Category: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Nats hitting too much for Giants Birdsong; Snell starts for Giants today

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Washington Nationals James Wood (right) steals second base on San Francisco Giants second baseman Casey Schmitt (left) in the bottom of the sixth inning on Tue Aug 6, 2024 at Nationals Park in DC (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 The Washington Nationals James Wood hit a home run, tripled, and scored four runs as the Nationals closed the gap on the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night in a 11-5 win.

#2 Wood also walked twice and stole two bases for the Nats. He’s been an asset for Washington.

#3 Nationals manager Dave Martinez said the game went from “gloom and boom” talk about how the Giants pitching just couldn’t hold them Tuesday night.

#4 For the Giants Michael Conforto hit a three run home run, doubled and walked but it wasn’t enough for San Francisco.

#5 3:45pm PT for today’s first pitch for the Giants LHP Blake Snell gets the call (1-3, ERA 4.29). For the Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (8-9, ERA 3.56) at National Park.

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

Home run-happy Giants get off to fast start but unable to catch up after Nationals pound Birdsong to win 11-5

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San Francisco Giants centerfielder Heliot Ramos misses the ball hit by the Washington Nationals Alex Call in the bottom of the sixth inning at Nationals Park in DC on Tue Aug 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024

Nationals Park

Washington, D.C.

San Francisco Giants 5 (57-58)

Washington Nationals 11 (52-62)

Win: MacKenzie Gore (7-9)

Loss: Hayden Birdsong (3-1)

Time: 3:02

Attendance: 17,044

By Stephen Ruderman

The San Francisco Giants got off to a great start and seemed poised to get back over .500, as they scored four runs in the first inning, but Hayden Birdsong could not hold it, and the Washington Nationals ended up winning a wild one by a final of 11-5 Tuesday night at Nationals Park in DC.

The Giants finally had a chance to get back over .500 for the first time since an off day on May 30. They were in a solid position to do so, as had their young phenom, Hayden Birdsong back up and going for them Tuesday night.

There has been some wild weather on the East Coast. Games in New York and Cleveland were postponed, but fortunately, the storm system stayed north of the Beltway, so this game was a go on an overcast but humid night in D.C.

The Giants have been home run happy since they clubbed eight home runs over the weekend at Great American Smallpark in Cincinnati. They also hit two home runs enroute to their 4-1 win in the series opener Monday night.

Tuesday night, they immediately kept it going in the top of the first inning against Nationals’ starter MacKenzie Gore. Tyler Fitzgerald, who led off last night’s game with his 12th home run of the season, flew out to center field to start the game. However, Helliot who was back in the lineup after missing two games due to his jammed right thumb, then hit a home run out to right-center.

Matt Chapman walked with two outs, and then Mark Canha was hit by a pitch. That brought up Michael Conforto, and what did he do? You guessed it; he hit a three-run shot to right-center.

Birdsong had himself a 4-0 lead, and he took advantage of that with a scoreless bottom of the first inning. However, MacKenzie pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the second, the heat and humidity got to Birdsong in the bottom of the second.

James Wood led off the inning with a triple out to center and scored on a ground out by Travis Blankenhorn. Alex Call and Ildemaro Vargas walked, and then Jacob Young fisted a base-hit up the middle to center to knock in Call and make it 4-2.

That brought up CJ Abrams. Birdsong got Abrams to a 1-2 count, and then Abrams took a high fastball from Birdsong and tomahawked it out of the yard to right to suddenly put the Nationals ahead 5-4.

The Giants wasted an opportunity against MacKenzie in the top of the third, but with how home run happy they’ve become, that should be expected.

Birdsong had yet to give up more than three runs in a game, but he had just suddenly just given up five runs in. It may have caught Birdsong and the Giants off guard, but the Nationals were ready to go again in the bottom of the third.

Keibert Ruiz led off the inning with a home run to right to make it 6-4. James Wood then walked, and that ended the night for Birdsong. Wood stole second after Bob Melvin brought in Randy Roriguez, and he scored on a base-hit by Alex Call.

Birdsong gave up seven runs over two-plus innings when all was said and done. It ballooned his ERA all the way up to 4.73, which is unfortunately going to happen when you have a bad outing in just your seventh game. He just needs a few more solid outings like he’s had, and that ERA will be right back down.

Birdsong gave up seven runs over two-plus innings when all was said and done. It ballooned his ERA all the way up to 4.73, which is unfortunately going to happen when you have a bad outing

The Giants got some hope in the top of the fourth. Fitzgerald led off the inning with a base-hit to left, and that brought up Ramos. Ramos singled to left, and then it went under the glove of left-fielder James Wood, which allowed Fitzgerald to score all the way from first.

The Giants had a runner at second and the tying run at the plate with nobody out, and they had a golden opportunity to come right back in a game that had quickly turned into a slugfest. However, Gore retired the side, and the Nationals kept their 7-5 lead.

The Nationals tacked on another run against Rodriguez in the bottom of the fourth to make it 8-5, and the Giants wasted a leadoff double by Matt Chapman in the top of the fifth. Gore set down the side after Chapman’s double to end his night, and that started a streak of 12-straight Giants set down by Nationals’ pitching.

Former Giant Derek Law threw two 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh, and Robert Garcia pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth. The Nationals scored a run off Taylor Rogers in the bottom of the sixth when Call doubled in Wood to make it 9-5. Call hit the double off Sean Hjelle, who had come in for Rogers.

Washington scored two more when Wood hit an opposite-field shot to left-center off Hjelle in the bottom of the eighth to make it 11-5.

Fitzgerald hit a double off Tanner Rainey to lead off the top of the ninth, but of course, Rainey retired the side in order to end the game.

Through this craziness, MacKenzie Gore got the win, and Hayden Birdsong suffered his first major league loss. As I said, this was eventually going to happen to Birdsong. It happens

“Our situational at-bats were terrible tonight,” Melvin bluntly told reporters after the game.

It was true, and with the Giants being completely home run happy right now, it is costing them big time with runners in scoring position. If they are to make a serious run at the Playoffs, they can not continue to play this way.

The Giants fall back to under .500 at 57-58, and their standing in the wild card race will depend on what the Padres do against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. At the moment, the Padres hold a 4-0 lead in the top of the eighth.

The Giants can bounce back and get back to .500 with a win in the third game of this series. Though they’re 3-11 in that position. Blake Snell (1-3, 4.29 ERA), who will be making his first start after his no-hitter Friday, will go Wednesday. Jake Irvin (8-9, 3.56 ERA) will make the start for the Nationals.

Just like Monday night and Tuesday night, first pitch will be at 6:45 p.m. in D.C., 3:45 p.m. PT in San Francisco.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Padres 62-52 +1.0
  2. Diamondbacks 61-52 +0.5
  3. Braves 60-52 —

Mets 59-54 1.5

Cardinals 58-56 3.0

Pirates 56-56 4.0

GIANTS 57-58 4.5

Reds 55-58 5.5

Cubs 56-60 6.0

Giants News and Notes:

Wilmer Flores, who has been dealing with tendinitis in his right knee throughout much of the season, is now done for the year following the non-surgical Tenex procedure on his right quad tendon Tuesday afternoon.

Flores, who turned 33 years old today, and is in his fifth season with the Giants, was hitting .204 with just four home runs. He is a free agent at the end of the season, but he has a $3.5-million player option for next season.

With Hayden Birdsong called up, reliever Spencer Bivens was sent down to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Catcher Curt Casali was placed on the Paternity List, and catcher Jakson Reetz was called up from Triple-A Sacramento

The weather north of the Beltway is not the only storm system expected to affect our nation’s capital this week. With the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby expected to impact the Beltway starting late Thursday and early Friday, Thursday’s game, which had originally had been scheduled for the late afternoon, had been moved up to 12:05 p.m. EDT/9:05 a.m. PDT.

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

The Chicago White Sox, who tied the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the second-longest losing streak in Baseball History at 21 games, finally snapped their losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Oakland A’s Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum.

The White Sox will not catch the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost a modern major league record 23 games in a row.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Giants open four game stint with Nationals tonight in DC

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Cincinnati Reds Elly Del La Cruz (right) slides stealing third base as third baseman Matt Chapman (left) looks for the throw at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sun Aug 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman belted 17th home run of the season that helped the Giants in their six runs win over the Red Legs 8-2.

#2 The Giants had Tyler Fitzgerald and LeMonte Wade Jr both hit a home run as the Giants took two out of three from the Reds.

#3 The Giants in the bottom of the sixth avoided the Reds from tying up the game when Chapman barehanded a ground ball hit by TJ Friedl and throwing out Elly De La Cruz at first base.

#4 Taking a look at Chapman’s home run again Chapman hit a two run blast off Reds pitcher Carson Spiers who dropped his record to 4-3.

#5 Giants open a four game series in Washington on Monday night starting pitcher for the Nationals Patrick Corbin (2-8, ERA 5.88) and for the Giants Logan Webb (8-8, ERA 3.49) first pitch 3:45pm PT.

Marko Ukalovic is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman : Giants Chapman homers beat Reds by six runs 8-2 at Great American

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman runs the bases after hitting a two run home run in the top of the eighth inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sun Aug 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman belted 17th home run of the season that helped the Giants in their six runs win over the Red Legs 8-2.

#2 The Giants had Tyler Fitzgerald and LeMonte Wade Jr both hit a home run as the Giants took two out of three from the Reds.

#3 The Giants in the bottom of the sixth avoided the Reds from tying up the game when Chapman barehanded a ground ball hit by TJ Friedl and throwing out Elly De La Cruz at first base.

#4 Taking a look at Chapman’s home run again Chapman hit a two run blast off Reds pitcher Carson Spiers who dropped his record to 4-3.

#5 Giants open a four game series in Washington on Monday night starting pitcher for the Nationals Patrick Corbin (2-8, ERA 5.88) and for the Giants Logan Webb (8-8, ERA 3.49) first pitch 3:45pm PT.

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

Ray strong over five innings, as Giants pull away with five-run eighth en route to 8-2 win

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman connects for a single in the top of the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sun Aug 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024

Great American Ballpark

Cincinnati, Ohio

San Francisco Giants 8 (56-57)

Cincinnati Reds 2 (53-58)

Win: Robbie Ray (2-1)

Loss: Carson Spiers (4-3)

Time: 2:55

Attendance: 27,692

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have now won seven of their last nine, Robbie Ray gave a strong five-inning, nine-strikeout performance, and the Giants pulled away with a five-run top of the eighth inning to put an 8-2 beating on the Reds and take the series in Cincinnati on Sunday.

After Blake Snell’s no-hitter on Friday, the Reds beat the Giants in a weird and boring game Saturday night. Sunday, the Giants had a chance to take the series on a clear and sunny Sunday afternoon at Great American Ballpark.

Unfortunately for Giants’ and Reds’ fans, many of them would not be able to watch today’s game. Why? Because it was on Roku, which requires a paid subscription. Way to grow the game, Rob!

Anyway, Carson Spiers made the start for the Reds, and he got the afternoon started with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Robbie Ray made his third start of the season for the Giants, and he, too, pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first.

After the Giants went scoreless in the top of the second, Jeimer Candelario put the Reds on the board with a two-out solo home run to left field in the bottom of the second. On the very next pitch, Santiago Espinal followed it up with a home run of his own to left-center to make it 2-0.

After Spier pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third and Ray threw a scoreless bottom of the third, the Giants were ready to strike in the top of the fourth. Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left to start the inning, and with one out, Matt Chapman tied the game with a home run to center field.

Ray threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth, and Spiers threw a scoreless top of the fifth. Ray ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fifth when Espinal singled to lead off the inning and stole second and third. The Reds were in perfect position to retake the lead with Espinal at third and one out, but Ray got out of it by striking out the side.

That would be it for Ray, who had thrown 86 pitches. Still, he gave the Giants exactly what they needed, as he struck out nine over five innings.

The momentum stayed in the Giants’ dugout, and they immediately seized on that momentum in the top of the sixth. On the first pitch of the inning from Spiers, LaMonte Wade gave the Giants the lead with a home run to right.

Ryan Walker came in for San Francisco in the bottom of the sixth, and he was immediately in trouble after he hit Elly De La Cruz to start the inning. Cruz got to third with one out, but Walker retired the next two he faced, and the Giants kept their 3-2 lead going to seventh.

Tony Santillan, who finished the top of the sixth for Spier, combined with Sam Moll for a scoreless inning in the top of the seventh. Erik Miller retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but after a two-out walk to Joey Wiemer, Bob Melvin went to Tyler Rogers, who hadn’t pitched in eight days. Rogers got Tyler Stephenson to ground out, and we went to the eighth.

Moll stayed in for Cicinnati in the top of the eighth. After a one-out single by Wade, Reds Manager David Bell pulled Moll for Fernando Cruz. Cruz would face the red-hot Fitzgerald, who was named the National League Rookie of the Month in July, and Fitzgerald hit his 11th home run of the year out to left-center to extend the Giants’ lead to 5-2.

For the Giants, they were just getting started. Patrick Bailey walked, and Chapman doubled to put runners at second and third. The Giants had been getting home run happy at Great American Smallpark, but after Bell brought in Yosver Zulueta, Michael Conforto lined a double off the end of the bat to left-center to score a pair and make it 7-2.

The Giants manufactured a pair of runs, which made this particular writer happy. Young slugger Jerar Encarnacion nearly hit one out to center, but it went off the wall, and Encarnacion had to settle for a measly RBI double that made it 8-2.

Rogers has been used quite a bit this season, but he hadn’t been used in eight days, so Melvin decided to leave him in in the bottom of the eighth of a six-run game to get some work in. Rogers didn’t disappoint, as he threw a shutdown 1-2-3 inning.

The Giants put runners at first and second against Zulueta to start the top of the ninth, but they were unable to further add on to their lead. Spencer Bivens came in for the bottom of the ninth, and pitched a scoreless inning to close it out.

It looks like the Giants needed to play the Rockies for four and then go to Great American Smallpark for three to get the offense back on track. The Giants got big days from Wade, Fitzgerald, Chapman and Conforto. Wade and Conforto each went 3-for-5; Fitzgerald went 2-for-4; and Chapman went 2-for-5. Conforto in particular had a good series, as he has gone 5-for-8 in his last two games.

For the housekeeping notes: Robbie Way got the win; and Carson Spiers got the loss.

The Giants have now won seven of their last nine, as they improve to 56-57. The Diamondbacks were losing 4-0 to the Pirates in Pittsburgh, but they have since come back to take a 5-4 lead. If the Pirates can come back late, the Giants will be just three and a half games back of the Diamondbacks for the third wild card.

The Giants will not head to our nation’s capital to take on the Washington Nationals for a four-game set. The Giants are 2-11 when they have a chance to get back up to .500, but perhaps it could be different in the series opener Monday night.

Logan Webb (8-8, 3.49 ERA) will be on the mound, fresh off his complete game shutout on Wednesday, and he will be opposed by the long-time veteran left-hander, Patrick Corban (2-11, 5.88 ERA), who has had a miserable season. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m. in D.C., and 3:45 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Heliot Ramos, who jammed his right thumb during the Giants’ doubleheader against the Rockies on July 27, was out of the lineup Sunday. Ramos has since gone 3-for-21, all singles. He is listed as day-to-day.

As mentioned above, Tyler Fitzgerald was named the National League Rookie of the Month for July, which was capped off by an incredible week in which he hit eight home runs in ten games.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Reds get 4 home runs and six innings of shutout ball from Greene to defeat Giants Saturday

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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene deals against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning on Saturday Aug 2, 2024 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Cincinnati Reds Tyler Stephenson hit two of the Reds four home runs in the Reds 6-4 win over the Giants Saturday.

#2 Reds starter Hunter Greene now 8-4 and extended his scoreless streak to 21 games. Greene pitched six innings of shutout ball against on Saturday.

#3 Greene’s six straight starts in a season giving up one or no runs matches former Reds pitcher Johnny Vander Meer in 1938.

#4 The Giants starter Kyle Harrison dropped his record to 6-5 and lost a tough game going 3 2/3 innings allowing six runs and six hits for the loss.

#5 Reds closer Alex Diaz shut the door on the Giants in the ninth pitching one inning, one hit and one earned run and no strikeouts.

Morris Phillips is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Harrison hammered for six runs on four big flies, as Reds win weird, boring game 6-4

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San Francisco Giants starter Jordan Hicks works against the Cincinnati Reds in the bottom of the sixth inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sat Aug 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024

Great American Ballpark

Cincinnati, Ohio

San Francisco Giants 4 (55-57)

Cincinnati Reds 6 (53-57)

Win: Hunter Greene (8-4)

Loss: Kyle Harrison (6-5)

Save: Alexis Diaz (22)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 32,602

By Stephen Ruderman

The San Francisco Giants stayed in their frustrating prison between one and six games under .500, as they once again failed to get back up to .500 after Kyle Harrison was hammered for six runs on four big flies in just three and two thirds innings by the Cincinnati Reds, who won this all-around weird, boring game 6-4.

After Blake Snell pitched the 18th no-hitter in franchise history Saturday night to improve the Giants’ record to 55-56, it seemed they would have their spark to get up to .500. They were going to need it, as they came into Saturday’s game 2-10 when they had been a game under .500.

Hunter Greene made the start for the Reds and struck out the side in a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Harrison took the hill for the Giants following a solid start against the Rockies on July 25. It was a bit odd that it took him eight days to make his next start, but here he was Saturday night, and he pitched a scoreless inning in the bottom of the first.

The Giants wasted a rally for free against Greene in the top of the second, and Tyler Stephenson got the Reds their first run and hit of this series with a solo home run to right-center field with one out in the bottom of the second. Greene pitched a 1-2-3 top of the third, and India homered to left with two outs in the bottom of the third to make it 2-0.

Greene pitched another scoreless inning in the top of the fourth, and then things imploded for Harrison in the bottom of the fourth. Spencer Steer and Ty France both singled to put runners at first and second to start the inning. That brought up Stephenson, who hit a three-run home run to center, his second home run of the game, to open Cincinnati’s lead to 5-0.

Harrison struck out the next two men he faced, but Stuart Fairchild clubbed a low-hanging line -drive home run off the left field foul pole to make it 6-0. Harrison had given up six runs on four home runs in just three and two thirds innings, and he was done after just 73 pitches.

That comes with pitching at Great American Ballpark, which is the second-most live ballpark in all of Baseball next to Coors Field. It happened to Harrison, who just had to hang with it.

Hunter Greene pitched two more 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth to cap off a one-it, one walk and 11-strikeout performance. Greene certainly would have continued into the seventh had he not thrown 100 pitches.

Sean Hjelle, who finished the bottom of the fourth, threw a scoreless bottom of the fifth, and Jordan Hicks, now back in the bullpen, survived a two-out double in the bottom of the sixth.

Justin Wilson came in for Cincinnati in the top of the seventh, and that seemed to be what the Giants needed, as Matt Chapman doubled to lead off the inning. However, Reds’ center-fielder TJ Friedl bobbled the ball while trying to barehand the carom off the wall, which allowed Chapman to take third base, and shortstop Elly De La Cruz threw it into the Giants’ dugout. So a double and a pair of errors all on one play gave the Giants their first run.

The fact that an official scorekeeper was allowed to give out two errors on a play here in 2024, well I won’t get into that. Anyway, Michael Conforto followed that mess up with a solo home run the other way to left to make it 6-2.

Hicks pitched another scoreless inning in the bottom of the seventh for the Giants, and Tony Santillian retired the first two men he faced in the top of the eighth for Cincinnati. That brought up the Giants’ young slugger, Jerar Encarnacion, who hit a bomb the other way to right-center to make it 6-3.

The Giants had cut the deficit in half, and in the bandbox known as Great American Ballpark, they were right back in it. After left-hander Taylor Rogers pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, Chapman led off the ninth with a home run to left-center off Reds’ closer Alexis Diaz to make it 6-4.

However, Diaz set down the next three, and the Reds won it 6-4.

Ten runs scored in this game. Nine of them came on seven home runs, six of them solo home runs; and the other came on a double and two errors all on one play. Just a boring but weird game all around.

Hunter Greene got the win; Kyle Harrison took the loss; and Alexis Diaz got the save.

The Giants fall to 55-57, and they remain stuck in this endless cycle between one and six games under .500. The good news is that they can’t get any more than six games under .500, as they are 6-0 when six games under .500. However, when it comes to being just one game under, the Giants are now 2-11 when they have a chance to get back up to .500.

Well, the Giants can still win the series with a win Sunday. Left-hander Robbie Ray (1-1, 4.82 ERA) will make his third start of the season for the Giants, and he will be opposed by right-hander Carson Spiers (4-2, 3.46 ERA) first pitch 9:05am PT.

Blake Snell no-hits Reds in Cincinnati for long-awaited first Giants’ win

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San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell was dealing against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati as seen here in the bottom of the sixth inning on Fri Aug 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, Aug. 2, 2024

Great American Ballpark

Cincinnati, Ohio

San Francisco Giants 3 (55-56)

Los Angeles Dodgers 0 (52-57)

Win: Blake Snell (1-3)

Loss: Andrew Abbott (9-8)

Time: 2:16 (1:00 rain delay)

Attendance: 28,075

By Stephen Ruderman

Blake Snell made history again Friday night, as he threw a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark in the most impressive and improbable way to finally get his first win as a Giant.

The Giants were coming off a much-needed 5-1 homestand, which was capped off by a complete game shutout by Logan Webb in a 1-0 win over the Oakland A’s on Wednesday. Friday night, the Giants were back on the road in the band box known as Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati to take on the Cincinnati Reds.

With thunderstorms around Cincinnati, there was a delay of exactly one hour prior to the start of the game. Then the Reds and their starter, Andrew Abbott, took the field.

With one out in the top of the first inning, Mark Canha drew a walk in his first plate appearance as a Giant, and Matt Chapman singled to left field with two outs. Patrick Bailey then popped out to first base, and the Giants were unable to come through.

Blake Snell took the ball Friday night in what would be his first start since the Giants chose not to sell him at the Trade Deadline. After an abysmal start to his season, Snell has been nails in his last five starts.

Snell took a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins in the first half finale on July 14. Then in the first game of the Giants’ doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies this past Saturday, he struck out 15 in six innings, becoming the first pitcher in Modern National League/American League History to strike out 15 in the first six innings of a game.

However, Snell was still lacking that elusive first win as a Giant. He would have a challenge going against a young jumpstart Reds’ team in Great American Ballpark, one of the most live parks in all of Baseball. Snell got his night off to a nice start, as he struck out the side with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first.

Abbott retired the first two Giants he faced in the top of the second, but with two outs, Casey Schmitt hit a bomb into the second deck out in left field to put the Giants on the board. Marco Luciano then lined a base-hit to left, and Tyler Fitzgerald doubled to left to score Luciano and make it 2-0.

Abbott pitched a scoreless top of the third and a 1-2-3 top of the fourth. Snell, meanwhile, threw a scoreless bottom of the second, as well a pair of 1-2-3 innings in the third and fourth.

Fitzgerald and Canha singled to start the top of the sixth. After Heliot Ramos struck out swinging for the first out, Reds Manager David Bell pulled Abbott for Buck Farmer, who got out of the inning unscathed.

Snell struggled a bit in the bottom of the fifth after he issued a pair of walks, but that would be it, and the Giants kept their 2-0 lead going to the sixth. Farmer and Snell both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the sixth, and as the game went to the seventh, you couldn’t help but notice that the Reds still had a bagel in the hit column.

Fitzgerald hit a home run to left-center off Nick Martinez with one out in the top of the seventh to make it 3-0. Snell then threw a nine-pitch 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh.

Sam Moll threw a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for Cincinnati, and Snell came back out for the bottom of the eighth.

Jeimer Candelario would be the first man Snell would face in the bottom of the eighth. Candelario worked the count full, but Snell perfectly placed a 97-MPH fastball right at the knees for strike three. TJ Friedl flew out to left, and Stuart Fairchild grounded out to short, as Snell had pitched through the eighth inning for the first time, ever, in his great career.

After Fernando Cruz threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth for the Reds, Snell, who had thrown 108 pitches, came out for the bottom of the ninth to try and finish the job. It would be the first time that Snell would ever pitch in the ninth inning in his career.

The first hitter for Cincinnati was Santiago Espinal, who struck out swinging for the first out. Jonathan India then grounded out back to the mound on the first on the first first pitch, and Snell was now an out away from history.

It was fitting that the final man up would be the Reds’ young star, Elly De La Cruz. You would have expected a long and spirited at-bat, but Cruz swung at the first pitch and hit a semi-low-hanging fly ball out to right-center, and as Giants’ right-fielder Mike Yastrzemski waltzed over to his right to make the catch, Blake Snell had his no-hitter.

Snell was hugged by his catcher, Patrick Bailey, and they were instantly joined by their teammates, who had poured out of the dugout to celebrate at the mound. It was a magical night for Snell and the Giants.

This was the 18th no-hitter in Giants’ franchise history, and the 10th in San Francisco. This was the Giants’ first no-hitter since Chris Heston no-hit the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 9, 2015.

Two Giants’ pitchers have come within an out of a no hitter since: Matt Moore on Aug. 25, 2016 against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, and Alex Cobb against these very Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 29 last year. However, neither could complete the job.

What’s also impressive is that after Logan Webb’s complete game shutout against the A’s on Wednesday the Giants have gotten back-to-back complete game shutouts from their starters.

As for Snell, he threw 114 pitches, walked three and struck out 11. Snell has won two Cy Young awards, which makes it all the more baffling that he had not even pitched eight full innings in a game prior to Friday night.

And yes, Snell finally got his first win as a Giant. Andrew Abbott took the loss for Cincinnati.

The Giants have now won six of their last seven, as they improve to 55-56. They will have a chance to get back up to .500 with a win Friday night. The problem is that the Giants are 2-10 when they’ve had a chance to get back up to .500 this season. Though perhaps Friday night was the spark that will finally truly get things going for this team.

The Giants will try to get back up to .500 for the third time this season with left-hander Kyle Harrison (6-4, 3.69 ERA) on the mound. Opposing Harrison for the Reds will be right-hander Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.97 ERA) for Saturday night. It will be a nationally-televised game on FOX, as the first pitch will be at 7:15 p.m. in Cincinnati, and 4:15 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

This is the first time that Giants’ pitchers have thrown back-to-back complete game shutouts since Livan Hernandez and Jason Schmidt threw complete game shutouts on Aug. 19 and 20, 2002.

Lost in all of this is the plethora of roster moves the Giants made prior to the game.

David Villar was sent back to Sacramento, and Derek Hill was designated for assignment.

Mark Canha was of course activated onto the roster after the Giants acquired him from the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. Canha went 2-for-3 in his Giants’ debut Friday night.

The Giants called outfielder Jerar Encarnacion from Sacramento. Encarnacion hit .352 with 10 home runs in just 33 games for the River Cats. Encarnacion started tonight and went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts.

Sean Hjelle was activated off the Bereavement List.

Logan Webb shuts out A’s 1-0 in possibly final Bay Bridge Series game in San Francisco

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San Francisco starter Logan Webb deals to the Oakland A’s in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 31, 2024 in the second of the brief two game series (AP News photo)

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Oakland Athletics 0 (45-65)

San Francisco Giants 1 (54-56)

Win: Logan Webb (8-8)

Loss: Ross Stripling (2-10)

Time: 1:55

Attendance: 38,668

By Stephen Ruderman

Logan Webb pitched a complete game shutout, as the Giants beat the Oakland A’s by a modest score of 1-0 to salvage a split in this short two-game set. This was Webb’s third complete game and second shutout of the season in Wednesday night’s contest.

After a 5-1 loss to the A’s Wednesday night, the Giants were set to host the A’s and the second and final game of the first leg of the 2024—and possibly final—Bay Bridge Series. This would possibly be the final Bay Bridge Series game ever played at Oracle Park.

Logan Webb had a rough spring training and then got off to a rough start to the regular season. He then got back to his normal self to go to his first all-star game. However, since giving up three runs at the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas on July 16, he has struggled.

Webb’s struggles appeared to continue into Wednesday night, as the A’s had him on the ropes right away in the top of the first inning. Miguel Andujar and JJ Bleday both singled for Oakland to put runners at the corners with one out.

Webb then settled down. First, he struck Brent Rooker out looking on a beautifully-placed sinker on the outside corner. Then he struck Shea Langeliers looking as well, as Webb got out of the inning unscathed.

Ross Stripling, who pitched for the Giants just last season made the start for Oakland, and he pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the first. Webb followed that up with a 1-2-3 top of the second.

The Giants wasted a leadoff double by Matt Chapman in the bottom of the second, and Webb pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third. LaMonte Wade doubled with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Heliot Ramos grounded out to end the inning.

Logan Webb got out of a jam unscathed in the top of the fourth, and Stripling threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth. Webb then settled down to throw a 1-2-3 top of the fifth.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Mike Yastrzemski hit a high towering drive down the right field line that went just foul and into the water. No problem; he later lined a base-hit to right-center field and advanced to third on a base-hit by Marco Luciano. Brett Wisely then got Yastrzemski in with a sacrifice fly to center for the game’s first run.

Webb remained in complete control, as he pitched a scoreless top of the sixth, and a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. Stripling set down the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but after he walked Chapman with two outs, he was done. T.J. McFarland struck out Michael Conforto to end the inning.

Michael Otanez pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, and Webb threw a scoreless top of the eighth. Gerardo Reyes walked Wisely to start the bottom of the eighth, but he then retired the side.

Webb was back out for the ninth to try and finish off the shutout. Rooker lined out to Chapman at third base, and Langeliers grounded out to short. Abraham Toro singled to extend the game, and with Giants’ closer Camilo Doval in the bullpen, you couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the end of Webb’s night.

However, Webb had the full confidence of his skipper, Bob Melvin, and Webb got Seth Brown to ground out to second to end it.

It was just a great night for Webb, who gave up five hits; walked just one; and struck out six. He obviously got the win, and Ross Stripling got the loss.

The Giants improve to 54-56 to finish off a 5-1 homestand, and they are four and a half games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who now occupy the third wild card spot in the National League.

The Giants will head back out on the road for three in Cincinnati, and four in Washington, D.C. The Giants will have a day off tomorrow, and then they will open a three-game series in Cincinnati on Friday.

Left-hander Andrew Abbott (9-7, 3.38 ERA) will make the start for Cincinnati on Friday. The Giants will go with Blake Snell (0-3, 5.10 ERA). First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Cincinnati, 4:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and A’s will open a three game series at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Dodgers has not been announced by manager Dave Roberts and for the A’s RHP Joey Estes (4-4, ERA 4.92) gets the start with a 6:40pm PT first pitch.

Giants News and Notes:

Bob Melvin won his 1,571st game as a major league manager to tie him with Hall-of-Fame manager Dick Wiiliams for 24th all-time. Melvin has the second-most wins of active managers, trailing former Giants Manager Bruce Bochy, who has 2,145 wins.

Brandon Belt was at the game Wednesday night. Belt played with the Giants from 2011 to 2022, and made an indelible mark on this city and team. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays last season, but he has remained unsigned this season.

Before the game, the Giants had their annual Until There’s A Cure Night, and had a small ceremony on the field prior to the game. Wednesday night was the 30th anniversary of the first-ever Until There’s A Cure Day at Candlestick Park. The Giants will continue to work with Until There’s A Cure, as they attempt to find a cure for HIV/AIDS.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Last trip for Oakland team in San Francisco’s Oracle Park; Was trading Soler to Atlanta best move for SF?

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Former San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler and Atlanta Braves on Nov 2, 2021 during the 2021 World Series vs. the Houston Astros returns to the Braves after being traded from the San Francisco Giants on Tue Jul 30, 2024 (AP News file photo)

On San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, tonight is the last time an Oakland team will be coming to Oracle Park this is the last Bay Bridge Series game between the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants in San Francisco. The A’s will be back but not as Oakland it’s going to feel very different.

#2 The A’s after this season move onto Sacramento in the interim, they will be hosting other big league clubs that will be playing in a minor league facility that lacks clubhouse size, weight room space and smaller family rooms, artificial turf, and much hotter conditions. Frankly it’s not a situation after playing at the Oakland Coliseum the players, fans or the media are really looking forward to?

#3 Trades, trades, trades, we’ll start with pitcher Alex Cobb who pitched for the Giants in 2022 and 2023, did not pitch in a game for the Giants this season goes to Cleveland and will pitch for manager Stephen Vogt whose had all sorts of success in Cleveland. Talk about how you see Vogt and Cobb that combination working together?

#4 How surprised were you to see Jorge Soler get traded to the Atlanta Braves, Soler was a productive hitter for the Giants with a .240 average 341 at bats, 82 hits, 12 home runs, and 40 RBIs. How much will the Giants miss him in the line up?

#5 Soler is from Cuba he came up from Florida which is closer for him in his adapted Miami is that a big factor for Soler going to Atlanta not to mention the Braves are a post season bound team?

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