Tag: AT&T Park

Giants appear to be in a free fall

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Photo credit: mccoveychronicles.com

By Jeremy Harness

Right now, the Giants are playing like they can’t wait for the season to be over.

After being in contention for much of the season, they have now lost 11 straight games and are sinking deeper into the abyss of the major leagues. Instead of playing spoiler, other teams seem to be able to look at the Giants as a way to pick up a few easy wins and keep their playoff hopes alive.

The next team to hope to use the Giants to fatten their records is the Colorado Rockies, who make their way to AT&T Park for a three-game weekend series that starts Friday night.

The Rockies are 1 ½ games in front of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West lead, and they swept the Giants at Coors Field in a three-game series just last week, and they hope to do the same this weekend.

Righty Chris Stratton will take the ball Friday night opposite Colorado left-hander Tyler Anderson (6-8, 4.89 ERA).

Anderson, however, has fallen on hard times on the mound lately. After a promising start to the season, Anderson has lost each of his last five decisions, including his last outing against the Dodgers that saw him go only 2 2/3 innings and surrender three runs on five hits.

Stratton has not been much better. He has dropped five of his past six decisions, and his last outing saw him go five innings and give up four runs on four hits in a loss at Milwaukee.

Colorado righty German Marquez (12-9, 3.94 ERA) will go Saturday afternoon against Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner
Marquez has been a workhorse for the Rockies, as he has gone at least seven innings in seven of his past nine outings, including a 13-2 win over Arizona in his last outing on Monday. The 23-year-old has won four of his last five outings.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Dereck Rodriguez (6-3, 2.35 ERA) will take the hill against Colorado righty Antonio Senzatela (4-6, 5.01 ERA) to close out the series.

Giants’ losing streak now at 10 games after 4-1 loss to Braves

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — When will this season losing streak come to an end for the San Francisco Giants?

Ozzie Albies doubled in the top of the fourth inning to score Nick Markakis, who led off the inning with a single and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Giants 4-1 before an announced crowd of 35,285 at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.

With the loss, the Giants have now lost 10 games in a row. This is the first time since June 21-30, 1996 that the Giants have lost 10 games in a row.

After losing two out of three to the New York Mets, the Giants are now 0-8 since then versus the Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers and Braves and all three teams in the playoff hunt.

Mike Foltynewicz was outstanding for the Braves, as he threw a complete game, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out seven, as he improved to 11-9 on the season.

Foltynewicz lost the shutout in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he gave up a single to Evan Longoria, who went to second on defensive indifference and then Brandon Crawford followed that up with a single to right field that scored Longoria.

As for Giants starter Andrew Suarez, he went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits, walking three and striking out three and fell to 6-11 on the season.

This was the second rough start in a row for Suarez, who went six innings, allowing five runs on six hits, walking two and striking out five and also allowed a career-high three home runs.

Suarez did not get any support from his defense, as Alen Hanson committed an error in the top of the second inning on a routine ball hit by Albies, but Austin Slater was unable to snag the throw.

Johan Camargo reached on a Slater fielding error in the top of the third inning, and on the play, Camargo was forced to leave the game with tightness in his left groin. His replacement Charlie Culberson hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth, right after Ronald Acuna Jr., hit a triple to right-center field.

NOTES: Despite getting the loss on Monday night, Dereck Rodriguez joined a very exclusive company, as he is just the third pitcher since 1913 to start 13 games, go at least six innings, and allow two runs or less (STATS, LLC). Rodriguez joins Steve Rogers of the Montreal Expos as the only rookie pitchers to accomplish this feat, and the only veteran was Juan Marichal in 1965.

During this 10-game losing streak, the Giants have scored 25 runs and the opponents have scored 48.

The 10-game losing streak is just the Giants third such streak since moving to San Francisco in 1958. Asides from the 10-game streak in 1996, they also lost 10 in a row from June 20-30, 1985.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Braves conclude their series with a Wednesday afternoon finale at 12:45 pm PDT.

Giants’ left-handed pitcher and switch-hitter Derek Holland looks to stop the losing streak on Wednesday afternoon, as he looks for his eighth win of the season, while the Braves will counter with Anibal Sanchez, who goes for his seventh win.

Syndergaard throws a gem in Mets’ 4-1 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @genymets

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — With the exception of two bad pitches in the second inning, it was a spectacular pitching performance for Chris Stratton.

Michael Conforto hit a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw from Stratton in the top of the second inning, helping the New York Mets to a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants before a crowd of 39,692 at AT&T Park on Sunday afternoon.

Just one pitch prior to Conforto’s 20th home run of the season, Todd Frazier lined a double to left field.

Noah Syndergaard was outstanding for the Mets, as he threw his first career complete game, allowing just one run on just two hits, walking just one and striking out a season-high tying 11 and won for the 10th time on the season.

This was just the second complete game against the Giants this season, joining Patrick Corbin of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who tossed one on April 17.

Syndergaard’s lone mistake of the afternoon, was when Alen Hanson hit a triple just out of the reach of a diving Brandon Nimmo in right field and then Stratton got the Giants on the board with a sacrifice fly to Nimmo that easily scored Hanson from third base,

Stratton went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, not allowing a walk and striking out two.

Following the Hanson triple and subsequent sacrifice fly by Stratton, Syndergaard only allowed two more baserunners to reach base, as Evan Longoria singled in the bottom of the fourth inning and then Brandon Belt reached on a throwing error by Jay Bruce.

Despite the loss, the Giants made some great plays on defense, especially three by Hanson and one by Gregor Blanco, who robbed former teammate Austin Jackson of extra bases, as he made a diving catch of a Jackson hit in the top of the fifth inning. Austin Slater made a great defensive to end the top of the ninth inning, as he robbed Tomas Nido of extra bases with Nimmo on first base after a walk with one out in the frame.

Jeff McNeill continues his hot hitting against the Giants, as he picked up two more hits on the afternoon, including a two-run single in the top of the eighth inning that stretched the Mets lead up to 4-1.

In seven games versus the Giants since being recalled from the Las Vegas 51s, McNeil is batting .500 against the Giants, as he is 9-for-18 in seven games.

NOTES: Kelby Tomlinson was recalled from Sacramento prior to the game. The Giants now have 27 players on their roster.

Brandon Crawford sat out the weekend series against the Mets due to soreness in his left knee, and will be re-evaluated by the doctors over the next few days.

Steven Duggar will have season-ending shoulder injury sometime this week, might be Tuesday.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner opens the Giants two-city six-game road trip with a start against the Colorado Rockies on Monday afternoon, as he faces Tyler Anderson for the Rockies at Coors Field. Game time is set for 12:10 pm PDT.

Following the three-game series in Denver, and an off day, the Giants make their only trip to Milwaukee, where they will face the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend at Miller Park.

Giants fall to Mets 2-1 in 11 innings

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Ana Kieu

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants were looking to defeat the New York Mets again in game two of the three-game series at AT&T Park on Saturday afternoon. The Giants welcomed former shortstop Johnnie LeMaster, who enjoyed the ballgame after catching a flight from Kentucky to California.

Via twitter.com

Saturday afternoon was similar to Friday night, as the Giants and Mets were in a scoreless deadlock for three complete innings. Evan Longoria hit a solo home run to put the Giants on the board 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

However, it didn’t take long for the Mets to even the score at one apiece, as Tomas Nido doubled on a line drive to Austin Slater. Nido’s double brought home Brandon Nimmo in the top of the fifth inning.

Giants’ left-handed starter and switch-hitter Derek Holland put in a day’s work on the mound. Holland’s line was six innings pitched, four hits, one earned run, three walks and three strikeouts.

Fans in attendance got the chance to watch some free baseball, as the game went into extra innings following a 1-1 tie after nine complete innings.

The Mets took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 11th inning. Todd Frazier went out on a sacrifice fly to Hunter Pence. Wilmer Scores scored on Frazier’s sacrifice fly.

The Giants had hoped to mount a comeback or at least even the score to force a 12th inning, but that didn’t happen. The Giants lost to the Mets 2-1 in 11 innings.

Mets’ Jerry Blevins was the winning pitcher. Giants’ Hunter Strickland took the loss.

Notes
Giants’ starting lineup: Hernandez (CF), Slater (RF), Longoria (3B), Hundley (C), Belt (1B), Pence (LF), Hanson (SS), Panik (2B) and Holland (P).

Giants catcher Buster Posey underwent hip surgery on Monday, but was in San Francisco for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day. Posey is a class act and that’s why young kids adore and admire him.

Saturday’s attendance was 38,875.

Saturday’s game lasted for two hours and 56 minutes.

Up Next
The Giants wrap up their series versus the Mets with a finale on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT.

Part deux of Giants and Mets: Rookie power shows flashes in SF’s 7-0 shutout over NYM

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Ana Kieu

This Friday night marked the start of part deux of the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets series. This time around, these two teams met inside AT&T Park instead of Citi Field.

In case you missed it, SF flew out of NYC with a 3-1 win to salvage a split of the four-game split. That wasn’t what the Giants wanted, but it’s better than getting swept on the road.

The Giants got things rolling with Andrew Suarez (5-9, 4.42 ERA) on the mound, and the Mets countered with Zack Wheeler (9-6, 3.46 ERA).

The Giants also got a good glimpse at the future of the franchise, as the Chris Shaw era began on Friday night, but it was Andrew Shaw who helped the Giants roll over the Mets 7-0 at AT&T Park.

After six scoreless innings, Shaw’s sacrifice fly to Austin Jackson allowed Brandon Belt to score to give the Giants a 1-0 lead at the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Giants continued to pour in the runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Aramis Garcia on a fly ball to left field for a 2-0 lead. Belt tripled on a sharp fly ball to Jay Bruce, which allowed Gregor Blanco and Evan Longoria to both score for a 4-0 lead. Austin Slater singled on a line drive to Bruce, which allowed Belt to score for a 5-0 lead. Gorkys Hernandez singled on a ground ball to Bruce, which allowed Slater to score for a 6-0 lead and moved Hunter Pence to third base. Garcia capped off the Giants’ scoring with a single on a fly ball to Jackson, which allowed Pence to score for a 7-0 lead and moved Hernandez to third base.

The Mets were unable to recuperate, and the Giants won 7-0 in a laugher.

Notes
Chris Shaw was called up to SF from the Sacramento River Cats.

Andrew McCutchen tweeted out a shoutout to the Giants and thanked them for the love and support they gave to him and his family. McCutchen also gave a shoutout to the fans and added that he got chills every time he saw his banner outside of AT&T Park.

Up Next
The Giants and Mets meet again Saturday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT. The matinee will feature a pitching matchup of SF’s Derek Holland (7-8, 3.65 ERA) and NY’s Steven Matz (5-11, 4.36 ERA).

Giants to host Mets for three-game series starting Friday night

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Photo credit: goldstar.com

By: Ana Kieu

The Giants have been pretty darn good as of late. But let’s not forget that the Giants struggled in Flushing against the Mets in Citi Field and merely got out of the Big Apple with a 3-1 win to halt what could’ve been the Mets’ three-game sweep at home.

This weekend, San Francisco will host New York for a three-game series before embarking on a six-game road trip starting in Coors Field with the Rockies and then Miller Park with the Brewers. That’s quite a lot of airfare miles, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

The Giants, however, must avoid looking down on the Mets. Why’s that? The Mets are cellar-dwellers just like the Giants, so they can possibly play spoilers like they did with the Nationals and Phillies.

In other news, the Giants’ Twitter retweeted a tweet from Baseball Hall that announced an “On This Day in 1965” on Wednesday, writing that Willie Mays set a record with his 17th homer in the month of August in the Giants’ 8-3 win over the Mets. Coincidence, much?

The Giants’ Twitter also announced that on Tuesday that more than 50 volunteers from CarMax, the Giants and the American Red Cross put together 500 kits for aid in disaster relief efforts. Lou Seal and Chase d’Arnaud were also there. You can help by going on redcross.org/Giants.

And, if you have some extra bucks to spend, you can book your next three-day stay in San Francisco with Hilton–the official hotel partner of the Giants’ 60th anniversary season–and you’ll save 50% off on Sunday night stays.

The Giants host the Mets at AT&T Park for game one on Friday night at 7:15 pm PDT. You can watch the game on NSBA and SNY.

Hernandez saves the day with a walkoff; Giants shutout the D-Backs 1-0

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — When the San Francisco Giants needed the biggest hit of the game, they turned to the spark plug of the first half, Gorkys Hernandez.

After sitting on the bench for eight and a half innings, Hernandez hit a single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 before a crowd of 37,276 at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.

With the victory, the Giants are now six games behind the D-Backs, who are now with the Colorado Rockies atop the National League West, while the reigning National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers are a game behind.

This was the first walk-off hit of Hernandez’s career, as the Giants have won four in a row and six out of their last nine since being swept by the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark from August 17-19.

As for the first-place D-Backs, this was their fourth loss in their last five games and it was seventh time this season that they have been shutout.

The Giants have held the D-Backs scoreless over the past 23 innings, as the D-Backs last scored in the bottom of the fifth inning of the series finale on August 5.

Steven Duggar came up huge on both the offensive and the defensive sides of the diamond in the shutout win for the Giants.

After Austin Slater grounded out for the first out of the inning, Duggar drew a walk against losing pitcher Brad Ziegler. Then Nick Hundley singled to left field, and Duggar rounded second and was heading to third before putting on the breaks and slid back into second.

It was on that play where Duggar slid into second that showed everyone why the Giants called him up to be their everyday center fielder, as he jammed his shoulder into the ground and after stretching for the training staff, Bruce Bochy and others, Duggar did a few stretches and stayed in the game. Alen Hanson was announced as a pinch hitter, but Torey Lovullo countered with left-hander Jake Diekman and Hernandez was called onto pinch-hit and he came up with the biggest hit of the night to win the game for the Giants.

Duggar came up huge on defense in the top of the eighth inning, as he cut off a ball hit by David Peralta, threw to Brandon Crawford, who in turn, threw to Hundley to get Nick Ahmed at the plate after he went through the stop sign of third base coach Tony Perezchica.

Madison Bumgarner was sharp once again, as he went seven innings, allowing just four hits, walking four and striking out five, as he did not fare in the decision.

Bumgarner got into jams in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but it was vintage Bumgarner and he got out of all the jams unscathed.

Ketel Marte led off the top of the fifth inning with a double, but then Bumgarner regrouped to get Jeff Mathis and Clay Buchholz, but then John Jay walked and then A.J. Pollock flew out to Duggar in center for the final out of the inning.

Things got real dicey in the top of the sixth inning, as Bumgarner gave up a base hit to Paul Goldschmidt off the left field wall that kept Goldschmidt at first base and then walked Eduardo Escobar. Bumgarner got Steven Souza for the first out, but then Ahmed singled to load the bases.

Evan Longoria made a heads up on a Marte hit ball, as he threw to Hundley for the second out of the inning and the inning nearly came out of control, as Brandon Belt snared the Hundley throw before it went into the outfield to give the D-Backs the lead. Bumgarner then got out of the jam, as he got Mathis to fly out to Duggar to end the inning.

Once again, things got a little hairy in the top of the seventh inning, as Bumgarner fanned Buchholz for the second time, but then Slater lost the ball in the lights for a three-base error that allowed Jay to get to third base. Pollock then walked, but Goldschmidt, who just feasts on Giants pitching, was not able to get the run across, as he popped out to Joe Panik for the second out of the inning and then Escobar grounded out to Panik to end the seventh inning and yet another escape for the Giants and Bumgarner.

Buchholz also went seven innings, allowing just five hits, walking two and striking out three, as like Bumgarner, he did not fare in the decision.

It was a tough start to the night for Panik, as he grounded into a double play just moments after it looked like Andrew McCutchen stole second base in the bottom of the first inning, but Panik fouled the Buchholz pitch back to the screen.

Two innings later, Panik hit a ball to centerfield that sent McCutchen to third base and it looked like Panik got into second safely; however, Lovullo challenged the call and after a nearly two-minute review, the call was reversed and Panik was called out to end the inning.

NOTES: This was the Giants’ 12th shutout of the season, and their sixth at home.

It was the third time this season that they have shutout their opponents in back-to-back games, as they shutout the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first two games of the season, then the Philadelphia Phillies on June 1-2 and now the D-Backs.

This was the ninth walk-off win of the season for the Giants, and the first since Buster Posey singled in the bottom of the 13th inning to defeat the Chicago Cubs on July 11.

UP NEXT: The Giants and D-Backs close out their series with a Wednesday night finale at 7:15 pm PDT.

Dereck Rodriguez looks for his seventh win of the season on Wednesday night, as he takes the hill in the series and season finale against the D-Backs, who will send 13-game winner Zack Godley to the mound.

Holland beats his former team–Rangers–for the first time, 3-1

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — Derek Holland faced his former team in the Texas Rangers for just the third time in his career, but it was a rookie that came up with the biggest hit of the game.

Steven Duggar hit a two-run triple that helped the San Francisco Giants defeat the Rangers 3-1 before a crowd of 39,260 at AT&T Park on Sunday afternoon.

Duggar’s triple off of Yovani Gallardo scored Hunter Pence and Nick Hundley with what proved to be the winning margin, as the Giants took two of three in a rematch of the 2010 World Series.

That triple was the first of Duggar’s career.

Gallardo got the first two batters out in that fateful fourth inning, but Pence singled and then Hundley walked before Duggar launched a Gallardo pitch into Triples Alley to give the Giants the lead for good.

Holland went 6.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits, while walking three and striking out four, as he won for the seventh time on the season.

This was the first career win for Holland against the team that drafted him in the 25th round of the 2006 Major League Draft. Holland played his first eight seasons with the Rangers, where he went 62-50 with a 4.35 earned run average in 179 games (158 starts).

The 158 starts by Holland with the Rangers is the eighth-most in Rangers history, and his 62 wins are the ninth-most.

Evan Longoria got the Giants going in the bottom of the first inning, as he tripled to the appropriately named ‘Triples Alley,” and then Brandon Belt singled to score Longoria. As for Longoria, that was his third triple of the season, the most for him since the 2013 season, when he also hit three.

The Rangers tied it up in the top of the third inning, as Elvis Andrus hit a double to left field that Hunter Pence bobbled in left field to allow Rougned Odor to score the tying run for the Rangers.

Following the Andrus double that tied up the game, Brandon Crawford came up with the defensive play of the game, as Adrian Beltre hit a ball into the hole that looked like it was going into left field; however, Crawford dove for the ball, got up and was able to throw out Beltre to keep the score tied at one. Not only did Crawford make another fantastic play, but Brandon Belt dug the ball out of the dirt for the final out of the inning that kept Andrus from scoring the potential go-ahead run.

That was the only hit that Holland would allow until he gave up two in the top of the seventh inning.

Duggar gave the Giants the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning, as his triple scored the eventual winning runs for the Giants.

Holland got into a bit of a jam in that seventh inning, as he gave up two hits in the top of the seventh inning; however, both Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa were stranded at third base, when Tony Watson struck out Robinson Chirinos and then got Odor out on an attempted bunt to end the inning.

Without the services of usual closer Will Smith, Mark Melancon came on to finish the game, and despite the fact that he gave up a pinch-hit single to Shin-Soo Choo with one out in the top of the ninth inning, Melancon was able to get the last two batters for his third save of the season.

NOTES: Buster Posey will undergo season-ending hip surgery on Monday in Vail, Colorado to repair a damaged labrum and remove bone spurs in his right hip.

Posey was placed on the 10-day disabled list, and to replace Posey on the roster will be Aramis Garcia, who was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

This was the first time that Melancon picked up back-to-back saves in consecutive games since May 19 and 20, 2017 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

By winning the series finale against the Rangers, the Giants won their 65th game of the season, surpassing their total of 64 from just one year ago.

UP NEXT: The Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three-game series starting Monday night at 7:15 pm PDT.

Giants’ Chris Stratton will look for his ninth win of the season on Monday night, as he takes the mound against Patrick Corbin of the D-Backs, who is looking for his 11th win of the season for the Diamondbacks.

Crawford and Pence go deep in the Giants’ 5-3 win over the Rangers

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — What is that old saying by Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra? “It is like Déjà vu all over again.”

After jumping out to a 4-0 lead after the bottom of the first inning, the San Francisco Giants were forced to hold onto the victory after nearly blowing it in the end and ended up with the 5-3 win over the Texas Rangers before a crowd of 40,287 at AT&T Park on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s really incredible how similar the two games were but we found a way to get the last out today,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “Torture was back.”

Brandon Crawford came up with the big hit in the bottom of the first inning, as he smashed a three-run home run off of Martin Perez. It was the 12th home run of the season for Crawford.

Andrew McCutchen got the ball rolling for the Giants in the bottom of the first inning, as he doubled to left field to lead off the bottom of the first. It was the second straight day that McCutchen came up with an extra base hit to lead off the game.

After the McCutchen double, Brandon Belt then singled and then Evan Longoria drove in the first Giants run of the afternoon, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored McCutchen from third base. Brandon Belt came up with the heads up play of the game early on, as he went to second on the Longoria sacrifice fly.

Nick Hundley then walked, and then Perez was able to get Austin Slater to line out to Nomar Mazara in right field, and then Crawford launched his home run over the right-center field wall.

Andrew Suarez bounced back from two tough starts, as he went seven strong innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, walked three batter and struck out five on his way to his fifth win of the season.

“This whole week I looked at old video just to see what could get me going again,” Suarez said. “Once I know I’m getting a lot of groundballs I know that’s when I’m in my game.”

Despite allowing those four runs in the bottom of the first inning, Perez ended up pitching a good game, as he allowed four runs on five hits, walking one and striking out four in five innings of work.

After that fateful first inning, where Perez gave up four runs on three hits and walked one, he then settled down, as he allowed two hits and struck out four in his final four innings of work.

Hunter Pence lengthened the Giants lead up to 5-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he hit a pinch-hit home run off of former Giants teammate Matt Moore.

It’s very important to continue to send that message of relentless attack,” Pence said. “Even where we are and as clouded as it may seem, you still never know. When there’s still a chance in this game of baseball, things can get hot in an instant.”

Things began to get interesting in the top of the eighth inning, as after Hunter Strickland was able to get the first two outs of the inning, then it got weird for the second day in a row.

Joey Gallo reached when Slater was unable to close hid glove on the potential third out of the inning, then Shin-Soo Choo singled Gallo to right field and then Rougned Odor launched a three-run home run onto the Arcade to get the Rangers within two runs. Strickland was able to regroup, and get Elvis Andrus to ground out to end the inning.

The ninth inning was no better for the Giants, as closer Will Smith came on for the third straight day and got the first out, but then Jurickson Profar walked and then Robinson Chirinos beat out an infield single and then Smith uncorked a wild pitch that sent the potential tying run into scoring position; however, Smith was able to get Adrian Beltre to strikeout for the second out of the inning.

Smith was unable to end it without some drama, as he walked pinch-hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa and that was end of the day for Smith.

Mark Melancon came on to end the game, as he pinch-hitter Carlos Perez to fly out to Slater end the game. It was the second save of the season for Melancon, and the first since June 21 against the San Diego Padres.

NOTES: Odor’s home run in the top of the eighth inning was the seventh home run allowed by the Giants bullpen since in the last 10 games.

With the two home runs by Crawford and Pence, this was the first time that the Giants hit more than one home run in a game since June 19 against the Miami Marlins.

That was just the second pinch hit home run of Pence’s career, the only previous one was on June 18, 2017 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Buster Posey will miss the rest of the season, as he will undergo hip surgery in Colorado on Monday. Posey will miss the next six to eight months.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Rangers conclude their series with a finale on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT.

Derek Holland looks his seventh win of the season for the Giants, while Yovani Gallardo tries for his eighth win for the Rangers.

Giants strike first, but end up losing to Rangers 7-6 in 10 innings

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Ana Kieu

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The San Francisco Giants had hoped to build their win streak when they returned to AT&T Park, where they welcomed the Texas Rangers for a three-game series that began on Friday night.

Prior to Friday’s game, Dereck Rodriguez, who missed the Giants’ last 10 games with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, was reinstated from the 10-day DL. Following Thursday’s game, Casey Kelly was optioned to triple-A Sacramento.

Speaking of Dereck, his father Pudge was in attendance to watch his rookie son play like any proud Papa would. And, of course, the Rangers’ Twitter had to sarcastically ask Pudge who he was going to root for tonight.

In case you didn’t know, Pudge played the majority of his MLB career with the Rangers as a catcher from 1991-2002. Pudge was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. in his first year of eligibility on January 18, 2017. Pudge received 76% of the votes at the time.

Nathan Aung threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Giants. Aung did a darn good job like when he last threw the first pitch at the Giants vs. Dodgers game at AT&T Park on August 22, 2013.

The Giants got on the board first, thanks to Andrew McCutchen, who hit his 15th home run of the season and 10th career leadoff homer. San Francisco had a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The Giants continued to roll in the bottom of the first. Evan Longoria’s RBI single scored Joe Panik for a 2-0 lead. Then, Brandon Crawford’s sac fly allowed Buster Posey to score for a 3-0 lead. And then Alec Hanson’s sac fly that drove in Brandon Belt for a 4-0 lead.

The Giants led the Rangers 4-0 after the first. Texas had a lot of work to do in order to mount a comeback.

Fast forward to the bottom of the fourth inning, where the Giants continued pouring in the runs. Posey hit a single to score McCutchen for a 5-0 lead. Belt followed up with a single that scored Panik for a 6-0 lead.

The Giants led the Rangers 6-0 after the fourth. The Texas defense hadn’t come up with any answers to suppress the San Francisco offense yet.

After a scoreless sixth inning, the Rangers proceeded to score some runs–one apiece in the seventh and eighth innings and two in the ninth inning, which forced the game into extra innings. The Giants fans were delighted to see some free baseball on a cool, cloudy night…just not the end result.

Rangers’ Robinson Chirinos walked and Jurickson Profar scored to lift the Rangers past the Giants 7-6 in 10 innings.

Notes
This weekend, MLB is celebrating Players Weekend, a joint effort between MLB and the MLBPA. Players will be wearing traditional alternate uniforms with nicknames on the back and a patch on their sleeve to pay tribute to a person or persons who aided their career.

Enter the Catch the Cure Tacoma Sweepstakes by donating at busterstacoma.com. You could win Buster’s Toyota Tacoma!

Up Next
The Giants and Rangers meet again Saturday afternoon at 1:05 pm PDT. Andrew Suarez (4-9, 4.68 ERA) will take the mound for San Francisco, while Texas will counter with Martin Perez (2-5, 6.93 ERA).