would be the only run the Giants would get in the sixth, as Thairo Estrada swung out swinging on a ball in the dirt to end the inning.

With the Giants on the board, the Padres looked to respond in the seventh. Tyler Wade and Jackson Merrill singled to start the inning, and Webb would be in trouble again. Higashioka tried to sacrifice the runners over to second and third, but he struck out on a foul bunt. Bogaerts then reached on a fielder’s choice, which put runners on the corners with two outs, and Tatis grounded out to third, as Webb got out of it unscathed.

Webb had an up-and-down outing today, as he gave up 10 hits, but he was able to work his way out of trouble, and managed to allow just two runs over seven innings.

“Webby’s up against it not getting support,” said Manager Bob Melvin.

“[I’m] still not where I really want to be,” said Webb. “The first inning, my changeup was god awful. Then I started throwing more, and started to figure it out a little better. Still some things I gotta clean up, but as long as the team wins, I’m all good.”

Yuki Matsui pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh for the Padres, and Melvin brought in Ryan Walker, who pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Giants.

Lee popped out to the catcher to start the bottom of the eighth, and then Shildt pulled Matsui for the righty Jhony Brito in response to Wilmer Flores pinch-hitting for Wade. Flores lined a base-hit to left, and Soler singled to right-center to move Tyler Fitzgerald, who pinch-ran for Flores, to third. 

Conforto hit a chopper to first, which Cronenworth fielded and stepped on the bag at first for the second out, but when he threw to second to try and nab Soler for the double play, the shortstop, Kim, dropped the ball, and it got away, which allowed Soler to get to third and Fitzgerald to score the tying run. Matt Chapman then came up and hit a ground ball the opposite way to right for a base-hit to score Soler and give the Giants the lead.

“[Chapman]’s really not hitting his stride yet, but he’s finding a way to make contact with guys on third and less than two out, and he’s finding a way to get a big hit,” said Melvin.

Camilo Doval came in for the ninth to try and notch his first save of the season, and he retired the first two men he faced. However, Doval, who has been off to another rocky start his season, wouldn’t get through the ninth so easily. Jackson Merrill singled to right and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Doval struck out Luis Campusano to end the game, and the Giants won it 3-2.

“Our offensive is gonna come around,” said Melvin. “If we can do the little things right, create this kind of identity and win these kind[s] of games, I think we’ll be tougher for it.”

Ryan Walker, who pitched the eighth got the win; Jhony Brito got the loss; and of course, Camilo Doval got his first save of the year.

The Giants improve to 4-6, and they will welcome the Washington Nationals to Oracle Park for a three-game series starting tomorrow night. Tomorrow night will also be big, as Blake Snell will make his Giants debut. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

News and Notes:

  • With today’s attendance of 40,149, the Giants have sold out their first three games at Oracle Park, matching their amount of sellouts from all of last season. 

Not only that, but this is the first time that the Giants have sold out three straight games since they sold out four-straight at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. They sold out their final three home games of the 2018 Season against the Dodgers (Sept. 28-30), as well as the Home Opener in 2019 against the Tampa Bay Rays (April 5.)

There was also much more energy and enthusiasm at Oracle Park this weekend than there had been for a better part of the last five years. It is no surprise that since the Giants were willing to spend money to build a better team over the off-season, there is a lot of hype around the Giants this season, and fans are showing up. As they say, “Build it, and they will come.”

  • Wilmer Flores has seen a decrease in playing time early this season, but Bob Melvin has made it quite clear that Flores is a big part of this team.

“It’s really hard not to have [Flores] in the game,” said Melvin. “The one thing you do know is that you’re going to have a spot in the game where he can come up and [have an] impact, and left, right, it doesn’t matter to him, so when they make the move, it doesn’t matter. It’s Wilmer Flores.”

  • There have been a lot of new faces in Mike Murphy’s Clubhouse this season in terms of both players and catchers. 10 games in, the personalities are starting to mesh.

“I think it’s been great,” said Melvin. “[We have] a new coaching staff to an extent, and there were a lot of new players [who come] in during [Spring Training], so there’s a lot [we] have to sort through. I think as far as how these guys get along in the clubhouse, [with] the leadership from previous teams, [and the] leadership from now with some of the players we’ve brought too, I think it’s happened really well. Obviously, our results have not been great yet, and they will, but we [are] still kinda learning each other, I think more so on the field than in the clubhouse.”

Matt Chapman has been heralded as one of the new leaders in the clubhouse.

“Matt Chapman’s always been a leader, so that’s never going to change, and that’s one of the reasons we brought him in here.”

“Honestly, I think the most underrated part of Chappy is his leadership and what he brings inside the clubhouse, inside the dugout [and] the energy he brings every single day,” said Webb. “[At] times when we might get down early, and he’s coming in the dugout [and] saying, ‘Let’s go guys!’ kinda firing the guys up. I think that’s something we might have lacked the last couple of years, and he brings that, so you feel that as a teammate.”

“I’m just trying to show up every day and play to win,” said Chapman. “[I] just do whatever I can to help the team. [I’m] just trying to keep the positive vibes up around this place and do my job.”

Profar’s grand slam paces Padres in 4-0 win over Giants at Oracle

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San Diego Padres Jurickson Profar connects for a grand slam home run in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco to help defeat the San Francisco Giants 4-0 on Sat Apr 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

San Diego (5-6). 400 000 000 4 5 0

San Francisco (3-6). 000 000 000. 0 4 0

Time: 2:10

Attendance: 40,114

Saturday, April 6 San Francisco

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Fresh from yesterday’s exhilarating home opener triumph over San Diego, the Giants had hopes of clinching their first series win of 2024 and bringing them to within a game of 500 in front of another sellout crowd, this time one of 40,114.

Keaton Winn, a 26 year old righter in the process of converting from the bullpen to the rotation and possessor of a four pitch repertory, that includes a fastball rated by MLB’s Baseball Savant as in the 80th percentile, was SF’s starting pitcher, in his one previous appearance this season, he lost to the Dodgers on April Fools’ Day, having given up three runs, all earned, on four hits in a was as the losing pitcher in an 8-3 game. His names conjure up two of the greatest stars of America’s golden age of comedy, but the rookie, although he pitched well, was in serious trouble from almost the outset of what turned out to be a 4-0 loss.

The Padres opted for another righty who has oscillated between the roles of starter and reliever, sending 28 year old Michael King and his career MLB record of 14-17, 3.46 and WHIP of 1.22 to the mound.

Any residual giddiness the Giants may have carried over from yesterday dissipated in the 55º light of the top of the first inning. Xander Bogaerts led off with a pop fly that fell to the grass just in front of center fieder Jung-Hoo Lee, who seemed to be having trouble with the sun or wind or both.

It looked as though Winn would get out of the inning unscathed after he disposed of Fernando Tatís, Jr. and Jake Croenworth on a fly to center and a strikeout. But the Friars filled the bases with Manny Machado’s single to left and a full count walk to Ha-Seong Kim. The veteran Jurickson Profar promptly seized the opportunity to send Winn’s first offering over the right field wall, landing 347′ from the plate, the third grand slam of Profar’s 10 year career.

Winn got tagged with the loss even though he didn’t allow a hit or a run, just two walks, for the rest of his tenure, which came to a total of six innings. He was helped by a grand leaping catch that Lee made at the center field fence off Jackson Merrill’s drive in the top of the fifth.

The youngster’s ERA rose to a deceptively high 5.73. His pitch count reached 80, 55 for strikes. Laden Loup, another right handed rookie, replaced him to open the top of the seventh.

Loup kept the Pads off the board, yielding only a single to Luis Campusano, and gave way to yet another rookie righty, Nick Avila, for the eighth and ninth. In the eighth, he reprised Loup’s seventh; the only Padre who reached base safely was Fernando Tatís, who singled to right. He retired the side in order in the ninth. King was majestic in his seven innings of work.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Sharks have lost 11 of last 12; Host St Louis today at SAP Center

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Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) tries and takes a shot up close on the San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Apr 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The San Jose Sharks were hit with another tough loss in their last game to the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. The Kings Akil Thomas scored his first NHL goal and said “it felt amazing.”

#2 The Kings goaltender David Rittch stopped 15 shots in the close one goal win for the Kings. While Rittch gave up two goals his goaltending kept the Sharks from finding the back end of the net.

#3 The Sharks who have lost 11 of their last 12 games. The Sharks have lost their last two games one to the Kings last Thursday and Tuesday to the Dallas Stars.

#4 Sharks head coach David Quinn said he didn’t love the Sharks third period but said the Sharks played better hockey in the first and second periods.

#5 The Sharks have an afternoon game at 3:00pm PDT against the St Louis Blues at SAP Center in San Jose . The Sharks defeated the Blues in their last meeting 4-0 in St Louis to snap a nine game losing streak.

Join Mary Lisa for the Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com