Tag: Los Angeles Dodgers

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

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshi Tsutsugo hits an RBI-single in the top of the second inning at Oracle Park against the San Francisco Giants on Sun May 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-It took until the series finale to see why the Los Angeles Dodgers are the defending World Champions, and have won the last eight National League Western Division Championships.

Gavin Lux hit a grand slam as part of a seven-run third inning, as the Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 11-5 before a crowd of 13,346 at Oracle Park.

With the victory, the Dodgers swept the Giants and leapfrogged them into second place, a game behind the San Diego Padres and the Giants, who entered the weekend in first place, are now in third place and two games behind the Padres.

Julio Urias was cruising along, as he was perfect until Mike Tauchman beat out an infield dribbler with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Urias struck out Caleb Baragar for the second out of the inning, Austin Slater broke up the shutout, when he hit a two-run home run, he then gave up a single to Donovan Solano before getting Mike Yastrzemski out on strikes.

Urias went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits, he did not walk a batter and struck out 10 to improve to 7-1 on the season. This was the third career double figure strikeout game for Urias, and the previous two also came this season.

On the other hand, it was a rough day for Anthony DeSclafani, as he last 2.2 innings, allowing 10 runs on nine hits, walking three and striking out three and saw his record fall to 4-2 on the season.

It was in that third inning, that the Dodgers blew the game open, as they batted around scored seven runs on five hits and the big blow was the Lux grand slam and it was the second grand slam of the week and his career. Lux also hit a grand slam on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

Yoshi Tsutsugo got the Dodgers scoring going in the top of the second inning, as he singled to right field to score Will Smith. After DeSclafani was able to get DJ Peters to strikeout, Urias hit a two-run double over the head of Yastrzemski to lengthen the Dodgers lead.

Max Beaty got in on the act in the top of the third inning, as he singled to score Max Muncy, Chris Taylor then singled in Smith and after Tsutsugo grounded out for the first out of the inning, Peters was intentionally walked to bring up Urias with the bases loaded and beat out an infield hit to Beaty and then Lux unloaded them with one swing of the bat.

The Giants cut into the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, as they scored three runs in the frame. Donovan Solano hit a sacrifice fly that scored Tauchman from third base, Tauchman walked to lead off the inning, went to third on a pinch-hit double by Steven Duggar.

Slater then walked and then Solano hit a sacrifice fly to score Tauchman, and then Yastrzemski hit a two-run double to score Duggar and Slater.

Over the final 6.1 innings, the Giants allowed just one run in just two hits, walking one and striking out two.

NOTES: This rivalry between the Giants and the Dodgers that goes back to the 1890s has been one sided over the past few years.

Since September 8, 2019, the Giants are now 4-13 over the past 17 games against the Dodgers and have been outscored 100-40 during that stretch.

Sam Selman, who was optioned to Sacramento just yesterday was recalled from the Rivercats to replace Matt Wisler, who was placed on the bereavement list.

Thank you to Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register for this tidibit.

Dennis Santana, the reliever for the Dodgers, who pitched the ninth inning in the finale is named for two basketball players, one who is a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, and his middle name associated with a notable NBA Player and current NCAA Basketball Coach.

He is named after Dennis Rodman, who won five NBA Championships with the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls and also played for the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

Santanas father, who is obviously a big basketball fan and his middle name is Anfernee after Anfernee Penny Hardaway, who is the current basketball coach at the University of Memphis.

UP NEXT: After an off-day on Monday, the Giants head out on the road and the trip begins with a two-game stop in Arizona against the Diamondbacks and then onto Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in a four-game series beginning on Thursday.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Scott Kazmir throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers line up in the first inning on Sat May 22, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-When Scott Kazmir last took the mound as a pitcher in the major leaguer, it was for the Los Angeles Dodgers and it came during the Presidency of Barack Obama.

Kazmir pitched for the Dodgers during the 2016 season, but was out of the game until 2020, when he took the mound for an independent popup league called the Constellation Energy League that was run by Roger Clemens and Greg Swindell. The 37-year old Kazmir pitched for the Reyes del Club, that was managed by former Major League pitcher Dave Eiland.

After Kazmir got the first two outs of the first inning, Max Muncy launched his ninth home run of the season, that landed in McCovey Cove and it helped the Dodgers defeat the San Francisco Giants 6-3 before a crowd of 13,660 at Oracle Park.

Kazmir ended up going four innings, allowing one run on two hits, and striking out two. Muncy also singled off of Kazmir in the top of the fourth inning with one out.

Walker Buehler was cruising for the Dodgers until he got into a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning, when Brandon Crawford led off the inning with a double, then after Brandon Belt stuck out for the first out of the inning, Evan Longoria then hit a bloop single that sent Crawford to third base.

Alex Dickerson then got the Giants on the board, as he singled in Crawford, which brought Mauricio Dubon to the plate as the tying run, but Buehler was able to strikeout Dubon and then ended the inning, when struck out pinch-hitter Darin Ruf to end the threat.

Buehler went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out five and raised his record to 3-0 on the season.

The Dodgers got their second run of the game, when Austin Barnes hit his first home run of the season in the top of the fifth inning that stretched the lead up to 2-0.

They added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, as Max Beaty doubled into the right field corner and when Mike Yastrzemski was unable to handle the ball for an error, Gavin Lux, after he led off the inning with a single. Beaty scored the second run of the inning, as DJ Peters singled.

The Dodgers put the game away in the top of the eighth inning, as they tacked on two more runs, when Albert Pujols singled to center field that scored Justin Turner and sent Muncy to second base. Muncy singled for his third hit of the afternoon in four at-bats.

Buster Posey tried to make a game of it in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he hit his ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot that cut the Dodgers lead down to 6-3. Yastrzemski walked just prior to the Posey home run.

NOTES: Prior to the game, the contract for Kazmir was selected from Sacramento, while Sam Selman was optioned to Sacramento and Braden Bishop was designated for assignment.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani will take the mound in the series finale for the Giants, while Julio Urias will toe the rubber for the Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodger Trevor Bauer leaves after being relieved in the top of the seventh inning cupping his ear as if to say ” I can’t hear you” to the Oracle Park crowd in San Francisco on Fri May 21, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Alex Wood threw one bad pitch and Chris Taylor took advantage of it and gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a huge victory.

Taylor hit a two-run home run off of Wood in the top of the third inning, as the defending World Champion Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-1 at Oracle Park. With the loss, the Giants saw their five-game winning streak comes to an end.

Mookie Betts doubled to center field and then Taylor hit his sixth home run of the season over the center field wall, and that would be all that Trevor Bauer would need.

Bauer, who signed a huge contract with the Dodgers during the off-season and went 6.1 innings, allowing one unearned run on just two hits, walking four and striking out 11, as he improved to 5-2 on the season.

Nate Jones and former Oakland As reliever Blake Treinen went the final 2.2 innings of perfect relief and the Giants fell into a tie for first place, as the San Diego Padres tied the Giants for first place after a win over the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park.

Treinen pitched a perfect ninth inning to notch his second save of the season for the Dodgers, who are 27-18 on the season.

Wood lost for the first time as a member of the Giants, as he went 6.0 innings, allowing those two runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out seven.

The Giants got to Bauer in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Evan Longoria reached on a Bauer throwing error that allowed Mike Yastrzemski score what turned out to be the lone Giants run of the evening.

Yastrzemski walked to lead off the inning, and then Brandon Crawford walked after Buster Posey was called out on strikes for the first out, then Brandon Belt struck out for the second out and then Longoria hit a ball that Bauer that threw away to score Yastrzemski and send Crawford to third and Longoria to second base. Unfortunately, the rally came to a screeching halt, as Alex Dickerson flew out to Betts to end the inning.

That would be the last chance for the Giants, who could muster anything against Nate Jones and Treinen

NOTES: Despite the loss, the Giants have now been in first place for 26 consecutive days, their longest streak since spending 93 consecutive days in first place from mid-May to mid-August of 2016. Over the past four seasons from 2017-2020, the Giants spent only three days in first place in the National League West.

Nick Tropeano was selected from Sacramento, while Camilo Doval was sent to Sacramento and Trevor Hildenberger was designated for assignment.

During the Giants 19-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon at Great American Ballpark, it was just the fourth time since the Giants moved to California in 1958 that scored at least 19 runs and hit four or more home runs in the same game.

The Giants last accomplished the feat on September 1, 2020 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, when they scored 23 runs and hit four home runs, the Giants scored 19 runs and hit four home runs also at Coors Field on July 1, 2019 against the Rockies. The first time they turned the trick was on July 9, 1988 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Candlestick Park, when they scored 21 runs and hit five home runs.

UP NEXT: The Giants have yet to announce a starter for Saturday afternoon, while Walker Buehler will take the mound for the Dodgers in a 4:15 start that will be shown nationally on FOX (KTVU Channel 2) with Joe Davis and John Smoltz on the call.

One of the most famous moments in the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers rivalry came in 1965 when Dodgers catcher John Roseboro (center) threw a ball past the ear of San Francisco Giants hitter Juan Marichal (left) and he came out swinging the bat on Roseboro’s head, Dodger pitcher Sandy Koufax tried to intervene (ESPN still file photo)

Is the Giants vs. Dodgers Rivalry being replaced? 

That’s Amaury News and Commentary 

By Amaury Pi-González

 With the recent ascent of the San Diego Padres, who fully reloaded their team and spend big bucks during the off-season, it should be asked.  Is the Giants vs. Dodgers rivalry still tops in the National League. The SF vs. LA rivalry is one of the oldest in major league baseball, second only to the Yankees-Red Sox and in between the Cardinals and Cubs, and it continued when both teams moved to California in 1958.

From the early 1960’s Candlestick Park in the Bayview-Hunters Point, to the current Oracle Park something very interesting has been happening.  When the Giants host the Dodgers, Giants fans come out in droves to root their team and with the “Beat LA” chant you hear it all the time at Oracle.  

However, when it is the other way around, when the Giants played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Dodger fans are just there to root for their team but show not much passion against the Giants, the Giants became like any other team that is playing at Dodger Stadium.

Obviously there is a contingency of Giants fans that make the trips to LA as well as Dodgers fans who reciprocate. Maybe it is because Giants fans are more passionate, or is it an envy factor?  The Dodgers have won six World Series since they moved from Brooklyn to LA, while the Giants three in SF since they moved from the Polo Grounds in the Big Apple.  

Could it be the envy of success the main factor for Giants fans who hate the Dodgers with a passion?  It is all good, competition and passion should be part of the game. It is true that Dodgers fans usually leave games earlier at Dodger Stadium, it is the culture, LA is a car culture, the long commute, millions of cars in the freeways all the time, it is understandable.  

Most of the time the Giants vs. Dodgers rivalry has been a great one from New York to California. With some rare exceptions of violence among fans, most of the time is has been a healthy rivalry. Today the San Diego Padres, who have never won a World Series since they began as a major league franchise in San Diego in 1969, are considered one of the elite clubs in the game. 

All because, this past winter the San Diego Padres were the busiest team in baseball acquiring great talent, with the ownership opening their check books, definitely they are a team looking to go all the way and win that elusive first World Series. Padre’s shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is one of the great talents in the game today and a franchise player who generates emotion and passion with his flair and style of play.

Yet, with all that talent the Padres have the pressure now to perform and win, because although on paper they look very solid, you do not play on paper, you play on the field. The Padres could replace the Giants as the ‘número uno’ rivalry against the Dodgers in the next few years.

Things evolve, there is a new generation of fans in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, the tradition of the rivalry still remains, while San Diego is soon becoming a hot bed for baseball. Yet, the Padres have not won the hardware they need to brag a little, like the World Series trophy.

 This 2021 season the Padres are going for it and the Giants are trying to compete inside a division the Dodgers have owned for eight consecutive years. No, the Giants are not rebuilding per say, but in a couple of years guys like Posey, Crawford, Belt and so on could be gone and then they will have to work on a system where they can content with the Dodgers.  

The Padres look much stronger than any other team in the western division, except the Dodgers. There is a re-alignment of rivalries starting this 2021, one is the Dodgers vs. Padres, and in the American League the old Yankee vs. Red Sox is more now, the Yankees vs. Rays. My grandfather Armando used to tell me, “Amaury, time changes things, nothing stays the same.”  He was correct. 

Amaury Pi Gonzaelz is the Spanish lead play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI LaGrande San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com