Category: San Francisco Giants

Washington Nationals Start Off Series Hot With 8-1 Win Over San Francisco Giants

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San Francisco Giants starter Black Snell got touched up by the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Snell pitched three innings gave up three hits and three earned runs on Mon Apr 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 8th, 2024

By Troy Ewers

The San Francisco Giants (4-7) continue their opening homestand with a three game series against the Washington Nationals (4-6)… SF is coming off its first winning series of the year after taking two of the last three games from the Padres over the weekend. The Nationals got a seven run win on Monday night over the Giants at Oracle Park with a series opening 8-1 win.

Blake Snell started his first game on the hill for the Giants at Oracle Park and first batter up. Jacob Young and he sat down on strikes. Only allowing one hit, but no runs that first inning. “[I] have a lot to learn. Facing big league hitters for the first time, I was pretty pumped up. There’s a lot to break down…..[I was] trying to nitpick too much instead of getting [it] over the plate…..There’s a lot going through my head right now, but I was pretty amped up, and I was trying to nitpick too much, [which] made the bullen have to cover a lot of innings that they shouldn’t have had to cover.” Said Snell.

The Giants got the first run on the board. Lamonte Wade Jr. doubles on a flyball, Jung Hoo Lee scores, 1-0 SF. 

Snell had back to back walks in the second inning and it required two mound visits, but Trey Lipscomb captalized on the rattled Snell and hit a line drive that scored Keibert Ruiz, 1-1. The Nats would take the lead as Luis Garcia Jr. singled to first and was still safe while also scoring Ildemaro Vargas, 2-1 Nats. Lipscomb steals home and Washington goes up 3-1, but Snell would get out the inning and that would be the end of his night. “I’m excited where I’m at, [and] how the ball’s getting out. I’m always going to get better, [and my stuff’s] going to get more crisp, so my first game, [I’m] happy it’s out [of] the way. [I have] a lot to learn from it, and [I’m] really looking forward to what I’ll be able to do Sunday [versus] Tampa. Said Snell.

The Nationals would pack that lead with a Lane Thomas two run homer and at this point, it seemed like the Giants were going to have to dig deep. 5-1 Nats. Vargas would hit an RBI double and drive in Joey Gallo and the Nationals were up 6-1 with a nail clearly in the coffin. 

Lane Thomas would end up with a 3 RBI night with a single that scored Jacob Young, 7-1 Nats. Tayler Rogers would come in with the bases loaded and get a walk and Nats would insure themselves an 8-1 lead in the ninth inning.

Matt Barnes would come in to close for Washington and other than a single for Thairo Estrada he’d knock down the side and the Nats would win 8-1. 

Next game in the series is April 9th with Josiah Gray (0-2, 14.04) on the hill for the Nationals and Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.91) for the Giants.

Giants score two after massive break in eighth to win series over Padres 3-2

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman swings for an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oracle Park against the San Diego Padres on Sun Apr 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 2 (5-7)

San Francisco Giants 3 (4-6)

Win: Ryan Walker (1-0)

Loss: Jhony Brito (0-2)

Save: Camilo Doval (1)

Time: 2:16

Attendance: 40,149

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants capitalized on a botched double play, and scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come back and beat the Padres 3-2 and win the series.

After the Giants’ dramatic walk-off win in the Home Opener on Friday, the Padres beat the Giants on a first inning grand slam by Jurickson Profar. Logan Webb took the mound to make his third start of the season for the rubber match, as the Giants looked to take the series.

Webb got off to a tough start in the top of the first. He got Xander Bogaerts to fly out to right to open the game, but Fernando Tatis Jr. lined a single to left, and then Jake Cronenworth knocked in Tatis with a double to right.

The knuckle-baller Matt Waldron made the start for San Diego, and the Giants threatened in the bottom of the first. Jung-hoo Lee singled on a ground ball up the middle to start the inning, and then got to third on a one-out double by Jorge Soler. However, Michael Conforto popped out to third, and Matt Chapman flew out to right.

Webb ran into trouble again in the top of the second when the Padres put runners on the corner with one out, but he got out of it when Kyle Higashioka hit a ground ball to third for a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

From there, both pitchers settled down. Waldron retired 14 of the 15 men he faced from Conforto’s popup through the bottom of the fifth inning. As for Webb, the inning-inning double play in the top of the second started a stretch where he set down nine-straight guys.

The Padres had Webb back on the ropes in the sixth, as three-straight singles by Cronenworth, Manny Machado and Ha-seong Kim plated a run to make it 2-0. 

The Giants caught a break when Lee reached on an errant throw by Kim to start the bottom of the sixth. LaMonte Wade Jr. then singled to right, and the Giants would be in business. Soler lined out sharply to center, and Padres Manager Mike Shildt came out to the mound to pull Waldron for Steve Koek, who walked Conforto to load the bases. 

Matt Chapman came up and hit a chopper to short that the shortstop Kim fielded and flipped to second to get Conforto for the force. Lee scored on the play to put the Giants on the board, but that would be the only run the Giants would get in the sixth, as Thairo Estrada swung out swinging on a ball in the dirt to end the inning.

With the Giants on the board, the Padres looked to respond in the seventh. Tyler Wade and Jackson Merrill singled to start the inning, and Webb would be in trouble again. Higashioka tried to sacrifice the runners over to second and third, but he struck out on a foul bunt. Bogaerts then reached on a fielder’s choice, which put runners on the corners with two outs, and Tatis grounded out to third, as Webb got out of it unscathed.

Webb had an up-and-down outing today, as he gave up 10 hits, but he was able to work his way out of trouble, and managed to allow just two runs over seven innings.

“Webby’s up against it not getting support,” said Manager Bob Melvin.

“[I’m] still not where I really want to be,” said Webb. “The first inning, my changeup was god awful. Then I started throwing more, and started to figure it out a little better. Still some things I gotta clean up, but as long as the team wins, I’m all good.”

Yuki Matsui pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh for the Padres, and Melvin brought in Ryan Walker, who pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for the Giants.

Lee popped out to the catcher to start the bottom of the eighth, and then Shildt pulled Matsui for the righty Jhony Brito in response to Wilmer Flores pinch-hitting for Wade. Flores lined a base-hit to left, and Soler singled to right-center to move Tyler Fitzgerald, who pinch-ran for Flores, to third. 

Conforto hit a chopper to first, which Cronenworth fielded and stepped on the bag at first for the second out, but when he threw to second to try and nab Soler for the double play, the shortstop, Kim, dropped the ball, and it got away, which allowed Soler to get to third and Fitzgerald to score the tying run. Matt Chapman then came up and hit a ground ball the opposite way to right for a base-hit to score Soler and give the Giants the lead.

“[Chapman]’s really not hitting his stride yet, but he’s finding a way to make contact with guys on third and less than two out, and he’s finding a way to get a big hit,” said Melvin.

Camilo Doval came in for the ninth to try and notch his first save of the season, and he retired the first two men he faced. However, Doval, who has been off to another rocky start his season, wouldn’t get through the ninth so easily. Jackson Merrill singled to right and stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Doval struck out Luis Campusano to end the game, and the Giants won it 3-2.

“Our offensive is gonna come around,” said Melvin. “If we can do the little things right, create this kind of identity and win these kind[s] of games, I think we’ll be tougher for it.”

Ryan Walker, who pitched the eighth got the win; Jhony Brito got the loss; and of course, Camilo Doval got his first save of the year.

The Giants improve to 4-6, and they will welcome the Washington Nationals to Oracle Park for a three-game series starting tomorrow night. Tomorrow night will also be big, as Blake Snell will make his Giants debut. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

News and Notes:

  • With today’s attendance of 40,149, the Giants have sold out their first three games at Oracle Park, matching their amount of sellouts from all of last season. 

Not only that, but this is the first time that the Giants have sold out three straight games since they sold out four-straight at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. They sold out their final three home games of the 2018 Season against the Dodgers (Sept. 28-30), as well as the Home Opener in 2019 against the Tampa Bay Rays (April 5.)

There was also much more energy and enthusiasm at Oracle Park this weekend than there had been for a better part of the last five years. It is no surprise that since the Giants were willing to spend money to build a better team over the off-season, there is a lot of hype around the Giants this season, and fans are showing up. As they say, “Build it, and they will come.”

  • Wilmer Flores has seen a decrease in playing time early this season, but Bob Melvin has made it quite clear that Flores is a big part of this team.

“It’s really hard not to have [Flores] in the game,” said Melvin. “The one thing you do know is that you’re going to have a spot in the game where he can come up and [have an] impact, and left, right, it doesn’t matter to him, so when they make the move, it doesn’t matter. It’s Wilmer Flores.”

  • There have been a lot of new faces in Mike Murphy’s Clubhouse this season in terms of both players and catchers. 10 games in, the personalities are starting to mesh.

“I think it’s been great,” said Melvin. “[We have] a new coaching staff to an extent, and there were a lot of new players [who come] in during [Spring Training], so there’s a lot [we] have to sort through. I think as far as how these guys get along in the clubhouse, [with] the leadership from previous teams, [and the] leadership from now with some of the players we’ve brought too, I think it’s happened really well. Obviously, our results have not been great yet, and they will, but we [are] still kinda learning each other, I think more so on the field than in the clubhouse.”

Matt Chapman has been heralded as one of the new leaders in the clubhouse.

“Matt Chapman’s always been a leader, so that’s never going to change, and that’s one of the reasons we brought him in here.”

“Honestly, I think the most underrated part of Chappy is his leadership and what he brings inside the clubhouse, inside the dugout [and] the energy he brings every single day,” said Webb. “[At] times when we might get down early, and he’s coming in the dugout [and] saying, ‘Let’s go guys!’ kinda firing the guys up. I think that’s something we might have lacked the last couple of years, and he brings that, so you feel that as a teammate.”

“I’m just trying to show up every day and play to win,” said Chapman. “[I] just do whatever I can to help the team. [I’m] just trying to keep the positive vibes up around this place and do my job.”

Profar’s grand slam paces Padres in 4-0 win over Giants at Oracle

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San Diego Padres Jurickson Profar connects for a grand slam home run in the top of the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco to help defeat the San Francisco Giants 4-0 on Sat Apr 6, 2024 (AP News photo)

San Diego (5-6). 400 000 000 4 5 0

San Francisco (3-6). 000 000 000. 0 4 0

Time: 2:10

Attendance: 40,114

Saturday, April 6 San Francisco

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Fresh from yesterday’s exhilarating home opener triumph over San Diego, the Giants had hopes of clinching their first series win of 2024 and bringing them to within a game of 500 in front of another sellout crowd, this time one of 40,114.

Keaton Winn, a 26 year old righter in the process of converting from the bullpen to the rotation and possessor of a four pitch repertory, that includes a fastball rated by MLB’s Baseball Savant as in the 80th percentile, was SF’s starting pitcher, in his one previous appearance this season, he lost to the Dodgers on April Fools’ Day, having given up three runs, all earned, on four hits in a was as the losing pitcher in an 8-3 game. His names conjure up two of the greatest stars of America’s golden age of comedy, but the rookie, although he pitched well, was in serious trouble from almost the outset of what turned out to be a 4-0 loss.

The Padres opted for another righty who has oscillated between the roles of starter and reliever, sending 28 year old Michael King and his career MLB record of 14-17, 3.46 and WHIP of 1.22 to the mound.

Any residual giddiness the Giants may have carried over from yesterday dissipated in the 55º light of the top of the first inning. Xander Bogaerts led off with a pop fly that fell to the grass just in front of center fieder Jung-Hoo Lee, who seemed to be having trouble with the sun or wind or both.

It looked as though Winn would get out of the inning unscathed after he disposed of Fernando Tatís, Jr. and Jake Croenworth on a fly to center and a strikeout. But the Friars filled the bases with Manny Machado’s single to left and a full count walk to Ha-Seong Kim. The veteran Jurickson Profar promptly seized the opportunity to send Winn’s first offering over the right field wall, landing 347′ from the plate, the third grand slam of Profar’s 10 year career.

Winn got tagged with the loss even though he didn’t allow a hit or a run, just two walks, for the rest of his tenure, which came to a total of six innings. He was helped by a grand leaping catch that Lee made at the center field fence off Jackson Merrill’s drive in the top of the fifth.

The youngster’s ERA rose to a deceptively high 5.73. His pitch count reached 80, 55 for strikes. Laden Loup, another right handed rookie, replaced him to open the top of the seventh.

Loup kept the Pads off the board, yielding only a single to Luis Campusano, and gave way to yet another rookie righty, Nick Avila, for the eighth and ninth. In the eighth, he reprised Loup’s seventh; the only Padre who reached base safely was Fernando Tatís, who singled to right. He retired the side in order in the ninth. King was majestic in his seven innings of work.

San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa: Sharks have lost 11 of last 12; Host St Louis today at SAP Center

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Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) tries and takes a shot up close on the San Jose Sharks goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (29) in the first period at SAP Center in San Jose on Thu Apr 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Jose Sharks podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 The San Jose Sharks were hit with another tough loss in their last game to the Los Angeles Kings 3-2. The Kings Akil Thomas scored his first NHL goal and said “it felt amazing.”

#2 The Kings goaltender David Rittch stopped 15 shots in the close one goal win for the Kings. While Rittch gave up two goals his goaltending kept the Sharks from finding the back end of the net.

#3 The Sharks who have lost 11 of their last 12 games. The Sharks have lost their last two games one to the Kings last Thursday and Tuesday to the Dallas Stars.

#4 Sharks head coach David Quinn said he didn’t love the Sharks third period but said the Sharks played better hockey in the first and second periods.

#5 The Sharks have an afternoon game at 3:00pm PDT against the St Louis Blues at SAP Center in San Jose . The Sharks defeated the Blues in their last meeting 4-0 in St Louis to snap a nine game losing streak.

Join Mary Lisa for the Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants edge Padres 3-2 in home opener at Oracle Park on Friday

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San Francisco Giants LeMonte Wade Jr (left) scores behind San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano (right) in the bottom of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Apr 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, April 5 San Francisco

San Diego (5-5) 101 000 000. 2. 6. 0

San Francisco (3-5 ) 100 001 001 3. 5. 1

Time:2:25

Attendance: 40,645

By Lewis Rubman and Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants opened the 2024 season by splitting a four game series with the Padres in San Diego before being swept by the Dodgers in a three game set at Chavez Ravine. The Pads returned the Giant’s visit by traveling to Oracle Park for San Francisco’s home opener this afternoon in the first of a three game series.

Bob Melvin and his pitching coach, Bryan Price, went with right hander Jordan Hicks, who had the win over the Friars by pitching five scoreless frames against them on March 30 to face them again this sunny but chilly and windy afternoon.

Hicks counterpart for San Diego was Dylan Cease, the losing pitcher in that contest, in which he lasers only 4-2/3 innings, but threw 85 pitches and surrendered three runs, two of which were earned. His WHIP was a respectable 0.86. So it looked like an interesting match up. It was. The Giants halted, or at least paused their downward spiral in an exciting and exceedingly strange game, pulling out a 3-2 win in front of a sell out crowd of 40,645.

The Pads, undeterred by The Curse of the Lead Off Double, drew first blood with Xander Bogaerts’ two bagger in the opening frame, followed by a productive ground out to second by Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Jake Cronerworth’s RBI single to left. Hicks escaped further damage by inducing and completing a nifty 3-6-1 twin killing off the bat of Manny Machado. The Giants knotted the score in their half of the first. Jung-Hoo Lee began things by drawing a walk and coming home on Michael Conforto’s two out double to right.

Hicks literally threw that tie away in the top of the third. With one down and Jackson Merrill on first, Bogaerts hit a sharp grounder to the mound. Hicks paused for a moment, double clutched when Nick Ahmed seemed too far from second to receive his throw, and then hurled the ball into center field, turning what would have been an inning ending double play into a runners on the corners threat.

Melvin talked about Hicks start which he was glad he won, “That was huge. I knew we had an off-day yesterday, but our bullpen’s been beat up a little bit…..[Starting] is really what he wanted to do….And the way he went about it, [he] was honest with me. In his first start that he got a little bit tired, and we took him out. Even when he came “off the field” after the sixth, he said ‘I feel great.’…..I had just felt like he still had a lot left…..It looked like he was throwing harder later on in the game.” said Melvin.

Tatís made good on that threat with a tie-breaking single to left. A pitcher’s best friend kept things from getting worse. Cronerworth hit into it and was out at first even though he beat Ahmed’s throw. The reason: Bogaerts had committed runner’s interference. It was that sort of. game, and the Padres were leading it, 2-1.

The weirdness continued in the Giants’ half of the fourth. Conforto led off with a two bagger to right center. He broke for third on Matt Chapman’s bounding ball to short and had to reverse course and dive back to the bag to avoided being put out. Chapman, meanwhile, reached first on the fielder’s choice. Both runners moved up a base on Cease’s wild pitch to Estrada, but Conforto was thrown out at home trying to score on the play. Mike Yastrzemski fanned, and Giants still trailed, 2-1. “[Conforto was] just trying to do a little too much there. It’s Opening Day…..I think [he] just [had] some exuberance on Opening Day, and [was] just trying to do a little too much.” said Melvin

The Giants pulled even in the sixth. Wade walked to start the inning and went to third on Conforto’s one out single (you read that right, single) off the top of the Levi’s Landing brick wall. He scored on Chapman’s ground out to short.

Cease ceased pitching after that inning. He left with a no decision but reduced his ERA to 3.38, having yielded two runs, both earned, on four hits, two walks, and a wild pitch. 64 of his 102 offerings were counted as strikes. His replacement was Yuki Matsui, who set the Giants down in order on three grounders to short in the seventh, his one inning on the mound.

Once Matsui had accomplished that, Tyler, the right handed submariner, Rogers relieved Hicks, who, like Cease. had to be satisfied with a no decision that improved his ERA. His went down tor a miniscule 0.77. The Giants’ starter had thrown 91 pitches, 61 for strikes, over his seven innings of labor, in which he allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits and no walks.

Wandy Peralta came in to pitch a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth for the Friars, and SF’s closer, Camilo Doval, was called on to preserve the tie in the top of the ninth. He did, although not before allowing a safety to Cronerworrh and walk The Manny You Love to Hate.

Peralta returned for the bottom of the ninth to face Conforto, who popped out second. Enyel de los Santos then assumed mound duties for the Padres. His fourth pitch plunked Chapman. Estrada’s liner off de los Santos’s second offering split the the outfielders between left and center, and Chapman raced home with the walk-off run that won the game for San Francisco, “Thank god we won, because we did a couple [of] things early in the game that swung the game to their side.” said Melvin.

The series will be resumed Saturday evening at 6:05 with Keaton Winn (0-1, 5.40) going for San Francisco and Michael King (1-0, 6.14) for the Padres.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Giants will be a team for 8 million people 

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Oracle Park in San Francisco will be the only Major League Baseball facility in the nine county Bay Area serving nearly 8 million people as the Oakland A’s will leave the Bay Area for Sacramento in the 2025 season. (file photo from giantenterprises.com)

Giants will be a team for 8 million people

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

With the Oakland A’s departing Oakland, where they have played since 1968, the San Francisco Giants will be (after 2024) all by themselves inside the 9-county San Francisco-Oakland-San José Bay Area. The most recent US Census shows the Bay Area is home to approximately 7.52 million people, the largest population area in California after the Greater Los Angeles Area.

In 2022, the metropolitan area population of New York City was 18,867,000. The New York Yankees and the New York Mets share this huge #1 market.

The Los Angeles Metro area population in 2023 was 12,534,000. The Dodgers and Angels share the biggest market in California and #2 in the country.

In 2018, the Chicago Metropolitan Area reported 9,459,000 residents. The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox share the Midwest.

In 2022, the Houston Metropolitan Area reported 7,122,240 residents. The Astros are it, they rule Houston.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, the World Champion Texas Rangers play in a Metropolitan area with a population of 6,488,000, and the Rangers own big slice of Texas.

Then, there are the other MLB teams cities and Metropolitan areas across the country, with smaller populations, most in the millions, but much smaller.

This is a significant marketing change for the San Francisco Giants. It has been 27 years since MLB introduced Interleague games. Before that, the Giants of the National League only played teams in the National League, and across the Bay, the A’s of the American League only played American League teams. But the equation changes big time without the A’s in Oakland, even with Interleague play.

Starting in 2025, you can attend a Giants game at Oracle Park and see any other team, including the A’s. But the popular Bay Series is dead, since the A’s do not identify with a particular city anymore for the next three years, or four years. The once Philadelphia, once Kansas City, once Oakland, now renting in Sacramento while they build in Las Vegas, will only be called “The A’s”

If you live in the Bay Area and want to see a Major League game starting in 2025, there is only one place —the corner of 2nd and King, San Francisco. The Giants now own the Bay Area.

Have a great weekend, and may your favorite team win.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Too much Sho-Time for Giants in LA; SF home opener on Friday

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reaches home after hitting his first home run in the bottom of the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants and catcher Patrick Bailey looking on (left) on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

On SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hit a home run a solo shot his first of the 2024 season in the bottom of the seventh inning that help lift the Dodgers past the San Francisco Giants 5-4 in a three game sweep for LA.

#2 This was Ohtani’s ninth game for the Dodgers and hit connected with a 93.2 MPH sinker and smoked it for 430 feet and Giants reliever Taylor Rogers threw the pitch and the left Ohtani’s bat at 105.6 MPH.

#3 The Giants got home run production from Jorge Soler and Patrick Bailey but it wasn’t enough as the Giants are now on a four game skid and drop their record to 2-5.

#4 Michael, talk about Kyle Harrison’s (1-1) pitching performance giving four runs and six hits in five innings of work.

#5 Michael lets talk about Friday’s starters for the Giants home opener the San Diego Padres are going with RHP Dylan Cease (0-1 ERA 3.86) the Giants will counter with RHP Jordan Hicks (1-0 ERA 0.00) first pitch at Oracle Park is at 1:35pm PDT. Talk about the Giants coming off a four game split with the Padres and having opening day at home?

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Harrison and Giants put up fight, but Dodgers assert dominance to finish sweep in 5-4 win

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after Will Smith doubles Shohei home in the bottom of the third inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wed Apr 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles, California

San Francisco Giants 4 (2-5)

Los Angeles Dodgers 5 (7-2)

Win: Tyler Glasnow (2-0)

Loss: Kyle Harrison (1-1)

Save: Dinelson Lamet (1)

Time: 2:25

Attendance: 52,746

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants put up a fight, but Tyler Glasnow shined, and the Dodgers got to a flustered Kyle Harrison for four runs, as they completed their sweep of the Giants with a 5-4 win.

Kyle Harrison, who was coming off a great start in San Diego Friday, made the start tonight, as he looked to be the stopper. Tyler Glasnow made the start for the Dodgers in the first of what is expected to be many matchups between Harrison and Glasnow.

Glasnow started the game with a pair of 1-2-3 innings. Harrison pitched a scoreless inning after walking Mookie Betts, but he did have to throw 17 pitches. 

Harrison struck out Teoscar Hernandez to start the bottom of the second, but he then proceeded to walk Max Muncy; give up a base-hit to Kiké Hernandez; and walk Chris Taylor. That loaded the bases for Miguel Rojas, who hit into a 4-6 fielder’s choice in which Giants second-baseman Thairo Estrada made an impressive behind the back flip to shortstop Nick Ahmed to retire Taylor at second.

The Dodgers had struck first, but the Giants were ready to respond. Glasnow struck Mike Yastrzemski swinging to start the top of the third, and then Patrick Bailey hit a home run to the Pavilion in right field, his first of the year, to tie it up.

However, the Dodgers struck right back in the bottom of the third. Shohei beat out a ground ball to first-baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. after Harrison was late in covering the bag. Freddie Freeman struck out on a foul tip for the first out, but on back-to-back pitches, Will Smith lined a double down the left field line to put the Dodgers back again, and Teoscar Hernandez singled to left-center to knock in Smith and make it 3-1.

Wade walked to start the fourth, as the Giants hoped to bounce back, but Glassnow struck out the side, all looking, on 10 pitches. Harrison retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fourth, but Miguel Rojas hit a line drive home run to the Dodgers’ bullpen in left to extend Los Angeles’ lead to three at 4-1.

Patrick Bailey singled sharply on the ground up the middle with two outs in the top of the fifth, but Glasnow remained dominant with his fastball. Harrison continued to struggle, as he hit Freddie Freeman to start the bottom of the fifth. However, Harrison bore down, and he induced a 5-4-3 double play from Smith, as well as a fly out to right by Teoscar Hernandez.

Harrison had a rough time tonight, but he hung in there to throw five innings and prevent Bob Melvin from blowing through the Giants’ bullpen. 

The Giants made a game of it in the top of the sixth. Wade walked with one out, and Jorge Soler doubled Wade to third. The Giants had runners at second and third with one out against Glasnow, who was now starting to tire. 

Michael Conforto was now up, and he continued his hot start by lining a single to right to knock in both runners and make it a 5-4 game. Conforto did get to second on a wild pitch to put the tying run in scoring position, but Glasnow got out of it with the Dodger’s lead intact.

Melvin went to Erik Miller in the bottom of the sixth, and Miller continued his impressive start with a 1-2-3 inning. Miller, who is 6’5” tall and weighs 240 pounds, has also very quickly established a dominating presence on the mound.

Joe Kelly came in for the Dodgers and pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. The lefty, Taylor Rogers, came in for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh, and he retired the first two Dodgers. However, Shohei Ohtani was not going to go this whole series without burning the team that tried so hard to sign him over the off-season. 

After the Giants fell short of signing Aaron Judge in December 2022, Judge homered off Logan Webb in his first at-bat on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day last season. It did take Ohtani nine games to hit his first home run this season, but like Judge, Ohtani did it against the Giants after they fell short of signing him, and he made it hurt too with a booming shot to right-center.

Ohtani’s home run was one final act of a real statement series for the Dodgers. Both teams made big free agent splashes over the off-season, but at the end of the day, the Dodgers are a much stronger team. The Dodgers asserted their dominance this entire series, but to the Giants’ credit, they put up a fight, and showed that they can hang in there with the Dodgers.

“We’re not at full strength yet, but [having] two games that you come back and you’re that close against a good team playing really well right now, it’s really nothing to hang your hat on,” said Melvin. “It’s more frustrating than anything else.”

The Giants put up one last fight against the veteran, Daniel Hudson, who succeeded Kelly in the top of the eighth. Soler took Hudson deep for the latter’s second home run in as many nights to make it 5-4, and Michael Conforto came close to tying it, but ultimately flew out to Teoscar Hernandez deep in right.

“You don’t get any prizes for close, so we gotta dig a little harder.” said Melvin.

Tyler Rogers came in for his brother Taylor, and pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, and Dinelson Lamet closed out the Giants with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Glasnow got the win with his strong performance; Harrison the loss; and Lamet the save.

“To get swept is not a great feeling,” added Harrison. “We’re gonna be back to the drawing board, and we’re going to be ready for these guys next time we come out. It gives us that much more motivation to want to get them.”

The Giants fall to 2-5, and they will now head back home to San Francisco for the Home Opener against the San Diego Padres on Friday afternoon. Jordan Hicks will be on the mound for the Giants, and first pitch will be at 1:35 p.m.

News and Notes:

  • Blake Snell threw a simulated game prior to tonight’s game at Dodger Stadium, as he prepares to make his Giants debut next Monday against the Washington Nationals.

“This was important for him,” said Melvin. “I really do believe that he needed to face some big league hitters, and I know he felt much better about what he needs to do and where his stuff is facing this type of opponent.”

Webb suffers first-career loss at Dodger Stadium as Dodgers beat Giants again 5-4

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Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts (5) circles the bases after hitting his Major League leading fifth home run in the bottom of the third inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Tue Apr 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

Webb suffers shortest outing in two years, and Dodgers beat Giants again 5-4

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles, California

San Francisco Giants 4 (2-4)

Los Angeles Dodgers 5 (6-2)

Win: Logan Webb (0-1)

Loss: Ryan Yarbrough (1-0)

Save: Evan Phillips (3)

Time: 2:57

Attendance: 49,365

By Stephen Ruderman

The Dodgers, led by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, got to Logan Webb, and beat the Giants 5-4, as they have won the first two games of this series

Logan Webb, who came into tonight undefeated in his career at Dodger Stadium made his second start of the season, and hoped to be the stopper. The Dodgers opted to go with an opener, and it would be Ryan Brasier, who appeared last night.

Brasier pitched a scoreless top of the first inning, and Webb came out for the bottom first to face the Dodgers’ trio of superstars in Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Last night, the three of them went a combined 6-for-11, and scored six of the Dodgers’ eight runs. 

Betts and Freeman have gotten off to torrid starts this season, and they would strike again in the bottom of the first. Betts singled to start the inning and stole second base. Ohtani struck out looking, but Freddie Freeman lined a base-hit to right to knock in Betts and put the Dodgers on the board first.

The lefty Ryan Yarbrough came in for the Dodgers in the top of the second, and immediately gave up a leadoff double to Wilmer Flores. Thairo Estrada grounded out back to the pitcher to get Flores to third, and Patrick Bailey struck out swinging for the second out of the inning. Nick Ahmed, who has had some RBI hits early in the season, lined a base-hit to left field to knock in Flores and tie it up.

Logan Webb responded by throwing a 1-2-3 bottom of the second, and Matt Chapman came up and doubled off Yarbrough to lead off the third. Jorge Soler flew out to left to get Chapman to third, and Michael Conforto continued his hot start to the season, as he lined a base-hit to right-center to knock in Chapman and give the Giants the lead.

The Dodgers responded in the bottom of the third when Mookie Betts hit a home run to left-center to re-tie it. It was Betts’ fifth home run of the young season, as well as his 1,500th-career hit. Betts is hitting .500 through his first eight games.

“Honestly, anything [Betts] does doesn’t surprise me anymore,” said Webb. “He’s the best player in Baseball, I think”

Yarbrough threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth to get the Dodgers right back in the dugout, and they would be ready to go against Webb in the bottom of the fourth. Max Muncy doubled off Webb to start the half-inning, and Teoscar Hernandrez walked. 

James Outman lined out to Flores at first, but Gavin Lux came up and hit a shot to left-center that fell in for a hit to knock in Muncy and put the Dodgers back ahead, and hustled his way into second for a double. Kiké Hernandez then came up and lined a single to left, which scored both Hernandez and Lux, and that made it 5-2 Dodgers. Webb got Betts fly out to right, but after walking Ohtani, Webb was done.

This was the first time Webb did not make through the fourth since April 19, 2022 when he went three and two thirds against the New York Mets in the second game of a double header at Citi Field in New York.

“His stuff looked pretty good,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “He [was] behind in some counts, and there [were] some two-strike hits. I don’t know if they were sitting soft late in the count, but [the Dodgers] have some guys with some decent numbers [who] made him work and throw a lot of pitches”

Yarbrough came back out and pitched a 1-2-3 shutdown inning, and Landen Roupp, who came in to relieve Webb in the fourth, pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth

Jorge Soler, whom Bob Melvin said he expects to get hot prior to the game, hit a home run to left-center to start the top of the sixth and make it 5-3, but the Giants were not done yet. Conforto reached on an infield single to third, and Flores lined a single to right-center that sent Conforto to third. 

The Giants now had runners at the corners with nobody out and the tying run at first for Thairo Estrada, hit a ground ball to third and beat out the back end of a fielder’s choice, which scored Conforto to make it 5-4. Alex Vesia came in for Yarbrough, and escaped further damage.

The Dodgers had runners at first and second with nobody out against Roupp in the bottom of the sixth. Roupp then beared down to strike out Hernandez, and as well as Betts, who Roupp froze with a filthy curve on the inside corner. Roupp was then succeeded by the lefty, Taylor Rogers, to face Ohtani, and Ohtani grounded out to second to end the inning.

“[Roupp] is becoming a guy that we feel really good about,” said Melvin. “I even told him when I took him out, ‘There’s going to be a time when I’m not going to take you out there.’ For him to pitch the way he did, and [who] has continued to pitch for a guy that has very little experience, and then has to go through that order…..I think he’s gaining a lot of confidence going forward…..He’s got really good stuff, and that’s why he’s on the team” 

“Roupp is fun to watch,” added Webb. 

Michael Grove came in and set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, Taylor Rogers got into trouble in the bottom of the seventh, and Ryan Walker came in to bail Rogers out and get the final two outs of the inning. 

“The whole staff definitely picked me up,” said Webb. “I try not to get in those situations where they have to throw a lot of innings, but they did a great job tonight.”

The Giants had runners at first and second with one out against Grove in the top of the eighth, but they were unable to come through, as Evan Phillips came in for Grove to get the final out. Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth to close it out, and the Dodgers won it 5-4.

“We had an opportunity to come back, and we had some guys on [to] potentially tie it or win it,” said Melvin. “[We] just couldn’t get that big hit again when we [got] guys in scoring position.”

Ryan Yarbrough got the win; Webb suffered his first-career loss at Dodger Stadium; and Even Phillips got the save.

As for Betts and Freeman, they went a combined 5-for-9 tonight, and have gone a combined 10-for-16 in this series

The Giants have now lost three-straight, and fall to 2-4. The Giants’ young left-hander, Kyle Harrison, will look to be the stopper tomorrow night, just as he was last Friday in San Diego, and  the Giants will try to avoid the sweep.

News and Notes:

  • The Giants traded catcher Joey Bart, who they designated for assignment on Sunday, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-handed minor league pitcher Austin Strickland. Strickland, 21, was drafted by the Pirates last year.

As for Bart, this will be a new opportunity for him. Bart has shown his potential, and there seems to be a belief that he can stick in the big leagues and succeed with another team.

Keaton Winn holds down fort, but Giants overpowered by Dodgers’ superstars 8-3

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San Francisco Giants designated hitter Jorge Soler strikes out in the top fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Mon Apr 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, April 1, 2024

Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles, California

San Francisco Giants 3 (2-3)

Los Angeles Dodgers 8 (5-2)

Win: James Paxton (1-0)

Loss: Keaton Winn (0-1)

Time: 2:38

Attendance: 49,044

By Stephen Ruderman

Following an off-season of high-profile free agent signings by the Giants and Dodgers, the two rivals met for the first time in 2024, and the Dodgers and their superstars overpowered the Giants to beat them 8-3.

Following a split in their opening series in San Diego against the Padres, the Giants hopped on a bus, and headed north to Los Angeles to take on a Dodgers team that could have the highest of any in the history of the game. The Dodgers have these expectations because they added Shohei Ohtan and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to an already-powerful roster.

While the Giants may not have added the star power that the Dodgers did, the Giants still added Jung-hoo Lee, Jorge Soler, Matt Chapman and Blake Snell. The Giants and Dodgers made their splashes in the off-season, and now the bitter rivals would meet for the first time on the field here in 2024.

With the rotation short two men, Manager Bob Melvin has had to improvise. Yesterday, Daulton Jefferies was called up to make the start, and tonight, Melvin decided to go with Keaton Winn, who posted a 4.68 ERA in nine games and five starts with the Giants last season.

Winn got off to a rocky start when he came out for the bottom of the first. Mookie Betts hit a triple off the base of the wall in left-center field to start the inning. Betts was able to get to third, because the ball caromed completely away from Lee and the left-fielder, Michael Conforto, towards the left field line. Shohei Ohtani then grounded out to second to knock in Betts and give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead.

James Paxton started for the Dodgers and struggled with his command, but the Giants were unable to take advantage of Paxton when he was in trouble. The Giants had base-runners in each of the first three innings, and runners in scoring position and the first and third, but they were unable to get a run across 

Despite his bumpy start, Winn was solid as he faced the Dodgers the first time through their order. However, Winn ran into trouble again when the Dodgers came up for the second time through the order in the bottom of the third. Betts walked with one out, and Ohtani doubled Betts over to third. Freddie Freeman singled up the middle to score Betts, but Ohtani was held at third. Ohtani would score on a sacrifice fly from Will Smith.

The Giants looked like they were finally going to break through in the fifth when Nick Ahmed and Jung-hoo Lee hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. However, Austin Slater, who got the start and hit second tonight, hit a ground ball to second for a 4-6-3 double play. Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman drew walks to keep the rally alive, but Wilmer Flores grounded out to second to end the inning. It was another wasted opportunity for the Giants, who stranded eight runners in the first five innings of the game.

Winn ended up going five solid innings against what is possibly the most powerful offense in Baseball. He gave up just four hits, struck out six and did exactly what the Giants needed him to do, which was to go long enough to prevent Melvin from having to blow through his bullpen.

“Keaton did a pretty good job,” said Melvin. “It’s a pretty tough line up to navigate, so I thought he pitched pretty well…..he kept us in the game.”

Winn relied heavily on his fastball and splitter last year, but he really used his slider to his advantage tonight.

“[I’m] definitely going to build off the slider,” said Winn. “That was the most I’ve ever thrown the pitch in a game, and I thought I did pretty good with it.”

Winn also lavished praise for his catcher, Tom Murphy, whom Winn was working with for the first time.

“I felt like we were on the same page pretty much the entire time,” said Winn. “It was nice to be able to trust him back there.”

Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts brought in Ryan Brasier for the sixth. Michael Conforto, who had gone 0-for-2 against the lefty, Paxton, hit a towering home run down the right field line to put the Giants on the board. For Conforto, it was his third home run of the season.

Erik Miller came in for the bottom of the sixth, and despite his two strong outings in San Diego, the young lefty would be tested by the Dodgers. Freeman singled, and Smith walked to start the inning. Max Muncy then hit into a fielder’s choice, and Smith was retired at second.

Melvin then decided to lift Miller for the submariner, Tyler Rogers. Rogers hung a slider to Teoscar Hernandez, who hit one bomb to left that may have ended up sailing all the way to the Grapevine to blow the Dodgers’ lead open to 8-3.

Joe Kelly came in for Brasier in the seventh. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Soler singled with one out. Chapman struck out looking for the second out, and Flores singled the other way to score Wade, but Soler was caught off second base and tagged out to end the inning. Since Wade touched the plate before Soler was tagged out, the run scored.

Nick Avila came in for the Giants in the bottom of the seventh to make his major league debut, and gave up a run over two innings. Dinelson Lamet pitched the final two innings for the Dodgers, and the Giants were able to plate a run against him in the ninth.

The Dodgers won it 8-3, as this was a game where the team with the superstars asserted their dominance. Betts, Ohtani and Freeman went a combined 6-for-11, and scored six of the Dodgers’ eight runs. 

“We can do better,” said Melvin. “They really have a good team. [The] top of [their] lineup is about as good as any in Baseball. We just gotta try and navigate it a little better.”

Paxton got the win, and Winn got the loss. The Giants fall to 2-3, but they will have their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound tomorrow night. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m.

News and Notes:

  • Mike Yastrzemski was activated off the Paternity List prior to tonight’s game, following the birth of his second child. Luis Matos and Daulton Jefferies were sent down to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Yastrzemski and Nick Avila, and infielder Otto Lopez was designated for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot for Avila.
  • Blake Snell, who some believed could make his Giants debut on Wednesday against the Dodgers, will pitch in one more simulated game, and will make his Giants debut on April 8 against the Washington Nationals at Oracle Park.