Tag: Atlanta Braves

Eddie Rosario who hit for the cycle for the Atlanta Braves is jubilant after hitting a triple against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 19, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Wouldnt you know that it would be a former member of the San Francisco Giants that cost them a big weekend sweep.

Adam Duvall hit a two-run home run off of Anthony DeSclafani in the top of the seventh inning, helping the Atlanta Braves to salvage the finale of the three-game series with a 3-0 victory over the Giants before a crowd of 32,210 at Oracle Park.

Max Fried was absolutely fantastic for the Braves, as he went seven innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, walking just one and striking out five on his way to raising his record to 12-7 on the record and with the win, the Braves will remain in first place over the Philadelphia Phillies.

On the other side of things, the Giants lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers was reduced to one game in the National League with the loss and the Dodgers 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark.

It was a huge day for Rosario, who hit for the cycle, as he went 4 for-4 on the afternoon against Giants pitching. Rosario came up in the top of the ninth inning with a chance at the getting the cycle, and got it when he singled off of Kervin Castro. Rosario doubled in the second, tripled in the fifth, homered in the seventh and singled in the ninth to complete only the second cycle since the ballpark opened on April 11, 2000.

This was the fourth cycle of the season in Major League Baseball this season, as Trea Turner, then of the Washington Nationals, Jake Cronenworth of the San Diego Padres and Rosarios teammate Freddie Freeman also hit one and it was the 10th cycle in Braves history.

DeSclafani went the first six innings and was looking fantastic until he gave a double to Austin Riley that Austin Slater brought back into the ballpark like Steven Duggar did with a ball hit by Jorge Soler. In all, DeSclafani went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, did not walk a batter and struck out six and his record fell to 12-7 on the season.

Immediately following the Duvall home run off of DeSclafani, Zack Littell came on and was greeted rather unceremoniously, as Rosario made it back-to-back home runs to lengthen the Braves lead.

Unfortunately for the Giants, they were unable to get anything going against Fried, who baffled them on all afternoon.

Former Dodgers outfielder and Bay Area Joc Pederson, who went to Palo Alto High School went 2-for-4 with a single and a double.

With a chance to break the game wide open in the top of the eighth inning, after Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman each singled off of Jose Alvarez with one out in the inning, Camilio Doval came on and was able to get out of the jam, as he got Riley to fly out to Darin Ruf in left field for the second out of the inning and then Doval struck out Duvall to end the inning.

Former Giants closer Will Smith came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the Giants in order to get his 33rd save.

NOTES: Eric Byrnes came up with the only other cycle in the history of the 21-year old ballpark, when completed the cycle on June 29, 2003 as a member of the Oakland Athletics, when the ballpark was then known as Pacific Bell Park.

Byrnes went 5-for-5 on the afternoon, with a single, two doubles, a triple and a home run in a 5-2 win over the Giants.

Felix Rodriguez gave up the triple that Byrnes needed in the top of the ninth inning to complete the cycle.

UP NEXT: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants will open their final road trip of the regular season, as they head off on a two-city, six-game road trip to San Diego to face the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, and then head to Colorado to face the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field beginning on Friday night.

San Francisco Giants hitter Curt Casali swings for a two RBI single as Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d’Arnau looks on in the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco Sat Sep 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Alex Wood made his return to the starting rotation, but his return was a short one.

Wood, who was reinstated from the injured list prior to the game went only three innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, walking no one, striking out four and hit by a batter and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-0 before a crowd of 32,058 at Oracle Park.

With the victory, the Giants maintained their two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers, who defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 earlier on Saturday at Great American Ballpark.

On the other side of things, this was the fourth loss in a row for the Braves and their lead in the National League East now stands at one game over the Philadelphia Phillies, who have won four in a row.

The Giants finally got to Charlie Morton in the bottom of the fourth inning, Curt Casali hit a two-run single to right field that scored both LaMonte Wade, Jr., and Brandon Crawford with what proved to be the only runs of the game.

Wade, Jr., walked to lead off the inning, then Crawford singled to right field to send Wade, Jr., down to second base. The duo then advanced an additional 90 feet, when Mike Yastrzemski dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt that he nearly beat out and then Casali hit the two-run single.

Once again, the Giants bullpen was dazzling in relief of Wood, as the combination of Zach Littell, Jay Jackson, Jarlin Garcia, Jose Alvarez, Tyler Rogers and Dominic Leone combined to go the final five innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five.

Morton went the first five for the Braves, as he allowed two runs on four hits, three walks and struck out three.

It looked like the Braves took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, as Jorge Soler it looked like he hit his 24th home run of the season; however, Steven Duggar robbed him of the home run, when he brought the ball back into play and it was called a double off of Littell, who then gave up a single to Freddie Freeman.

Littell was able to get out of the inning unscathed, as he struck out Austin Riley on a foul tip that was reviewed and confirmed after 67 seconds to be the third strike, then Littell struck out both Adam Duvall and Travis dArnaud to get out of the jam.

With the Giants scoring the two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, it gave the win to Littell and he raised his record to 4-0 on the season and Leone, who came on to close the game picked up his second save of the season.

NOTES: Wood was reinstated, as he started the game for the Giants, to make room for Wood, Sammy Long was optioned to Sacramento and Chadwick Tromp was designated for assignment.

The Giants home run streak came to a halt at 12 consecutive games (26 home runs overall) and this was the longest streak by the team since they hit home runs in 13 straight games from June 25-July 12 of 2019 and hit 25 home runs during the streak.

When Donovan Solano hit his pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday night, it was the 16th pinch-hit home run of the season for the team and are one shy of the Major-League record set by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017, when they hit 17.

The Giants record of 97-52 thru 149 games is the best by the team since they moved to California in 1958, passing both the 1962 and 1993 team that was 93-56 thru 149 games.

This was the 1,250th win by the Giants over the Braves all-time and have lost 1,097 times and tied 26 times.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani goes to the mound for the Giants, as they look for the sweep and DeSclafani goes for his 13th win of the season, while the Braves will send Max Fried to the hill, as he looks for his 12th win of the season.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Ian Anderson throws against the San Francisco Giants line up at Suntrust Park in Cobb County as Anderson and five relievers combined for a five hit shutout on Sun Aug 29, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Jorge Soler loves to hit home runs and he showed it twice over the weekend in a big series between National League Division leaders.

Soler, who hit a three-run home run on Friday night, added a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, helping the Atlanta Braves to a 9-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park. This was the first series for the Giants since they lost a series to the Pittsburgh Pirates from July 23-25, a span of nine series.

Following the Soler home run, his 20th of the season, Freddie Freeman reached on an infield single and then Austin Riley made it 3-0, when hit his 28th home run for the Braves, who took two out of three from the NL West Leading Giants.

Eddie Rosario broke the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he hit a two-run triple and then Ozzie Albies hit his 23rd home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth.

Ian Anderson made his return to the starting rotation for the Braves, as he allowed just four hits and walked two in 5.2 innings. It was the first start for Anderson since July 11, as he was out with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Anthony DeSclafani also was making his first start since coming off the injured list himself, as he was battling inflammation in his right ankle.

DeSclafani retired the first six batters he faced in the game, and then Rosario singled to start the bottom of the third inning for the Braves and DeSclafani was able to get out of the jam unscathed, when he got Albies to strikeout to end the inning.

After he allowed an infield single to Dansby Swanson with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth inning, DeSclafani left the game, as he allowed three runs and six hits in those three innings and he saw his record fall to 11-6 on the season.

NOTES: Prior to the game, Brandon Belt was activated from the bereavement list, DeSclafani was activated from the injured list. To make room for Belt and DeSclafani, Thairo Estrada was optioned to Sacramento and Tyler Chatwood was designated for assignment.

With their 15th shutout of the season on Saturday night, the Giants tied Milwaukee Brewers for the most shutouts in the Major Leagues. The last Giants team to have more than 15 shutouts in a season was the 2015 team, who threw 18 shutouts on the season.

Thru 130 games, the Giants are 84-46, just one game behind the best Giants in the San Francisco era, as the 1993 team was 85-45 on their way to a second-place finish in the NL West and finished 103-59, one game behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL West.

UP NEXT: Johnny Cueto opens the seven-game home stand for the Giants, as he looks for his eighth win of the season, while the Brewers will send Corbin Burnes to the hill and will go for his ninth win of the season for the NL Central Leading Brewers.

San Francisco pitcher Logan Webb held the Atlanta Braves in seven innings to five hits throws against the Braves line up in the first inning on Sat Aug 28, 2021 at Suntrust Field in Cobb County (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Logan Webb continues to be one of the most dominating pitchers of the season for the San Francisco Giants, and his numbers show it.

Webb went seven innings, allowing zero runs on five hits, walking one and striking out six, as the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-0 at Truist Park.

Over his last 13 starts, Webb is now 7-0, as the Giants improve to 84-45 on the season and continue to have the best record in Major League Baseball.

During the 13-game stretch, the Giants are 12-1 that goes back to May 11 versus the Texas Rangers and over his last 73.1 innings, Webb has allowed just 12 earned runs in that span, and Webb has not allowed more than two runs in any of the 13 games, the second-longest streak since 1901

Tommy La Stella, who was robbed of extra bases on a fantastic catch by Joc Pederson to end the game on Friday night, got some redemption in his first at-bat of the night.

La Stella launched a solo home run to lead off the game off of Huascar Ynoa to give the Giants a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and in the long run that would be the only run that the Giants would need against the first-place Braves.

Webb helped out his cause in the top of the third inning, as he doubled to left field off of Ynoa and moved to third on a base hit by LaMonte Webb, Jr.

Following the Wade, Jr., single, La Stella picked up his second RBI of the night, as he hit a sacrifice fly to Friday nights hero Jorge Soler in right field.

The Giants added three more runs in the top of the seventh and eighth innings, as Mike Yastrzemski hit his career-high tying 21st home run in the top of the seventh inning and then doubled to centerfield to score Wilmer Flores with the final run of the night for the Giants. Darin Ruf singled just before the Yastrzemski double to score Buster Posey, who singled to lead off the inning with a single.

The bullpen duo of Tyler Rogers and Jay Jackson finished off the 15th shutout of the season for the Giants, the most in the MLB this season.

Rogers gave up two hits, and struck out one, as he was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run.

Jackson came on to finish the game for the Giants, and responded by striking out the side to end the game.

NOTES: With the victory, the Giants have now been the best team in the National League for 105 days, the longest for the team since 1935, when they led the NL for 120 days, this according to STATS, LLC.

With their 84th win of the season, the Giants tie the 1993 team for the best record after 129 games since moving to California in 1958.

Webb threw a three-pitch inning in the bottom of the fourth inning, and it was the first three-pitch inning by a Giants pitcher since Madison Bumgarner during the 2010 season.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani will be activated from the 10-day injured list to take the mound in the series finale for the Giants. DeSclafani was on the IL with inflammation in his right ankle. Ian Anderson is expected to make his return to the Braves rotation and expected to make his first start since July 11, as he returns from inflammation in his right shoulder.

Atlanta Braves slugger Jorge Soler slugs one so far out of the park for a three run home run in the eighth inning that it helps keep the game close against the San Francisco Giants at Suntrust Park in Cobb County (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Joc Pederson maybe from the Bay Area, but he will do anything to beat the San Francisco Giants and he did it again in the opener.

Pederson made a fantastic catch, as overran the ball and crashed into a wall for the final out and the Atlanta Braves hung on to defeat the Giants 6-5 at Truist Park.

Tommy La Stella hit the ill-fated pitch that Pederson caught, as La Stella attempted to tie up the game off of Braves closer and former Giants closer Will Smith, who was able to notch his 29th save of the season.

The Giants were able to get to Smith earlier in the inning, as Wilmer Flores led off the ninth with a home run; however, Smith was able to get out of the jam and end the Giants five-game winning streak.

Following the catch, the umpires did go to the video review and it was confirmed that Pederson did catch the ball for the final out.

Jorge Soler gave the Braves the lead for good, as he hit the first pitch he saw from Zack Littell and put it into the left field seats to give the Braves a 6-4 lead.

Littell replaced Tony Watson, who came on to replace Kevin Gausman in the bottom of the seventh inning and struck out former Giant Adam Duvall for the first out. Pederson then walked and then Guillermo Heredia came off the bench and singled.

Ozzie Albies then doubled in Pederson and was the end of the night for Watson, and then Sler hit a 430 foot three-run home run to give the Braves the lead for good.

Georgia native Buster Posey gave the Giants an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit an opposite field two-run home run just inside the right field foul pole.

After a 35-minute rain delay in the first inning, Kris Bryant left the game due to right side tightness and according to Giants manager Gabe Kapler, the decision to pull Bryant was made before the delay.

The Giants lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers remained at 2.5 games, as the Colorado Rockies defeated the Dodgers 4-2 at Dodger Stadium.

Gausman went the first six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, not walking anyone and two strikeouts, as he did not fare in the decision.

Max Fried like Gausman also went six innings, as he gave up four runs (three earned), not walking a batter and struck out five and also did not get a decision.

NOTES: Gausman was activated from the injured list, and Chadwick Tromp was optioned to Sacramento to make room for Gausman.

The home run by Posey was the 194th by the team this season, as they continue to lead the majors in that category over the Toronto Blue Jays.

UP NEXT: Logan Webb goes for his eighth win of the season for the Giants, as he takes the mound on Saturday. The Braves will Huascar Yoa to the mound, as he looks for his fifth win of the season.

San Francisco Giant Kris Bryant gets congratulations from first base coach Antoan Richardson while rounding first base after hitting a fourth inning home run against the New York Mets on Wed Aug 25, 2021 at Citi Field in Flushing (AP News photo)

Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Giants second baseman Donovan Solano was experiencing cold like symptoms and will be quarantined in a New York hotel for the next seven days. Manager Gabe Kapler was asked if Solano was a breakthrough case and Kapler said he didn’t want to add anything to what he had said in the post game presser. Also hitting coach Justin Viele is also staying back in New York after testing positive for quarantining purposes.

#2 Kris Bryant will be a free agent this winter, Bryant said that he makes all his business decision in spite of having heavy power broker Scott Boras as his agent and with the Giants being the hottest team in the game Bryant is weighing if he’d liked to come back next season.

#3 Bryant also said about playing for the Giants that they just put their head down and go to work no egos just hard work is the key to their success.

#4 The Giants are rolling and have won seven of their last ten games that said their getting some serious consideration from the oddsmakers to make the World Series. That said MLB has just recently released the schedule for post season and have scheduled game 7 of the World Series for Nov 3rd.

#5 The Giants open a three game series at Suntrust Park in Cobb County against the Atlanta Braves tonight for a 4:20pm PDT first pitch. The Giants will start Kevin Gausman (12-5 ERA 2.74) and for the Braves Max Fried (11-7 ERA 3.49).

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsrasdioservice.com