Category: Uncategorized

Giants These Days Far More Interesting As A Collection of Individuals, Then As A Team

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO—Four critical ballgames against a contending opponent, and the Giants won once. It’s simply not good enough, given the money invested in the team, and the expectations of the team leadership and the fan base.

But it in 2024, it is exactly what it is. At 62-62, after Thursday’s 6-0 win, the Giants are a .500 team for the mind-numbing eighth time and the fourth time in just the last 11 days. When it gets better, it inevitably gets worse, for better or worse.

Inside the numbers, the Giants fare far better against bottom feeders than they do against teams with winning records like the Atlanta Braves, who got completely healthy over the first three games of this series, before suffering a hiccup on Thursday.

Manager Bob Melvin, a three-time manager of the year who reeks of success, was reduced to prefacing his post-game answers with a telling, tepid statement.

“We’ve been in that situation a bunch and haven’t scored, so we had to try something different,” he said.

That situation in the second inning was easily the coolest thing to transpire during a rough home stand (3-4 with a season-defining, four-game losing streak): Rookie Grant McCray raced to his first-ever hit on a bases-loaded, bunt single, RBI. The skeptical crowd (29,319) rejoiced, the seas parted, and the sky opened because the Giants had scrapped together an early lead.

McCray was really funny in the clubhouse, trying to say something about the play but not really having a bunch of different descriptive words to describe it.

“I did a job for my team and got the scoring going. I can’t be more thankful for that,” McCray said.

McCray’s dad, Rodney, lit up in the stands. He made an emotional, overwhelming, but brief exit, up the aisle to a bunch of hi-fives. Rodney McCray famously, yet cringeworthy to the game announcers, crashed through the outfield fence at a Pacific Coast League game in Portland in 1991 and wound up all over the airwaves, and SportsCenter, for decades.

Again, his son Grant was in the clubhouse, trying to be descriptive.

”Today I just came in with the mindset of it’s just another game. Play hard and do your job,” McCray said.

In the sixth, McCray homered, and his first two major league games gained heft and record-book notoriety. In fact, his father Rodney might want to stick around for the weekend in Oakland. Grant could surpass his dad’s 14 career at-bats and three hits in just four games.

Logan Webb was dialed in again, working into the eighth inning efficiently (21 first-pitch strikes to 27 batters) and decisively, another reminder that Webb could be the lead actor in Broadway play with the Giants’ roster as his supporting cast for many seasons to come. On Thursday, when Webb took his final bow, the crowd howled with approval. Braves manager Brian Snitker played witness.

“(Webb) was going to give their bullpen a break, and he did. And he was efficient. Very, very competitive guy with really good stuff. And with that sinker, really throws a lot of strikes,” Snitker said.

Tyler Fitzgerald continued his fantastic Major League debut season with a hit and an RBI sacrifice fly. Casey Schmitt hasn’t had a bunch of opportunities or success, but he had a productive game with three hits, including a two-run homer.

A lot of good storylines and individual progress, those Giants, but not any more wins than losses. That’s them.

Again, Grant McCray in the clubhouse, beginning to warm to the occasion.

“It might be a fielder’s choice, but I’ll take a free hit,” McCray said of his bunt, which appeared to be a play in which no way, no how, was any throw going to clip him at first. “It doesn’t hurt my feelings.”

https://x.com/SFGiants/status/1824199908129378572?t=UVPHWx6Uz3RUosawWlV6-Q&s=19

Bouanga’s brace bounce Earthquakes from Leagues Cup in LAFC 4-1 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

LAFC forward Olivier Giroud takes the pitch in his debut with the team in the 71st minute during LAFC’s 4-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 match at BMO Stadium on Tuesday AUG 13, 2024. (LAFC)

by Marko Ukalovic

Denis Bouanga is making a case for MLS MVP.

The native French striker scored two goals as LAFC routed The San Jose Earthquakes 4-1 in a Leagues Cup Round of 16 match on Tuesday evening at BMO Stadium.

San Jose’s Leagues Cup Cinderella run came to an end as this is the farthest the Earthquakes have gone in the two years of the tournament that features MLS clubs against Liga MX clubs. LAFC advanced to its second straight Leagues Cup quarterfinals where they will take on the Seattle Sounders who beat Liga MX club Pumas 4-0 on Monday night.

Olivier Giroud made his LAFC debut when he came in as a substitute for Christian Olivera in 71st minute. LAFC signed the 37-year-old French striker on back on May 14th as an international roster spot through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. Giroud is the all-timer leading goal scorer for the French National Team with 57 goals.

LAFC drew first blood in the 17th minute. Ryan Hollingshead won a 50-50 ball against Benji Kikanovic that led to a breakaway for Olivera. The Uruguayan striker raced down the left wing, made a move around Daniel Munie before beating Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough with a right footed shot into the lower right corner of the net.

San Jose had a chance for an immediate response a minute later when Cristian Espinoza fired a shot from just outside the box, but it was knocked away from danger by LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The Earthquakes were denied once again Lloris trying to even the match. Jeremy Ebobisse threaded a long ball between two LAFC defenders out to Amahl Pellegrino, but the French goalie made a diving one-handed save on Pellegrino’s strike in the 25th minute.

San Jose scored the equalizer late in the first half. Cristian Espinoza led an attack inside LAFC’s zone. Espinoza found Kikanovic along the right wing. Kikanovic sent a cross into the middle of the box where Hernán López beat Lloris with a sliding one-timer with the left foot in the 41st minute.

LAFC regained the lead just before the halftime. Eduard Atuesta was able to get inside the box unmarked in the second minute of stoppage time. Yarbrough tripped up Atuesta trying to get the ball away from him that resulted in a penalty kick. Three minutes later LAFC leading goal scorer Denis Bouanga finished off the penalty kick as he beat Yarbrough high to the right corner of the net.

The Earthquakes had a quality chance in the 57th minute to score the second equalizer of the game. Espinoza sent in a chip pass over to Jackson Yueill inside the box, but the Quakes captain’s shot just sailed wide left of the net.

LAFC went up 3-1 on a fluke goal in the 61st minute. Ilie Sanchez fed a pass over to Mateusz Bogusz who dribbled up the pitch unmarked before firing a shot from the right half-space off of the hand of Yarbrough, who was in position to make the save, and into the back of the net.

Bouanga recorded his brace five minutes later in the 66th minute. LAFC used a counterattack after a Quakes turnover. Olivera sent a long ball out to a wide open Bouanga on the right wing. Bouanga cut back toward the middle past Rodrigues before burying the ball into the lower left corner of the net.

Lloris made two saves on three shots on goal to earn the victory. Yarbrough, who had a rough night between the pipes, made two saves on six shots on net in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with no corner kicks in the match. LAFC had two.

Bouanga has 10 goals over the last seven Leagues Cup matches.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns to MLS action when they take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday 8/24 at 6:30pm at America First Field.

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open up three game series at Citi Park against Mets on Tuesday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker belts a double against the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of the sixth inning at Rogers Centre Toronto on Sun Aug 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara, the A’s didn’t waste any time scoring six runs in the first inning and they needed all those runs as the Toronto Blue Jays made a run at the A’s later in the game cutting the lead to two runs for a 8-4 win.

#2 The A’s also got home run help from JJ Bleday and Zack Gelof in the top of the six inning to add some runs for the A’s total.

#3 The A’s are on a 58% winning pace to win 74 games for the season. The A’s picked up their 50th win of the season making them 50-69.

#4 The A’s Lawrence Butler has made up a big difference providing some great on base hitting and base running and adding critical runs. Butler went had three hits in Sunday’s game.

#5 A’s open up a three game set with the New York Mets Tuesday night at Citi Park the Mets second place in the NL East eight games off the pace and have won four of their last six games. Starting pitcher for the A’s might be an opener as Mark Kotsay has not named a starter yet. For the Mets former A’s starter Paul Blackburn (5-2, ERA 3.86) first pitch at 4:05pm PT.

Barbara Mason does the Oakland A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Birdsong struggles, wasted opportunities and base-running blunders cost Giants, who fail to sweep Tigers and drop series finale 5-4

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (left) is tagged out by Detroit Tigers pitcher Brenan Hanifee (right) in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Aug 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Detroit Tigers 5 (56-63)

San Francisco Giants 4 (61-59)

Win: Keider Montero (3-5)

Loss: Hayden Birdsong (3-2)

Save: Will Vest (1)

Time: 2:52

Attendance: 40,447

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–Wasted opportunities and boneheaded base-running burned the San Francisco Giants, and Hayden Birdsong struggled, as the Giants were unable to complete the sweep and lost the series finale to the Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Sunday.

The Giants came into Sunday winners of 12 of their last 15. After finally getting to three games over .500 for the first time all season with their fourth-straight win Saturday, the Giants had a chance to complete the sweep on this beautiful mostly-cloudy afternoon at Oracle Park.

Sunday would be a test for young Hayden Birdsong. After a solid first six big league starts in which he didn’t allow more than three runs, he suffered his first bad outing in his last start in Washington on Tuesday. It doesn’t matter who you are; bad outings happen. The question is how Birdsong would respond Sunday.

Birdsong would be tested right away. Matt Vierling stepped up to begin the game, and he lined a home run to the first row out in left-center field to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. Birdsong then retired the side.

The Giants would be up against the young right-hander, Keider Montero in this pitching matchup of kids who made their major league debuts this season. Tyler Fitzgerald would be first up, and he led off the bottom of the first with a ground-rule double to right-center.

One thing was apparent early on: the ball was carrying today. LaMonte Wade walked, and Heliot Ramos got Fitzgerald to third on a flyout to right. 

You gotta give credit to Fitzgerald. Tigers’ right-fielder Akil Baddoo made the catch in shallow right field and made a solid throw to third. It was pure gutsy base-running by Fitzgerald, and it paid off.

Michael Conforto walked to load the bases, and that brought up Matt Chapman. Chapman shot a base-hit into right-center, and two runs scored to give the Giants the lead.

Birdsong retired the first two men he faced in the top of the second, but Zach McKinstry singled with two outs, and that brought up Dillon Dingler. Dingler hit a high fly ball to right-center, and with the ball carrying the way it was today, it sailed into the Tigers’ bullpen, which put Detroit back ahead.

The Giants rallied in the bottom of the second. Jerar Encarnacion walked to start the inning, and Tyler Fitzgerald singled with one out. 

Wade hit a fly ball to deep right-center, and Tigers’ center-fielder Parker Meadows made a tremendous running catch as he collided and even somewhat trampled over right-fielder Alex Baddoo. It was reminiscent of an iconic catch that Willie Mays made while leaping over Bobby Bonds in 1970, but this one came against the Giants, who ended up not scoring.

Birdsong pitched a scoreless top of the third and a 1-2-3 top of the fourth. Montero pitched 1-2-3 innings in the bottom of the third and fourth.

The Tigers have a lineup full of guys whose names you would have expected to see in a lineup in either the 19th Century, or in Star Wars. Considering that Sunday was Star Wars Day at Oracle Park, it made perfect sense. In the top of the fifth, those names did some damage against Birdsong.

Dillon Dingler, who hit the home run in the top of the second, led off the top of the fifth with a ground-rule double to right-center. Akil Baddoo got Dingler to third with a flyout to center, and Matt Vierling laced a double down the left field line to knock in Dingler and make it 4-2. 

That did it for Birdsong, who struggled again Sunday. Birdsong did not struggle anywhere near as much as he did Tuesday in D.C., and he was burned by the fact that the ball was carrying Sunday, but it was still a rough outing. 

Left-handed flame thrower Erik Miller came in, and after Bligh Madris hit a chopped back to the mound, Colt Keith got Vierling in with a base-hit to make it 5-2. 

Montero threw a scoreless bottom of the fifth, and Miller ran into trouble in the top of the sixth. Miller walked Gio Urshela to start the inning, and two batters later, McKinstry walked to put runners at first and second with one out.

Bob Melvin brought in Sean Hjelle to face Dingler, who was 2-for-2 with the home run and ground-rule double. The Tigers were poised to blow this game open, but Hjelle and the Giants caught a break when Dingler hit a bullet right to Matt Chapman at third for the second out. Baddoo flew out to center, and the Giants were able to keep the deficit at three.

The Giants were able to stay in the game, and it paid dividends in the bottom of the sixth. Michael Conforto, who has been heating up here in August, hit one of the wall in left that he was able to leg out for a triple. 

Some weirdness happened while Conforto was at third. As Montero was going into his motion, he stopped and was called for a balk, and Conforto was sent home. However, First Base Umpire D.J. Reyburn had called time, because center-fielder Parker Meadows was out of position. The umpires conferred and sent Conforto back to third.

No big deal. Conforto would score on a base-hit by Matt Chapman. Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch pulled Montero for Tyler Holton, and former Tiger Mark Canha drew a pinch-hit walk. However, Patrick Bailey grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, which seemed to snuff out the rally.

Chapman did go to third on the double play, as Jerar Encarnacion came up with two outs. Encarnacion lined a double the other way to right to score Chapman and make it 5-4.

Hjelle returned to the mound for the top of the seventh, as the Tigers threatened again. Andy Ibanez singled with one out, and Justyn-Henry Malloy walked with two outs. 

Gio Urshela came up, and he hit a sharp chopper off the end of the bat to first. Wade dove to his left to come with it, and he flipped it to Hjelle to end the inning, as the Giants had dodged another bullet. 

Holton and Brenan Hanifee combined for a scoreless bottom of the seventh for Detroit, and Taylor Rogers came in to throw a 1-2-3 inning for the Giants.

Chapman tripled to lead off the eighth, and the Giants had the tying run 90 feet away. The Tigers then played the infield in for Mark Canha, who hit a sharp ground ball to short. Despite the drawn-in infield, Chapman took off for the plate, and he was caught in a rundown for a crushing and embarrassing first out. Chapman sat at the plate in disbelief as he caught his breath. 

Canha alertly took second on the play, but then he was caught in a rundown and tagged out when Bailey hit a chopper back to the mound. Back-to-back boneheaded base-running plays had single-handedly taken the Giants out of a rally, and Jerar Encarnacion grounded out to end the inning.

Jordan Hicks pitched through a pair of singles in the top of the ninth, and Hinch went to Will Vest in the bottom of the ninth. Vest retired the first two men he faced, but Wade worked a 1-2 count into a walk to extend the game for the potential winning run in Heliot Ramos.

Ramos was 0-for-4, and he was up there pressing, as he quickly fell behind 0-2. He then fouled off a fastball and took a changeup down for ball one, but he was caught looking at a 96-MPH fastball right on the outside corner to end it. Ramos had a few words for Home Plate Umpire Charlie Ramos—no relation—but Heliot Ramos had nobody to blame but himself there.

Keider Montero got the win; Hayden Birdsong took his second-career walk; and Will Vest got his first save of the season.

The Giants wasted a lot of opportunities Sunday, as they went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Despite the run they have made, they have gone 31-for-161 with runners in scoring position since July 25. If that does not improve, you can forget about this team getting into October Baseball.

As much as the wasted opportunities hurt Sunday, once Chapman and Canha had their base-running blunders in the eighth, that pretty much sucked the life out of them. 

“[I’m] disgusted at myself for doing that,” Chapman bluntly said, taking full ownership of his mistake like the true leader that he is.

Those were the postgame words of a man who went 3-for-4; knocked in three of the Giants’ four runs; and had two of the Giants’ three hits with runners in scoring position Sunday.

Now, the Giants will have to move on and be ready to go when the Braves come in for a crucial four-game series starting Monday night. Not only are the Giants currently chasing the Braves for the third wild card spot, but if the Giants can at the very least split this series, they will have a winning record against the Braves and will hold the tiebreaker. 

However, with their schedule about to get much harder, the Giants really need to take three of four from the Braves. Another potential problem is that Jorge Soler will be making his return to Oracle Park after Farhan Zaidi traded him at the Deadline on July 30, and Soler will certainly be motivated to stick it to his former team.

Blake Snell (2-3, 4.31 ERA) will make the start for the Giants, and he will be opposed by veteran all-star left-hander Chris Sale (13-3, 2.75 ERA). First pitch Monday night will be at 6:45 p.m.

National League Wild Card Standings:

*1. Diamondbacks 66-53 +4.0

*2. Padres 66-53 +4.0

3. Braves 61-56 —

Mets 61-57 0.5

Cardinals 60-58 1.5

GIANTS 61-59 1.5

Cubs 59-60 3.0

Reds 57-61 4.5

Pirates 56-61 5.0

*Tiebreaking procedures taken into effect.

Ebobisse’s brace propels Earthquakes in 5-0 route over Club Necaxa to advance in Leagues Cup tourney

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Man of the Match San Jose Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse celebrates with the crowd after his team’s 5-0 win over Liga MX Club Necaxa at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday AUG 8, 2024. (San Jose Earthquakes)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — It was an August evening to remember at the Triple P.

Jeremy Ebobisse scored two goals in the first half as the San Jose Earthquakes dominated in a 5-0 shutout thrashing of Liga MX’s Club Necaxa in a Leagues Cup Round of 32 match on Friday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose advanced to the Leagues Cup Round of 16 where they will clash with the LAFC who beat Austin FC in its Round of 32 match on Thursday. Club Necaxa go back home to Mexico with its tail between its legs in humiliation fashion with a couple of weeks off before returning to Liga MX action against Juarez on August 24th.

The Earthquakes dominated ‘from start to finish in what was their best match of this season. Necaxa was outplayed by San Jose in every facet of the match and played like they underestimated their opponent that is ranked last in the MLS.

“You probably look at the table and where we’re at in the league, they may have done that,” said ‘Quakes interim head coach Ian Russell if Necaxa had took them lightly going into the match. ” I think Chivas did that. But we know we have a good team here. We know we can compete with anybody. Not to make excuses but we haven’t had a lot of luck this year. We finally got that with Galaxy beating Chivas, and I think things are turning.”

San Jose drew first blood in the fifth minute. Captain Jackson Yueill was on the receiving end of a nice give and go with Cristian Espinoza. Yueill dribbled into the box uncontested and beat Necaxa goalkeeper Unsain Luis with a left footed shot into the lower left corner of the net for his first goal of the tournament.

The Earthquakes doubled its lead thanks to a spectacular individual effort by Hernán López in the 17th minute. Amahl Pellegrino found López just beyond midfield in the Necaxa zone. López dribbled down the middle before changing direction back to the left wing, deked out two Necaxa defenders along the way and then fired a rocket of shot into the lower right corner for his first goal of the tournament.

San Jose kept the pedal to the metal in the 29th minute. Fullback Rodrigues found Pellegrino along the left sideline. Pellegrino sent a cross into the center of the box where Ebobisse beat Luis with a one-timer from just inside the D for his first goal of the contest.

The Earthquakes scored its fourth unanswered goal in the 35th minute off a counterattack. Vitor Costa led a rush up the left wing. Costa sent the ball down Lopez who flicked a one-touch backdoor pass over to an unmarked Ebobisse who buried the ball into the upper left corner of the net for his brace and fourth goal of the tournament.

“It’s been coming. We’ve been unfortunate, but I think the difference tonight was we didn’t score and then sit back and defend. We scored and kept on pressing. Scored again and kept on pressing. We actually kept on ramping it up, and that’s the mentality you have to have. … You have to keep on doing all the little things that make you win a game,” Russell said.

Club Necaxa had a chance to get on the board in the 39th when Diber Cambindo has a point-blank chance to cash in a rebound attempt that leaked out of the hands of Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough, but Cambindo chipped the ball high and wide over the net.

Things got chippy just before halftime. Alan Montes slammed into Yarbrough going for a ball up in the air. Benji Kinkanovic and Rodrigues stuck up for their goalkeeper as pushing and shoving ensued inside the box. Montes and Rodrigues were initially given red cards. However, after a review, referee Ismael Melendez downgraded Rodrigues’ red to a yellow card as Necaxa went down a man the rest of the match.

Preston Judd and Nico Tsakiris, who both came on as substitutions in the 65th minute, each had back-to-back chances inside the box to tack on another goal in the 71st minute, but Luis came up big on three of the chances as Judd’s second attempt went wide left.

Necaxa’s three best players in Cambindo, Arce Fernando and Jose Paradela contributed next to nothing for its club, that is currently in 11th place in Liga MX, during the match.

Paul Marie put the icing on the cake in the 89th minute when he intercepted a back pass inside the Necaxa box and chipped a shot past Luis for his first goal of the tournament.

Yarbrough stopped all four shots on target to earn his first clean sheet of the tournament. Luis made fives on 10 shots on goal in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with three corner kicks. Club Necaxa had two.

Ebobisse scored his third and fourth goals of Leagues Cup in three total games, giving him the current tournament Golden Boot lead.

Pellegrino had his first two career assists and also his first multi-assist game for San Jose.

Yueill scored his first goal of the season in all competitions.

The last time the Quakes scored four goals in any half of an MLS or Leagues Cup match took place vs. Austin FC on Oct. 20, 2021, when they netted four in the second half. The last time they did it in the first half was on Oct. 22, 2011 vs. FC Dallas . Both occurred during the MLS regular season.

With the 5-0 win, the Quakes scored their most goals in a game all season. Their previous high in one match this campaign was three goals, which the team achieved four times across all competitions prior to tonight.

Tonight’s 5-0 result matched the 5-0 win over Bay Cities FC in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Second Round as the largest margin in a home victory since PayPal Park opened in 2015.

Yarbrough, who was born and raised in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where Necaxa is located. kept his second clean sheet of the season across all competitions.

UP NEXT: San Jose takes on LAFC in the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup on Tuesday 8/13 at BMO Stadium. Time TBD.

Giants finally back up to .500 for first time since May 31 after solid outing from Webb and home runs lead to 4-1 win over Nationals

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Tyler Fitzgerald right on dugout steps is congratulated by Matt Chapman (left) after hitting a home run against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in DC on Mon Aug 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Monday, Aug. 5, 2024

Nationals Park

Washington, D.C.

San Francisco Giants 4 (57-57)

Washington Nationals 1 (51-62)

Win: Logan Webb (9-8)

Loss: Patrick Corbin (2-12)

Save: Camilo Doval (21)

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 14,674

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have finally gotten back to .500 for the first time since May 31, as home runs by Tyler Fitzgerald and Matt Chapman carried them to a 4-1 win over the Washington Nationals in the first game of this four-game series in D.C.

The Giants came into our nation’s capital winners of seven of their last nine. However, something has greatly eluded them this season. That has been their ability to get back to .500. The Giants came into tonight 2-11 when they’re just a game under .500, and they haven’t even been at .500 since May 31.

Monday night was looking to be the Giants’ best opportunity to get back to .500 in a while. They were up against the veteran left-hander, Patrick Corbin, who came into tonight 2-11 with a 5.88 ERA. Plain and simply, he’s having a terrible season, and the Giants needed to take advantage of that.

Indeed the Giants did take advantage of Corbin’s abysmal season, and they did so right off the crack of the bat. The first crack of the bat in this game to be exact, as Tyler Fitzgerald, who was in the leadoff spot Monday night, started the game with a home run to left field.

It’s just remarkable what Fitzgerald has been able to do. This was his 12th home run of the season, and his 11th in 17 games. Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Jim Ray Hart, Walker Cooper and Mel Ott are the only Giants who have hit 11 home runs in 17 games.

Another reason this was the Giants’ best opportunity to get back to .500 was that they had their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound. After a rough appearance in the All-Star Game and start to his second half, Webb threw a complete game shutout against the Oakland A’s last Wednesday, and he looked to build off that Monday night.

Webb started his night with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning and a scoreless bottom of the second. Corbin pitched a scoreless top of the second, but the Giants rallied against him in the top of the third.

Mike Yastrzemski doubled to start the top of the third, but after Fitzgerald lined out and Mark Canha grounded out, Yaz was still standing at second. Michael Conforto then walked, and that brought up Matt Chapman, who hit a high and towering three-run home run down the left field line. It was an absolute blast that went almost all the way to the back of the seats out in left.

Webb and the Giants had a 4-0 lead, and Webb responded by pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third. After Corbin threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth, Webb ran into his first jam in the bottom of the fourth.

Luis Garcia Jr. walked with one out and stole second base to put a runner in scoring position for the Nationals for the first time Monday night. James Wood walked with two outs, as Washington had a rally for free going. However, Webb got Travis Blankenhorn to ground out to third to end the inning.

Patrick Corbin ended up going six innings, as he pitched scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth to end his night. Webb pitched through a two-out double in the bottom of the fifth, and he retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth, but he ran into trouble with two outs.

Keibert Ruiz walked and advanced to second on a balk called by First Base Umpire Dan Merzel. Wood, who was at the plate when the balk was called, then shot a base-hit into right-center to score Ruiz and put the Nationals on the board.

Blankenhamp singled Wood over to third to bring up the tying run to the plate, and that did it for Webb. Ryan Walker came in for the Giants and got Alex Call to fly out to right to end the inning, as the Giants kept their 4-1 lead going to the seventh.

As for Webb, he was solid. He gave up just one run and four hits over five and two thirds innings. However, with a pitch count of 95, he got winded out a bit, and as a result, he struggled in the sixth.

Jacob Barnes pitched a 1-2-3 top of the seventh for the Nationals, and Walker stayed in for the Giants to throw a scoreless bottom of the seventh.

Eduardo Salazar came in for Washington in the top of the eighth. A single by LaMonte Wade and a double by Michael Conforto put runners at second and third with nobody out for the Giants. However, the Giants who have become home run happy in the last few days, were unable to add to their lead, as Salazar retired the side to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals did the exact same thing the Giants did in the top of the inning. Garcia singled and Ruiz doubled off left-hander Taylor Rogers to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Taylor then Wood and Blankenhorn out swinging, both on three pitches.

Bob Melvin then pulled Taylor Rogers for Tyler Rogers. Tyler got Call to fly out to right to end the inning, so the eighth inning was the exact same for both teams. A leadoff single, followed by a double, and then the side was retired without anybody scoring.

Jose Ferrer threw a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for the Nationals, and Melvin brought in his closer, Camilo Doval, for the bottom of the ninth. Doval had been snakebit since his blown save in Pittsburgh on May 21, so drama was expected.

However, Doval surprised us all by striking out the side to close out the game in a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth. It was Doval’s first 1-2-3 inning since July 2.

Logan Webb got the win; Patrick Corbin got the loss; and Camilo Doval got his 21st save of the season.

This was a real team effort, but the fact that the Giants are home run happy again meant that they are still wasting a fair amount of opportunities with runners in scoring position. That will have to change if this team wants to make a serious run at the Playoffs.

The Giants are indeed back at .500 for the first time since May 31, as they improve to 57-57. They remain four and a half games back of a playoff spot, as the Padres and Diamondbacks are tied for the second wild card, and they are in a virtual tie with the Braves, who hold the first wild card by a percentage point.

The Giants and Nationals will be right back at it in the second game of this series Tuesday night. Hayden Birdsong (3-0, 2.97 ERA) will be called back up to make the start for the Giants, and he will be opposed by left-hander MacKenzie Gore (6-9, 4.54 ERA).

With a win, the Giants would be over .500 for the first time since their offday on May 30. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m. in D.C., 3:45 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

National League Wild Card Standings:

  1. Braves 60-51 —

*2. Diamondbacks 61-52 —

*3. Padres 61-52 —

Mets 59-53 1.5

Pirates 56-55 4.0

Cardinals 57-56 4.0

GIANTS 57-57 4.5

*Denotes tiebreaker. Tiebreaking procedures taken into effect.

Giants News and Notes:

Blake Snell was awarded with the National League Player of the Week after his no-hitter in Cincinnati on Friday. That should come as no surprise, and it was very much well deserved.

Some bad news. Wilmer Flores, who had been dealing with tendinitis in his right knee throughout much of the season, will undergo a non-surgical Tenex procedure on his right knee Tuesday in Los Angeles.

A Tenex procedure is minimally invasive, and it uses ultrasound to treat chronic tendon pain.

The Giants have yet to announce a timeline for Flores’ recovery.

Berry’s late goal lifts Galaxy to 2-1 win over Earthquakes in League’s Cup

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Los Angeles Galaxy forwards Ricky Puig and Diego Fagundez celebrate Fagundez’s first half goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during a League’s Cup match at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday JUL 31, 2024. (Los Angeles Galaxy)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — Ownage is ownage in the battle of California.

Miguel Berry scored the game winning goal in the 89th minute to secure a place in the round 16 for the Los Angeles Galaxy in a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in a League’s Cup match on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.

Los Angeles is 4-0 against San Jose this season, including the League’s Cup match.

San Jose finished group play with two points in group play as they beat Chivas de Guadalajara on penalty kicks last Saturday at Levi’s Stadium. Los Angeles opened its League Cup group play with three points and advanced out of the group stage no matter their result with Chivas on Sunday. The Earthquakes can still advance out of the group stage if the Galaxy defeat Chivas in regulation.

‘Quakes goalkeeper William Yarbrough, who made the start in place of Daniel, made two excellent saves in the ninth minute. First, he made a diving save on a header attempt by Gabriel Fortes and seconds later made a point-blank save with his neck off a rebound attempt by Ricky Puig.

“It’s going to be sore tomorrow but right now we’re ok,” Yarbrough said with a smile after the match.

Ahmal Pelegrino had San Jose’s first scoring chance in the 18th minute when his right footed shot from the center of the box was saved by Galaxy goalkeeper Novak Micovic.

Carlos Gruezo had a golden opportunity to give San Jose the lead in the 21st minute when the ball squirted out to him inside the middle of the box but his shot from 12 yards was grabbed by Micovic.

The Galaxy drew first blood in the 41st minute. Puig led a counterattack and fed the ball out to Diego Fagundez just to the right of the box. Fagundez broke away from Benji Kikanovic and curled in a shot from 20 yards out into the upper right corner of the net to give Los Angeles 1-0 lead going into halftime.

San Jose gained the momentum in the match after the 60th minute as they pressured Los Angeles inside its own zone and created scoring chances. Pellegrino’s header attempt in the 66th minute went wide left that had Micovic out of position.

The Earthquakes scored the equalizer in the 75th minute. Jackson Yueill intercepted a pass inside the Galaxy zone and found Gruezo along the left wing. Gruezo threaded a pass in between two Galaxy defenders over to Jeremy Ebobisse into the middle of the box. Ebobisse fired a left footed shot past a charging Micovic for his second League’s Cup goal in as many games.

“It was a little disappointing tonight, said Ebobisse regarding the result. “I thought we worked really hard. I thought we created some chances. They’re (Los Angeles) is a good team and they’re going to get their chances as well. But I thought we did enough to at least get the tie. But we’re still alive and we’ll see if we can get through and continue the run.”

‘Quakes head coach Ian Russell substituted Daniel Munie in for Hernan Lopez in the 83rd minute as San Jose went with five fullbacks in hopes of preserving a draw and sending the match to penalty kicks.

The move did not work out as Russell had hoped as just like in the previous four matches, Los Angeles found a way to get the late goal that has plagued San Jose against its SoCal rival this season. Puig sent a diagonal ball over to unmarked Miki Yamane inside the box. Yamane crossed the ball over to Berry who finished off the game winner just inside the left post.

“Unfortunately, the last goal we didn’t pressure on Puig, he hits that diagonal ball (into the box). Yeah, he’s a very good player, you can’t give him time and space, he can punish you for sure,” Russell said.

Kikanovic had a header miss left in the fourth minute of stoppage time as the Quakes weren’t able to score the second equalizer in the match and walked off the pitch with no points.

Micovic made three saves on four shots on goal to earn the victory. Yarbrough made seven saves on nine shots on goal in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with two corner kicks. Los Angeles had six.

UP NEXT: San Jose returns to MLS action on Saturday 8/24 against Real Salt Lake at 6:30pm at America First Field.

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Coors Field

Denver, Colorado

San Francisco Giants 3 (47-52)

Colorado Rockies 4 (36-63)

Win: Kyle Freeland (2-3)

Loss: Logan Webb (7-8)

Save: Victor Vodnik (3)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 44,178

By Stephen Ruderman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Giants News and Notes:

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

Dynamo get late goal from Steres to up end Earthquakes in 1-0 shutout win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Jose Earthquakes striker Jeremy Ebobisse battles for the ball against Houston Dynamo midfielder Artur during the Dynamo’s 1-0 win over the Earthquakes at Pay Pal Park on Wednesday JUL 17, 2024. (Houston Dynamo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE— Daniel Steres picked a great time to get his first goal of the season.

The Houston Dynamo fullback scored in the 86th minute as his heroics propelled the Dynamo to a 1-0 shutout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday evening at Pay Pal Park.

San Jose has lost seven of its last eight matches as it anchors the bottom of the Western Conference. Houston has won three of its past five matches and maintained the eight spot in the conference as it has a four-point lead over 9th place Minnesota United.

Houston (9-7-7-34 points) had the first scoring opportunity in the first 45 minutes. Sebastian Ferreira’s header attempt missed wide left after a corner kick in the 20th minute. Then six minutes later, the Dynamo had its closest chance at breaking the seal when Griffin Dorsey’s shot from the right wing was knocked away by Quakes goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, who made his second start of the season, in the 26th minute.

San Jose (4-18-2-14 points) had two quality scoring chances from Jeremy Ebobisse. First, in the 25th Ebobisse’s header attempt sailed wide left off of a cross from Hernan Lopez. Then in the 39th minute, another header attempt went wide right off of a Cristian Espinoza free kick from the left end line.

It was one of the Earthquakes best defensive games of the season, but they weren’t able to finish the few scoring chances they had.

“I told the guys you know; I thought it was a game where we brought a lot of energy,” said ‘Quakes interim head coach Ian Russell. “We brought a lot of fight and when you do that, you usually win those games, especially at home. I have no complaints when a team will work that hard. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I told the guys (to) continue to do that and we’ll be fine.”

The Quakes best scoring attempt in the first half came from Benji Kikanovic in the 31st minute when his running header attempt from the left wing sailed high over the net off of a free kick from Espinoza from 25 yards out.

Houston fired 13 shots in the first half with five of them on target that were saved by Jackson. Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark didn’t have a face a shot on net in the first half as San Jose only attempted four total shots.

The Earthquakes were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute by referee Natalie Simon when fullback Micael dos Santos tripped Espinoza inside the box. However, after a VAR review it was determined that dos Santos touched the ball first before hitting Espinoza’s foot.

The Dynamo had a good scoring in the 67th minute when Coco Carrasquilla sent a back pass over to Dorsey who kicked it very high over the net despite having a good look on net.

Houston finally broke through with time winding down in the match. McKinze Gaines sent a pass down low near the goal-line to Amine Bassi. The French midfielder then crossed the ball back into the middle of the box where an unmarked Steres one-timed the ball out of the air with his left foot into the left corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Steres came into the match in the 73rd minute as he replaced Dorsey by Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen who wanted fresh legs deep into the match.

“It just comes down to the small details. There’s been a lot of games where we’ve given up goal late (in the match) and it kind of bites us in the ass. We gotta tighten that up. If we don’t, we’re going to keep losing,” Kikanovic said.

Things got chippy when Hector Herrera and Rodrigues had a moment of pushing and shoving after a foul near the left sideline in the fourth minute of stoppage time. No cards were issued by Simon despite the scuffle.

San Jose finished with no shots on target during the match and nine total, while Houston had 22 total shots. Clark earned his six clean sheet of the season despite not having to make a save throughout the evening. Jackson made six saves on seven shots on net in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished with five corner kicks. Houston had seven.

San Jose is 10-19-4 in the all-time series with Houston.

UP NEXT: San Jose travels up north to take on Minnesota United on Saturday 7/20 at 5:30pm at Allianz Field.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Aiyuk video watching Commanders practice video; Will Sorenson be one and done as Defensive Coordinator?; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Defensive Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers Nick Sorenson worked one season (2023) but could get offers from other NFL teams to join them (USA Today photo)

On the San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor:

#1 The Brandon Aiyuk scenario continues. Aiyuk has reportedly been sharing a video of himself reviewing Washington Commanders practice film. Aiyuk has said that if things didn’t work out with the 49ers he would consider landing with the Commanders.

#2 Defensive Coordinator Nick Sorenson will he stay in San Francisco or will he find success elsewhere. Last season Sorenson replaced Steve Wilks. Sorenson had so much success at defensive coordinator that he led the 49ers defense to the Super Bowl. Do you see any chance of him staying?

#3 Tashaun Gipson the 49er veteran safety said he has accepted his six game suspension for substance abuse. Gipson said “During this offseason I took a supplement one time, which I thought to be completely safe and well within any of the NFL’s policies. It was in no way related to performance, training, or gaining an advantage of any kind at any time. I have competed at this level for a long time, and have nothing but respect for the game and the fraternity of players in it,”

Join David Zizmor for the San Francisco 49ers podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com