Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants’ offense stays alive in Denver to take first two games versus Rockies in 8-6 win

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San Francisco Giants Michael Conforto rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies in the top of the second inning at Coors Field in Denver on Wed May 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 8 (17-21)

Colorado Rockies 6 (8-28)

Win: Jordan Hicks (3-1)

Loss: Peter Lambert (2-2)

Time: 2:46

Attendance: 20,532

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense was once again able to take advantage of the mile-high air, and Jordan Hicks pitched five solid innings, as the Giants beat the Rockies 8-6 to take the first two games of this three-game series.

After a brutal start to their road trip, which included getting swept in four games in Philadelphia by the Phillies, the Giants were able to get a much-needed 5-0 win last night behind seven strong innings by Kyle Harrison. Wednesday night, the Giants sent Jordan Hicks to the mound after a tough start in Philadelphia Friday night.

For the Rockies, Peter Lambert made the start and pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Hicks followed suit and pitched a 1-2-3 inning as well in the bottom of the first.

The Giants then struck big in the top of the second. Michael Conforto homered to right field on the first pitch of the inning, and then Matt Chapman and Mike Yastrzemski hit singles to put runners at first and second with nobody out for Heliot Ramos.

Ramos, who was one of the top prospects for the Giants and in Baseball at one point, has fallen on hard times in recent years. Ramos got cups of coffee with the Giants in 2022 and again last season, but after a strong start to his season for the Triple-A River Cats, the Giants were given no choice but to call him up.

With a 1-2 count, Ramos hit one off the fists and dunked a base-hit to right, which scored Chapman to make it 2-0. Blake Sabol struck out looking, and Nick Ahmed laid down a safety squeeze that scored Yastrzemski, who slid in just ahead of the tag at the plate.

Jung-hoo Lee continued the Giants’ rally when he lined a double to right to score Ramos, and LaMonte Wade Jr. topped it off with a line drive base-hit off the end of the bat into center to score a pair and make it 6-0.

“That was really nice,” said Hicks. “We got the bats going early today. [We] can’t do that every game, but it’s really nice when you have it.”

The Giants had scored six runs in the top of the second inning, but this was Coors Field, which of course meant that no lead was safe. The Rockies got on the board in the bottom of the second when Brenton Doyle tripled with two outs and scored on a wild pitch.

Yastrzemski tripled to right to start the third, and Sabol doubled him in with one out to get the Giants’ run back, as they now led it 7-1. This time, Hicks was able to respond with a 1-2-3 bottom of the third.

Anthony Molina replaced Lambert for the top of the fourth and threw a 1-2-3 inning. Hicks ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, as Elias Diaz walked and Brendan Rodgers singled with one out, but Hicks bounced back and struck out Doyle and Sean Bouchard, both looking, to end the inning.

Molina pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, and Hicks got Hunter Goodman to fly out to center to start the bottom of the fifth. However, the Rockies then made noise. Jordan Beck lined a double to center, and Charlie Blackmon, the elder statesman for the Rockies, lined a single the other way to left to score Beck and make it 7-2.

Ezequiel Tover lined a base-hit to right and Ryan McMahon walked to load the bases for Elias Diaz, who was able to knock in a run with a swinging bunt down the third base line to make it 7-3. Things were starting to spin out of control for the Giants, Brendan Rodgers then stepped in as the tying run, but Hicks was able to get Rodgers ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

That did it for Hicks, who didn’t have his greatest outing and didn’t have his best stuff, but after his rough start in Philadelphia Friday night, this was a big outing for him, as he was able to hold the Rockies to three runs at Coors Field, where they are always dangerous no matter how good or bad they may be.

“[It] wasn’t my favorite outing,” said Hicks. “I feel like it started off pretty good, but Tovar took some pretty good ABs and got me out early…..We battled. [I] made some good pitches towards the end, [and] got that double play.”

Hicks said after the game that he was hampered by the altitude in Denver, as he found himself out of breath after having to cover the bag on 3-1 putouts.

“You feel it a little bit,” said Hicks. “Trying to execute after that is tough, but you have to just grind it and make some pitches.”

Molina pitched a scoreless top of the sixth, and Melvin brought in Sean Hjelle for the bottom of the sixth. Hjelle struggled, as the Rockies got to him for a run. It was Taylor Rogers who gave up the two-out base-hit to Blackmon that made it 7-4.

The Giants finally got to Molina with two outs in the top of the seventh. After Thairo Estrada popped out to second and Wade struck out looking, Conforto walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Chapman then pulled a ball down the line to Ryan McMahon at third, who threw the ball away, which allowed Conforto to score to make it 8-4. Chapman was credited with a base-hit, as he would have beaten the out throw anyway.

“You still have to try and add on some runs, because [things] happen quickly here,” said Melvin. “It feels like a lot of times a lead is never safe, so [it’s] very important to add on at the end as well.”

Ryan Walker pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh for the Giants, as did Jake Bird for the Rockies in the top of the eighth. The submariner, Tyler Rogers, pitched through a one-out double for a scoreless bottom of the eighth, as both of the Rogers twins were able to pitch in front of their family in Denver.

Justin Lawrence pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for Colorado, and Melvin brought in his closer, Camilo Doval, in a four-run game for the ninth. Elias Diaz hit a home run to left with two outs to make it 8-6, but Doval got Rodgers to ground out to short to end it.

Hicks got the win, and Peter Lambert got the loss, as the Giants improve to 17-21. The Giants can sweep the Rockies and end up with a 4-6 road trip with a win Thursday on getaway day. For game 3, San Francisco Keaton Winn ( 3-4 ERA 4.41) and for Colorado Cal Quantrill (1-3 ERA 4.31) will make the start, and first pitch will be in Denver at 12:10 p.m PDT. The Giants return to Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday night for a 7:15pm PDT first pitch as they host the Cincinnati Reds for the first of three games.

News and Notes:

  • Heliot Ramos took the roster spot of Jorge Soler, who was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with a right shoulder strain.
  • Blake Snell, who made his last start on April 18 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, has since been on the Injured List with an adductor strain. Snell will have a bullpen session Thursday, and then he will make a rehab start for the Single-A San Jose Giants on Sunday.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The President Founder and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame

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Masanori Murakami the first Japanese MLB player and Gabriel (Tito) Avila Jr. president of the Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum (photo from Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

The President Founder and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame

By Amaury Pi-González

The face of baseball today is Japanese mega-star Shohei Ohtani, a two-way player with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the most famous two-way player in the history of baseball since Babe Ruth (1914-1935). Still, the first Japanese player to play in the United States in Major League Baseball was Masanori Murakami, who pitched for the San Francisco Giants 1964-1965.

Murakami was the first Asian-born baseball player to come to America and play in the Major Leagues. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame’s President Founder and CEO Gabriel “Tito” Avila, Jr. met in Japan with Masanori Murakami and Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame representatives.

The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame first opened in 1959 adjacent to Korakuen Stadium in Tokyo. Later, in 1988, the hall of and museum moved to a new site within the Tokyo Dome. Gabriel “Tito” Avila, Jr. represented The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame https://hhbmhof.com/ in this goodwill trip to the land of the rising sun.

This 2024 MLB season began on March 20 in South Korea when the Los Angeles Dodgers played a 2-game series against the San Diego Padres. Shohei Ohtani was the “main attraction,” and thousands of fans arrived early to look at the world’s #1 baseball player.

The Hispanic Baseball Museum was founded in San Francisco in 1998. Since its foundation, this museum hall of fame has traveled and exhibited in multiple cities across the United States, at baseball parks, libraries, expositions and community baseball events, from New York to San Francisco and in between.

Mr. Avila Jr envisions the HHBMHOF traveling to Japan, with an exhibit of the great history and richness of Hispanic / Latino baseball. “This was a goodwill trip and I am thrilled specially and meeting such icons as Murakami and other Japanese players and executives representatives in the world of baseball”. The Founder President and CEO of the HHBMHOF also were very impressed as Japanese baseball officials gave him a personal tour of The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.

Many Hispanic / Latinos are playing today in the Japanese Baseball Leagues however, the first Hispanic / Latino player to have ever played in Japan was Roberto “Chico” Barbon a Native from Matansas Cuba was an Infielder from the 1954 -1965 for the Hankyu Braves and Kintetsu Buffaloes of the Pacific League, Nippon Professional Baseball. Barbon played 11 seasons.

Latin America and Japan are united by their love of the game of baseball. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum hopes to work with Japan for the love of the game that continues to grow in popularity in Asia and all around the world. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame, has been around for 25 1/2 years and is looking forward to their first permanent location in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Giants Shutout Struggling Rockies 5-0; SF’s Harrison throws 7 innings of shutout ball

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San Francisco starter Kyle Harrison pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Tue May 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies this past weekend the San Francisco Giants (16-21) got back on track on the road in Colorado winning the first game of the series defeating the Colorado Rockies (8-27). A slow first three innings turned into a terrific fourth inning for the Giants scoring four runs. San Francisco had another run in the seventh inning for a final of 5-0.

Game recap: Neither team got much going through the first three innings. The Giants had a couple of hits in the first three innings but were unable to string any hits together. Jung Hoo Lee singled in the first inning and Mike Yastrzemski doubled in the second and that was about it for San Francisco. The Rockies walked four runners in the opening innings. San Francisco was about to turn this game around.

It was a terrific fourth inning for the Giants. They had a couple of infield singles plus a couple of outfield singles and when the dust had settled San Francisco had a 4-0 lead. The first infield single brought Matt Chapman home for the first run of the game. 1-0. A Thairo Estrada ground out was good for a second run. LaMonte Wade Jr and Michael Conforto both singled bringing two runners home for a 4-run inning.

San Francisco added another run in the seventh innings now leading 5-0. Conforto singled Estrada home. The Giants Kyle Harrison had a great seven innings on the mound finishing with 85 pitches. He had seven shutout innings in his first appearance at Coors Field.

Harrison handled the altitude like a pro which is always a challenge at Coors. Ryan Walker relieved Harrison in the eighth inning finishing the inning with no hits, no runs, no walks and 3 strikeouts in an uneventful inning for the Rockies.

Camilo Doval came in to close this game in the ninth inning. He struggled to start walking two runners but came on strong finishing off the Rockies and completing the first win in this series for San Francisco.

Game notes: After a rough series the past four days against the Phillies the Giants traveled to rocky mountain country taking on Colorado for a three-game series. The Giants really struggled against the top-dog in MLB getting swept in the four game series with Philadelphia. Tuesday night they took on the Rockies that shares the basement with the White Sox and got a win to open the series in Colorado.

The Rockies have had an awful start to the 2024 season after a disappointing 2023 season. Kyle Harrison for the Giants pitched seven innings, four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts for the win and for the Rockies Dakota Hudson picked up the loss pitching 3.2 innings, five hits, four earned runs, walked five and struck out two. The Giants went into this series with high hopes and were able to win it to open the series.

Game two Wednesday: In this second game will feature Jordan Hicks on the mound for San Francisco with a 2-1, 1.89 ERA. Peter Lambert will start for the Rockies with a 2-1 5.66 ERA. First pitch in this game is scheduled for 5:40 PM.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Giants open three game series in Colorado tonight

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On the SF Giants podcast with Stephen:

#1 Stephen, The San Francisco Giants were swept in four games at Citizens Bank in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Phillies Monday and it wasn’t close in a a five run 6-1 loss for San Francisco.

#2 The Phillies got some offense as superstar slugger Bryce Harper took Giants pitching deep with a three run home run off Giants rookie pitcher Mason Black in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend Harper’s hit streak to 19.

#3 The Phillies got some pitching as well from Zack Wheeler who sat down 11 Giant hitters on strike outs in seven innings of work. When your dealing like that and keeping guys off balance it’s difficult to get some kind of rhythm going and for the Giants line up Wheeler was just a mystery.

#4 For Black he made his big league appearance in front of family and friends who come from the Philadelphia area was able to get a 1-2-3 inning against the Phils in the first inning which included striking out Harper on a 88 MPH change up but that all changed later when the Phillies touched up Black for eight hits and five runs in 4.1 innings of work.

#5 The Giants continue their road trip and head to the Rocky Mountains to battle the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Coors Field in Denver for the first of a three game series. Starting pitcher for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, ERA 3.79) and for the Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-5, ERA 5.93) first pitch 5:40pm PDT.

Stephen Ruderman is a staff beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Bryce Harper and Phillies Handle San Francisco 6-1; Giants swept in four games in Philadelphia

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Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Whit Merrifield (9) throws to first base for a double play after retiring San Francisco Giants runner LaMonte Wade Jr (31) in the top of the first inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Philadelphia Phillies (25-11) took another one from the San Francisco Giants (15-21) Monday afternoon 6-1. The Phillies handed the Giants four loses sweeping San Francisco this past weekend and took it to San Francisco again adding a fourth win Monday afternoon in as many games in Philadelphia.

The pitching from the Phillies Zack Wheeler really turned the tide in this game. He struck out 11 in seven innings allowing four hits and the one run. San Francisco really struggled at the plate against Wheeler. This was the sixth straight win for Philadelphia, winning 17 of their last 20 games. These guys are rolling. The Giants came away with only five hits in this game. Mason Black had a rough one on the mound for San Francisco going 4.1 innings allowing eight hits and five runs with four strikeouts.

Again it was Bryce Harper who spear-headed the assault with a homer and two hits. Kyle Schwarber added another home run in the eighth inning, a solo shot to complete the sweep.

Neither team was able to score through the first three innings but in the fourth Philadelphia got rolling scoring once in the fourth and adding four runs in the fifth taking a 5-1 lead. Whit Merrifield singled Nick Castellano home and a Bryce Harper 3-run home run in the fifth gave the Phillies a nice lead going into the sixth inning. A fifth run came in the fifth inning when Castellano doubled bringing Brandon Marsh home.

The single run in the game from the Giants came in the sixth inning off a Wilmer Flores sacrifice fly allowing Thairo Estrada to cross home plate but that would be all for San Francisco. Another home run off the bat of Kyle Schwarber in the eighth inning gave the Phillies the 6-1 final and the sweep.

Post game notes: Monday afternoon the Giants met the Phillies in game four of their series and couldn’t avoid a sweep. The Phillies hammered them in game two 14-3 but games 1 and 3 were one run affairs and the Giants lost in a five run decision 6-1 in this fourth and final game of this wrap around series at Citizens Bank. The Giants are now six games below .500.

The Giants will remain on the road for their next series taking on the Colorado Rockies for a three game series before heading home to take on the Reds next weekend. The Rockies are struggling with an 8-26 record taking up residence in the basement of the National League West.

The Giants are holding down fourth place in the same division eight games out of first place. The Rockies are 14 games out of the top spot and are tied for the worst record in baseball with the White Sox.

San Francisco will be looking to hand them another loss Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 5:40 PM. Probable assignment on the mound for the Giants will be Kyle Harrison 2-1 with a 3.70 ERA and for the Rockies Dakota Hudson 0-5 with 5.93 ERA.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Phils Harper on tear homers and extends hit streak to 19; Wheeler K’s 11; Giants swept in 4 games Philadelphia

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Mason Black pitched in his Major League debut against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Mon May 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, The San Francisco Giants were swept in four games at Citizens Bank in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Phillies Monday and it wasn’t close in a a five run 6-1 loss for San Francisco.

#2 The Phillies got some offense as superstar slugger Bryce Harper took Giants pitching deep with a three run home run off Giants rookie pitcher Mason Black in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend Harper’s hit streak to 19.

#3 The Phillies got some pitching as well from Zack Wheeler who sat down 11 Giant hitters on strike outs in seven innings of work. When your dealing like that and keeping guys off balance it’s difficult to get some kind of rhythm going and for the Giants line up Wheeler was just a mystery.

#4 For Black he made his big league appearance in front of family and friends who come from the Philadelphia area was able to get a 1-2-3 inning against the Phils in the first inning which included striking out Harper on a 88 MPH change up but that all changed later when the Phillies touched up Black for eight hits and five run in 4.1 innings of work.

#5 The Giants continue their road trip and head to the Rocky Mountains to battle the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Coors Field in Denver for the first of a three game series. Starting pitcher for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, ERA 3.79) and for the Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-5, ERA 5.93) first pitch 5:40pm PDT.

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

Harper belts 3 run homer extends hit streak to 18 games as Phils edge Giants 5-4 at Citizens Bank

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Philadelphia Phillies slugger Bryce Harper acknowledges the Citizens Bank crowd in Philadelphia after hitting a third inning home run off San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb that landed in the Phillies bullpen on Sun May 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

San Francisco Giants 4 (15-20)

Philadelphia Phillies 5 (24-11)

Win: Taijuan Walker (2-0)

Loss: Logan Webb (3-3)

Save: Jose Alvarado (7)

Time: 2:45

Attendance: 41,058

By Stephen Ruderman

The Phillies beat the Giants for the third-straight night, as they got to Logan Webb for four runs in the bottom of the third inning, and while the Giants got back into it to make it a close game, the Phillies held on to win it by a final of 5-4.

After the Giants wasted a couple of golden opportunities and lost the opener of the series Friday night, the Phillies absolutely annihilated them Saturday night 14-3. Saturday night, the Giants sent their ace, Logan Webb to the mound on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball to try and get their first win of this series.

Following a rocky spring and a so-so start to his season, Webb had a pair of dominant outings on the Giants’ homestand and seemed to finally be in a groove. However, he struggled in his start this past Tuesday night at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox, as he gave up four runs and nine hits over just three and two-thirds innings of work.

The Phillies went with Taijun Walker, whom the Giants got to for a run in the top of the first inning. With two outs and LaMonte Wade on first base, Michael Conforto hit an opposite-field double to left field to put the Giants on the board. Webb responded with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first.

The second inning would prove to be the opposite of the first. Walker set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, and Logan Webb ran into trouble in the bottom of the second after Alec Bohm reached and advanced to second base on a throwing shortstop Nick Ahmed to start the inning.

Brandon Marsh got Bohm to third on a ground out to second, and Nick Castellanos struck out swinging, as Webb had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed. However, Webb walked Bryson Stott, who ended up stealing second, and Edmundo Sosa reached on a broken-bat single to second, which knocked in Bohm to tie the game.

The Giants went down scoreless in the top of the third, and the Phillies were right back at it in the bottom of the third with the top of the order up. Kyle Schwarber walked; J.T. Realmuto lined a single up the middle and into center field; and Bryce Harper hit a three-run home run that just cleared the wall in right-center to put the Phillies up 4-1.

Webb retired the next two batters, but Nick Castellanos lined a base-hit to left and stole second. That brought up Bryson Stott, who lined a double to left to knock in Castellanos, and that extended the Phillies’ lead to 5-1.

The Giants’ offense, who had been held to three runs or less in nine-straight games coming into tonight, had their work cut out for them, but they continued to flounder, as Walker set them down 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth.

Webb set down the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fourth, but he ran into more trouble after Realmuto reached on an infield hit and Michael Conforto dropped a fly ball in left off the bat of Harper. Webb struck Bohm out swinging, but that would be all for the Giants’ ace.

Other than the four-run bottom of the third inning, Webb was actually fine, as he dealt with a couple bad breaks. He would’ve had a 1-2-3 inning in the second had it not been for the error by Ahmed, he got screwed in the fourth with the bad-luck broken bat single and the dropped fly ball by Conforto.

Walker hit Thairo Estrada to start the fifth, but then retired the side in order. Sean Hjelle came in for Webb and survived a leadoff base-hit by Brandon Marsh.

Both pitchers pitched scoreless innings again in the sixth, but the Giants finally had some action against Walker in the top of the seventh. Mike Yastrzemski reached on an infield hit with one out, and then Thairo Estrada, who was hit by a pitch his last time up, hit a two-run bomb to left to cut the Giants’ deficit to 5-3.

Estrada’s home run ended the night for Taijuan Walker, who was replaced by Gregory Soto. Soto hit Austin Slater and then walked Nick Ahmed to put runners at first and second with one out. The Giants had another golden opportunity, but they once again wasted it, as Jung-hoo lee popped out to second, and Wade grounded to third for a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Left-hander Taylor Rogers was summoned for the bottom of the seventh and was able to escape a leadoff double by Alec Bohm unharmed.

Jeff Hoffman came in for the Phillies in the eighth, and Michael Conforto tripled with one out on a ball that went off the glove of center-fielder John Rojas. The Giants once again had a golden opportunity, but of course, the Giants once again wasted a golden opportunity, as Matt Chapman and Yastrzemski both struck out swinging to end the inning.

Ryan Walker threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eighth for the Giants, and the Phillies brought in their closer, Jose Alvarado, for the ninth. Catcher Jakson Reetz, whom the Giants called up prior to the game, blasted one out to left with one out to make it 5-4.

Sunday night was the first time since April 23 that the Giants had scored four runs in a game. The Giants were hoping it would spark something, but it didn’t. Nick Ahmed struck out swinging, and Lee flew out to right to end it.

Taijuan Walker got the win; Webb got he Loss; and Alvarado picked up his seventh save. With this loss, the Giants have now dropped five of their last six, and they fall to a new season-high—or shall I say low—five games under .500 at 15-20.

The Giants were able to salvage a game in Boston, and they will hope to do the same Monday. The Giants will send young right-hander Mason Black to the mound to make his major league debut, and he will be opposed by former Giants’ farmhand Zack Wheeler. First pitch will be at 4:05 p.m. in Philadelphia, 1:05 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

News and Notes:

Tom Murphy was indeed placed on the 10-Day Injured List with a left knee sprain after he hurt himself chasing a wild pitch by Mitch White last night.

Jakson Reetz, who was called up to replace Murphy on the roster, and who hit the home run in the ninth had an interesting story.

Reetz was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the third round in 2014, but it took him seven years to reach the majors. He finally made his major league debut for the Nationals on July 10, 2021 against the Giants in San Francisco. He doubled in his first major league at-bat in the ninth inning of that game against John Brebbia, and then flew out to left in the seventh inning the next day.

However, Reetz was sent back down to the minors, and he bounced around in the Brewers’ and Royals’ farm systems before signing a minor league deal with the Giants last season. Reetz finally got the call back up tonight, and going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run in three major league games over three seasons, not too shabby.

Mitch White was designated for assignment, and Daulton Jefferies was called back up.

Phillies slaughter Giants on rainy night at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia 14-3

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The Philadelphia Phillies Bryson Stott (5) hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning against the San Francisco Giants. The Giants catcher behind Stott is Tom Murphy at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-19)

Philadelphia Phillies 14 (23-11)

Win: Range Suarez (6-0)

Loss: Keaton Winn (3-4)

Time: 3:01 (1:10 delay)

Attendance: 42,610

By Stephen Ruderman

The Phillies just took it to the Giants, as they slaughtered them 14-3 on a rainy night at Citizens Bank Park, and the Giants have now dropped four of their first five games on this road trip.

The Phillies beat the Giants 4-3 in the series opener last night after the Giants’ offense wasted more key opportunities. Tonight, the offense would have to face the left-hander and the National League Pitcher of the Month for April, Ranger Suarez, who came into tonight undefeated at 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA. The Giants countered with Keaton Winn, who after a rough first two starts to his season, has pitched well over his last four starts.

Before tonight’s game, both teams had to deal with an hour-and-10-minute rain delay. The game was finally able to begin, but intermittent rain would continue throughout the night.

Once the game began, Suarez walked Austin Slater to start things off. After striking both Thairo Estrada and Jung-hoo Lee out looking, Wilmer Flores flew out on a low-hanging fly ball to left field.

When the Phillies came up to bat, they were more than ready for Keaton Winn. Kyle Schwarber walked to start things out and advanced to second on a passed ball by Tom Murphy. J.T. Realmuto also walked, and Bryce Harper lined a single the other way to left to load the bases. Winn then hit Alec Bohm, which scored the first run of the game, and Brandon Marsh lined a base-hit to right to score Realmuto and make it 2-0.

Winn got Nick Castellanos to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to finally get the first two outs of the inning. Harper scored to make it 3-0, but it was a pair of outs Winn desperately needed. Unfortunately for Winn, the Phillies weren’t done. Bryson Stott singled to right to score Bohm and make it 4-0, and Edmundo Sosa reached on an infield hit to second, which knocked Winn out of the game after two-thirds of an inning. Mitch White came in for Winn and allowed a single to Johan Rojas to make it 5-0.

With the Phillies up 5-0 and Suarez on the mound, the Giants had their work cut out for them, and Suarez responded by throwing a 1-2-3 top of the second inning.

The Phillies came back up in the top of the second and kept going. Realmuto tripled to start the inning and scored on a wild pitch. Tom Murphy felt his knee pop while going after the wild pitch on the wet and slippery glass and was replaced by Blake Sabol, who was called up from the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats prior to the game.

The bases were empty, but that didn’t stop the Phillies. Harper walked; Bohm singled; and Marsh walked to load the bases. Stott grounded to second for a 6-4 fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning, but another run scored to make it 7-0. Stott singled on a ground ball that hit off the glove of the diving second-baseman, Thairo Estrada, and ricocheted into right-center to make it 8-0. Sosa grounded out back to the mound for the second out, but Nick Castellanos scored to give the Phillies a 9-0 lead in just the second inning.

The Giants got in both the run and hit columns in the top of the third, and they scored two more runs in the top of the fifth to make it 9-3. I guess you could say that a positive out of tonight’s blowout is that the Giants got to Suarez for three runs, but this still ended up being the ninth-straight game in which the Giants’ offense was limited to three runs or less.

The Phillies scored four more runs off Randy Rodriguez in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a real laugher, as they now led it 13-3. Philadelphia tacked on one more off Erik Miller in the bottom of the seventh to make it 14-3. Bob Melvin then brought in Tyler Fitzgerald to throw batting practice in the bottom of the eighth, but the Phillies’ offense seemed to have had enough for one night and went down 1-2-3.

Ranger Suarez went six innings, and he was followed up by Jose Ruiz, who pitched scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Phillies Manager Rob Thompson went to the struggling Seranthony Dominguez for a maintenance inning in the top of the ninth, and he of course pitched a scoreless inning.

So, that’s it. Suarez the win, Winn the loss, and the Giants tie their season-high—or shall I say season-low—four games under .500 at 15-19, and they will have to bounce back tomorrow night on ESPN’s Sunday Night Game of the Week. The good news for the Giants is that they will have their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Philadelphia, 4:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

News and Notes:

Catcher Patrick Bailey was indeed played on the 7-Day Concussion Injured List after taking a foul ball to the mask off the bat of Alec Bohm last night, and as mentioned above Blake Sabol was called up and made his 2024 Debut.

As for Tom Murphy, who felt a pop on his knee when going for the wild pitch from Mitch White in the bottom of the second inning, he will undergo an MRI tomorrow. Safe to say it doesn’t look good, and good chance the Giants will have to call up another catcher.

Giants waste more opportunities, as Phillies get to Hicks to win series opener 4-3

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San Francisco Giants starter Jordan Hicks delivers to the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the second inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark on Fri May 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-18)

Philadelphia Phillies 4 (22-11)

Win: Matt Strahm (2-0)

Loss: Aaron Hicks (2-1)

Save: Jose Alvarado (6)

Time: 3:00

Attendance: 40,888

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense wasted more opportunities, and the Phillies got to the undefeated Aaron Hicks to beat the Giants 4-3 in the opener of this four-game wraparound series, as the Giants have now dropped three of the first four games of their road trip.

After dropping the first two games of their three game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Giants scored two runs in the seventh inning to salvage a game in the series yesterday. Now, the Giants were headed to Philadelphia to face the red-hot Phillies, who after winning the National League Pennant in 2022, and getting within a win of the pennant again last season, were off to a 21-11 start.

The Giants sent Jordan Hicks to the mound, and the Phillies went with Aaron Nola, who pitched a scoreless top of the first. As for Hicks, a reliever brought in over the off-season to convert to a starter, he has been off to a great start, as he entered tonight’s game 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA.

Hicks got Kyle Schwarber to fly out to center to start the bottom of the first inning. However, he ran into trouble when he gave up an infield single to Trea Turner and walked Bryce Harper with one out. Hicks then bore down, as he struck out Alec Bohm looking on four pitches, and he got J.T. Realmuto to ground out back to the mound to escape the inning unscathed.

Patrick Bailey and Matt Chapman walked to start the second inning, and after Mike Yastrzemski struck out swinging, Thairo Estrada doubled to center to knock both runners in. As for Bailey, he has taken a foul ball off his mask off the bat of Alec Bohm. After experiencing blurry vision following his walk and run, Bailey had to leave the game.

Hicks pitched a scoreless bottom of the second, which would have been a 1-2-3 inning had it not been for a one-out throwing error by Matt Chapman at third base. The Giants were in business against Nola again in the top of the third, as Michael Conforto and Tom Murphy, the latter of whom came in to catch for Bailey, singled to start the inning.

The Giants had runners at first and second with nobody out and were ready to extend their 2-0 lead, but Chapman grounded into a 5-3 double play, and Yastrzemski swung out swinging to end the inning.

It was another wasted opportunity for the struggling Giants’ offense, and it would prove to be a momentum switch. Schwarber reached on the second error in as many innings for Chapman. Turner struck out looking, but Harper drew his second walk to put runners at first and second for the Phillies with one out.

Bohm then came up and hit a ground ball into left field to score Schwarber and put the Phillies on the board. Realmuto walked to load the bases, and Brandon Marsh singled on a ground ball up the middle to center field to score two and give the Phillies the lead.

Nola threw a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, and Hicks set down the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fourth, but things would get tricky again for Hicks. Turner singled the other way to right and stole second, and then he scored all the way from second on a passed ball by Tom Murphy, which also happened to be ball four to Bryce Harper to make it 4-2 Phillies.

Phillies Manager Rob Thompson lifted Aaron Nola after just four innings for Matt Strahm, who pitched a shutdown 1-2-3 top of the fifth. Hicks was also done after four, as Sean Hjelle came in for the bottom of the fifth, and for Hicks, it was six up, six down in the fifth and sixth.

Mike Yastrzemski reached on a two-out error and got to second on a wild pitch by Seranthony Dominguez, who came in for the sixth, but the Giants wasted another opportunity. Orion Kerkering came in for the seventh and gave up three-straight singles to Nick Ahmed, Jung-hoo Lee and LaMonte Wade Jr. to load the bases with nobody out for the slugger, Jorge Soler.

It was another golden opportunity for the Giants, but Soler grounded into a 6-3 double play. Ahmed scored on the play to make it 4-3 and get the tying run to third, but it was a massive blow to the Giants, and Conforto flew out to right to end the inning with the Phillies still ahead.

Luke Jackson gave up a leadoff single to Realmuto to start the bottom of the seventh, but he retired the next three men in order. Jeff Hoffman came in for the top of the eighth, and threw a 1-2-3 innings while striking out the side. The submariner Taylor Rogers also struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth, though his inning was not a 1-2-3 innings like Hoffman’s was.

The Phillies brought in their closer, Jose Alvarado, who gave up a leadoff single to Thairo Estrada. Ahmed flew out to center, and Lee grounded out to short. Estrada, the tying run, advanced to second on Lee’s groundout to put the tying run in scoring position with two outs. Bob Melvin decided to have Wilmer Flores pinch-hit for Wade, but Flores struck out swinging to end the game.

At the end of the day, it was another tough loss for the Giants, who fall to 15-18. However, the Giants were two or three missed opportunities away from beating one of the best teams in Baseball in the Phillies in their park.

As frustrating as the Giants’ start to the 2024 Season has been, especially with an offense that has wasted many opportunities in the early going, they are a couple of bats away—whether it be midseason acquisitions, or two or three guys in the lineup getting hot—from having a solid offense to bolster a strong pitching rotation that will get even stronger as the season progresses.

It is frustrating for fans and for this writer, but I have confidence this team will eventually get it together at some point later in the season.

Anyway, the Giants will be back at it for the second game of this series Saturday night with Keaton Winn on the mound. First pitch will be at 6:05 p.m. in Philadelphia, 3:05 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

News and Notes:

According to Bob Melvin, Patrick Bailey is feeling better and is not going through concussion protocol. However, with head injuries, nothing is certain, and I would surely expect that the Giants will monitor him again when he gets to the park Saturday.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants avoid sweep comeback and beat Red Sox; Giants open series in Philadelphia next

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (5) is greeted at the Giants dugout after hitting a top of the third inning home run against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thu May 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 How special is it for Mike Yastrzemski and those who follow to see him come to Fenway Park and hit one out in grampa’s old backyard.

#2 The Giants pitcher Ryan Walker pitched perfect baseball into the sixth inning giving up three hits and one run before leaving talk about what’s been working for him.

#3 Camilo Doval has had picked up his sixth save in the ninth inning of relief. Another reason why the Giants have so much success and confidence in Doval.

#4 San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said in his post game presser, “Six hits. Scratched three runs out of it today, but there’s still more out there.”

#5 Giants open up a four game series that runs through Monday at Citizens Bank in Philadelphia. First pitch on Friday 3:40pm PDT. RHP Jordan Hicks starts for San Francisco (2-0) and for Philadelphia RHP Aaron Nola (4-1).

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

#1