Sandoval wins it in a Giants walk-off in the 13th

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Pablo Sandoval sent the San Francisco Giants players and fans into a frenzy with one swing of the bat.

Sandoval hit a pitch barely off the ground and over the left field wall in the bottom of the 13th inning off of Brad Brach, as the Giants defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-4 in 13 innings before a crowd of 39,747 at Oracle Park.

That was two inches off the ground again like the ball he hit down the line yesterday and then to go to the opposite field like that in this ballpark, it’s a testament to the flight of the ball, said Cubs Manager Joe Maddon.

Brach got Buster Posey to strike out for the first out of the inning, and on the first pitch to Sandoval, the Giants won their third straight game.

It was the fifth career walk-off for Sandoval, and his first since August 9, 2018 against the Cubs, when he hit a single to left field.

This was the Giants fifth consecutive win by one run, and they are 24-10 this season in one run games, the best record in the major leagues. They are 10-2 in extra-inning games this season, including 4-0 on this current home stand.

Overall, the Giants have won three in a row, 10 out of their last 11 and 17 out of their last 20 game to move to 52-50 on the season.

The last time that the Giants won 17 out of 20 was from July 25 until August 16, 2001.

Sam Coonrod pitched a perfect 13th inning to pick-up his first win of his major-league career. Coonrod struck out Javier Baez and Kris Bryant before getting Anthony Rizzo to ground out to Joe Panik for the final out of the inning.

Things were looking good for the Giants, as they entered the top of the eighth inning with a slim 4-3 lead and the bullpen in full force.

Unfortunately, that was not the case, as Kris Bryant doubled, then went to third on a Rizzo groundout back to Reyes Moronta and after a walk to Peninsula native Daniel DeScalso, Tony Watson gave up the game-tying single to Jason Heyward. Watson was able to regroup and struck out Robel Garcia to end the threat.

I thought we battled back in the eighth inning. Anytime you play that long and hang in there I mean it’s nice to see nobody give up and still go out there and compete. It just wasn’t our night tonight, said Bryant.

Madison Bumgarner went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking just one and striking out seven, but he did not fare in the decision.

The Cubs took the lead in the top of the first inning, as Baez doubled off of Bumgarner, then Bryant singled in Baez; however, the inning ended when Pablo Sandoval, who was playing in the shift near second base, made a great play to on a ball hit by Rizzo, as he tagged Bryant and threw to Brandon Belt to complete the double play.

That was the lead until the bottom of the second inning, as the Giants tied up the game, as Alex Dickerson doubled to lead off the inning and then slid away from the throw by Kyle Schwarber to the plate on a Yastrzemski sacrifice fly.

Unfortunately, the tie would not last long, as the Cubs retook the lead in the top of the third inning, as Bryant singled to score Baez, who singled and then stole second and third.

Dickerson got the rally started, as he hit a solo home run to left field to tie up the game, then Brandon Crawford singled, which was followed by a Mike Yastrzemski walk and then Kevin Pillar hit a Yu Darvish offering to the left-center field power alley to give the Giants the lead.

Darvish went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking just one and striking out six, as like Bumgarner, he did not fare in the decision. He also saw his 13.0 inning scoreless streak come to an end in the bottom of the second inning, and the four runs allowed marked his first runs since July 3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

NOTES: The last time that the Giants picked up four walk-off wins in a six-game span was in the year that they moved to San Francisco in 1958. During that season, the Giants defeated the Milwaukee Braves, the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals from July 5-13, 1958.

Rizzo went 0-for-5 on the night, as his 13-game hitting streak came to an end.

UP NEXT: Tyler Beede closes out the home stand on Wednesday afternoon, as he looks for his fourth win of the season for the Giants. Jon Lester will take the Oracle Park mound for the Cubs, as he looks to get his 10th win of the season.

A’s rally late to beat the Astros 4-3

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s stymied by Wade Miley’s slants for eight-plus innings. Miley was masterful all evening long. He retired the first 16 A’s hitters he faced. The A’s ace Mike Fiers had a rough second inning, but settled down and kept the Astros from scoring. Neither starter had a decision. The A’s grabbed the lead for the first time in the top of the ninth. The Astros tied the game at three. The A’s scored a run in the 11th, and Yusmeiro Petit retired the Astros to secure the win for Oakland 4-3.

The Astros put two on the board in the second inning. Houston’s left fielder Michel Brantley singled to start the rally. He went to second on a ground out. Yuli Guriel, playing third base for Houston, hit a line shot to center. Ramon Laureano decided to go for a shoestring catch. The only problem with that decision was this: If you don’t catch the ball and it gets by you, it will be an inside-the-park home run. Fiers may have been a bit rattled, but he settled down and retired the Astros with no further damage. Houston leads 2-0 after two.

The A’s broke up the perfect game with one out in the sixth when Chad Pinder singled. The A’s could do nothing against Mylie until the top of the ninth. In the meantime, Fiers kept his former team off-balance until Bob Melvin removed him from the game with two outs. Melvin brought in lefty Ryan Buchhaler to face Michael Brantley. Brantley struck out to end the threat.

With one out in the ninth, the top of the A’s order came through. Marcus Semien started the rally with a walk. He went to second on Matt Chapman’s single. Astros manager A.J. Hinch brought in his closer Roberto Osuna to pitch. The Astros do not have a lefty in the bullpen, and that cost them the lead. How so? Olson blasted his 21st homer of the year to plate three runs and put the A’s ahead. The Astros did not quit. They came back to tie the score in their half of the ninth. Joakim Soria was trying to close out the game for Oakland. With one out singles by Guriel and Josh Reddick, men were on at first and third. Guriel scored on an Aledmys Diaz’ sacrifice fly to right. The game went to extra innings.

The A’s broke through in the 11th. Collin McHugh was now pitching for Houston. McHugh is known for his sweeping curveballs, and he retired the first hitter he faced. Matt Olson singled, and Mark Canha walked. Ramon Laureano, who was the AL Player of the Week and a former Astro prospect, doubled down the left-field line. Olson scored. Canha also crossed the plate, and the A’s appeared to have a 5-3 lead. The ball got stuck under the wall in left-field, and the Astros claimed that the ball was dead and Canha should be sent back to third base. After an umpires’ review, the call was reversed, and Canha went back to third.  The A’s Yusmeiro Petit, working his second inning of relief retired the Astros in order to secure the win for Oakland.

Game Notes- It was the first win in Houston for the A’s this season. They are now 2-8 against the division leaders.

Fiers’ line was 7 2/3 inning of work, and he allowed six hits and two runs. Miley went eight-plus innings, and he allowed four hits and two runs.

Petit was the winning pitcher, and McHugh took the loss.

Time of game was three hours and 14 minutes.  39,204 went home unhappy as their hometown team lost 4-3.

Up Next: The A’s finish the three-game series Wednesday at 11:00 am PT. Chris Bassitt (7-4) will go for Oakland, and the A’s will be facing the very tough Justin Verlander (12-4).

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Pacquiao can still win at 40; Wizards trying to sign Beal; plus more Wiz

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Photo credit: @MPac_Foundation

On Headline Sports podcast with Barbara:

#1 Manny Pacquiao thrilled them again last Saturday night. Pacquiao won and is now with a record of 62-7-2 and 39 KOs. It was a 12-rounder won by the 40-year-old Pacquiao.

#2 The Washington Wizards have offered guard Bradley Beal a three-year deal worth $111 million. Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said he wanted to sign Beal at the first opportunity he got.

#3 Detroit Tigers outfielder Nick Castellanos says that Comerica Park in Detroit is a joke. Castellanos says that one day his hair will turn gray, it’s something you can’t control how. Castellanos said he hit a homer to center right for some 372 feet.

#4 Is Derek Carr quarterback for the Oakland Raiders playing for his job? Or is he playing for someone else? The Raiders will be looking for a quarterback that can not only get them wins, but enough of them to get to postseason?

#5 Here’s the San Francisco Giants, who were living in last place most all season, but are now just 2 1/2 games out of first place for the National League Wild Card.

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Astros get 3 homers off A’s Homer Bailey in 11-1 laugher

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Photo credit: @CincyProblems

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Before the start of Monday night’s beheading at Minute Maid Field in Houston, the A’s had won eight of 10 games and were one of the hottest teams in the show. They had a little going for them before this current series in Houston.

#2 About Monday’s 11-1 loss to the Houston Astros, the A’s starter Homer Bailey was serving up the homer to the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez, Yuli Gurriel, and JD Diaz

#3 The Astros got the bulk of their runs four in the second and seven in the third inning. That’s all they needed for the 11-1 win.

#4 The Astros’ Gerritt Cole pitched for seven innings, two hits, one run earned, and 11 strikeouts. Cole had command over a tough A’s lineup.

#5 The A’s have now lost two straight games and play game two of the series in Houston on Tuesday night. For the A’s, Mike Fiers (9-3, 3.64 ERA), and for the Astros, Wade Miley (8-4, 3.25 ERA).

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Cubs’ Garcia and Schwarber start game with 2 big flies; Twins get rare triple play against Angels; plus more

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Photo credit: @robelgarcia16

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Chicago Cubs got a splash hit and a home run at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Monday night. Robel Garcia hit a tremendous drive into McCovey Cove and Kyle Schwarber hit his 22nd home run of the season.

#2 The Minnesota Twins got a 5-4-3 triple play in the first inning on Monday night when the Los Angeles Angels’ Edwin Encarnacion hit a grounder to Twins third baseman Luis Arraez, who tagged third and relayed the throw to second with the Twins’ Jonathan Schoop covering and Schoop threw to first baseman Miguel Sano for the triple play.

#3 The Houston Astros pitcher Gerritt Cole is the second fastest pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts in baseball history and he did it against the Oakland A’s in a 11-1 rout. For the A’s, it was their second straight loss, and for Cole, he was in total command and showed why he reached 200 strikeouts so quickly.

#4 As the trade deadline gets closer, the San Francisco Giants; key pitchers Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith are up for grabs. There also has been talk that Giants manager Bruce Bochy has talked with team president Farhan Zaidi about possibly keeping Bumgarner and Smith. It’s possible the Giants might not move them the later it gets.

#5 Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow says with the roster, the Astros have they could win the whole thing. Luhnow said that with the four starters they have, they can win on good pitching and get deep into the postseason.

Amaury Pi-González is a pioneer in establishing Spanish baseball radio play-by-play in the Bay Area that dates back to 1970s. The Spanish broadcast for 72 games are heard on KIQI 1010AM/990AM with studios in San Francisco, serving also the Sacramento/Stockton market and does That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com 

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips and Michael Duca: Giants slowly but surely have improved the team, thanks to Zaidi

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sports.yahoo.com file photo: San Francisco Giants general manager Farhan Zaidi is the one that holds the decision as to whether or not pitchers Madison Bumgarner or Will Smith stay or go.

On the Giants podcast with Morris and Michael:

The last time Morris and Michael recorded a podcast, the San Francisco Giants were 11 games below .500 and they went as far as 12 games as far as 35-37 and they have won 16 of their last 19 and have rescued their season. We weren’t talking about the same club the last time we spoke.

The Giants are a team that has managed to during the course of the year and they’re getting younger with almost every transaction they make and yet getting more competitive also. The whole thing about Giants general manager Farhan Zaidi — he couldn’t make a splash move, but what we’ve seen is he’s making these incremental moves and made the team slightly better each time.

Listen for more as Morris and Michael bring you the Giants podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Comfortable Late: Giants hang around then pounce, beat the Cubs, 5-4

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s been nearly a year since the Giants sported a winning record, and this time, it feels like it fits.

The Giants rallied for two runs in the eighth, surprising the equally hot Cubs in a 5-4 win at Oracle Park on Monday night. The win was the Giants 16th in their last 19 games, which apparently is the length of time required for a bad ballclub to gain its footing.

In the previous three weeks, the Giants have crushed the ball, and overwhelmed the opposition on the road, and they’ve pitched, defended and picked their spots at home. On Monday, the Giants executed the latter, coming up with consecutive RBI doubles from Austin Slater and Joe Panik in the eighth to cap a comeback from being down 3-0 in the fourth.

By improving to 51-50, the Giants remained within two games of the second wild card placeholder, St. Louis. Just as importantly, they continue to gain the faith of their own front office, that now may be less likely to break up a good thing before the July 31 trade deadline.

“We’re playing our best baseball right now,” said Panik. “There’s something about this team. We’re a collective group. It’s not just one guy doing it all.”

With 61 games remaining, how could the previously last-place Giants pull this off and grab a wild card berth? Well, their schedule and the math make this three-pronged scenario a possibility.

First, they post a winning record over their next seven games leading up to the trade deadline. GM Farhan Zaidi continues to monitor the trade front while his team’s won-loss record weighs heavily on whether he buys or sells. Being at least 55-53 a week from now after the two remaining games against the Cubs, three at San Diego, and the first two of three at Philadelphia keeps the Giants where they are: a game or two out of the second wild card spot, and on the heels of the Cardinals, Phillies and Brewers, the teams they must catch.

Second, they need to win 36 of their remaining 61 games to gain an 87-75 record, which is modest, but could land them in a favorable spot when compared to the other three clubs, none of which have shown the ability to get hot and run away from the pack.

And third, the Giants only have 11 games remaining against the trio they’re pursuing. Seven road games at St. Louis and Philadelphia, and four home games against the Phillies. Their season series against the Brewers is concluded (Giants won 4 of 6 against Milwaukee). Win more than half of those 11 games, and it makes it far more likely the Phillies or Cardinals don’t get hot and approach, or reach 90 wins.

On Tuesday, Madison Bumgarner faces the Cubs in a matchup against Yu Darvish at 6:45 pm. And yes, it’s unlikely to feel or be treated like Bumgarner’s final start in a Giants’ uniform at Oracle Park.

“I’m proud of them and how they played their way into playing important games,” manager Bruce Bochy said of his Giants. “I can’t think of a season quite like this. We’ve had some ups and downs, but to go from where we were to where we are, it’s made this even more enjoyable.”

Astros pound the A’s 11-1

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Astros continued their domination if the A’s this season. They beat the A’s for the eighth time in nine tries. There is no question that the Astros, along with the New York Yankees, are the two best teams in the American League. The Astros have solid players at every position, and they showed the A’s how good they can be by beating them 11-1

Homer Bailey made his second start as a member of the A’s. Things fell apart for Bailey in the second inning. The Astros put four on the board. The scoring started when rookie Yordano Alvarez hit a solo home run to right-center field. The Astros loaded the bases with no out. George Springer singled to make it 2-0, and the bases were still loaded. Bailey walked Jose Altuve to force in the third run of the frame. Alex Bregman grounded out to drive in the Astros’ fourth run of the game.

Bailey started the third inning, but it was not his night as the Astros scored seven times to put the game out of reach. Yule Guriel and Aledmys Diaz homered in the inning. Bailey left with the score 9-0. Brian Schlitter gave up two more runs.

The A’s only run of the game came when they had their only two hits of the night. Matt Chapman doubled and scored on Mark Canha’s double.

Game Notes: Gerrit Cole was dominant. He went seven innings and allowed two hits and one earned. He struck out 11. His record improved to 11-5.

Homer Bailey absorbed his first loss as an Oakland Athletic. His line was two-plus innings pitched, nine runs and eight strikeouts. He is now 8-7 for the year.

The A’s used outfielder Nick Martini as a pitcher. Martini pitched an inning and kept the Astros off the board. He was recalled from Las Vegas to take Brett Anderson’s spot. Anderson is on paternity leave.

Yordano Alvarez set a Major League record by driving in his 35th run in his first 30 games. Albert Pujols previously held the record.

Alvarez, Guriel, and Aledmys Diaz were three Cuban-born players to homer in the game.

Up Next: The A’s hope to turn the tables Tuesday night. Game time is at 5:10 pm PT.

They Were Giants? Horace Speed and Darren Ford

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Photo credit: Tony “The Tiger” Hayes

By Tony “The Tiger” Hayes

Horace Speed — PR/OF — 1975 — # 38
Darren Ford — PR/OF — 2010-11 — # 34

SAN FRANCISCO–The ignored “position” of pinch-runner hasn’t been in Vogue since the mid-1970s when Oakland’s Herb Washington — a former college track star without a baseball background — was issued an unforgettable 1975 Topps baseball card listing his position as “pinch -runner.” But like sans-a-belt pants, mutton chop side burns and flapless batting helmets, the pinch-runner has been sadly all but laughed out of baseball.

Over the years, SF has had two short lived players who’s primary lane to the playing field included slapping lead foot teammates on the butt as they took their spot on the base paths.

The aptly named Speed and Ford (think Mustang) – combined to play in 50 games with the Giants – with 31 of those appearances coming as pinch-runners.

Why Were They Giants?
The LA raised Speed, who was signed to his first pro contract by SF in 1969, made the club’s opening day roster in 1975 as a backup to the likes of Gary Matthews, Von Joshua and Bobby Murcer.

While Speed was considered a more rounded prospect – batting batting .273, 14, 83 at Triple-A Phoenix in 1974,

Ford was promoted to SF in Sept. 2010 strictly for his base path acumen, after hitting just .250 at Double-AA Richmond.

Before & After
The grandson of former big leaguer Ted Ford, Darren came up through the Brewers farm system before a 2008 trade in exchange for Ray Durham brought him to SF.

He would make it into seven games in the fall of ‘10 but never made a plate appearance.

Ford made it back to the bigs with SF again in 2011 – this time getting a few hits off the bench.

After leaving the Giants organization in 2012, Ford spent a seasons each in the Seattle and Pittsburgh organizations before returning to the Giants fold in 2014-16 – however he did receive a big league call-up the second time around.

Speed would appear in just 17 games with the Giants in ‘75, batting .133 (2-for-15) before returning to the minors for the next three seasons. He would resurface in majors with Cleveland in 1979-80 batting .217 in 96 contests.

They Never Got Their Own Bobblehead. But…
Ford may not have swung a bat never for the 2010 World Champions, but he made an unforgettable impression on Giants fans – using his speed to lead the Orange & Black to victory in his big league debut in a home game vs. Colorado (9/1/10).

Running at first base for Mike Fontenot in the bottom of the eighth with the score tied at 1-1, Ford advanced to second on a sacrifice.

With one out and a 0-2 count on Andres Torres, Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez bounced a pitch in the dirt that bound a short distance from Rox back stop Miguel Olivo. Ford daringly took the initiative to sprit to third and then he kept on running home with what would be the winning run of a 2-1 outcome when a hurried Olivo airmailed a throw into left field.

Speed appeared in eight big league games before making his first plate appearance for SF. He reached base in his first start, stroking a double off Don Gullet in a 5-4 win at Candlestick over the eventual world champion Reds (4/29/75).

Giant Footprint
In his first big league multi-hit game (he only had four of them) Speed batted 2-for-4 with 2 RBI to lead Cleveland to a 3-0 win at Toronto (6/30/78). Also collecting two knocks for the Indians that day: Tribe starting 2B Duane Kuiper.

Thirty-two years later, Kuiper was behind the mic on the Giants telecast when Ford debuted with his mad dash from second base: “Ford’s gonna go! (The throw is) into left field and the Giants take the lead! Unbelievable!”

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Mets-Giants go extra innings three times in series

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sfgate.com photo: San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski, right, is congratulated by third base coach Ron Wotus (23) after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the 12th inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 21, 2019.

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is having a season with on Sunday. He got a walk away home run off New York Mets pitcher  Robert Gsellman in the bottom of the 12th in a four-game series that went into extra innings three times.

#2 The game on Sunday went 12 innings, which gives you an idea how the Mets and Giants battled tooth and nail to win this series

#3 The Giants have been getting these series in the last month’s worth. They take three out four from the Mets and are just 2 1/2 games back in the NL Wild Card standings

#4 Giant outfielder Kevin Pillar got fed up with the strike calls when he got punched out by plate umpire Mark Rippenger. He argued with Rippenger, but got ran. It was Pillar’s first ejection for this season.

#5 The Giants open a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. Starting pitchers for the Cubs, Alec Mills (0-0, 4.50 ERA), and for the Giants, Shaun Anderson (3-2, 4.87 ERA).

San Francisco Giants podcasts are heard right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com each Sunday