Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants Lose 4-1 To Cincinnati Reds Wrap Up Six Game Homestand At Oracle

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Cincinnati Reds’ Christian Encarnacion-Strand, right, hits a two-run home run in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Aug 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – In a day game coming off of Alex Cobb’s almost no-hitter, the San Francisco Giants faced the Cincinnati Reds to complete their series and the Giants are wrapping up their six game homestand. Logan Webb takes the mound for San Francisco and Hunter Greene for the Reds. This game for the Giants was to hold a spot for the NL wild card, especially after the D-Backs loss the night before. 

 A pitcher’s duel between Webb and Greene for five innings as we saw a scoreless game with seven hits total, but in the top of the sixth, the drought ended as Spencer Steer and Eddy De La Cruz got on base from singles.

Smart baserunning play got the first run as De La Cruz attempted to steal second and Patrick Bailey tried to throw him out, but was unsuccessful and as the ball left Bailey’s hand, Steer was successfully home, 1-0 Reds.

The very next run came from an RBI single by Christian Encarnacion-Strand which scored De La Cruz, 2-0 Reds with one out. Webb escaped the inning with a beautiful double play where he stopped the ball on a dime, threw to second, and then a play at first, but the damage was done and in the bottom of the sixth for the first time in this game, the Giants played from behind.

They started this at bat with Casey Schmitt hitting a lead-off double and carried on with a Thairo Estrada single. This rally caused Cincinnati to make a pitching change and bring in Ian Gibaut, but the rally continued as a wild pitch, moved the lead-off Schmitt who was on third score at home and Estrada to second, 2-1 Reds. Gibaut was able to get out the inning, but the energy in the park was still high as we entered the seventh. 

The Giants decided to sit Webb down after six innings, seven hits, six strikeouts, and two runs, so they brought Ryan Walker in the seventh and he got back to back strikeouts, but after a single they switched him with Taylor Rogers to provide relief.

After the seventh inning stretch, the Reds brought in Fernando Cruz and he didn’t crack under the pressure, upholding that lead for Cincinnati. The eighth came and the Giants swapped one Rogers brother in for another as Tyler Rogers took the hill.

It looked Tyler Rogers was holding his own, but Encarnacion-Strand got his second RBI of the game with a two run shot to center field that scored De La Cruz making this game 4-1 Reds. 

The ninth inning started off with Luke Jackson shutting down the Reds to hopefully spark some type of comeback for San Francisco. Patrick Bailey was the leadoff guy and was walked, so the hopes for a comeback rally began to fill Oracle Park.

Yastrzemski popped out for the first out, but the energy was still hovering around the park. J.D. Davis grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out and that’s when fans began to try to beat the traffic. Wade Meckler being the last hope to keep this comeback alive and on a full count he was struck out and that’s the ball game, 4-1 Cincinnati. 

Even though the Giants didn’t sweep the series, they walked away with a series win and their homestand ended here. San Francisco has no time to think about this loss, because they find themselves headed to San Diego the very next day to face the Padres.

The Giants haven’t announced who will start in this four game series at Petco Park in San Diego, but they know they will face Pedro Avila (0-1, 2.63) of the San Diego Padres and hopefully the Giants can go in to the month of September with momentum to secure their spot in the playoffs.

Troy Ewers is a beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Cobb practically perfect; Reds Steer doubles to break up no-no in ninth lose to SF 6-1

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Cobb threw no hit ball for 8.2 innings before surrendering a double to the Cincinnati Reds Spencer Steer at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Aug 29, 2023 (AP News photo)

Cincinnati (68-66). 000 000 001. – 1 1. 1

San Francisco (69-73). 023 000 01x. – 6 7 1

Time: 2:15

Attendance: 26,078

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–It was all about Alex Cobb tonight at Oracle Park on Tuesday night. He came within one out of pitching a no hitter, getting 26 outs before giving up his first safety while his teammates scored six runs in a resounding 6-1 triumph for the suddenly strong home team.

Sunday’s resilient win over the hard hitting Atlanta Braves and last night’s victory over the visiting Cincinnati Reds, especially the stellar performance by the heralded rookie hurler Kyle Harrison, certainly lifted the spirits around Third and King.

The pair of consecutive victories inched San Francisco a bit closer to Arizona, with only a half game separating the two teams in the race for the National League’s final wild card spot. No less important is that Monday’s defeat of Cincinnati dropped Cincy to a game and half behind San Francisco in the same ranking. Tuesday night’s events dropped the Reds another game behind the Giants.

Slugger Mitch Haniger was back in the Giants’ lineup after having missed 64 days thanks to a broken forearm he suffered in St Louis when hit by a pitch. He’d been batting .230 when he went out of action. He was the DH tonight, batting fourth and went 0-4 but scored a run.

Alex Cobb, an 11 year veteran whose game time record of 6-5, 3.74, while perhaps respectable, didn’t inspire much confidence in the context of his last 15 games, in which he went 3-4, 4.87, and his last seven, in which he posted a 0-3, 6.14 mark.

Tuesday night, he threw a complete game one hitter. The only Cincinnati batter to reach base safely in 8-2/3 innings was Nick Senzel, who got to first on a throwing error by third baseman Casey Schmitt in the third. Cobb struck out eight Reds on his way to his seventh win against five losses and reduced his ERA to 3.57. He threw 131 pitches, 83 for strikes, to 30 batters.

The Rhinelanders sent 25 year old left hander Brandon Williamson to the mound. His six pitch repertoire had earned him a record of 4-3, 4.18 so far in this, his rookie season. He was 3-2, 3.00 in his previous ten starts, indicating that he’s making good progress on the big league learning curve, he threw 105 pitches in six innings, during which he allowed five runs, three of which were earned.

He threw 105 pitches in six innings tonight, allowing five runs, three of which were earned, surrendering six hits, including a four bagger. He didn’t walk anyone but did throw a wild pitch and commit a balk. He took the loss and now is 4-4, 4.20. Ex Athletic Sam Moll relieved him and pitched a perfect bottom of the seventh, followed by Derek Law in the eighth.

San Francisco took an early lead. With one out in the second, Patrick Bailey and JD Davis hit back to back singles to right and right center, respectively, bringing up Paul DeJong. With the count 0-2 on the Giants’ shortstop, who had gotten a hit after his first game with the club, Williamson attempted to pick Davis off at first but in doing so committed a balk, bringing Bailey home and sending Davis to second. After DeJong struck out swinging, Luis Matos doubled into the right field corner, driving in Davis with the Giants’ second run.

Austin Slater’s third inning two bagger off the Uber Eats ad in right overcame The Curse of the Leadoff Double. Williamson retired Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores but unleashed a wild pitch to Haniger, which allowed Slater to charge home with San Francisco’s third tally.

It looked as though that would be all they’d get when Haniger grounded to third, but Nelvi Marte’s throw to first was wild, and Haniger reached base. That set the stage for Bailey to blast an 84.6 mph change of pace into the Cincinnati bullpen for his seventh home run of the season and a 5-0 lead for San Francisco.

The orange and back tacked on another run in the eighth. Law issued a leadoff walk to Slater, who scored on Estrada’s down the line double to left, giving the Giants an even half dozen.

Cobb received a nearly unanimous standing ovation when he came out to pitch the top of the ninth. He had thrown 113 pitches. Marte flew out to right on the 114th. Nick Senzel followed and drew the first base on balls Cobb had issued all night.

TJ Friedl flew out to deep right for the second out. Then, on Cobb’s 125th offering, Spencer Steer drove a double to deep right field for a double that ended Cobb’s bid for a no-hitter and a shutout, driving in Senzel, who had gone to second on defensive indifference. Cobb closed out his magnificent performance by striking out Elly De La Cruz looking at a 93.3mph sinker.

This three game series will conclude tomorrow, Wednesday Logan Webb (9-10, 3.51) scheduled to throw the Giants’ first pitch at 12:45. Fellow righty Hunter Greene (2-5, 5.06) will take the mound for Cincinnati.

Bill Bordley – LHP – 1980 – # 34 He was a Giant? SF Giants feature by Tony the Tiger Hayes

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Photo credit: alchetron.com

HE WAS A GIANT?

BILL BORDLEY – LHP – 1980 – # 34

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

After an astonishingly fortuitous 1978 season, the good times kept disco roller skating into 1979 for the Giants when the club somehow managed to land baseball’s most hyped amateur pitching prospect in years.

The signing rights to Bill Bordley, a former two-time first round draft pick and arguably the greatest college pitcher of his generation, landed in San Francisco’s lap when the club’s name was literally pulled out of a hat in early ‘79.

The strapping, hard-throwing uber blue-chipper out of USC. Bordley was viewed as a southpaw version of Tom Seaver with a brilliant college pedigree and a ceiling as high as the moon.

But like a lot of scenarios for the Giants during that late 1970s/early 1980s time frame, Bordley turned out to be more Fools Gold than Golden Ticket.

Why Was He a Giant?

While most ball players would be happy as a clam to be a Top fuve amateur draft pick, the Los Angeles born and raised Bordley was blessed with that distinction twice in his lifetime and on each occasion said, ‘hold my beer.’

After a dominant prep career, Bordley decided to accept a baseball scholarship to USC in 1976, spurning the advances of the Milwaukee Brewers, who selected the SoCal wunderkind with that year’s fourth overall selection.

Then, after cutting through collegiate batters like a hot knife through butter, Bordley turned his nose up at the Cincinnati Reds who took the dazzling southpaw with the third overall selection on the secondary phase. (The now defunct secondary phase was reserved for players who were previously drafted, but not signed.)

“I’m heart broken,” said a moist eyed Bordley. “It’s the saddest day of my life. And it’s my 21st birthday.”

It wasn’t the fact that he fell to the third pick of the secondary phase that distressed Bordley.

What wrecked Bordley’s day so much was the fact that he was NOT selected by the California Angels with the fourth overall pick of the draft.

Stating compelling family hardships, the venerated athlete personally requested that non-west coast clubs cross him off their wish lists. he was only willing to suit up for west coast clubs.

“I explained to them my dad had open heart surgery, my brother was in a serious car accident and my other brother was going into the Air Force,” he lectured

. “I was hoping to relieve some of the pressure on my mother by remaining close to home.”

Due to his special predicament on the home front, the blue chipper wanted to be selected by the Angels who had the fourth overall pick lined up.

Sans traffic the Halos “Big A” ballpark was about a 30 minute drive from the family compound in toney Rolling Hills Estate.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays reluctantly ceded to Bordley’s request, but the Reds dug their heels in and went ahead and called Bordley’s name with their pick.

They were the Big Red Machine after all, the most dominant club of the 1970s era.

“ We are going to make him a substantial offer,” said a nonplussed Joe Bowen, the Reds top scout. “I think we honored him by selecting him.”

But Bordley immediately stated he intended to return to USC.

He would not budge. The Reds could pound sand on Redondo Beach for as much as Bordley cared.

In the “best interests of baseball” the pick was eventually voided – the Reds were awarded extra draft capital- and the Angels were reprimanded for unauthorized contact with the pitcher.

The Angels were found to be “guilty of misconduct in the assurances which they gave Bordley prior to the draft as to their willingness to meet his terms prior to the draft,” according MLB commissioner Bowie Kuenn.

In other words California secretly offered Bordley a boat load cash s and a guaranteed spot on their their major league roster if they drafted him.

Collusion or not, Bordley maintained his personal adversity was a legitimate.

“Nobody seemed to believe my family situation was real,”said Bordley after the drama was eventually settled.

“There was no way I was gonna sign with Cincinnati

I wasn’t going to prostitute myself to play with any

body. I had to set guidelines.”

It was determined that the swiftest and most most effective way to resolve the situation was for Bordley to select five clubs he’d be willing to play for – excluding the Angels – and hold a random drawing.

San Diego was not interested and Bordley disqualified Oakland.

Bordley settled on Seattle, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants and Milwaukee and Kansas City for some reason. The names were tossed into a hat and San Francisco’s name was randomly selected.

“I’m thrilled to death. San Francisco definitely fits into my plans,” said post-lottery.

Eager to beginning his pro career, Bordley waisted little time agreeing to terms with the Orange & Black. His contract called for a bonus in excess of $100,000, a spot on the 40-man roster and an invite to spring.

Before and After

Bordley was a super star all the way up to joining the Giants. At Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, the southpaw set school records across the board, leading to a scholarship to USC.

Once there He set the college freshman strikeout high watermark – a record that stood until Tim Lincecum broke it in 2004. After two seasons as a Trojan, Bordley’s record stood at 26-2 and led USC to the 1978 College World Series title.

Bordley was signed to a major league contract and fast tracked through the minors. Within a year he was with the Giants. Two years and two “Tommy John” elbow surgeries later he was out of pro ball.

Bordley went back to USC earned a degree in finance and then began a career with the Secret Service. He was on President Bill Clinton’s detail for several years and was called upon to testify in the Monica Lewinsky mess.

Eventually Bordley made it back to the big leagues and is now MLB’s Vice President for security.

He was no Tom Seaver. But…

He beat Tom Seaver. In his Giants debut, Bordley out dueled the Hall of Famer, allowing three runs over six innings in an 8-4 win over the Reds at Candlestick Park (6/30/80). He also collected his lone big league hit that day off Tom Terrific.

He faced the Reds on the road in his second start and again won. This time he allowed three runs over five innings in a 10-7 win (7/12/79).

After that, he never recorded another MLB victory as elbow woes hastened his exit from the pro ranks.

Giants Footprint

As baseball security chief, Bordley is not only in charge of keeping every MLB player safe from harms way but also every fan, he has visited AT&T Park several times during his time with the commissioners office.

Kyle Harrison shines for Giants with 11 K’s in win over Reds 4-1

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Photo courtesy of San Francisco Giants. Kyle Harrison celebrates striking out a batter.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

The Giants opened up a three-game home series against the Reds with a convincing victory by a final of 4-1.

Monday’s pitcher’s duel was between two rookies as Kyle Harrison faced Andrew Abbot. For Harrison, it was only the second game of his career as his debut was against the Phillies on August 22nd.

Harrison got rolling quickly in this game going perfect in the first inning as he struck out the side.

With two runners on base, Wilmer Flores doubled to right field getting the Giants on the board as Austin Slater made it home.

The K’s did not stop in the second inning as Harrison struck out another two batters quickly bringing his total K’s up to five.

In the third San Francisco got the offense going again as Patrick Bailey doubled to right field knocking home Thairo Estrada. Following that up was Paul Dejong who got J.D. Davis home on a sacrifice fly making it 3-0.

The fourth saw the first pitching change of the game as the Reds called on Buck Farmer to replace Abbot. Cincinnati’s starter finished the night with six K’s, three walks, and three earned runs.

The offense for the Reds continued to be ice-cold as at the end of the sixth inning they only had two hits total.

Looking for more insurance Wade Meckler got the second RBI of his young career on a double that got Joc Pederson home.

In the seventh, the Reds showed some life as Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled and TJ Friedl walked with only one out. With those two on that would end the night for Harrison who finished with a stellar 11 K’s, only three hits, two walks, and no runs allowed. As he walked off the field he got a standing ovation from the Oracle Park crowd.

Coming in to replace Harrison was Ryan Walker who would give up a single getting one run home and making it 4-1. After the run Walker shut it down striking out Will Benson to end the inning.

The ninth saw the Giants closer Camilo Doval retire the side in order to secure Harrison’s first career win.

The Giant’s next game will be the second of this home series against the Reds at 6:45 p.m on Tuesday night. Starting pitchers for Cincinnati left hander Brandon Williamson (4-3 ERA 4.18) for San Francisco against right hander Alex Cobb (6-5 ERA 3.74) at Oracle Park.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants honor Murph longtime equipment mgr; SF rallies for four runs in fifth top Braves 8-5

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Former San Francisco Giant Sr Equipment Manager Mike Murphy takes a curtain call as he was honored at Oracle Park before the Giants host the Atlanta Braves in San Francisco on Sun Aug 27, 2023 (San Francisco Chronicle photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, the San Francisco honored former team Sr. Equipment manager Mike Murphy with a going away retirement tribute at Oracle Park in San Francisco it was a tribute to all his years from being a bat boy to becoming the Sr Equipment manager. Murphy joined the organization in 1958 and retired this season a remarkable long tenure.

#2 The Giants avoided being swept at Oracle Park on Sunday Night Baseball with a 8-5 win over the mighty Atlanta Braves. The Giants scratched a run in the first and second innings off Braves starter Jared Shuster to get the contest started.

#3 Giants third baseman Casey Schmitt finally got a pitch he liked after 71 games without a home run clouting his third home run of the season in the bottom of the second inning off Shuster.

#4 Camilo Doval who had a rough patch in some closing appearances shut the door on the Braves in the top of the ninth with pitching one inning and two strikeouts to shut the door on the Braves for his 34th save which is the most in MLB and the most for a Giant pitcher in their first 57 games since Brian Wilson (who was in attendance) did it in 2011.

#5 The Giants host the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night at 6:45pm PT at Oracle the Reds will start left hander Andrew Abbott (8-3 ERA 3.16) he’ll be matched up against left hander Kyle Harrison (0-0 ERA 5.40) for the first of three games in the series.

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

Giants avoid sweep beat Braves 8-5 at Oracle; SF’s Bailey and Schmitt get big hits in winner

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San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey watches his three run-double against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Aug 27, 2023 (AP News photo)

Atlanta (84-44). 000 032 000. – 5. 6. 0

San Francisco (67-63). 110 042 00x. – 8. 8. 0

Time: 2:47

Attendance: 31,047

Sunday, August 27, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants entered this afternoon’s contest with the NL-East leading Atlanta Braves 1-1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks in the battle for a toe hold on the lowest rung of the wild card qualifying ladder. The home team’s exciting 8-5 win over Atlanta didn’t change that because Arizona also won its game today.

The Braves named Jared Shuster, their first round pick in the 2020 draft, to start the game for them. All nine of the big league games in which he’d appeared in this year had been as a traditional starter, but yesterday’s media package listed him as a reliever.

Sunday’s also had him in the bullpen section, but crossed out. He was an opener this afternoon and pitched 4-2/3 innings, in which he allowed four runs, all earned, on four hits, and three walks. He left with a no decision and a record of 4-2, 5.26.

Tristan Beck, San Francisco’s opener du jour, like Shuster, was a Braves’ draft pick, chosen in the fourth round of 2018. as a minor leaguer. He’s appeared in 60 minor league games, 53 of them as a starter. The Giants’ have used him out of the bullpen since his major league debut on April 20, and he responded with a record of 3-2-2, 3.34 with two saves out of three chances.

He was sensational this afternoon . . . until he wasn’t. The first batter to reach base safely against him was Matt Olson, who walked on a 3-2 pitch to lead off the fifth inning.

A leadoff walk to Austin Slater, followed by productive ground outs by Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores and a JD Davis single to right had put the Giants up, 1-0, after one inning of play.

In the Giants’ next turn at bat,the hitherto slumping rookie Casey Schmitt, playing third base and batting eighth, doubled the home team’s with his third big league homer, a 426 lollapolosa solo shot to left field with an exit 107.7mph that came off an 82.9mph change of pace.

Once Olson had brokenBeck’s spell in the fifth, Eddie Rosario’s double, a solid single to right by Travis d’Arnaud, and a scratch hit by Orlando Arcia tied the score and put an end to Beck’s mound tenure. Scott Alexander gave up an opposite field single to Nicky López that brought in d’Arnaud with the tie breaking run, which was charged to Beck, and advanced to second.

The inning ended with a double play that was the result of a successful challenge to home plate umpire Emil Jiménez’s original call. Here’s what happened: Acuña hit a grounder to Estrada at second; he tossed the ball to Alexander, who fired it to Estrada covering at first, for the first out; Estrada’s throw home completed the 4-1-4-2 double play. Atlanta now led, 3-2.

But not for long. Matos hit a one out double to shallow left. Slater singled to right, sending Matos to third. After Estrada went down swinging, Collin McHugh replaced Shuster on the mound and Flores and Davis, both of whom scored on Bailey’s double to right, and, in the twinkling of an eye, San Francisco was on top, 6-3.

That lead shrank before you knew it. Alexander got two quick outs in the top of the sixth before Olson smacked a double to right center and Ozuna knocked one out of the park into the left center field bleachers to make it a 6-5 game.

After a walk to Rosario, Alexander was replaced by the submariner Tyler Rogers, who got the final out, pitched a perfect seventh, and would give way to his brother Taylor, who notched his 500th career K in the 1,2,,3 top of the eighth that he worked.

San Francisco tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of that frame. Wade Meckler pinch hit for Ramos and walked. Schmitt sacrificed him to second. Joc Pederson hit for Matos and received an intentional walk. Slater’s single to center gave the Giants their seventh, and Estrada’s bunt single brought Pederson, who had taken third on Slater’s hit, home with their eighth.

Michael Tonkin toed the rubber for Atlanta after the seventh inning stretch, retired the side in order, and was relieved by Brad Hand with one out in the top of the ninth.

Camilo Duval, who’d been struggling recently, went for his 34th save in 41 attempts. He got, setting the Braves down to a conga beat, uno, dos, tres.

Alexander was the winning pitcher. His record now is 7-2, 4.46. Shuster, now 4-3, 5.26 was the loser.

Before the game began, the Giants. honored Mike Murphy for his 65 years of service to the team, which he joined as bat boy in 1958, when they moved from the Polo Grounds, rising to his current position as Senior Advisor, Home Club House, by adding his name to the Giants Wall of Fame. He’s the 56th person so honored..

A good deal of the Giants’ chances for an orange and gold October depend on the performance of other teams. But there are some factors that the team can try to control.

The Giants also have other problems to solve. Its collective batting average before today was a rakitic .239. The team ERA was 3.99. They have been hard hit by injuries. So we shall see what we shall see, but the days in which we can see it are dwindling down to a precious few.

Tomorrow, Monday evening at 6:45, Kyle Harrison (0-0, 5.40) will make his Oracle Park debut against Andrew Abbott (8-3, 3.16) and the Cincinnati Reds.

Braves three run eighth does in Giants with four run win 7-3 at Oracle

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Atlanta Braves’ Austin Riley, left, scores against San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey during the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco Sat Aug 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

Atlanta (84-44). 101 011 030. – 7. 9. 0

San Francisco (66-63) 002 000 001 – 3 8 0

Time: 2:41

Attendance: 36,798

Saturday, August 26, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO —Last night, the Giants threw their ace at the Braves and wound up in the hole. This afternoon, which they began one game behind in the race for the final NL wild card spot, San Francisco decided to play their opener-bulk pitcher-closer card, going with Ryan Walker to get things going, the 11th time they’ve done that this year.

The Giants’ record over his 10 previous openings was 7-3, but all of those three losses were in his most recent attempts. Walker pitched 1-2/3 left with two down and a runner in scoring position in the Atlanta second, trailing 1-0. Sean Manaea came on and put a damper on that threat. That auspicious start was a harbinger of worse to come, a 7-3 loss for the home team.

Atlanta chose southpaw Max Fried (4-1, 2.83 at game time) as a traditional starter. He had missed 70 games over the 90 days he was on the injured list a little over three weeks ago and had gone 2-0, 1.76. In his last start, on Sunday the 20th, he lasted 5-2/3 innings, in the Braves’ loss to the Giants, escaping with a no decision from his nine hit, three earned run outing.

Two of those nine hits went yard. Fried did a good job this afternoon, allowing two two runs, both of them earned, on six hits, one of them a home run, over six innings. He walked two and struck out eight, throwing a total of 98 pitches, 40 of which were balls.

He earned the win, which improved his won -lost record to 5-1 but raised his ERA to 2.85). Kirby Yates kept the Giants at bay in the seventh, as did Pierce Johnson in the eighth. AJ Minter allowed them a run in the ninth.

The Braves’ cleanup hitter, Matt Olson, came to the plate in the top of the first with 43 home runs and 110 runs batted in. He left it 111 RBI. Walker had fanned Ronald Acuña, Jr. and Michael Harris II before issuing a base on balls to Austin Riley. Olson’s resounding two bagger of the right field bricks brought the Atlanta third baseman home with the game’s first tally.

The Curse of the Leadoff Double prevented San Francisco from tying the score in the bottom of the next frame. JD Davis was stranded at second when all the offense the Giants could muster before the third out was a walk to Héliot Ramos.

Olson upped his RBI total to 112 in the top of the third. Acuña opened the inning with a single to right. After Harris flew out, Acuña stole third, the second time in three frames that the Braves. had pilfered a base.

Riley drew a free pass, and then Olson socked a solid single to left off his ex teammate to extend Atlanta’s advantage to 2-0. But Manaea wiggled out of the tough situation with a strikeout, a bases loading walk, and another K, which kept the game close and came, by the way, at the expense of another ex Athletic, Sean Murphy.

Wonderful Wilmer Flores made it even closer in the home third, With Austin Slater, who had led off with a walk, on first and one out, the Giants’ only .300 hitter parked an 87.3mph slider on the far side of the 391 foot sign in dead centerfield for a game tying home run. That made it 19 home runs and 48 RBI for Flores.

The orange and black threatened with two outs in their half of the fourth. Casey Schmitt sent a solid single to center and motored around to third when Luis Matos banged a double to left. Slater worked a full count, but Fried got him to swing and miss at a curve that left the contest tied at two.

That was an important missed opportunity because Riley br0ke the tie in the visitors’ fifth by smashing his 30th dinger of the year, a 402 foot no doubter to left that came off a 92.9mph four seamer. It left Riley’s bat at 111.2mph. Manea finished up fifth without suffering any further damage and retired Eddie Rosario for the first out of the Atlanta sixth before being relieved by Luke Jackson, who got the two remaining outs in the inning.

Unfortunatey for the Giants, he also surrendered a homer to center to Arcia, which stretched the Braves’ lead to 4-2. In all, Manaea had given up two runs, both earned, on three hits in 3-2/3 innings. He did not look good.

Jackson left after allowing a single to Olson in the top of the eighth, giving way to Taylor Rogers, who, in turn, passed the ball on to Jakob Junis. Junis proceeded to yield back to back singles to Osuña and Rosario. The latter’s safety drove in Olson.

Junis then plunked Murphy (a call that was challenged but upheld). Arcia hit a sac fly to left that brought in Osuña. Nicky López followed with another one, this time to right which enabled Rosario to cross the plate. Atlanta now owned the Giants, 7-2.

Why waste another arm in a lost cause? Junis returned to the mound for the visitors’ ninth. He retired the side in order. But the damage was done

The current three game series isn’t a make or break situation for Kapler’s crew, and there’s still a chance that the Giants will pull out a victory in the one game remaining in it. But it sure is beginning to look as if the only orange and black celebration in San Francisco this October will be Halloween.

The scheduled start for the nationally televised game Sunday, is 4:10. Neither team has yet tipped its hand about its pitching plans.

SF Giants and 49ers podcast with Bruce Magowan: Can Giants close the gap in NL Wild Card race?; Ex-Niner Lance to face Raiders tonight

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Kyle Harrison is all the rage as the rookie pitcher made his debut on the last road trip for the San Francisco Giants in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank ballpark in Philadelphia (file photo McCovey Chronicles)

On the SF Giants and 49ers podcasts with Bruce Magowan:

#1 The Giants are just a game out of the NL wild card chase despite their losing seven of their last ten games.

#2 How big is the acquisition of rookie left hand pitcher Kyle Harrison to the starting rotation and talk about his last outing.

#3 Wade Meckler is making good contact he’s been on base in eight of his last 12 ball games going back to last Tuesday in Philadelphia.

#4 The Giants the last time had some success when they face Atlanta Braves starter Max Fried who came into Oracle Park 4-1. Last Sunday the Giants touched him up for two home runs from Luis Matos and Wilmer Flores.

#5 Talk about Saturday’s match up here at Oracle with Fried going against the Giants right hander opener Ryan Walker (4-2 ERA 2.14) what is the Giants best chances with an opener to beat the Braves?

#6 Bruce talk the passing of former Giants beat writer Mychal Urban and former MLB official score keeper Art Santo Domingo.

Join Bruce Magowan for the SF Giants and 49ers podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bitter pill to swallow for Giants in 5-1 loss; Braves Strider becomes first 15 game winner

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Aug 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

Atlanta (83-44). 100 202 000 – 5 7 0

San Francisco (65-62). 000 000 100 – 1 6 0

Time: 2:15

Attendance: 36,511

Friday, August 25, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–A glance at the National League standings will give you an idea of how important the three game series between the Braves and the Giants that started at 7:16 this evening is to the orange and black. The visitors strode into Oracle Park having won seven of their last ten contests, which brought their won and lost balance sheet to 86-44, good enough to put them at the head of the senior circuit’s Eastern Division, 13-1/2 games in front of Philadelphia.

The Giants, on the other hand, had lost six of their ten previous games and were sitting at 65-61, 12-1/2 games behind the Western Division leading Dodgers. More relevant is their position in the wild card chase.

There, San Francisco came to the park in fourth place, in a virtual tie with Arizona for third place and a half a game behind the Cubs. This will not be a series that forgives errors, be they mental or physical, of omission or commission. September becomes, and it remains to be seen if there will be an October at Third and King.

The result of the series opener was a disheartening 5-1 loss to the dominant and dominanting visitors from Georgia.

The Giants pitching staff is dominated by the Cobb-Webb combination. The second half of that amalgamation started for the home team tonight. He brought a record of 9-9, 3.35 with him. His last start had been in Atlanta six days ago, when he was tagged for nine hits and charged with four runs, all earned over six innings in San Francisco’s 6-5 loss to the Braves.

His performance tonight was mediocre. It lasted 5-1/3 frames, in which Logan gave up five runs, all earned, on six hits, one of them a four bagger, and a walk. He struck out one batter. His pitch total was 76, 21 of them balls. He took the loss, and now has a record of 9-10, 3.51.

Spencer Strider,at 14-4, 3.57, toed the rubber for the Braves. Like Webb, he pitched in last week’s Giants-Braves series. He was the winning pitcher on August 18th, going seven shutout innings and allowing only one hit in the Braves’ 6-0 triumph.

He wasn’t quite that good tonight, but he came damn close. He pitched seven innings of three hit ball and allowed one run, which was earned and came in the seventh. He struck out nine Giants and allowed one base on balls. Of his 94 offerings, 67 qualified as strikes.. Strider was the winning pitcher, making his numbers 15-4, 3.46. Joe Jiménez replaced him for the eighth inning.

It took Atlanta all of six pitches to go ahead,1-0. That pitch was a 94mph sinker that Michael Harris II lifted 389 feet into right field for a one out solo home run, his 12th round tripper of the year. Harris provided the park that ignited the rally that netted Atlanta two more runs in the fourth. He led off with a single to right and stole second.

Matt Olson, fondly remembered in the east bay, brought him home with a one out double to right and scored on Marcell Ozuna’s single, once more tonight. Webb put down the uprising by getting Eddie Rosario to hit into a 4-6-3 double play, the Giants’ second twin killing of the night.

It was Harris who was at the heart of Atlanta’s next tallies, this time following Acuña’s leadoff triple in the sixth. The Braves’ fleet center fielder singled, again to right, making it 4-0, and then stole second, making it two stolen bases for the night and 19 on the year for him.

That enabled Harris to advance to third on Riley’s ground out to second and score on Olson’s foul to short left field that third baseman JD Davis captured with an over the head, running away grab.

Olson’s sac fly came against Alex Wood, who relieved Webb after Riley’s productive out. Atlanta now held a 5-0 lead. Wood remained in the game until the bitter end, holding the Braves to just a walk and a single.

Another leadoff triple, this one by Joc Peterson, in the home half of the seventh led to San Francisco’s first and only run, which Peterson scored on Davis’s weak RBI ground out to third.

Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta’s closer, gave up a two out double to the foot of the State Farm advertisement in right by Davis before fanning DeJong to end the game.

Before game time, the Giants announced that they had recalled Héctor Ramos from Sacramento to replace Michael Conforto, whom they put on the 10 day injured list with a strained left hamstring.

Tomorrow, Saturday, in a game scheduled to start at 1:05, the Giants will see what they can do against Max Fried (4-1, 2.83). San Francisco’s starter or opener, as the case may be, is yet to be announced.

San Francisco Giants preview: Giants gear up for another series with Braves

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb throws in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park on Sun Jul 9, 2023. Webb starts Fri Aug 25, 2023 against the Atlanta Braves in San Francisco (AP file)

Giants Gear Up For Another Tough Series With Braves

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday the San Francisco Giants (66-61) held off the Philadelphia Phillies in a marathon ten inning slug fest. The Giants had lost the first two games of the series and very nearly opened the door for a Philly sweep.

Leading 5-2 going into the ninth inning, Philadelphia tied up the game when Bryce Harper does what he does best: knocks a three run home run and it was all even. San Francisco held on for a great tenth inning scoring three runs and capped off this win, a critical one with huge wild card implications.

It does not get any easier for the Giants this weekend. They are home Thursday with a well-deserved day off but Friday night they take on the Atlanta Braves in a three game series. The Braves are red-hot right now with a 82-44 record and they will present yet another major challenge for San Francisco.

Logan Webb will take the mound for the Giants. He is 9-9 in the win/loss column and in the last seven days has a 6.00 ERA. The Giants will face a solid pitcher in Atlanta’s Spencer Strider with a 3.57 ERA and a 14-4 win/loss record.

He will greatly challenge the San Francisco offense. The Braves to watch out for will be Matt Olson who has 43 home runs to his credit this season but also 108 RBIs. Ronald Acuna Jr. is also a good one with a .335 batting average.

The Giants began to flex their offensive muscle in the third game of their last series with 14 hits and Wilmer Flores continues to come up big at the plate. San Francisco will have to bring more of that in this upcoming series with so much at stake. The first appearance of Paul DeJong with the Giants was a dandy and the team will need more from him.

First pitch against the Braves Friday night is scheduled for 7:15 PM at Oracle Park.