Category: San Francisco Giants

Giants Squeeze out series win in Miami with 3-1 win over Marlins

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San Francisco Giant Thairo Estrada is greeted by teammates in the Giants dugout after scoring in the top of the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Maimi on Wed Apr 17, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

LoanDepot Park

Miami, Florida

San Francisco Giants 3 (8-11)

Miami Marlins 1 (4-15)

Win: Kyle Harrison (2-1)

Loss: Declan Cronin (0-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (3)

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 8,290

By Stephen Ruderman

Keaton Winn pitched six solid innings, and the Giants were able to squeeze out a series win in Miami with a 3-1 getaway win over the Marlins.

The Giants, who have been off to a slow start this season, came into Miami after losing two out of three to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field to face a Marlins team off to a horrendous start. This was a golden opportunity for the Giants and their offense to finally get things going.

However, things have been much more difficult for the Giants than they would have hoped. The Giants were able to come back from down 3-0 to beat the Marlins in a weird game Monday night, but they dropped the second game of the series last night.

Today, the Giants turned to Keaton Winn to try and take the series in a getaway Wednesday afternoon affair in Miami. Winn and the Giants would be opposed by the left-hander, Trevor Rogers.

Rogers set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the first inning, and Winn pitched a scoreless bottom of the first thanks to his defense after giving up a one-out base-hit to Bryan De La Cruz.

Jorge Soler lined a single up the middle and into center field to start the second. Matt Chapman struck out swinging, and then Thairo Estrado hit a double down the left field line to score Soler.

Jesus Sanchez singled to right to start the bottom of the second, but Winn retired the side in order. The game turned into a pitcher’s duel in the early going, as Winn set down nine-straight after Sanchez’s single, and Rogers retired 11-straight Giants after Estrada’s RBI double.

Winn’s streak came to an end when Tim Anderson legged out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the fifth, but Winn got out of it thanks to a fly out by Nick Gordon, and a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Otto Lopez.

Tyler Fitzgerald lined a base-hit to left to start the sixth. Austin Slater struck out swinging, and Wilmer Flores fouled out, but Jung-hoo Lee reached on an infield hit to the shortstop. That would do it for Trevor Rogers, and Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker brought in Declan Cronin. Soler walked to load the bases, but Chapman grounded out to second to end the inning.

The Giants’ offense had wasted another opportunity, which they have done far too many times in the early going here in 2024, and it would come back to bite them in the bottom of the sixth. Winn retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but De La Cruz tied the game with an opposite-field home run to right.

Cronin was back out for the Marlins in the top of the seventh, and he was right back in trouble, as Estrada and Patrick Bailey both singled to put runners at the corners with nobody out for the Giants.

Nick Ahmed came up and reached for an outside slider that he sharply hit off the end of the bat up the middle, but Marlins’ second-baseman Luis Arraez dove to hit right, stepped on second and threw to first for the 4-3 double play. The Giants did retake the lead on the play, but it was a tremendous play by Arraez, and a tough break for the Giants.

Erik Miller came in and threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, and Anthony Bender replaced Cronin for the top of the eighth. Bender retired LaMonte Wade and Wilmer Flores to start the inning, but Lee and Soler singled to put runners at first and second with two outs for Chapman, who doubled to right to score Lee.

The Giants led 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth, as Bob Melvin turned to his submariner, Tyler Rogers. Rogers got Nick Gordon to ground out to first, but Avisail Garcia and Emmanuel Rivera singled with one out to put Rogers on the ropes. Fortunately for Rogers, he was able to get Luis Arraez to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning.

Sixto Sanchez came in and walked Patrick Bailey to start the ninth. Bailey even stole second, but Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald were both called out on strikes, and Mike Yastrzemski flew out to left to end the inning.

Camilo Doval came in to try and notch down his third save of the season, and he pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to close this one out. It wasn’t easy, but the Giants were able to take two out of three from the Marlins to win just their second series of the season.

Winn got his first win of the season; Cronin got the loss; and Doval got his third save.

The Giants improve to 8-11, and they will indeed have a happy flight home, as they will begin a 10-game homestand tomorrow night against the defending National League Pennant Winners, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants will send their ace, Logan Webb, to the mound against the Diamondbacks at Oracle Park tomorrow night with first pitch at 6:45 p.m.

Giants Drop Game Two to Marlins 6-3

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Walker (left) waits on the mound to be relieved as he’s joined by third baseman Matt Chapman (right) in the bottom of the sixth inning at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Tue Apr 16, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants took a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth in their series with Miami Tuesday. The Marlins were able to tie up the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth and extended their lead in the sixth inning scoring three times. Miami scored one more run in the seventh inning winning this game 6-3 and tying up the series.

Jordan Hicks took the mound for the Giants for game two and Ryan Weathers started for the Marlins.

San Francisco took a 2-0 lead after the first three innings. Matt Chapman hit a solo home run in the second inning for an early 1-0 lead. Wilmer Flores doubled in the third inning driving Austin Slater home extending the Giants lead to 2-0.

Miami had a quiet first three innings but came alive in the fourth inning tying the game 2-2. Bryan De La Cruz doubled and base runner Luis Arraez scored and the Marlins were on the board 2-1. Jesus Sanchez grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and De La Cruz scored on a San Francisco error. Going into the fifth inning this game was tied 2-2.

Miami took the lead in the sixth inning. Tim Anderson grounded into a fielder’s choice to third and base runner Josh Bell crossed home plate giving the Marlins their first lead of the game 3-2. With two outs, Miami had the bases loaded with the Luis Arraez at the plate. Arraez singled driving Tim Anderson and Emmanuel Rivera home extending the Marlins lead to 5-2.

Starter Jordan Hicks went five innings for San Francisco allowing 3 hits, 2 runs with 5 strikeouts. Ryan Walker came in to relieve. Miami starting pitcher Ryan Weathers went six innings allowing 5 hits, 2 runs with 10 strikeouts. Burch Smith relieved Weathers in the seventh inning.

The Giants go something going in the seventh inning. With runners on second and third and one out, LaMonte Wade singled, Michael Conforto scored and Nick Ahmed advanced to third. With the one out, San Francisco was in business but still trailing 5-3. Wilmer Flores came to the plate and hit into a double play and the scored remained 5-3 in favor of Miami. This was a lost opportunity for San Francisco.

In the bottom of the seventh inning with two on base Miami’s Nick Gordon ripped a single into right field and Jesus Sanchez scored giving the Marlins a 6-3 lead going into the eighth inning. The Marlins went into the ninth three outs away from winning game two and tying up this series one apiece.

Lefty Tanner Scott took the mound looking to close out this game for the Marlins. Scott did not have any command walking Ahmed and Tyler Fitzgerald back-to-back and the Giants had two on with only one out. Unfortunately Wilmer Flores popped out and Miami had evened up the series winning this game 6-3.

Game notes: Tuesday evening the Giants played the second game of their series with Marlins at Loan Depot Park. Monday, the Giants took game one winning on a single run game 4-3. The Giants rallied in the seventh inning with 3 runs beating the Marlins. Wilmer Florres gave San Francisco the lead with a RBI single in the seventh inning. The Marlins are struggling, they are worst team in the NL, and it all came to a head when Miami manager Skip Schumaker was ejected by the plate umpire in the eighth inning. They did pick up game two of the series Tuesday night in a 6-3 win at LoanDepot.

Game three is scheduled for 9:40 AM tomorrow. Keaton Winn (0-3 ERA 5.06) will take the mound for the Giants and Trevor Rogers (0-2 ERA 4.80) will start for the Marlins. San Francisco will be looking to take the series and the Marlins will be looking for their fifth win of the season.

Harrison settles down and Giants come back to beat Marlins 4-3 in weird game Miami

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San Francisco Giants Nick Ahmed scores on a Wilmer Flores hit which was the go ahead run in the Giants three run rally in the top of the seventh inning at Loan Depot Park in Miami on Mon Apr 15, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Loan Depot Park

Miami, Florida

San Francisco Giants 4 (7-10)

Miami Marlins 3 (3-14)

Win: Kyle Harrison (2-1)

Loss: George Soriano (0-1)

Win: Tyler Alexander (1-0)

Loss: Blake Snell (0-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (2)

Time: 2:36

Attendance: 8,290

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants got a much-needed win in a flat-out weird game, as Kyle Harrison settled in for a quality outing after struggling early on, and the Giants came back with three runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat the Marlins 4-3.

The Giants came into Miami after losing two out of 3 against the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend across the state in St. Petersburg. The good news was that the Giants’ offense had finally woken up, as they scored 11 runs on Saturday, and another four yesterday.

The even better news was that the Giants were coming into Miami to play a Marlins team that was off to an abysmal 3-13 start. The Giants would be up against Edward Cabrera, who would be making his 2024 debut after starting the season on the Injured List due to a right shoulder injury he sustained during Spring Training.

Jung-hoo Lee singled to start the game, but he was caught trying to steal second base, and the Giants went down scoreless in the top of the first inning.

Kyle Harrison made his fourth start of the year and struggled early. After wiggling his way out of a jam in the bottom of the first, his first pitch of the bottom of the second was hit out of the park to left field by Asival Garcia.

Harrison got the next two guys out, but he quickly ran into more trouble. Otto Lopez and Luis Arraez singled, and Bryan De La Cruz hit a line drive to left that went under and past the glove of the diving Michael Conforto. Lopez scored, and when Arraez was waved in, the relay throw from shortstop Nick Ahmed sailed to the backstop.

The Giants trailed the 3-13 Marlins 3-0 going to the third, and they responded by going down 1-2-3 in the top of the third. Harrison walked Tim Anderson to start the bottom of the third, but Anderson was thrown out trying to steal second, and Harrison had himself a mostly-quiet inning.

The Giants only had one hit over the first three innings, but they finally appeared ready to break through against Cabrera in the top of the fourth. Lee walked to start the inning, and after LaMonde Wade struck out swinging for the first out, Jorge Soler singled on a ground ball the other way to right to put runners on the corner with one out for Michael Conforto.

Conforto hit a ground ball that ricocheted off the glove of Marlins’ second-baseman Luis Arraez and into right-center for a base-hit to score Lee and put the Giants on the board. It was now 3-1, and the Giants had runners at first and second with one out, but Matt Chapman struck out looking, and Thairo Estrada grounded into a force out to end the inning.

The Giants’ offense wasted a golden opportunity in the top of the fourth, but fortunately for the Giants, Harrison finally settled down, as he pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth. Cabrera pitched a scoreless top of the fifth, and Harrison a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth, as Harrison had set down eight-straight Marlins.

Wade hit a long single off the wall in right to lead off the top of the sixth, but after Soler and Conforto struck out, Wade was caught stealing to end the inning. Meanwhile, Harrison pitched a scoreless 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.

Harrison struggled early on, but he settled down to retire 11 of the final 12 men he faced, and ended up pitching a quality outing.

Cabrera was also done after six, and he did not disappoint in his season debut, as he walked just one and struck out 10 over six innings.

Cabrera was relieved by George Soriano for the top of the seventh. Chapman lined out to center to start the inning, but Thairo Estrada lined a double down the left field line, and advanced to third on a wild pitch to Mike Yastrzemski, who eventually walked.

The Giants had runners at the corners with one out for Patrick Bailey, who knocked in Estrada with a sacrifice fly to left to make it 3-2. Nick Ahmed walked, and Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker pulled Soriano for the lefty, Andrew Nardi, who would face the top of the Giants’ order.

Lee came up and battled Nardi until he was able to hit a fastball over the outer half of the plate the other way to left for a base-hit to knock in Yastrzemski and tie the game. Wilmer Flores, who has not seen much playing time early this season, but has been money for the Giants in key RBI situations over the last four years, came through with a line-drive single up the middle to score Ahmed and give the Giants their first lead of the night.

Bob Melvin brought in the submariner, Tyler Rogers, for the bottom of the seventh. Otto Lopez reached on a throw in the dirt by Ahmed at short to start the inning. Luis Arraez then laid down a bunt on the first base side that he seemed likely to beat out, but Rogers dove to his left, and flipped the ball to first to get Arraez. It was a great play by Rogers, who was not fazed by the early-inning drama, and set down the next two men he faced to end the inning.

Bryan Hoeing pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Marlins, and Ryan Walker came in for the Giants in the bottom of the eighth. Walker got Tim Anderson to ground out to third; gave up a single to Jazz Chisholm; and struck Avisal Garcia out looking.

Then there was some real confusion. Melvin summoned his closer, Camilo Doval, from the bullpen to come in for a four-out save, but for whatever reason, the lefty, Taylor Rogers, came in from the bullpen when Melvin clearly motioned for the right-hander, Doval. Rogers was stopped, and went back to the bullpen, as Doval came in.

Meanwhile, Schumaker was furious that the umpires did not start the warmup clock, and felt like Doval should have been limited in his warmup throws as a result. Schumaker made his frustrations with Home Plate Umpire and Crew Chief quite clear, but surprisingly wasn’t ejected.

Dee Gordon came up to the plate, and on the first pitch to Gordon, which was a strike, Chisholm stole second. Then Schumaker came back out of the dugout and was tossed by Diaz, as Schumaker believed that Doval had thrown a pair of warmup pitches after the clock expired, which if true, should have resulted in two automatic balls. Gordon struck out looking, and that would be that.

Hoeing was back out for the ninth, and pitched a scoreless inning after walking Bailey to start the inning. Doval was back out for the bottom of the ninth, as he tried to complete the four-out save. Jesus Sanchez grounded out to second, and Lopez struck out on a foul tip. That was after Patrick Bailey had to call timeout and use mound visit to keep Doval from walking Lopez on a pitch clock violation.

Doval, who was pitching in just his fourth game this season, was once again struggling with the pitch clock, just as he did in his first outing of the season on March 30 in San Diego, and just as he did early last season.

Arraez lined a base-hit to right after a seven-pitch at-bat, in which Bailey had to use another mound visit to keep Doval from getting called for a pitch clock violation, but De La Cruz struck out swinging to end it, and the Giants held on to win this weird game 4-3.

Harrison got his second win of the season; George Soriano got the loss; and Doval got his second save. Doval is finally settling down after his third-straight rocky start to the season, but after Bailey had to use two of the Giants’ four mound visits to rescue Doval from pitch clock violations, and that is something Doval will have to work on.

The Giants improve to 7-10, and they will send Aaron Hicks to the mound tomorrow night, as they will try to get just their second two-game winning streak and second series win of the young season. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m. in Miami, 3:40 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants Snell coughs up two HRs and 7 runs over four innings in return to Tampa Bay loss 9-4

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Rough outing for San Francisco Giant pitcher Blake Snell as he gives up a hit in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg on Sun Apr 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Tropicana Field

St. Petersburg, Florida

San Francisco Giants 4 (6-10)

Tampa Bay Rays 9 (9-7)

Win: Tyler Alexander (1-0)

Loss: Blake Snell (0-2)

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 19,470

By Stephen Ruderman

The Rays returned the favor after yesterday’s offensive explosion from the Giants, and lit up Blake Snell in his return to Tampa Bay, as they pounded the Giants 9-4 to take the series at the Trop.

After the Giants’ offense was stymied again Friday night in a tough 2-1 loss, they exploded for 11 runs yesterday in a performance that included five home runs. The offense looked to keep it going today in what would be a bullpen game for Kevin Cash and the Rays.

Shawn Armstrong was the opener for the Rays, and the Giants carried their momentum from yesterday into the top of the first inning today. Jung-hoo Lee lined a base-hit to right field to start the game and stole second. Wilmer Flores struck out looking, but LaMonte Wade Jr. singled the other way to left to knock in Lee.

Blake Snell would make the start for the Giants. Snell of course began his career with the Rays, as he was called up in 2016 and spent five years in Tampa. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018, and helped lead the Rays to the World Series in the COVID-shortened 60-game sprint season of 2020.

After spending three years in San Diego with the Padres, where he won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022, Snell hit free agency at the end of last season. Snell signed with the Giants late in Spring Training, and made his Giants debut on April 8 against the Washington Nationals. Snell struggled with his control, and gave up three runs over three innings.

Today, Snell would coincidentally be making his second start with the Giants back at Tropicana Field, where it all started for him. It was also his first start and visit to Tampa since being traded following the 2020 Season, as the Padres did not go to Tampa Bay to play the Rays in the last three years.

It was a festive return home for Snell, but once the game started, the Rays wouldn’t be so festive. Yandy Diaz doubled to left-center to start the bottom of the first, and scored on a one-out base-hit off the bat of Randy Arozarena to tie the game at 1-1.

With two outs, Amed Rosario came up and hit a two-run home run to left that barely cleared the fence. Bob Melvin asked the umpires to review the play, which did not use up the Giants’ challenge, as challenges are not required to have a home run-related call reviewed. The call was upheld, and Blake Snell ended up giving up three runs in his first inning back at the Trop.

Armstrong and Snell both calmed down and pitched 1-2-3 innings in the second.

Tyler Alexander came in for the Rays in the third, and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. As for Snell, the Rays got to him for another run in the bottom of the third. Harold Ramirez singled with one out and advanced to second on a ground out by Arozarena. Isaac Paredes then lined a single the other way to right to knock in Ramirez and make it 4-1.

Alexander threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth, but Snell ran into more trouble in the bottom of the inning. Snell walked Curtis Mead and Niko Goodrun to start the inning, and struck out Jose Siris for the first out. Rene Pinto then came up and hit a three-run home run barely to the left of straight away center.

Snell finished the fourth without suffering any further damage, but that would be the end of his day. For Snell, it was a rude welcome back home, as he was torched for seven runs over four innings. Snell has struggled in his first two outings. The good news is that he also struggled in April and May last season, and bounced back with a powerful final four months to win the cy young.

Tyler Alexander pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, as he and Armstrong combined to set down 14-straight Giants after LaMonte Wade’s RBI single in the first. Kai-Wei Tang came in for Snell and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth for the Giants.

Tyler Fitzgerald, who got another start today, doubled to lead off the top of the sixth. It appeared that Fitzgerald would be stranded after Lee and Flores couldn’t advance him, but after Austin Slater pinch-hit and walked. Jorge Soler then singled to left to knock in Fitzgerald and make it 7-2.

Rene Pinto hit his second home run of the game, an opposite field shot to right, with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and Michael Conforto homered to right to lead off the seventh. The home run parade continued when Isaac Peredes homered to left with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to make it 9-3.

The Giants couldn’t do anything with a two-out double in the top of the eighth, and that would do it for Tyler Alexander, who ate up the bulk of the game for the Rays with six innings.

Teng retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of eighth, and then he was pulled for the submariner, Tyler Rogers, who struck out Pinto to end the inning.

Kevin Kelly came in for Alexander in the top of the ninth, and the Giants were able to get to him for a run, as Tyler Fitzgerald tripled in Thairo Estrada to make it 9-4. Jung-hoo Lee then popped out to shallow left, as the Rays’ shortstop, Niko Goodrum, made the catch and nearly collided with Arozarena to end the game.

Tyler Alexander got the win for the Rays, and Snell got the loss, as he is now 0-2 to start the season.

The good news is that the Giants’ offense did somewhat keep the momentum from last night into today. They struck early in the top of the first inning, and were able to get a pair of RBI hits with runners in scoring position.

The Giants are now off to a 6-10 start in their first 16 games, but another piece of good news is that they will make the short trip to the other coast of Florida to Miami, where they will take on the 3-13 Marlins for three games starting tomorrow night. This series will be an opportunity for the Giants to pick up two or three wins, get closer to .500 and give them a bit of momentum.

Kyle Harrison will make his fourth start of the season to start the series tomorrow. First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m. in Miami, 3:40 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

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

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

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Tropicana Field

St. Petersburg, Florida

San Francisco Giants 11 (6-9)

Tampa Bay Rays 2 (8-7)

Win: Logan Webb (1-1)

Loss: Ryan Pepiot (1-2)

Time: 2:27

Attendance: 17,411

By Stephen Ruderman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

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

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

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

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

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

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

#1

#2

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

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

Wednesday, April 10th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

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

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

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

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

Melvin indicated that Fitzgerald could see more playing time.

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

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

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

Fitzgerald’s performance also excited his teammates.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

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

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

Time: 2:41

Attendance: 24,380

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tiger’s Treasure Trove: 1978 Topps Greg Minton

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1978 Topps Greg Minton (Topps Baseball Gum Chewing Co)

Tiger’s Treasure Trove

1978 Topps Greg Minton

By Tony “The Tiger” Hayes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It became an instant classic.

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