Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants drop four of five to open second half to fall five back of playoff spot, as Hicks struggles in 5-2 loss to Dodgers

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Shohei Ohtani belted a two run double in the bottom of the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles against the San Francisco Giants on Tue Jul 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles, California

San Francisco Giants 2 (48-54)

Los Angeles Dodgers 5 (61-41)

Win: Landon Knack (4-7)

Loss: Jordan Hicks (3-3)

Save: Evan Phillips (15)

Time: 2:55 

Attendance: 52,627

By Stephen Ruderman

The offense was dead again; Jordan Hicks had to push his way through three and two thirds innings; and the Dodgers beat the Giants 5-2, as the Giants have now dropped four of five to open the second half.

After a tough loss in the series opener Monday night, the Giants hoped for better luck Tuesday night against Landon Knack—hey, another good baseball name. Knack pitched a scoreless top of the first inning, and the Dodgers came to bat against Jordan Hicks in the bottom of the first.

Hicks has struggled since a great start to his season in April and May, and Tuesday night, the Giants were leaning on him to keep their rivals at bat. Hicks’ night appeared as if it was going to get off to a good start, as he struck out Shohei Ohtani (swinging) and Will Smith (looking) for the first two outs in the bottom of the first. 

However, Hicks hit Freddie Freeman, who got to second base on a wild pitch, and he walked Teoscar Hernandez. The runners advanced to second and third on another wild pitch with Gavin Lux at the plate, and then Lux roped a double down the right field line to knock in both runners, but he was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple.

Knack struck Matt Chapman and Michael Conforto both out swinging to start the top of the second, but Tyler Fitzgerald homered in his fifth straight game with a high soaring drive to left field to put the Giants on the board. Fitzgerald became the first rookie in Giants’ franchise history to homer in five-straight games, as well as the first rookie shortstop in National League/American League history to accomplish the feat.

Hicks was able to work his way through the second and third, but thanks to four walks, his pitch count was up to 65 through his first three innings. Knack also had a high pitch count, as he threw 74 pitches in his first four innings.

Hicks struck out Andy Pages in a six-pitch at-bat to start the bottom of the fourth, but after that, Hicks really struggled. He walked Jayson Heyward and gave up a base-hit to Cavin Biggio. 

During that time, Bob Melvin and Senior Director of Athletic Training Dave Groeschner came out to check up on him, but he stayed in the game. Hicks struck out Kiké Hernandez for the second out, but Ohtani knocked in a pair with a double to right to make it a 4-1 game, and that did it for Hicks.

Hicks threw 92 pitches over three and two thirds innings, and he had himself some interesting final totals. He gave up four runs on three hits, and he walked five, but he also struck out seven. 

Knack threw the game’s first 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, and that capped off his night, as the Giants were stymied by another Dodgers’ rookie. For Knack, he gave up just a run on two hits and two walks, and he struck out six.

Sean Hjelle, who finished off the bottom of the fourth for the Giants, pitched through a jam in the bottom of the fifth. Brent Honeywell Jr. was the new pitcher for Los Angeles in the top of the sixth, and he threw a 1-2-3 inning. Left-hander Taylor Rogers gave up a leadoff base-hit to pinch-hitter Chris Taylor in the bottom of the sixth, but he pitched a scoreless inning.

Honeywell pitched a scoreless top of the seventh, and Luke Jackson came in for the bottom of the seventh to pitch the first 1-2-3 inning of the night for the Giants. Jorge Soler drew a walk off Blake Treinen with one out in the top of the eighth, and Heliot Ramos singled with two outs, but Patrick Bailey grounded out to second to end the inning.

Randy Rodriguez came in for San Francisco in the bottom of the eighth. Andy Pages was hit by a pitch—the third Dodger to be hit Tuesday night—to start the bottom of the eighth, and Heyward singled Pages over to second. 

Rodriguez got a reprieve when he struck Taylor and Kiké Hernandez both out swinging. Pages, meanwhile, had moved over to third on a wild pitch, and runners were at the corners with two outs for Shohei Ohtani.

In an unpleasant deja vu from the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday night, in which Teoscar Hernandez lined a two-out, two-strike base-hit to knock in a run for the Dodgers last night, Ohtani knocked in a run with a two-out, two-strike base-hit in the bottom of the eighth Tuesday night to make it 5-1.

The Giants then teased us in the top of the ninth. Alex Vesia walked Matt Chapman and Michael Conforto to start the ninth, and Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left to score Chapman and make it a 5-2 game. 

Fitzgerald’s base-hit also brought the tying run up to the plate. Wilmer Flores pinch-hit and popped into an infield fly, and Brett Wisely struck out swinging. 

After Wisely struck out, Dave Roberts brought in his closer, Evan Phillips to face Jorge Soler. Soler then walked with two outs to load the bases for Late Night LaMonte Wade. The stage was set for the Giants to have another epic come-from-behind ninth-inning win at Dodger Stadium here in late July like they did twice in the crucial four-game set at Dodger Stadium in 2021.

Wade, who had so many big hits late in games for the Giants that season, including what proved to be the game-winning hit on July 22 of that year in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium, was up. It was the perfect time for him to come up with the biggest hit of the season here in 2024.

However, it was not meant to be. Wade ended up grounding out to second, and the Dodgers won it 5-2.

Landon Knack got the win; Jordan Hicks got the loss; and Even Phillips got his 15th save.

There were at least a couple of positives to take out of this one. Heliot Ramos, who has slumped a bit following his all-star appearance last week, went 2-for-4 Tuesday night. Tyler Fitzgerald, who of course has now hit home runs in five-straight games, went 3-for-3, and knocked in both of the Giants’ runs Tuesday night.

However, the negatives far outweigh the positives. Really, reality outweighs the positives. The reality is that the Giants have lost four of five to start off the second half, and have tied their season-high six games under .500 at 48-54. They are also now five games back of the New York Mets for the third wild card spot. To be blunt, the Giants are in serious trouble.

The good news is that the Giants are 4-0 when they’ve been six games under .500 this season, and they will need some luck Wednesday. Left-hander Robbie Ray will make his long-awaited Giants’ debut Wednesday night, and he will be opposed by Tyler Glasnow (8-5, 3.47 ERA), who is also coming off the injured list Wednesday. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m PT.

Snell solid again, but River Ryan shuts down Giants’ lethargic offense in big league debut,Teoscar Hernandez carries LA to 3-2 win with two key RBI singles

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San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler (right) is tagged out by Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Chris Taylor (left) in the top of the first inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Mon Jul 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, July 22, 2024

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles, California

San Francisco Giants 2 (48-53)

Los Angeles Dodgers 3 (60-41)

Win: Blake Treinen (4-2)

Loss: Erik Miller (3-3)

Save: Daniel Hudson (7)

Time: 2:26

Attendance: 49,576

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense sputtered against River Ryan in his major league debut, as they were unable to support Blake Snell, who pitched another strong outing, and the Dodgers beat the Giants 3-2, thanks to a pair of RBI base-hits by Teoscar Hernanez, in the opener of this four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

The Giants were able to get out of Denver with a win Sunday, averting a disastrous sweep at the hands of the third-worst team in Baseball. With the Giants in need of a spark, they are in LA for a four-game series just as they were this very week in 2021. The Giants took three of four in that series, which featured two epic come-from-behind ninth inning wins on July 21 and 22.

That series is when everybody realized that 2021 was going to be a magical season. Three years later here in 2024, the Giants have come into this four-game series four games under .500 at 48-52, and three games back of the New York Mets for the third wild card spot in the National League.

For the Dodgers, they send the young right-hander, River Ryan, who has a great baseball name, to the mound to make his major league debut. Ryan was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2021 out of the University of North Carolina, where he was a two-way player. He was traded to the Dodgers on March 28, 2022, and then bounced around the minors this season before getting the call to start tonight.

This was one of those rare games where the designated hitter was the lead off guy for both teams. For the Giants, it was Jorge Soler, who walked to start off the game. The Giants appeared to be in business when LaMonte Wade lined a base-hit to left-center field, but Soler was nailed by left-fielder Miguel Vargas trying to take third base.

Wade advanced to second on the throw, but that essentially killed the rally for the Giants. Heliot Ramos lined out to left, and Patrick Bailey popped out to short, as Ryan ended up getting out of his first big league inning in a quite unusual way.

Blake Snell nearly got his first win as a Giant after he took a perfect game into the seventh inning of the first half finale last Sunday against the Minnesota Twins. However, that was not to be, as Camilo Doval blew the save and gave up two runs in the top of the ninth.

Still, it was the first time the real Blake Snell showed up for the Giants, and he was looking to build off that Monday night. Snell walked Shohei Ohtani to start the bottom of the first inning, but catcher Patrick Bailey nailed Ohtani trying to steal second, and Snell ended up facing the minimum.

Ryan pitched a pair of 1-2-3 innings in the second and third. Snell escaped a two-out rally in the bottom of the second, and then he threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the third.

Wade walked to start the top of the fourth, and Bailey grounded a single up the middle with one out. Michael Conforto moved the runners over to second and third on a ground out to first, and they left things up to Matt Chapman.

Unfortunately, after the Giants’ offense finally showed what they were capable of over the final four weeks of the first half, they have fallen back on their old bad habits to begin the second half.

Chapman did work the count full to 3-2, but the Giants caught a break when Ryan threw a fastball on the outside corner that was dropped by catcher Will Smith and went to the Giants’ on-deck circle, which allowed Wade to score. The Giants were unable to come through with that key RBI hit with runners in scoring position. Instead, they got their run on a passed ball.

The Dodgers struck right back when Teoscar Hernandez, who won the Home Run Derby last Monday night in Arlington, Texas, tied the game with his 21st home run of the season. It was a no-doubter, as Hernandez hit it half way up into the pavilion out in left field.

Both pitchers threw 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, and base-hits by Wade and Bailey put runners on the corners for the Giants with one out in the top of the sixth. That ended the night for Ryan, but he had himself one helluva of a major league debut, as he was thrown into a rivalry game and gave up just an unearned run over five and a third innings. Not bad.

Looks like I gave away the ending to the Giants’ rally. Of course they wasted it, as left-hander Alex Vesia came in and struck out both Luis Matos and Chapman to end the inning.

Well, the Dodgers made the Giants pay in the bottom of the sixth. With Freddie Freeman at second and two outs, Hernandez got a hanging curveball from Snell and lined a base-hit out to center field to score Freeman and give the Dodgers their first lead of the night.

Snell escaped the inning without any further damage, and that would end his night. It was a good night for Snell, who went six innings, and gave up two runs and four hits. We’re now seeing what Snell is capable of, and if he can keep pitching like this, it will be huge for the Giants down the stretch.

Snell was unfortunately unable to get his first win as a Giant, but he didn’t get the loss either. Tyler Fitzgerald tied the game with one out in the top of the seventh when he hit a home run off Ryan Yarbrough. For Fitzgerald, he has now homered in three-straight games.

Ryan Walker threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh for the Giants. Bailey drew a two-out walk off Blake Treinen in the top of the eighth and stole second, but with a full count, Matos struck out when he chased a slider down and away to end the inning.

It was another wasted opportunity for the Giants—a sentence I have written far too many times this season—and Erik Miller ran into trouble right away when he came in for the bottom of the eighth. Kiké Hernandez led off the inning with a double to center, and Will Smith walked with one out.

Freeman grounded into a 6-4 fielder’s choice for the second out, and the Giants were hoping that they could get Will Smith on interference for his slide at second, as Bob Melvin challenged that play. The play was upheld, and Melvin went to Randy Rodriguez to face Teoscar Hernandez

Hernandez was up with the go-ahead runner at second with two outs, just as he was in the sixth. Rodriguez was a strike away from getting out of it with the count at 2-2, but he threw a 98-MPH fastball right on the outside corner that Hernandez lined off the end of the bat and up the middle into center field for a base-hit that scored Smith to put the Dodgers back ahead.

It was deja vu all over again. Just as he did in the sixth, Hernandez gave the Dodgers the lead with a base-hit up the middle.

Daniel Hudson came in for the ninth, and while Fitzgerald walked with two outs, Brett Wilsey flew out to left to end the game.

Blake Treinen got the win; Erik Miller got the loss; and Daniel Hudson picked up his seventh save of the year.

The Giants’ offense are struggling again at the worst possible time. As Marcos Breton pointed out on Twitter—yes, I’m still calling it that—Jorge Soler, Heltiot Ramos, Luis Matos, Matt Chapman, Mike Yastrzemski and Matt Chapman went a combined 0-for-22, and Yastrzemski ended up with the hat trick. To be blunt, things need to change, and they need to change soon.

The Giants fall to 48-53 and four games back of the Mets for the third wild card. They will need a win Tuesday night. Jordan Hicks (4-6, 3.79 ERA), who has hit a rough patch as of late after a great start to his season will make the start for the Giants Tuesday. Landon Knack of all people will counter to make his season debut for the Dodgers. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

Following his dominant 12-strikeout performance in Colorado Sunday, Hayden Birdsong was sent all the way down to the Low-A San Jose Giants. The move was simply made to clear a roster spot for right-handed reliever Mike Baumann, whom the Giants acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners yesterday.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Thin air, two long homers give Giants lift at Coors Field Sunday

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San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler takes off up the first base line after he connects for a first inning solo shot and the longest homer for the Giants this season at 478 feet against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Sun Jul 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler tattooed the longest Giants home run this season at 478 feet to deep centerfield in the top of the first for the Giants first run of the game.

#2 Tyler Fitzgerald got ahold of one and took it 434 feet for a top of third inning home run to center taking advantage of the thin Coors Field air and putting the Giants on top 2-0.

#3 A crucial passed ball by the Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings allows the Giants Matt Chapman what would be the game winning run in the top of the fourth inning as the Giants took a 3-0 at that point.

#4 The Giants got pitching from Hayden Birdsong who picked up his second win of the season against no loses. Birdsong pitched six innings, allowed two hits and two earned runs and struck out 12 batters. As the Giants avoid getting swept.

#5 The Giants head to Dodgers Stadium for a four game series which opens on Monday night at 7:10pm PT. Starting pitcher for the Giants LHP Blake Snell (0-3, ERA 6.31). Updated the Dodgers will be starting RHP Landon Knack (1-2, ERA 3.23).

Join Marko Ukalovic for San Francisco Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Hayden Birdsong strikes out 12, Giants walk out of Denver with much-needed 3-2 win over Rockies

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San Francisco Giants starter Hayden Birdsong was dealing against the Colorado Rockies seen here in the bottom of the first inning at Coors Field in Denver as the Giants avoided getting swept on Sun Jul 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (48-52)

Colorado Rockies 2 (36-64)

Win: Hayden Birdsong (2-0)

Loss: Ryan Feltner (1-10)

Save: Camilo Doval (18)

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 30,507

By Stephen Ruderman

Hayden Birdsong was dominant over six innings in his fifth big league start, as he struck out 12, and the Giants were able to get out of Colorado with a much-needed 3-2 win salvage a game in this series at Coors Field.

The Giants had an exciting finish to the first half last weekend. However, they’ve struggled over the first two games of this series to start the second half.

First, they blew a 3-0 lead and lost 7-3 Friday night, and then they were unable to get to Kyle Freeland in a 4-3 loss last night. Until Friday, the Giants were undefeated against the Rockies this season, but now they were suddenly trying to avoid an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the third-worst team in Baseball.

The Giants would look to get the win on another cloudy and overcast afternoon in Denver. The game got off to an interesting start. Bob Melvin, who doesn’t often take out the lineup card, got ejected by third Base Umpire and Crew Chief Alex MacKay at the plate meeting prior to the start of the game. Usually in that situation, a manager is planning to watch the entire game from the clubhouse.

Jorge Soler then led off, and on the fourth pitch of the game from Rockies’ starter Ryan Feltner, Soler hit a mammoth 478-foot blast just to the left of straight away center field. It was the longest home run in Baseball this season.

It was the start the Giants needed against Feltner, who came into Saturday’s game 1-9 with a 5.38 ERA. Sunday night, the Giants struggled against Kyle Freeland, who came into the game with an ERA right at 6.00, and if the Giants were going to once again struggle against a really bad pitcher, it would have been even more of a really bad look.

Anyway, Hayden Birdsong took the ball for the Giants in his fifth big league start. Birdsong, who has snuck into MLB.com’s top 100 prospects since his major league debut, has gone 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA in his first four starts. Perhaps, he would be the man that could steer the ship for the Giants Sunday.

Indeed, Birdsong started out strong today. He pitched a scoreless bottom of the first inning, and he threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the second.

Tyler Fitzgerald, who hit a home run last night, led off the top of the third with a home run to dead straight away center to make it 2-0. Birdsong then pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third, and he was dealing.

Feltner retired the first two men he faced in the top of the fourth, but Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzesmski each singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. With Fitzgerald at the plate, Chapman scored on a passed ball by catcher Jacob Stallings to make it 3-0 San Francisco.

Birdsong walked Ryan McMahon with one out in the bottom of the fourth, and with two outs, Brendan Rogers put the Rockies on the board with a two-run home run to left to make it 3-2. Despite the home run, Birdsong struck out the side, and he struck out seven over the first four innings.

Feltner pitched a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, and after Stallings led off the bottom of the fifth with a base-hit, Birdsong struck out the side. Feltner then pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth.

Birdsong threw another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth, while striking out two to end one helluva a day for the young man. Birdsong gave up just two runs and two hits over six innings, but most importantly, he struck out 12, which was the most for a Giants’ rookie since Tim Lincecum struck out 12 against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 1, 2007 at then-AT&T Park.

Feltner ended up going seven innings, an inning longer than Birdsong, and he ended his afternoon when Fitzgerald walked and was then caught trying to steal second base to end the top of the seventh.

Ryan Walker came in for the bottom of the seventh, and he got help right away from Matt Chapman, who took away a base-hit from Brendan Rogers on a ground ball to third to start the inning. Walker was damn lucky that Chapman made that play, because Jake Cave then lined a double to left.

The Rockies had the tying run at second against Walker with one out, but Stallings struck out looking, and Sam Hilliard lined out to center to end the inning, as the Giants’ kept their 3-2 lead going to the eighth.

Tyler Kinley pitched a scoreless top of the eighth for Colorado, and submariner Tyler Rogers, who got rocked for three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in a tough-luck loss Friday, was back out for the top of the eighth Sunday afternoon.

Rogers seemed as if he was going to find himself in trouble again after Aaron Schunk reached on an error by second-baseman Brett Wisely. However, longtime veteran Charlie Blackmon, the longest-tenured Rockie dating all the way back to 2011, bunted into a 4-6-3 double play. Brenton Doyle singled with two outs, but Ryan McMahon grounded out to end the inning.

For Rogers, he didn’t have himself the worst inning, but with a Giants’ fan base that has relentlessly and unfairly gone after Rogers, I’m sure it wasn’t enough.

Anyway, it was off to the top of the ninth, where Jalen Beeks threw a 1-2-3 inning. For the bottom of the ninth, the Giants turned to Camilo Doval. Doval, who has been nails for the Giants as their closer the last two seasons, had gotten off to another solid start this season.

However, since a blown save in Pittsburgh on May 21 in which he gave up two unearned runs, he has been absolutely snakebit. His latest nightmare came last Sunday, when he blew a save against the Minnesota Twins.

Rumors have swirled that the Giants would go to a new closer, or perhaps Doval would even be sent to the minors, but here he was in the game today to try and notch the save in a semi-must-win game Sunday in Denver.

Doval struck Michael Toglia and Brendan Rogers both out looking to start the bottom of the ninth, but Jake Cave walked and stole second. Of course it wasn’t going to be easy for Doval, but he got Stallings to ground out to third, and everybody went home happy, as the Giants held on for a much-needed 3-2 win.

Hayden Birdsong got his second big league win; Ryan Feltner took his tenth loss of the season; and Camilo Doval picked up his 18th save of the year.

The Giants improve to 48-52—and yes, I just realized that this was the Giants’ 100th game of the season—and they will also have some much-needed momentum heading into a tough four-game series at Dodger Stadium against their hated rivals.

Blake Snell (0-3, 6.31 ERA), who almost picked up his first win of the season last Sunday, will go for the Giants Sunday night. Dave Roberts has yet to say who will go for the Dodgers. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m., which is the old custom for games at Dodger Stadium.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants on cusp of getting swept in Colorado today

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The San Francisco Giants and Mike Yastrzemski seen here hitting a fifth inning triple against Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeman at Coors Field on Sat Jul 20, 2024 are hoping to avoid a three game sweep today (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Colorado Rockies Ezequiel Tovar is rolling with his third homer in this third straight game which helped edge the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night 4-3

#2 The Rockies got good pitching from starter Kyle Freeland who improved going six innings and allowed three Giants runs.

#3 Giants pitcher Logan Webb who struggled in his All Star appearance no exception on Saturday night as Webb pitched six innings allowed eight hits, four runs, four hits, four walks, and struck out four hitters.

#4 Freeland kept the Giants off balance he threw four pitches for strikes and said he was filling in the strike zone.

#5 Giants are on the cusp of getting swept today in Denver. The Giants are going with starter RHP Hayden Birdsong (1-0, ERA 3.72) for the Rockies LHP Ryan Feltner (1-9, ERA 5.36). Stephen taking a look at this match up today Birdsong has had some good outings and Feltner has struggled and has nine loses coming into this game.

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

Webb braves through six innings and gives up four, and Giants’ offense unable to take advantage of Coors Field in 4-3 loss

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb is frustrated after giving up a bottom of the fifth inning home run to the Colorado Rockies Ezequiel Tovar at Coors Field in Denver on Sat Jul 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (47-52)

Colorado Rockies 4 (36-63)

Win: Kyle Freeland (2-3)

Loss: Logan Webb (7-8)

Save: Victor Vodnik (3)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 44,178

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have now dropped the first two games of this three-game series in Coors Field to start the second half, as Logan Webb braved through six innings but gave up four runs, and the Rockies held on for a 4-3 win on Saturday night.

The Giants were looking for a fresh start after a tough loss last night, and there were many reasons to feel better about Saturday night. First of all, their ace, Logan Webb, was on the mound. Second, they were facing Kyle Freeland, who came into tonight with an ERA of 6.00. Plain and simply, Freeland’s having a bad season.

Unlike last night, the sun was out as the game got underway, as Freeland pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Webb, who gave up three runs in the bottom of the third inning at the All-Star Game Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, had a rough go of things in the bottom of the first.

The Rockies loaded the bases right away with nobody out, and Elias Diaz grounded into a double play to score Charlie Blackmon for the game’s first run—of course, Diaz was not credited with an RBI, because you can not be credited with an RBI under any circumstances if you ground into a double play.

The Rockies got their next run when first-baseman Wilmer Flores made a bone-headed play. On a ground ball off the bat of Brenton Doyle that was headed right for second-baseman Thairo Estrada, Flores, who was playing halfway between first and second dove to his right to field it, and the ball spat out of his glove. The play was ruled an infield hit, and Ezequiel Tovar scored to make it 2-0 Colorado.

Both pitchers threw scoreless innings in the second, and Tyler Fitzgerald put the Giants on the board with a solo home run out to left-center field with one out in the top of the third. Webb narrowly escaped a jam in the bottom of the third, and Heliot Ramos was doubled off at first to end the top of the fourth.

Webb finally pitched his first 1-2-3 inning of the night in the bottom of the fourth, and the Giants were able to put Freeland in a hole in the top of the fifth after Mike Yastrzemski hit a one-out triple. Curt Casali struck out looking for the second out, and up came Fitzgerald.

The first pitch from Freeland to Fitzgerald was a slider at the knees called a ball by Home Plate Umpire Chris Conroy. The pitch was a nut cutter and could have gone either way, but Freeland did not like the call, and he made his frustration with Conroy quite clear when he lightly threw his arms in the air.

After Conroy took his mask off for a light stare at Freeland, the next pitch was a sinker off the outside corner for ball 2. As Freelend continued to stew, Rockies Pitching Coach Darryl Scott came out to calm down the left-hander.

It was expected that Scott would wait for Conroy to come to the mound to toss him, but Conroy stayed behind the plate and kept his mask on, and Scott went back to the dugout without incident. Fitzgerald then hit a double to left to score Yastrzemski and tie the game. Surprisingly, nobody ended up getting tossed at all.

It was a new game heading to the bottom of the fifth. However, the Rockies got right back ahead when Ezequiel Tovar hit a two-run home run to left to make it 4-2.

Freeland retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth. Matt Chapman then reached on an error, and Wilmer Flores lined a double out to center to make it 4-3. Webb, meanwhile, pitched a scoreless bottom of the sixth, and both pitchers were done.

For Webb, he braved through six innings, as he gave up four runs and eight hits. Webb also only threw one 1-2-3 inning. Hey, it was Coors Field, and Webb gave it his best.

Freeland’s outing was quite surprising, as he gave up just three runs, two of them earned over six innings. Though Freeland’s success had more to do with the Giants’ offense falling back on their old bad habits than anything else.

Anyway, as the clouds gathered above Coors Field, Nick Mears threw a 1-2-3 top of the seventh for Colorado, and Erik Webb did the same for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh. Mears threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth as the rain started to fall, and Sean Hjelle threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth for San Francisco.

Victor Vodnik then came in for the top of the ninth and closed this thing out with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Kyle Freeland got just his second win of the season; Logan Webb took the loss; and Victor Vodnik picked up his third save.

The Giants’ offense has gone dark again. The fact that Kyle Freeland of all people was able to shut them down tonight was bad. Jorge Soler, Luis Matos, Matt Chapman, Thairo Estrada and Curt Casali went a combined 0-for-16. Soler struck out twice, and is once again struggling with runners in scoring position.

The Giants have fallen back to five games under .500 at 47-52, and now they are staring down the barrel of getting swept by the lowly Rockies. Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 3.72 ERA) will make his fifth big league start tomorrow, and he will be opposed by left-hander Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.61 ERA).

Giants News and Notes:

Robbie Ray struck out seven and gave up just one hit over five and a third shutout innings in what was likely his final rehab start for the Sacramento River Cats. He is expected to make his Giants’ debut in the team’s four-game series in Los Angeles next week.

Giants blow solid start from Harrison in wild 7-3 loss at Coors Field

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San Francisco Giants reliever Tyler Rogers reaction after he gave up a three run bottom of the eighth inning home run to the Colorado Rockies Jake Cave at Coors Field in Denver on Fri Jul 19, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, July 18, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (47-51)

Colorado Rockies 2 (35-63)

Win: Jalen Beeks (6-4)

Loss: Tyler Rogers (1-3)

Time: 2:45

Attendance: 40,115

By Stephen Ruderman

Coors Field struck again to start the second half, as the Giants blew a 3-0 lead and a five-inning shutout performance from Kyle Harrison, and the Rockies came back to win a flatout weird game by a final of 7-3 on Friday night.

Following a thrilling win on a walk-off little league home run by Mike Yastrzemski on Sunday to cap off the first half, Logan Webb and Heliot Ramos went to Arlington, Texas for the All-Star Game, and the rest of the team had four much-needed days off. Friday night, they reconvened in Denver to open the second half and pennant race.

With the Giants playing at Coors Field, you just knew that it was going to be a weird and wild night. In fitting Coors Field fashion, it was overcast and rainy at the start of the game, as the Giants went down 1-2-3 against Rockies’ starter Cal Quantrill in the top of the first inning.

Kyle Harrison made the start for San Francisco Friday night in his third start back off the Injured List. In his first start back on July 6 in Cleveland, the Guardians got to him for four runs over three and a third innings. However, he fared much better last Friday, when he allowed just a run to the Twins over five and a third at Oracle Park. Harrison got off to a solid start Friday night with a scoreless bottom of the first.

Quantrill retired the first two men he faced in the top of the second, but Matt Chapman lined a double to left field with two outs, and Yastrzemski drew a walk. That brought up Thairo Estrada, who lined a base-hit to left that went under the glove of the diving Sean Bouchard in left and went to the wall. Two runs scored, and Estrada went into third with a triple.

Harrison pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second, and the Giants had Quantrill back on the ropes in the top of the third. Jorge Soler lined a base-hit to right, and LaMonte Wade doubled Soler over to third. Heliot Ramos was unable to knock in Soler on a ground out to first base, but Bailey was able to on a ground out to second.

Harrison threw a scoreless bottom of the third, and Quantrill was in trouble once again in the top of the fourth. Chapman walked to start the inning, and Estrada was hit by a pitch with one out. The Giants then suffered a really bad break.

Brett Wisely hit a bullet off the bag at first that ricocheted and hit First Base Umpire Chris Conroy. The ball caromed over to first-baseman Michael Toglia, who slid to the bag to get Wisely. The ball was ticketed for extra bases, and the Giants were likely to get two more runs and a 5-0 lead, but it wouldn’t happen, and Soler struck out to end the inning.

Harrison survived a bit of a jam in the bottom of the fourth, and Quantrill threw a 1-2-3 top of the fifth. Harrison escaped another jam in the bottom of the fifth, and after 93 pitches over five shutout innings, he was done.

Harrison was solid, but his wildness, which has been his weakness, once again got to him Friday night. While he gave up just one hit, he walked four, which got him into trouble and extended his pitch count. Still, he has had two-straight solid outings, and he is having an all-around solid season.

Despite the tough break in the top of the fourth, the Giants seemed to be in control Friday night, but this was Coors Field, and as we all know, things can change very quickly. Quantill pitched a scoreless top of the sixth to end his night, and Randy Rodriguez took the ball for the Giants in the bottom of the sixth.

Elias Diaz was grazed by a pitch with one out, but after Home Plate Umpire Brian O’Nora sent him down to first, Diaz claimed he wasn’t hit. Bob Melvin challenged the call, and it was upheld. It was close, but one of three things happened: O’Nora blew the call; Diaz didn’t feel it; or Diaz was trying to pull an Albert Belle and wanted to keep hitting.

Anyway, Brenton Doyle immediately hit a home run out to left-center to put the Rockies on the board and make it a 3-2 game. The Giants wasted a golden opportunity against Tyler Kinley in the top of the seventh, and Ryan Walker came in and ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh.

Jake Cave doubled to lead off the inning. Sam Hilliard got Cave over to third with a fly out to left, and Charlie Blackmon struck out swinging. Walker now had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed, and with the Giants’ lead still intact.

Ezequiel Tover was now the hitter, and he hit a ground ball half way between second and third that third-baseman Matt Chapman fielded to his left, 360’d and threw the ball away, which allowed Cave to score to tie the game.

It was a tough break, and Chapman, one of the most sure-handed third-basemen in all of Baseball, would probably tell you that he should have had Tovar at first. It was ruled a base-hit, and since Tovar moved to second, Chapman got a rare error. Rare, because errors have gone mostly extinct this season.

Off to the eighth! Jalen Beeks, who finished the top of the seventh for Kinley, was back out for the top of the eighth, and threw a 1-2-3 shutdown inning.

The very-reliable Tyler Rogers came in for the bottom of the eighth, but at Coors Field, he ran into trouble too. Brendan Rogers reached on an infield hit to short; Toglia doubled Brendan Rogers over to third; and Cave hit a three-run home run to right to give the Rockies their first lead of the night.

Sam Hilliard popped out to third for the first out, and Melvin brought in Luke Jackson, who struck out Blackmon for the second out. Tovar then lined a home run down the left field line to make it 7-3.

There’s no getting around it. That was a brutal bottom of the eighth inning. Rogers and Jackson combined for 44 pitches, and the Rockies scored four runs.

Victor Vodnik then finished off the game with an eight-pitch 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Jalen Beeks got the win, and Tyler Rogers took the loss. The Giants fall to 47-51, and in order to bounce back tomorrow, they just have to acknowledge that this is Coors Field, where weird things happen.

Giants’ ace Logan Webb (7-7, 3.47 ERA), who gave up three runs in the bottom of the third in the All-Star Game on Tuesday will take the ball for San Francisco Saturday night in the second game of the series. He’ll be opposed by veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland (1-3, 6.00 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:10 p.m. in Denver, 5:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Yastrzemski has last say in beating Twins; Ramos and Webb to represent Giants at All Star Game

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (right) is greeted at the plate after scoring the game winning run on a throwing error by Minnesota Twins second baseman Brooks Lee at Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo by San Francisco Giants)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 In a come back game the San Francisco Giants edged the Minnesota Twins at Oracle Park on Sunday. The Giants had led for most of the game 2-0 until the Twins tied it up in the top of the ninth when Manuel Margot hit a double to score Byron Buxton and Diego Castillo making it 2-2.

#2 The Giants came back in the bottom of the ninth when Mike Yastrzemski hit a triple and was able to keep on going when Twins second baseman Brooks Lee made a throwing error to third base that sailed over towards the Giants dugout and Yastrzemski scored on a walk off error for the 3-2 win.

#3 Up until the ninth the Giants held onto a 2-0 lead and and starter Blake Snell looking for his first win of the season pitched a dandy, pitching seven innings allowing one hit and striking out eight. Snell shut the Twins out for all seven innings.

#4 The Twins got good pitching out Chris Paddock going five innings allowing five hits and one earned run striking out six batters. The Twins just couldn’t get any run production except for their two run ninth to tie the game.

#5 It’s the All Star break the Giants will be represented by centerfielder Heliot Ramos and pitcher Logan Webb. Talk about the job both of them did in the first half to earn getting in the All Star Game?

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

Giants Yastrzemski scores on triple and throwing error to defeat Twins 3-2 in ninth

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (center with eye black) is greeted by teammates after hitting a triple and scoring on an throwing error by the Twins second baseman Brooks Lee for the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

Minnesota (54-42). 000 000 002. 2. 3. 2

San Francisco (47-50). 011 000 001. 3. 8. 0

Time: 2:17

Attendance: 34,115

Sunday, July 14, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 walk off victory by the Giants over the visiting Minnesota Twins would have been exciting even if it hadn’t come at a time when the home team was trying to establish itself as a serious contender for postseason play.

It’s no secret that the Giants had been counting on Sunday’s starting pitcher, Blake Snell, to carry them into the postseason. Nor is it a secret that his slow, injury plagued performance before last Tuesday’s strong showing against the Blue Jays was a troubling development.

Snell held Toronto to one hit over five frames that evening to improve his record to 0-3, 7.35. This afternoon, in his first appearance since then, he came as close to perfection as you can get in seven innings.

Facing the minimum possible 21 batters, he retired the first 18 before Manuel Margot touched him for a leadoff single to left. Snell recovered to induce Will Castro to hit into a 6-4-3 double play and fan Brooks Lee. The fans responded with thunderous applause. Castro and Lee eventually would make the two final outs in the top of the ninth that prevented what would have been a demoralizing loss.

Snell threw 80 pitches, 55 for strikes, and gave up just that one hit in his seven inning stint on the mound. He struck out eight. His won-lost record remained 0-3, and his ERA dropped to a still ugly 6.31, but this was the Snell the Giants thought they had acquired this spring.

The Giants went to their bullpen three times; the first, for Tyler Rogers, who hurled a perfect eighth, and and then for Camilo Doval, who faced four batters and blew the save on a walk and doubles to right by Trevor Larnach, pinch hitting for Christian Vásquez, and Margot.

Ryan Walker replaced Doval and got Castro to ground out to second, which allowed Margot to score the tying run, which was charged to Doval; that’s how he came to be charged with his fourth blown save of 2024. . Even this masks how poorly Doval pitched; if Margot hadn’t tripped trying to advance on his double, he would have made it to third easily, and Castro’s slow grounder might have put the Twinkies ahead).

Although this was the first time Chris Paddack, Minnesota’s starting pitcher, faced the Giants this season, Bay Area fans had a chance to see him at work on June 21, when he put in a subpar performance against the current occupants of the Oakland Coliseum.

This was his first career start for Minnesota against San Francisco; his previous seven against them was as a Padre. Paddack, too, has spent some time on the injured list this season, although not as much as Snell. The Twin Cities’ righty was out from June 25 to July 8. He pitched well this afternoon, although, again, not as well as SF’s lefty.

Paddack lasted five innings and gave up two runs, one of them unearned. He, too, faced 21 batters; they got five hits and a walk off him, and he struck out a half a dozen of them. While Snell had to settle for a no decision, Paddack escaped with his and now has a record of 5-3, 4.99.

Minnesota used five relief pitchers. They were Steven Okert (two-thirds of an inning, a hit and a walk with two Ks); Jorge Alcalá (a third of an inning); Caleb Thielbar (two-thirds of an inning, a hit and a strike out); Josh Staumont (struck out the one batter he faced); Griffin Jax (a perfect inning with one strike out); and the losing pitcher, Johoan Durán (one hit and an unearned run after facing one batter).

The Giants took an early lead in the second inning, when they took advantage of Carlos Santana’s failure to hold on to Lee’s relay for what would have been an inning-ending double play to go ahead 1-0. A walk to Yastrzemski and Thairo Estrada’s single to left drove in Matt Chapman, who had hustled down the line in the aborted DP attempt, scored the go ahead tally.

SF doubled its lead with back to back doubles in the third. LaMonte Wade hit the first, a one out shot that bounced over the Visa advertisement in right center field, followed by Patrick Bailey’s fly in the same direction that stayed in play.

Once Walker saved Doval’s bacon, the Giants responded in stunning fashion. Yastrzemski smacked Jhoan Durán’s 96mph splitter to right center field. The ball got past Max Kepler in right and was retrieved by Margot in center.

He threw to Lee at second who relayed the ball in the direction of third base in an attempt to prevent Yastrzemski from turning his hit into a leadoff triple. The ball went past Diego Castillo, and Yastrzemski romped home with the winning run. Lee was charged with the error and Durán, now 5-4, 2.93, with the loss.

This was the first time the Giants had won a series since taking two out of three from the Braves in Atlanta on July 2-4. It was a good way to go into the all-star break. Their next scheduled game will be on Friday, July 19 in Denver.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: At 38 Twins Santana still provides offense; Minnesota-SF battle today at Oracle

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Minnesota Twins Carlos Santana (30) celebrates with third base coach Tommy Watkins (40) after hitting a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jul 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Minnesota Twins Carlos Santana provided the extra power and go ahead home run in the top of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Saturday night in the Twins win over the Giants 4-2.

#2 The Santana home run was under review as it played the left field foul line and was ruled fair it also gave Santana his 30th home run in all current Major League parks.

#3 At 38 years old Santana hit his 13th of the 2024 season and his 314th of his career. In addition to his home run he got a base hit and walked twice.

#4 Hayden Birdsong who started for San Francisco allowed one earned run in five innings and surrendered just two hits. Birdsong has had some good outings filling in for Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray. Birdsong can earn a spot in the rotation as long as he can be consistent with winning ball games.

#5 Twins and Giants match up for the rubber game today at Oracle. Starting pitcher for the Twins RHP Chris Paddack (5-3, ERA 5.18) for the Giants RHP Blake Snell (0-3, ERA 7.85) first pitch 1:05pm PT.

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