San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants snap out of it, get a 2-run win in Miami

sfgate.com photo: San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford high-fives his teammates after the Giants defeated the Miami Marlins 3-1 in a baseball game, Thursday, May 30, 2019, in Miami.

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 22 years ago, the Giants and Miami Marlins were in a dog fight for the top spot in the National League and today they are battling to get out of the cellar. Lots have changed between both clubs in those 22 years.

#2 The Giants finally snapped their losing streak, getting a 7-1 victory over the Marlins on Thursday morning in Miami after losing seven straight games. Manager Bruce Bochy said it was a relief to win a game.

#3 The Giants avoided a sweep, and with the win, the Giants move up to 2 1/2 games over the Marlins in the National League standings.

#4 Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford said it was a team effort saying that there was only one goal and that was to end the losing streak.

#5 The Giants head to Camden Yards to face the Baltimore Orioles for a 4:05 pm start on Friday night. Starter for the Giants, Drew Pomeranz (1-5, 6.45 ERA), and for Baltimore, Andrew Cashner (5-2, 4.55 ERA).

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

Giants break skid with 3-1 win over Marlins

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

The Giants snapped a seven-game losing streak Thursday afternoon, when they downed the Miami Marlins, 3-1, at Marlins Park.

In the process, they salvaged the finale of a three-game series.

Tyler Beede had a solid outing for the Giants, as he went six innings and surrendered only a run on five hits. He walked three and struck out four, but he did not factor in the decision. Instead, Reyes Moronta, who pitched a scoreless seventh during which he gave up only a walk, picked up his second win of the season.

In fact, as well as he pitched, Beede would have stood to take the loss, as he left the game trailing 1-0. However, Mike Yastrzemski, Hall of Famer Carl’s grandson, tied the game at 1-1 by bringing home Brandon Crawford with a single in the top of the seventh.

One inning later, Crawford himself drove in a pair of runs with a ground-rule double, as he drove home Buster Posey and Brandon Belt. On the down side, Crawford was the only Giant who had more than one hit on Thursday.

For the Marlins, starter Sandy Alcantara shut out the Giants for six innings, as he surrendered only a pair of hits as well as five walks. He, like Beede, ended up with a no-decision.

Like the Giants, Miami only had one player who had more than one hit, as Garrett Cooper had a pair of singles.

Marlins hold on, keep sad-sack Giants sinking

Photo credit: artesianews.com

By Jeremy Harness

Twenty-two years ago, the Giants and the then-Florida Marlins went toe-to-toe in the National League Division Series, a series that saw the Marlins move on and eventually win the World Series.

Fast forward to 2019, and now the two teams are battling it out as two of the worst teams in baseball.

The Marlins technically have the inferior record at 19-34, but based on how the two teams have played the past two days, that is hard to believe. Miami downed the 21-33 Giants by a score of 4-2 Wednesday night at Marlins Park, less than 24 hours after the Marlins bombed them, 11-2.

The Giants may have three World Series banners floating around Oracle Park, but they sure have been hanging a lot of L’s these days.

Wednesday was the seventh straight loss for the Giants, and despite winning three World Series in five years, they stand a chance of finishing the decade with a losing record. Depending on who you talk to, that fact is either very funny or tragic indeed.

After Miami took the early lead with a run in the third, Brandon Belt’s solo home run tied the game in the fourth. The Marlins then scored three unanswered runs over the next four innings, and the Giants could not recover.

Madison Bumgarner had a solid outing, going six innings and gave up only a pair of runs on six hits, walking one and striking out four. However, his record fell to 3-5, as he was the victim of the Giants’ miserable offense, which is statistically one of the worst in the majors.

To pour a little more salt into the wound, former Giants closer Sergio Romo, who had a big hand in the World Series run and put the finishing touches on the 2012 Fall Classic, nailed down the save for the Marlins, although he did surrender a run on two hits in the process.

Despite all of this, there is some good news, in that you don’t have to look very far to find a good baseball team, and the tickets are more than half the price. The A’s have recently gone on a 10-game winning streak and are heading toward the top of the American League standings.

To add to the good cheer, the Golden State Warriors are heading to their fifth consecutive NBA Finals, a series that starts Thursday night in Toronto against the Raptors.

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Giants look to end skid tonight in Miami; A’s jets are cooled drop second straight game after long win streak

Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 The San Francisco Giants have now lost six straight games. The latest loss was on Tuesday night in Miami where they were crushed by the hosts, the Miami Marlins, 11-3. The Marlins did most of their damage with four runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth.

#2 The Oakland A’s gave it their all, but couldn’t get their 11th straight win as the LA Angles scored twice in the top of the ninth to get a two-run lead over the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum in a 6-4 Angels win. The A’s took another loss for the second straight loss to the Angels on Wednesday afternoon 12-7 in extra innings.

#3 The San Jose Earthquakes are 5-2-6. They have won three out of their last four games and are on the road to face the DC United. The Quakes have a confidence about them that you didn’t see before.

#4 The NBA Finals are coming on Thursday night. The Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors will battle in Toronto in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

#5 The Boston Bruins and St Louis Blues played some old fashion physical hockey in Game 1 on Monday night at TD Waterhouse Garden. The Blues were up by two goals until the Bruins’ Sean Kuraly scored a third period goal to snap a tie and assisted on another goal to help the B’s get a 4-2 win. The Blues and B’s battle again tonight in Boston for Game 2.

London does Headline Sports each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants routed by Marlins 11-3; SF lost 6 straight

Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Once again, the San Francisco Giants gave up double digits in runs and the game slipped in a nutshell.

Jorge Alfaro and Garrett Cooper each hit three-run home runs, as the Miami Marlins defeated the Giants 11-3 at Marlins Park.

The Alfaro and Cooper three-run blasts were the first three-run home runs by the Marlins during the 2019 season.

This was the third time in four games that the Giants have allowed at least 10 runs in a game, and have lost six in a row.

Over their last four games, the Giants have been outscored 45-11 and are a season-high 11 games under .500.

Joe Panik gave the Giants a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit the first pitch of the game off of Trevor Richards for a solo home run.

Following the Panik home run, Richards settled down, as he ended up going seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits and the Marlins have won eight out of their last 11 games.

Alfaro blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit a three-run home run and then Cooper put the Marlins in double figures, when he smashed his three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Thru their first 51 games of the season, the Marlins did not hit a three-run home run and ended the night with two.

Rosell Herrera closed out the scoring for the Marlins in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he hit a pinch-hit home run, his first home run of the season.

All of the Marlins first seven runs came with two outs, as the Marlins are now 10-4 since 2017 against the Giants.

Jeff Samardzija lost for the third time in a row, as he saw his record fall to 2-4 on the season. Samardzija gave up a season-high five earned runs in four innings of work, tying his shortest start of 2019.

NOTES: Nick Vincent was forced to leave the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a trainer.

UP NEXT: Madison Bumgarner heads to the mound on Wednesday, as he looks for his fourth win of the season. Thus far in the month of May, Bumgarner is 2-0 in five starts and on the season, has walked only 13 and struck out 70.

Pablo Lopez will his first ever start against the Giants on Wednesday, as he looks to improve his record up to 4-5. On the season, Lopez is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in four home starts during 2019.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Gould insists on leaving 49ers, won’t report to practice; Kluber fractures forearm from line drive; plus more

Photo credit: @theScore

On the Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Former Chicago Bears kicker Kevin Butler has warned San Francisco 49ers kicker Robbie Gould to be careful what you wish for in Gould not reporting to practice for the 49ers. He has asked for the team to release him so he could kick for the Chicago Bears and be closer to his home in Chicago. The 49ers refuse and have told Gould they are holding him to his contract. Butler said that going back to Chicago a second time doesn’t guarantee success.

#2 Cleveland Indians pitcher Cory Kluber took a line drive off his forearm on Wednesday night and broke his forearm. The Miami Marlins’ Brian Anderson hit a line drive that Kluber tried to block and ended up using his glove hand to scoop throw the ball to first, but it too late. Kluber has an ERA of 5.81.

#3 Omaha Beach has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby because of breathing problems. Omaha Beach developed a cough and breathing problems and a medical team said that Omaha Beach will need corrective surgery and the surgery is not life-threatening or career-ending. The new favorite for the Kentucky Derby is now Roadster (6-1) with Improbable (6-1) just behind.

#4 The Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard didn’t set the world on fire against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, but his teammates came through to help for the 97-90 win. The Blazers’ C.J. McCollum led with 20 points and Lilliard finished with 15 points. With the win, the Blazers tie the series 1-1.

#5 It was reported by Yahoo Sports that Palm Beach Florida police issued a fake bomb threat in order to install cameras at the spa which New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft would be recorded receiving sexual favors at Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida. Kraft’s lawyers said that the video was obtained by illegally installing the cameras. A masseuse has been arrested in connection with the case.

Tony does the Headline Sports podcast each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Mesa Brothers From Cuba to the Marlins

Photo credit: @donovanc7sports

By: Amaury Pi-González

The last Cuban star on the Miami Marlins was the late pitcher José Fernández. The very talented 24-year-old died in a boating crash off the coast of Miami Beach on September 25, 2016. On October 22, 2018, the Marlins made it official when they introduced the Mesa brothers, Victor Victor and Victor Jr., during a press conference hosted by the Marlins’ top executive officer and part owner Derek Jeter. The Mesa brothers are the two sons of Cuban legend Victor Mesa.

“When I was doing the showcase, I was thinking this could be my ballpark,” Victor Jr. said through a translator. “It was beautiful. I felt like a big leaguer.”

Victor Victor is 22-years-old and Victor Jr. is 17-years old. They are both outfielders. Jeter is hoping that these two will help to rebuilt a struggling franchise that were founded as an expansion team in the National League in 1993 and won two World Series in 1997 and 2003. Victor Victor is the most advanced and closer of the two brothers to be playing next year with the Marlins.The Marlins were last in attendance this season–#30 in MLB with 10,013 fans per game. The team finished last in the National League East this season with a record of 63-98.

The Mesa brothers could bring back the interest of the large Cuban community in Miami and Southern Florida

Rodriguez goes 5 innings in Giants’ 6-3 win over Marlins

Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — On a day where the San Francisco Giants learned their closer will be lost for anywhere from six to eight weeks, the team responded with a hard-fought victory.

Buster Posey got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back, as the Giants defeated the Miami Marlins 6-3 before a crowd of 37,242 at AT&T Park on Tuesday night.

Dereck Rodriguez pitched a strong five innings, as he allowed three runs on seven hits, while not walking a batter and striking out six and won for the second time this season.

Rodriguez hit Lewis Brinson in the top of the second inning, Brinson was the batter that Hunter Strickland yelled at on Monday night prior to leaving and eventually breaking his right hand when put his right hand through a door and broke it.

Both the Giants and the Marlins were warned by home plate umpire Andy Fletcher after Rodriguez hit Brinson.

“He handled himself well, terrific job,” said head coach Bruce Bochy.

Gorkys Hernandez extended the Giants lead up to 3-0 in the bottom of the second inning, as he hit his eighth home run of the season.

Following a Rodriguez strikeout, Joe Panik walked and then things got very interesting at 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

Dan Straily, whose pitch broke Evan Longoria’s left hand on Thursday afternoon at Marlins Park then hit Posey after Panik, and was immediately ejected from the game by Fletcher. Marlins manager Don Mattingly was also ejected.

Straily went only 1.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out one, as his record fell to 2-3 on the season.

The Marlins finally got on the board in the top of the fourth inning, as JT Riddle tripled to right center field to score both Starlin Castro, who singled to lead off the inning and then Miguel Rojas, who also singled.

Rodriguez would then regroup, as he struck out Brinson and Elieser Hernandez, but then Rodriguez hit Derek Dietrich and then Brian Anderson doubled in Riddle to get the Marlins within one run. He ended up striking out the side, as he got J.T. Realmuto swinging to end the inning.

“Thought he threw the ball well,” said Posey.

The Giants extended their lead up to three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Alen Hanson picked up his third hit of the night, as he doubled to score Pablo Sandoval, who walked to lead-off the inning. After the Hanson double, Hernandez picked up his third hit, as he hit a bloop double that fell between Castro, Brinson and Riddle that scored Mac Wililamson.

After Rodriguez left after five innings, Bochy turned the ball over to his bullpen and they responded in a fantastic manner.

The quartet of Ty Blach, Mark Melancon, Will Smith, and Sam Dyson pitched four strong innings, not allowing a run on one hit, walking two and striking out five.

Dyson pitched the ninth inning, as he picked up his second save of the season, both coming in the last five days. Dyson also saved the Giants 16-inning win over the Marlins on Thursday afternoon at Marlins Park.

“Sam will get most of the saves,” said Bochy.

NOTES: Derek Holland takes the mound in the series and season finale against the Marlins, as he looks to raise his record to 5-7 on the season, while the Marlins will Jose Urena to the mound, as he looks for his third win of the season.

Strickland will be lost to the team for six to eight weeks after he broke his right hand after punching a door after Monday’s heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Marlins.

He underwent surgery on his broken hand this afternoon, as the surgery was performed by Giants team Hand Surgeon Dr. Scott Hansen.

Longoria, who broke his left hand on Thursday when he was hit by a Straily pitch, underwent surgery in Los Angeles to repair his left hand.

UP NEXT: The Giants will conclude their series with the Marlins on Wednesday afternoon at 12:45 pm PDT.

Giants win marathon game over Marlins 6-3, but lose Longoria

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

Thursday afternoon’s game at Marlins Park looked eerily similar to the one played the day before.

The San Francisco Giants jumped out to an early lead, only to watch the Miami Marlins rally in the late innings and tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. This time, however, the Giants did not succumb , and as a result, they were able to salvage the final contest of a four-game series, outlasting the Marlins, 6-3, in 16 innings.

After the Marlins tied it up off closer Hunter Strickland, the Giants called on usual starter Ty Blach to come in and save the bullpen, and he more than held up his end of the bargain. He went 6 2/3 innings and kept Miami off the scoreboard for the rest of the game.

He got the well-earned win when Pablo Sandoval singled in a pair of runs in the top of the 16th inning while Gorkys Hernandez threw in some insurance with a sac fly to give the Giants a 6-3 lead.

Sam Dyson was able to nail down the final out to earn his first save of the season.

For the second straight game, Andrew McCutchen launched a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Giants an early 2-0 lead, this time off Marlins starter Dan Straily.

Mac Williamson added a solo homer in the second, but the Marlins, as was the case on Wednesday, were able to make their way back into the game and make things mighty interesting.

The Marlins chipped away at the lead, starting with a solo homer by J.T Riddle in the fifth. Bryan Holaday’s run scoring single in the seventh made it a one-run game, and lewis Brinson’s sac fly in the ninth tied it.

McCutchen had three hits for the Giants and boosted his batting average to .267 in the process, while Alen Hanson also had three hits. Henson took over at third for Even Longoria, who was hit on the left hand with a pitch in the fourth inning.

Longoria is reported to have fractured the fifth metacarpal of his left hand, the same injury that Madison Bumgarner suffered in spring training. A decision regarding possible surgery is expected within the next few days, but he is expected to miss considerable time, likely the same amount of time that Bumgarner did, in the neighborhood of six to eight weeks.

The Giants take on the Dodgers in Los Angeles for a three-game set that starts on Friday night at 7:10 pm PDT.

Marlins’ walk-off sends Giants to third straight loss, 5-4

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

So much for that positive momentum to start off the month of June.

The San Francisco Giants got off to a great start to the month, even getting their record to above .500 at one point. However, that has momentarily disappeared in one week in South Florida.

The Miami Marlins have sent the Giants reeling, as they have now lost three straight games, the latest coming in a dramatic 5-4 loss at Marlins Park on Wednesday.

The Giants led for most of the game, but Miami kept hanging around and kept themselves in the game before eventually overtaking the visiting team in the bottom of the ninth, as Brian Anderson’s sac fly brought in the winning run.

Andrew McCutchen started things off with a two-run homer to straightaway center field, before the Marlins tied the game up in the fourth with a pair of run-scoring singles. From that point on, the two teams traded runs until Miami got the final say in the bottom of the ninth.

Andrew Suarez got the start for the Giants and had a solid performance. He went five innings and gave up a pair of runs on five hits, walking two and striking out three. It was an improvement from his last outing, when he gave up four runs over only 4 1/3 innings at Washington last Friday.

Meanwhile, Caleb Smith went 6 1/3 innings for Miami, surrendering three runs on eight hits, striking out four and not walking a single batter.

Neither pitcher factored in the decision.

McCutchen had two hits, including the opening-inning home run, while Buster Posey cranked out three hits and crossed the plate twice.

The Giants and Marlins will conclude their series on Thursday at 9:10 pm PDT.