Tag: Boston Red Sox

Giants whiff on late rally, puts damper on otherwise-legendary series

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants lost in heart-sinking fashion on Thursday, 5-4, to the Boston Red Sox, after a ninth-inning rally that fell just shy that will almost certainly make the plane ride to Atlanta a little less pleasant.

But before sulking in that any deeper, let’s all take a moment to look back on all the good, legendary stuff that went down in these past three games.

First of all, the Giants took two of the three games at historic Fenway Park, a place where the Giants had not won since 1915.

Do the math. That’s 104 years, people!

Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer and Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, made his Fenway debut Tuesday night and was given a standing ovation by the Boston faithful, and the magnitude was ramped up when young Yaz blasted one out of the ballpark later in the game.

To cap it all off, Bruce Bochy got the 2,000th win of his managerial career Wednesday night, a career that will land him into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

As we let that sink in for a little bit, fast-forward to Thursday afternoon.

Trailing by a pair in the ninth, the Giants began a rally against Red Sox closer Brandon Workman, which started when Brandon Belt reached base on a throwing error by second baseman Marco Hernandez, who made a nice sliding stop but watched as his routine throw to first pulled Brock Holt off the bag.

The Giants loaded the bases with nobody out, but Brandon Crawford struck out looking, a situation where simply making contact would likely bring in a run. Yastrzemski was then blown away by a Workman fastball, and the rally was suddenly in jeopardy.

Kevin Pillar kept the rally alive by drawing a walk and bringing in a run, and Evan Longoria was able to work a full count. However, Workman then threw perhaps his best pitch of the afternoon, a breaking ball that dove out of the strike zone and enticed Longoria to swing at air, ending the rally and the hope for a sweep.

“(Workman) found a way to get through it,” manager Bruce Bochy said. It’s a tough pitch to lay off for (Longoria), especially after seeing a couple of pretty good fastballs before that.

“We were close to getting a nice sweep here, but we just came up a little short.”

Although the numbers won’t necessarily reflect it, but Madison Bumgarner threw well on Thursday and gave his team a chance to win.

He went five innings and gave up five runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out seven. However, many of the decisive hits were not hit especially hard at all, but rather were bloopers off good pitches that found open spots in the Giants’ defense.

“It’s just unfortunate that that many fell in,” Bumgarner said. “In this case, I just keep making my pitches and trust that that’s not going to continue to happen. I felt that I threw the ball pretty good.”

Giants thrash BoSox

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants’ playoff hopes may be over, but they are still playing hard and playing good baseball in spurts, and that still makes them interested to watch, even with only a couple of weeks left in the 2019 season.

For the past two nights, they have given it to the Boston Red Sox, a team that is in the thick of the American League playoff race, the latest installment being an 11-3 rout of the Red Sox at Fenway Park Wednesday night.

The Giants jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first three innings, a surge that was spearheaded by Stephen Vogt’s two-run homer in the first inning that sailed over the short wall in right field.

In the sixth and seventh, the Red sox mounted a comeback and cut the lead in half. However, the Giants used the next two innings to blow the game wide open.

They got a pair of runs in the eighth and then erupted for a five-run ninth, during which Mike Yastrzemski, who got a standing ovation from the Boston faithful in his first game at Fenway Park Tuesday night, singled in a run to start the burst.

Vogt had four RBI on Wednesday for the Giants, while Mauricio Dubon knocked in a pair of runs himself, courtesy of a two-run single in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Jeff Samardzija had a solid outing, giving up only a run on two hits, walking only one and striking out a pair of batters, lowering his ERA to 3.64. His Red Sox counterpart, Jhoulys Chacin, however, was not so fortunate. He was chased from the game after only 2 2/3 innings after surrendering four runs on five hits.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: It’s a real Boston Marathon, Giants edge Sox in 15 innings; Yaz scores twice, gets two hits

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Photo credit: mercurynews.com

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Miguel:

#1 There was no giving up in this one and the Giants and Red Sox were not going to cry uncle anytime soon as this marathon went 15 innings that went to the Giants 7-6.

#2 Someone cried out “someone score!” as this one went until 2 AM EDT. Since one of the teams was a National League team (the Giants), there would be no 2 AM curfew, and lucky for both teams, they didn’t have to go until 2:30 AM.

#3 Anyone who works at Fenway press, concessions, security, engineers, front office, media or players will have to be glad that they don’t have to be back at the park until after 12 except the TV production crew, whose call time is the early morning. They might as well sleep in the production truck.

#4 Big night for Giants leadoff hitter outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and grandfather Carl, who had a mini reunion at the park before the game. It’s not too often the Giants get to come to Boston. This had to be something special.

#5 Taking a look at tonight’s pitchers. For the Giants, Jeff Samardjiza (10-12, 3.72 ERA), and for the Sox, Jhoulys Chacin (3-10, 5.44 ERA). Michael talks about the matchup.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Yastrzemski homers in Giants’ 7-6 win in 15 innings

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Photo credit: bostonglobe.com

By Jeremy Kahn

Mike Yastrzemski was the talk of the town, but it was another first year member of the Orange and Black who came through in the end.

Alex Dickerson hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 15th inning to score Donovan Solano from third base, helping the San Francisco Giants defeat the Boston Red Sox 6-5 at Fenway Park.

It was the first time in six tries that the Giants won in the 107-year old ballpark, as the Giants were swept in 2007 and 2016, their previous two trips to the oldest ballpark in the major leagues.

Solano hit a ground-rule double that went into stands with one out in the inning, and went to third on a wild pitch by Trevor Kelley.

The win gave Dereck Rodriguez the win, as he went the final two innings to pick-up his sixth win of the season.

Rodriguez was the 13th pitcher of the night, as Logan Webb started this marathon and went five innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking four and striking out three.

Webb was in line for the win, but Andrew Suarez was unable to hold on to the lead, as he gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

After Suarez, the next 11 pitchers went nine innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking six and striking out nine.

Brandon Belt gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit his 17th home run of the season over the Green Monster.

Yastrzemski gave the Giants a 5-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning, as he hit his 20th home run of the season in front of family and friends.

The Giants retook the lead in the top of the 13th inning, as Kevin Pillar singled to lead off the inning and then Brandon Crawford doubled to score Pillar, but was thrown at third base, when he over slid third base.

Sam Selman was unable to get the save, as he loaded the bases with one out, as he gave up a single to Marco Hernandez, walked Andrew Benintendi and was then replaced by Burch Smith, who gave up a single to Xander Bogaerts. Smith was then replaced by Wandy Peralta, who struck out Rafael Devers for the second out.

Kyle Barraclough was then called on to replace Peralta, but he was unable to close out the game, as he walked Juan Centeno to tie up the game. Barraclough was able to get out of the jam, as he got Brock Holt to end the inning.

NOTES: Both the Giants and Red Sox used a major-league record tying 24 pitchers, including 13 by the Giants, tying a team record.

The Giants did defeat the Red Sox in two games of the 1912 World Series, and also defeated the Boston Braves in the 1914 and 1915 seasons.

Bruce Bochy won his 1,999th game, moving within one of becoming the 11th manager to reach the 2,000-win victory mark.

The Sacramento Rivercats defeated the Columbus Clippers 4-0 in the Triple A National Championship game at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee.

This was the third time that the Rivercats won the Triple-A National Championship, becoming the first team to three National Championships.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija will take the mound on Wednesday for the Giants, while Jhoulys Chacin will toe the rubber for the Red Sox. Game starts at 4:10 p.m. PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Excitement builds, Yastrzemski scheduled to play all 3 games at Fenway Park

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski scores after hitting a solo home run during the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Phoenix. It was Yastrzemski’s third home run of the game. It was Yastrzemski’s third home run of the game.

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Whose got to be more excited about Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski playing at Fenway Park? Starting on Tuesday night, Yastrzemski, his grandfather former Boston Red Sox Carl Yastrzemski or our very own MLB analyst Bill Gould?

#2 On Sunday against the Miami Marlins, Yastrzemski scored on a diving head first slide to score one of the Giants’ two runs, which was enough to get by the Marlins 2-1. Yaz is having a rookie season hitting .265, 56 runs, 87 hits, and 51 RBIs.

#3 Giants starter Johnny Cueto pitched five innings of shutout ball and gave up three hits in the win. The Giants had five pitchers come into relieve after Cueto left and they combined to hold off the Marlins to just one run.

#4 This is kind of a special series besides of the reunion of grandfather and grandson Yastrzemski. The Giants, who do not play at Fenway except for every three years. This is a special place for them to return to since it doesn’t happen often to come to a historical place like Fenway.

#5 This will be Giants manager Bruce Bochy’s last road trip as manager. The Giants conclude their 2019 road schedule in Boston and then to Atlanta. Pablo Sandoval, who was a Red Sox but not on this trip, wouldn’t quite expect the same reception Yaz will.

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cueto goes 5 innings and gives up 3 hits; Yaz takes a dive to score a key run in Giants’ 2-1 win

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photo from sfgate.com: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws against a Miami Marlins batter in the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019.

By Lewis Rubman

Miami: 1 | 5 | 1

San Francisco: 2 | 7 | 1

SAN FRANCISCO — This afternoon’s contest between the Miami Marlins and your San Francisco Giants wasn’t one for bandwagon jumpers on. The Fish, at 52-96, entered this afternoon’s game in last place in the NL East, 40 games out of first and 14 1/2 behind the Mets, their closest competitor. Miami’s the only team in its division with a sub-.500 record. There obviously is no pennant fever in Dade County.

The Marlins’ starter, 24 year old Venezuelan righty Eliézer Hernández, is a pitcher with a promising past and future and a unprepossessing present. He took the mound at 3-5, 5.24 ERA. His won-lost record is due, in part, to a lack of run support, and he shows signs of being a better pitcher than his ERA indicates.  His game time 1.27 WHIP is impressive, as are his 76 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings of work. He has a tendency to surrender the long ball (2.2 per nine innings before today). He improved all those figures this afternoon. The speed of his fast ball is below the major league average, but he’s been developing an effective slider to compliment that pitch.

The Giants aren’t going anywhere either. At 71-78, they already had been eliminated from wild card competition before their starter, Johnny Cueto, threw his first warm up pitch. Cueto, though, is a bright spot, but how long he’ll remain one is an open question. The 11 year veteran was brilliant in his only appearance since returning from over a year on the injured list. That was five days ago, when he shut out Pittsburgh over five innings, allowing only one hit. He’s signed through 2022, which means he’ll be 36 years old on the last opening day of his contract.

To balance the age and experience of their starter, the Giants’ starting lineup featured some of their relative newcomers. Mike Yastremski led off, playing center field. Next to him, in right field, was Mike Gerber, in his second appearance since his call up from Sacramento yesterday. The remaining outfielder was Joey Rickhard, who was promoted from the River Cats on August 27th. Mauricio Dubón, called up from Sacramento the same day as Rickhard, was the second sacker.

It was Dubón who opened the scoring, with a leadoff homer to left in the bottom of the third. It came on a 1-0 count, off a 79 mph slider following a 90 mph fast ball, a squence that had been working pretty well for Hernández this season.

The Marlins tried to mount a comeback in the fourth, and it took Cueto 31 pitches to put down the uprising. The first two batters reached on a single and a walk, but the Giants’ righty then set down Starlin Castro, Lewis Brinson, and Magneuris Sierra in order, the last two on swinging strikeouts after excruciatingly long at bats.

Cueto retired the side in order in the fifth before being removed for a pinch hitter in the bottom of that frame. The starter had allowed three hits and two walks without allowing a man to cross the plate. Of his 71 pitches, 46 were strikes, and one was a wild pitch. As in his first start, he got no decision.

His replacement, Fernando Abad, got Isán Díaz out on a nubber in front of the plate before giving way to Burch Smith.

Hernández, too, came out of the game before the bottom of the sixth began. In his five inning stint, the Marlins’ hurler had allowed one run, which was earned, on three hits and a walk. He struck out nine, throwing 85 pitches, 59 of which were strikes. Like Cueto, all he got for his efforts was a no decision.

Miami tied the game at one in the seventh. With two outs, Magneuris Sierra dropped a bunt towards third base. He beat Longoria’s throw to Belt, and it looked as though Sierra had knocked the first baseman’s glove off his hand. The ball bounced into foul territory in left field, and Sierra bounced into third. He scored on Jon Bert’s single to left. Wandy Peralta relieved the ill-starred Smith and closed out the inning with a fly to left by the pinch hitting veteran Curtis Granderson.

Héctor Noesi took care of the Giants quickly in the seventh with the help of a double play, and submariner Tyler Rogers set the Marlins down 1-2-3 in their half of the eighth.

When Chris Shaw was announced as a pinch-hitter for Rogers in the bottom of the eighth, left hander Jarlin García took over pitching duties for Miami. Bochy responded by sending in right handed Donovan Solano to pinch hit for the left handed batting Shaw. García got Solano out on a fly to center, but Yaztremski singled to left. Belt followed that with a single to center, and Ryne Stanek replaced García on the mound. He threw a wild pitch, which advanced both runners, and then walked Longoria, loading the bases.

Stanek bounced back to fan Stephen Vogt on three pitches. Then, with two outs and the bases still FOG, full of Giants, and Brandon Crawford at the plate, Stanek threw another wild pitch. Yaztremski just beat catcher Alfaro’s throw to Stanek, covering home, to give the lead back to San Francisco. Crawford got a conceeded walk to reload the bases before Gerber struck out to end the inning.

Bochy called on Will Smith to try to get the save in the ninth. In spite of a one out walk to Alfaro and a wild pitch that sent him to second, he did.

The win went to Rogers, now 2-0, 1.59 ERA, and the save to Will Smith, his 33rd. García was charged with the loss. He now is 3-2, 2.93 ERA.

Tomorrow is a travel day for the Giants. They will face Boston in Fenway on Tuesday.

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: Braves advance to LDS, quiet celebration after Culberson hit in face; A’s sit all alone at the top of AL wild card; plus more

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photo from investing.com: Atlanta Braves hitter Charlie Culberson (8), who squared around to bunt, took a 91 per hour fast ball in the face throw by Washington Nationals pitcher Fernando Rodney on Saturday September 14th’s game at National’s Park in Washington DC.

On the MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 NL East-leading Braves clinch postseason berth

2 A’s club four homers in win over Rangers; now occupy top AL Wild Card spot; Surging Rays right behind Oakland in second Wild Card

3 Twins sweep doubleheader from Tribe; back to 5 1/2 game lead in AL Central

4 D-Backs extend GM Mike Hazen; head off possible return of Hazen to Red Sox; Meanwhile, Paul Goldschmidt swinging a hot bat for the Cardinals

5 MLB won’t fine Mets’ for Pete Alonso’s 9/11 tribute

Catch Daniel right here for complete MLB podcast coverage through the postseason and World Series at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Rape allegation against AB has him countersuing; Big Papi looks great, throws out the first ball at Fenway; plus more

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Photo credit: abc7chicago.com

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 Former Oakland Raider Antonio Brown is countersuing his former Florida trainer Britney Taylor for civil extortion for accusing him of rape. Brown, who is now with the New England Patriots, categorically denies the allegations. The Patriots released a statement acknowledging the allegations and said the NFL is doing an investigation. Brown’s trainer said the rape occurred in 2017.

#2 David Ortiz threw out the first ball on Monday night at Fenway Park. It was Ortiz’ first appearance since being shot in the back in Santo Domingo. He told the crowd at Fenway, “Thanks for your prayers.”

#3 Talk about how big the 49ers defense played a role in San Francisco’s win over the Tampa Bay Bucs on Sunday forcing four turnovers with two pick-sixes.

#4 The San Jose Earthquakes (13-5-10) will play two in less than four days on Wednesday night against Real Salt Lake (13-4-11) then on Saturday against first place NYCFC in New York City (15-8-5). Some big opponents, some big games for the Quakes.

#5 The Quakes’ Chris Wondolowski has been the soccer gift that keep on giving. In the Quakes’ last game in San Jose last Saturday, Wondolowski scored his 20th goal and his 157th career to lead the league. How huge has been for the club in leading them this season?

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A Coup D’état in Boston, Dombrowski Is Out

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Photo credit: forbes.com

By: Amaury Pi-González

It has not been very long since Dave Dombrowski held the World Series trophy over his head during the parade in Boston. But today, Dombrowski is not the reigning World Champion General Manager anymore. In a town that lives and dies with their beloved Red Sox, there is no mercy. Although I believe, and most sane people also believe there is a whole world outside of baseball; In Boston, the Red Sox are breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. There is nothing laid back about Boston or New York — you are a great guy, a nice guy, a genius, as long as you will; but when you do not win, Au Revoir!

Dombrowski was also GM of the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers before taking over the Boston Red Sox. He always has enjoyed the reputation of one of the best baseball executives around. But today, he is Au Revoir!

For now, it will take three executives to replace Dombrowski: Zack Scott, Eddie Romero and Brian O’Halloran, who served as assistants to the fired GM. Also, Raquel Ferreira, a longtime Red Sox senior Vice President of the Sox Minor and Major League operations for the last 21 years. She automatically became the highest-ranking woman in the MLB.

Red Sox Field Manager Alex Cora,was asked if he was surprised. Cora said: “Surprised? I am shocked!”

The way this happened, not waiting until the conclusion of the season, sounds to me like a typical baseball Coup D’état.

I wish Dave Dombroski the best in his future endeavors. He is a real gentleman and an accomplished man in the world of baseball.

MLB The Show podcast with Matt Harrington: A’s split two from the Tigers and continue to carry in the AL Wild Card

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Photo credit: @Athletics

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 The Oakland A’s made easy work of the Detroit Tigers on Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum in a make game from a rain out from May 29th the A’s played visiting team in Oakland and picked up the game from where it was left off in the seventh inning Chad Pinder in the top of the ninth hit a two run home to help the A’s cap a 7-3 winner.

#2 In the regular game, the A’s got four runs on the board against the Tigers starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull in the bottom of the second inning and there was no looking back from that point as the A’s carried the win improving their wild card record to just a 1/2 game back of the Tampa Bay Rays.

#3 Speaking of the Rays Tampa Bay got a 5-0 shutout over the struggling Toronto Blue Jays. The win helps the Rays hold a 1/2 lead over the A’s in the AL wild card. The Rays have won seven of their last 10 games and are in second in the AL East.

#4 Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer and current Orioles TV analyst was diagnosed with shingles in his spinal column. Palmer did not work Friday night’s game. Palmer said that team doctors have told him to get an MRI, which he plans to do. Palmer is the only surviving starter from the 1971 Baltimore Orioles starting staff, of Dave McNally, Pat Dobson, and Mike Cuellar.

#5 The Boston Red Sox got a win over the New York Yankees 6-1 on Friday night at Fenway Park. It doesn’t lessen the Yankees’ position in the standings, but it was an important win for the Sox anytime they could beat their rival and show a fighting spirit in what’s left in the final weeks of the season. The Sox will take it.

Matt Harrington does the MLB The Show podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.