Tag: Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncy (right) turns on a San Francisco Kevin Gausman pitch for a solo home run in the third inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Tue Jun 29, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

There is a new nemesis within the longtime rivalry between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and lo and behold, he also used to play for the Oakland As.

Max Muncy, who once told said to former Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner, if you want the ball, If you don’t want me to watch the ball, you can go get it out of the ocean,” after he hit a home run into McCovey Cove, which is actually San Francisco Bay and not the Pacific Ocean.

Muncy was up to his old tricks again, as he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third, helping the Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Giants at Dodger Stadium and completing the sweep in a short two-game series and sending the Giants to their third straight loss.

Chris Taylor got the Dodgers on the board in the bottom of the first inning, as he hit an opposite field double to right field off of eventual losing pitcher Kevin Gausman that allowed both Muncy and Justin Turner to score for the reigning World Champions, who are just 1.5 games behind the Giants for the lead in the National League West.

Walker Buehler pitched the first 6.2 innings for the victorious Dodgers, as he allowed just one run on three hits, walking one and striking out seven, as he raised his record to 8-1 on the season.

It was a tough loss for Gausman, who fell to 8-2 on the season, as he went 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking five and striking out four, before he gave way to the bullpen that kept the Dodgers off bases. The trio of Jose Alvarez, Zack Littell and John Brebbia did not allow a Dodgers batter to reach base, as they struck out three over the final three innings.

Steven Duggar continued his hot hitting, as he doubled the only run of the game for the Giants, when he doubled off of Buehler that allowed Wilmer Flores to score.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen got into a jam in the top of the ninth inning, as he hit Alex Dickerson, then walked Buster Posey; however, Jansen was able to regroup to get Brandon Crawford on a called third strike, with a perfect slider over the plate, then Flores popped out to Gavin Lux for the second out and then Jansen nailed down his 20th save of the season, as he struck out Duggar swinging to end the game.

This is not the last time that the two rivals will see each other, as the Giants will travel to Dodger Stadium for the final time for a four-game series beginning on July 19 and then the Dodgers travel to San Francisco a week later for a three-game series and then Labor Day weekend.

NOTES: Prior to the game, the Giants recalled Thairo Estrada from Sacramento and optioned Mauricio Dubon to Sacramento.

With the sweep, the Dodgers ended the Giants 10 series streak, where they either won or spilt, as they went 7-0-3 during the run. The last team to win a series over the Giants, who swept the Giants at Oracle Park from May 21-23.

This Is also the first time since that series sweep by the Dodgers over the Giants at Oracle Park that the Giants have lost three in a row.

After picking up two hits in the opener, Buster Posey now has 88 hits at Dodger Stadium, good for second most by a Giants player since the ballpark opened in 1962, only trailing Willie McCovey who picked up 95 hits while playing for the Giants.

UP NEXT: After a day-off on Wednesday, the Giants begin a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night at Chase Field.

San Francisco Giants catcher Curt Casali has been clutch at the plate and done a fine job filling in for catcher Busty Posey during the Oakland series. Here is Casali in a photo from earlier this season. (photo from Around the Foghorn)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, Curt Casali is the talk of the town and thanks to his handy work the Giants are the first team in the big leagues to reach 50 wins.

#2 Casali on Saturday slugged a tenth inning RBI double during Saturday’s game for the Giants in their 6-5 win he’s been clutch when filling in for catcher Buster Posey whose out with injury.

#3 Morris, Giants manager Gabe Kapler says that Casali is a pretty selfless individual and has served the team, the pitchers, and Buster well.

#4 During the series the Giants on Friday got great pitching out of starter Johnny Cueto who threw a 2-0 shutout and the Giants clipped the A’s 6-5 in a ten inning nail biter on Saturday and those are the types of teams the Giants need to beat as the A’s are one of the winningest teams in the American League.

#5 Morris, It’s Monday Night Baseball tonight and the Giants are headed to LA to face their rivals the Los Angeles Dodgers. This will be the second consecutive time the Giants have played in LA without the Dodgers coming to San Francisco for a brief two game series at Oracle Park. The Giants and Dodgers have not announced a starter for tonight’s game.

Join Morris Phillips for the Giants podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com each Monday

The San Francisco Giants Mauricio Dubon connects for a two run home run in the top of the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles Sun May 30, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers last weekend at Oracle Park, and then losing the opener on Thursday night, people were probably thinking, this season will change immediately.

Fortunately for Giants fans it changed in a good way, as the Giants scored three runs in the top of the first inning, with the big blow, being a two-run home run by Mauricio Dubon and the Giants hung on late to defeat the Dodgers 5-4 at Dodger Stadium. With the victory, the Giants won three out of four in the series and are now a season-high 13 games over .500.

Flores, who hit his third home run of the season hit the first pitch he saw from Clayton Kershaw and planted it off the left field foul pole. It was the second career home run for Flores against Kershaw, and both home runs hit the left field foul pole at Dodger Stadium.

The first Flores home run came on September 6, 2019 off of Kershaw, and joins Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner and Austin Slater as Giants who have multiple home runs off of Kershaw.

Los Angeles area native Evan Longoria, who grew up in Downey before going to Cal State Long Beach drove in the first Giants run of the afternoon, as he grounded out to Gavin Lux to score Slater.

When the Giants scored three runs off of Kershaw in the first inning, it marked the first time that they scored three or more against him in the first inning.

Slater joined that club with Posey, Bumgarner and Flores as players who have hit two or more home runs against Kershaw, as he hit his seventh home run of the season over the center field in the top of the third inning.

Kevin Gausman continues to show why he is now the ace of the Giants pitching staff, as he went six innings, allowing just two hits, walking no one and striking out seven on his way to his sixth win of the season against zero losses.

Gausman also helped himself out at the plate, as he drove an opposite field single to left field in the top of the fourth inning that scored Dubon to lengthen the Giants lead up to 5-0.

The right-hander will get an MRI on his hip, that has been an issue for a few weeks and felt it on the base hit and then again on the great play that ended the sixth inning.

It was a tough day for Kershaw, as he went six innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out six and allowed two home runs, as his record fell to 7-4 on the season.

Things were rolling for the Giants, as they entered the bottom of the eighth inning, when new nemesis, Max Muncy hit a two-run home run off of Zack Littell to narrow the Giants lead down to 5-2.

It was the fifth home run for Muncy in a single-season six game span versus the Giants, as he joins Paul Lo Duca in 2001, and Reggie Smith (2 overlapping spans), this according to Sarah Langs on Sports.

The home run for Muncy was the 100th career home run of his career, and he his third home run of the series.

Jake McGee closed it out for the Giants, as he picked up his 12th save of the season, despite the fact that he allowed a two-run home run to Albert Pujols, as the future Hall-of-Famer hit a ball that landed in the Dodger bullpen.

It was the eighth home run of the season for Pujols, and the 670th home run of his career, as he fifth on the all-time list, 26 behind Alex Rodriguez for fourth place on the all-time list.

McGee also committed a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning, as his throw on a Cody Bellinger dribbler that saw Lemonte Wade, Jr., unable to stay on first base.

After Bellinger reached Lux struck out, but then Pujols cut the Giants lead down to one; however, McGee was able to strike out Will Smith looking and then Austin Barnes, who tied up the game on Friday night came up with a chance to tie up the game again, but he flew out to Mike Yastrzemski in right field to preserve the Giants win.

NOTES: Caleb Baragar was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 29) with left shoulder inflammation) and Nick Tropeano was recalled from Sacramento.

By scoring the 11 runs on 16 hits, it was the most runs at Dodger Stadium since September 14, 2013, when they scored 19 runs and picked up 22 hits in a 19-3 victory and it was the 10th win of the season for Tim Lincecum.

The Giants improved their record in day games to 15-6, tying the Tampa Bay Rays for the best record in the majors in day games.

UP NEXT: Johnny Cueto opens up the home stand against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Monday afternoon, who will send Dylan Bundy to the mound. Cueto is looking to improve his record to 4-1 on the season, while Bundy looks for his first win of the season, as he is 0-5.

The San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski goes in for the slide as teammate Wilmer Flores (41) gives him the slide sign while Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith waits for the throw and plate umpire Manny Gonzalez prepares to make the call (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Wilmer Flores returned to the San Francisco Giants lineup and was looked fantastic in doing so against a tough pitcher.

Flores went 3-for-3 with a run batted in and two runs scored, as the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-6 at Dodger Stadium.

In his first at-bat against Julio Urias, as he led off the top of the second inning, Flores singled and then eventually the first Giants run of the afternoon, Mauricio Dubon hit a two-run single that gave the Giants the lead for good against the defending World Champions.

Flores then led off the top of the third inning with his second single in as many at-bats and then scored, when Donovan Solano hit a two-run home run to increase the Giants up to 5-2.

The Giants broke the game wide open in the top of the fourth inning, as Mike Yastrzemski doubled off of Urias with two outs in the inning, then Evan Longoria started his big day, as he singled to right field that scored Yastrzemski and Longoria then advance to second base on a fielding error by Dodgers catcher Will Smith.

Longoria then scored the second run of the inning, when you guessed Flores came up to pick up his third hit in as many at-bats that stretched the lead up to five runs.

After Flores drove in Longoria with his third single of the day, the Dodgers began to chip away at the Giants lead, as Max Muncy once again went deep, as he hit his 12th home run of the season deep into right-center field bleachers.

Albert Pujols, who just missed giving the Dodgers an improbable come-from-behind victory, when his home run was robbed when Mike Tauchman reached over the wall to take away what would have been his 668th home run got some revenge, as doubled to left field to score Cody Bellinger, who returned to the Dodgers lineup after missing the last two months due to a broken leg.

The Giants extended the lead in the top of the seventh inning, as Steven Duggar hit a two-run double that scored Lamonte Wade, Jr. and Brandon Crawford.

Longoria picked up his second hit of the day in the top of the eighth inning, as he hit his eighth home run of the season into the left-center field bleachers.

Dubon drove in his third run of the afternoon, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Solano for the Giants final run of the afternoon.

After missing out on a home run on Friday night, Pujols hit his seventh home run of the season and second as a member of the Dodgers that landed in the Dodger bullpen.

Justin Turner gave the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, as he doubled off of Logan Webb that scored Gavin Lux.

Webb went five innings, as he returned to the rotation after being activated from 10-day injured list with a right shoulder strain.

In those five innings of work, Webb allowed two runs on one hit, did not walk a batter and struck out seven and won for the fourth time on the season.

On the other side of things, Urias, who picked up his first ever win at Oracle Park in his last start this past Sunday, was knocked around by the Giants, as he went five innings, allowing seven runs on a career worst 11 hits, walking two and striking out five and saw his record fall to 7-2 on the season.

Despite going 2-for-4 at the plate and scoring three runs, Solano committed his first two errors of the season that helped the Dodgers score an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning.

Matt Beaty reached on a fielding error by Solano and Zach McKinstry reached on a fielders choice that saw Beaty go to third base, when the McKinstry ball went through the legs of Solano. Urias helped out his own cause, as he dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt that scored Beaty from third base.

NOTES: Prior to the game, the Giants activated both Flores and Webb, who both came up huge for the Giants on Saturday afternoon. To make room for the duo, the Giants optioned Nick Tropeano and Jason Vosler to Sacramento.

The Giants are now 14-6 in day games this season, tying the Rays for the best record in day games this season.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman goes for the Giants in the series finale, while the Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw to the mound.

San Francisco Giants Buster Posey follows through with a three run home run swing against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium Fri May 28, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Lamonte Wade, Jr. maybe new to the San Francisco Giants, but he etched his name into the rivalry between the Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Wade singled on a line drive to right field that scored Steven Duggar from second base, and then Evan Longoria added a two-run double, as the Giants defeated the Dodgers 8-5 at Dodger Stadium.

This game was dramatic from the top of the eighth inning on, when a longtime member of this rivalry hit a dramatic home run.

Buster Posey, gave the Giants a 5-2 lead, as he hit a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning off of Blake Treinen.

Poseys home run came after Mike Tauchman struck out to lead off the inning, Wade, Jr., was then hit by a pitch, went to second on a wild pitch and then Mike Yastrzemski walked and then Posey launched his 10th home run of the season into the left-center field bleachers.

Things were looking great, as Tyler Rogers came on to close the game in the bottom of the ninth inning; however, the Dodgers did not want to go down to the Giants for the first time this season. Justin Turner singled with one out, then Will Smith reached on an infield single and Gavin Lux hit into a force out that saw Wade throw to Brandon Crawford; however, Lux was able to reach first base.

Austin Barnes then came off the bench to pinch-hit for Edwin Uceta, and tied up the game, as he hit a three-run home run into the left field bleachers to tie the game that brought up Albert Pujols, who almost became another historical name in the long history of this longtime rivalry.

Pujols launched a towering fly ball that looked like it was going to give the Dodgers an improbable come-from-behind victory, but Tauchman timed it perfectly and the ball fell into his glove, robbing the future hall of famer of a dramatic game-winning home run.

Anthony DeSclafani went just 4.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking four and striking out three before giving way to the bullpen.

The bullpen did its job until that fateful ninth inning, when Rogers allowed three runs on three hits in his only inning of work.

Walker Buehler pitched six innings, allowing two runs (one earned), walking three and striking out three and like DeSclafani, Buehler did not fare in the decision.

Treinen, the former Oakland As reliever last 0.2 innings, allowing three runs on one hit and was in line for the loss until Barnes hit his second home run of the season that tied up the game.

Donovan Solano gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, as he hit a sacrifice fly that scored Crawford from third base.

That would be the score for a half-inning, as Matt Beaty tied it up in the bottom half of the inning, as he hit his second home run of the season over the 330 mark in right field that saw Yastrzemski fall into the seats, but came up empty.

Duggar then broke the tie in the top of the fifth inning, as he hit his third home run of the season.

Chris Taylor then tied up the score in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he singled to left off the glove of Crawford to score Turner with the tying run.

Rogers ended up winning the game for his first win of the season, despite allowing the three in the bottom of the ninth inning and Jarlin Garcia pitched a perfect 10th inning to pick up his first save of the season.

NOTES: When the Giants face the Dodgers on September 5, the game time between the teams was changed for ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, and the game time has been changed from 1:05 p.m. (PT) to 4:08 p.m. (PT).

This was the first Giants win over the Dodgers in five games this season, and are now 12-22 versus the Dodgers since the 2019 season.

The Giants have now won eight out of their last nine on the road, and are 17-13 on the road, trailing the San Diego Padres, who are 15-9 on the road for the best record on the road in the National League.

With two more home runs, the Giants have hit 52 home runs on the road, the most in the major leagues.

Prior to the game, Jake McGee and Alex Wood received their 2020 World Series rings from the Dodgers in the Giants clubhouse.

UP NEXT: Logan Webb returns to the rotation on Saturday afternoon, as he takes the mound at Dodger Stadium, while the Dodgers will send Julio Urias to the hill.

The San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani seen here throwing against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tue May 18, 2021 will get the start tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael the San Francisco Giants (30-20) made it close but again like the last meeting couldn’t get past the Los Angeles Dodgers (31-19) 4-3 at Dodgers Stadium on Thursday night.

#2 Alex Wood was going for the Giants went six innings giving up six hits and four runs and gave up the go ahead run in the bottom of the sixth which turned out to be the gamer.

#3 The Giants have lost four of their last six games the four loses come against the Dodgers their a tough customer to get over.

#4 Michael, talk about Giant first baseman Brandon Belt whose suffering from a mild oblique strain and is expected to be out for 10-14 days. Also Darin Ruf left Wednesday’s game in Arizona with a right leg injury while running the bases how will they be missed?

#5 Game two of the series continues Friday night at Dodgers Stadium the Giants will start Anthony DeSclafani (4-2 ERA 3.54) and for the Dodgers Walker Buehler (3-0 ERA 2.78) a 7:10pm first pitch please set this pitching match up.

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

Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncy (right) takes San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Wood (left) deep for a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning for the go ahead run at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Thu May 27, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, May 27, 2021

The San Francisco Giants encountered the red-hot bat of Max Muncy on Thursday, and the Dodger veteran proceeded to hit one of the five home runs in the game, as Los Angeles edged the Giants 4-3 at Dodger Stadium.

Muncy, who is hitting .357 in May, connected for a go-ahead solo home run off Alex Wood to lead off the sixth inning – his 11th of the season. He also homered against San Francisco last weekend.

The loss snapped San Francisco’s seven-game road winning streak. Los Angeles has defeated the Giants in all four of their meetings this season.

In this contest, the Dodgers used the bullpen concept, with David Price as the opening pitcher. Price struck out five in 2 2/3 innings, and logged career strikeout No 2,000 in the third when he fanned Curt Casali.

Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth to earn save No. 12.

The Giants tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth on Donovan Solano’s two-run home run to left off Victor Gonzalez (2-0). Gonzalez gave up two runs on two hits in one inning, and Solano’s shot was the first he surrendered this season.

Los Angeles opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, when Mookie Betts hit a slide-in triple with two outs ahead of Justin Turner’s ninth homer of the season, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Evan Longoria cut the Giants’ deficit to 2-1 with a two-out home run off Joe Kelly. DJ Peters’ first major league home run extended the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1 in the fifth.

Wood (5-2) gave up four runs on six hits in six innings, while striking out eight without a walk.

Off the field, the Giants placed Darin Ruf (right hamstring strain) on the 10-day injured list and recalled LaMonte Wade Jr. from Triple-A Sacramento. Right-hander Matt Wisler was reinstated from the bereavement list, and left-hander Sam Selman was optioned to the River Cats.

On Friday, Anthony DeSclafini (4-2, 3.54) starts for San Francisco, facing the Dodgers’ Walker Buehler (3-0, 2.78).

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Jose Urias pitched six innings for the win against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Sun May 24, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The San Francisco Giants (28-19) previous to the Los Angeles Dodgers (28-18) coming to town were on a roll splitting four games in Pittsburgh and sweeping the Cincinnati Reds in four games but beating the Dodgers the Giants just couldn’t win a game in the three game series.

#2 On Sunday the Dodgers got a six run win 11-5 the Dodgers Gavin Lux got a grand slam and Jose Urias helped his own cause with three RBIs.

#3 Urias held the Giants to three hits, two earned runs in six innings of work. Urias kept the Giants up until he was lifted in the bottom of the sixth inning.

#4 The Dodgers who are just a game back behind the San Diego Padres have won eight straight games and their the real deal with the way they’ve been getting hitting and pitching.

#5 The Giants in their next contest will start Kevin Gausman (4-0 ERA 1.66) Gausman pitched six innings of shutout ball against the Cincinnati Reds in his last start in Cincinnati. Gausman and the Giants will face the Arizona Diamondbacks who have not announced a starting pitcher yet for a brief two game series at Chase Field in Phoenix starting at 6:40pm Tuesday night.

Join Morris for the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com