Tag: Miami Marlins

Despite A’s 5 run third Marlins scratch enough runs for 7-5 win for sweep

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Miami Marlins third baseman Jean Segura, right, reacts after missing a catch on a throwing error by starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (not shown) as Oakland Athletics’ Ramon Laureano (22) heads for home to score during the third inning at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Sun Jun 4, 2023 (AP News photo)

Despite A’s 5 run third Marlins scratch enough runs for 7-5 win

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland Athletics (12-49) took on the Miami Marlins (32-28) in game three of their series getting swept in three games 7-5. After losing the first two games of the series the A’s who scored 5 runs in the top of the third inning couldn’t hold onto the lead as the Marlins tied the game 5-5 in the fifth and went ahead 7-5 for keeps in the eighth. In game one of the series, the A’s were shutout 4-0, and in game two Oakland was manhandled to the tune of 12-1.

Sunday game recap: Although the Marlins took an early lead scoring one run in the second inning, Oakland answered in the third inning scoring five runs. After the Marlins Yuli Gurriel doubled driving in Garrett Cooper , the A’s got to work. The third inning got underway with a Nick Allen bunt to the pitcher and Jace Peterson scored the first run of the third getting the Oakland scoring frenzy underway.

Esteury Ruiz singled Shea Langliers home, followed by a Ramon Laureano double that allowed two more runs to score. Laureano was able to cap off the inning scoring on a throwing error by Miami pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Oakland had built up a 5-1 lead.

The Marlins tied up the game scoring one run in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth inning. The fifth inning Garrett Cooper home run with two runners (Luis Arraez and Bryan De la Cruz) on base put the Marlins in the drivers seat. Letting this lead slip away was critical for Oakland.

Miami put the finishing touches on the game in the eighth inning scoring twice. Joey Wendle and Nick Fortes both scored. The Marlins came back in the eighth inning with two runs giving the Marlins the sweep.

It was a frustrating loss for Oakland after taking the 5-1 lead. Outside of the third inning the A’s only had one hit from Laureano in the sixth frame. Oakland only had six hits in this game and for the most part it was three up and three down for most of this game.

The A’s will now travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates starting on Monday night at 4:05pm PT. It has been a bumpy roller coaster ride with more downs than ups for the Athletics this season.

It will be another challenge for these young guys. The Pirates are currently in second place in the NL Central a half game behind the Brewers. JP Sears (0-3 ERA 4.37) will take the mound for the A’s and Johan Oviedo (3-4 ERA 4.50) will be on the hill for Pittsburgh. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 PM.

A’s Drop Game Two in Marlins Series 12-1

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Luis Medina, front left, talks with catcher Shea Langeliers (23) during the first inning at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Sat Jun 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

A’s Drop Game Two in Marlins Series 12-1

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon the Oakland A’s (12-48) continued their series with the Miami Marlins (31-28) and it was not the outcome Oakland would have wanted this time getting crushed by their hosts 12-1 at LoanDepot Park in Maimi.

Friday was no better either Oakland was shut out by Miami 4-0. The A’s were coming off a great series in the beginning of the week actually winning a series against the NL East leading Atlanta Braves.

They played some very nice ball against the Braves in that series but it all came to a screeching halt yesterday when they lost that first game against Miami Friday.

Saturday game recap: In game two of this series it was all Miami after only two innings into the game. The Marlins went on top taking a 4-0 lead. Jonathan Davis doubled and Nick Fortes and Joey Wendle both scored for the 2-0 lead.

The Marlins Luis Arraez singled in Davis and a Bryan De La Cruz sacrifice got Arraez home giving the Marlins a 4-0 advantage. The Marlins were putting on a great show for their home crowd at LoanDepot Park.

The Marlins would strike again in the third inning scoring three times and take a 7-0 lead. Miami loaded the bases and Arraez came to the plate and doubled. Arraez set a career for most hits in a game with five and five RBIs to chip in on the offensive effort. Jean Segura, Joey Wendle and Nick Fortes all scored to end the inning.

There was two more runs in the fifth inning for Miami taking a 9-0 lead. The Marlins had 12 hits through seven innings and the A’s had only five hits. When it was all said and done, Miami had 14 hits and the A’s had eight.

In the eighth inning the A’s got up on the board. They did have the bases loaded but only managed to score a single run leaving runners stranded. Shea Langliers singled Laureano home for the one run.

The Marlins would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth taking a 12-1 lead that was the final. After the great series that the A’s had to start the week this current one was turning into a real disappointment. The A’s down 0-2 with game three on tap Sunday.

Sunday, the A’s will head into game three with Miami trying to avoid another sweep. Paul Blackburn will take the mound for Oakland with a 0-0 record and a 2.25 ERA. Sandy Alcantara will be on the hill for Miami with a 2-5 W/L record and a 4.93 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 10:40 AM.

A’s shutout by Marlins Cabrera in 4-0 loss at LoanDepot Park to open series

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Oakland Athletics third baseman Aledmys Diaz (12) and Miami Marlins Bryan De La Cruz (14) hugs after De La Cruz was caught between bases during the fifth inning at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Fri Jun 2, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Mary Anne

The Oakland Athletics (12-47) looked to avoid a two-game losing streak as they started a new three-game series against the Miami Marlins (30-28) on Friday. The A’s and the Marlins matched up at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. The A’s just couldn’t get any hitting going getting struck out ten times by Marlins starter Edward Cabrera for a 4-0 shutout to open the three game series in Miami.

The A’s starting lineup consisted of Esteury Ruiz, Ryan Noda, Brent Rooker, Seth Brown, Aledmys Díaz, JJ Bleday, Jonah Bride, Shea Langeliers, Tony Kemp, and Shintaro Fujinami. Fujinami, a Japanese pitcher who bats and throws right, took the loss and fell to 2-6 on the season after pitching just one inning. Hogan Harris pitched five innings, while Austin Pruitt pitched 1.2 innings and Sam Moll pitched 0.1 innings.

The A’s had their work cut out for them against the Marlins, but they couldn’t get anything going. Miami opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Jesus Sanchez homered on a fly ball to left field and Bryan De La Cruz scored to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.

As if they haven’t already done enough damage, Miami added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jorge Soler doubled on a sharp line drive to JJ Bleday and Jacob Stallings scored to give the Marlins a 3-0 lead. Bryan De La Cruz scored again as he singled on a ground ball to Seth Brown and Jorge Soler scored to give the Marlins a 4-0 lead.

Cabrera pitched six innings on four hits, one walk and ten strike outs before being lifted in the seventh for reliever JT Chargois who was followed by two more relievers who held down the fort to shutout the visiting A’s.

The A’s and Marlins meet again on Saturday, June 3 at 1:10 pm Pacific. Luis Medina (0-4 ERA 6.83) seeks his first win of the 2023 season will be opposed by the Marlins Eury Perez (2-1 ERA 2.84) in the second game of the series.

Oakland A’s off day report: Athletics open 9 game road trip in Miami Friday night

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (12-46) are going to Miami to start a nine-game road trip. The A’s won two of three from the N.L. East division leader, the Atlanta Braves, in the three-game series that finished yesterday in Oakland. The A’s surprised the Braves by winning the series’ first two games. They lost a close game, 4-2, on Wednesday.

The A’s pitching held the Braves to just seven runs in the series. The Braves, World Champions in 2021, have players that know how to win. Their stars are Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, and Austin Riley. The two wins over the Braves had to put a smile on manager Mark Kotsay’s face.

The A’s will face the N.L. East’s second-place team, the Miami Marlins. The Marlins are 29-28, tied with the New York Mets for second-best record in the East. Their manager is Skip Schumaker, who replaced Don Mattingly.

The Marlins have some hitters in their lineup. Miami acquired Luis Arreaz from the Minnesota Twins. Arreaz is a lifetime .300 hitter. This year with the Marlins, he is hitting a robust .381. Arreaz is the team’s second baseman. The Marlins platoon Garrett Cooper and Yuli Guriel at first base.

Guriel, a former Houston Astro, is hitting. 281. In his days with the Astros, Guriel loved to hit against the A’s pitchers. John Berti is the Marlins shorstop. Veteran infielder Jean Segura will be at third base. The Marlins outfielders are Jonathan Davis in centerfield, Bryan De La Cruz in left field, and Jesus Sanchez in right field.

Davis is a rookie and has played in seven games. De La Cruz is hitting .296 with seven homers and 23 RBIs. Sanchez owns a.310 batting average and has three dingers and 11 RBIs.
The DH is the veteran Jorge Soler. Soler is a power hitter. He hit 48 home runs in 2019 with the Kansas City Royals. This year, Soler has hit 17 big flies and has knocked in 35 runs.

The pitching matchups for the three-game series are lefty Hogan Harris (0-0 ERA 10.13) going for the A’s Friday night against Edward Cabrera (3-4 ERA 5.02) of the Marlins. Harris last pitched on May 27th against the Houston Astros. The young lefty, pitching in relief, went five innings and allowed one hit.

Luis Medina (0-4 ERA 6.83) will be on the hill for the A’s on Saturday. Eury Perez (2-1 ERA 2.84)will pitch for Miami. Paul Blackburn (0-0 ERA 2.25) will be making his second start of the year on Sunday. In his first outing, Blackburn, an All-Star in 2022, went four innings allowing four hits and one run.

Blackburn’s opponent will be Sandy Alcantara (2-5 ERA 4.93). Alcantara was the National League’s Cy Young Award winner in 2022. Things have yet to go his way this year. He is 20-5 and owns a 4.93 ERA.

The Marlins have two former A’s pitchers on their staff. Both are left-handed. Jesus Luzardo who is a starter but will not face his old team this weekend. Reliever A.J. Puk, who has been a closer for Miami, is available on June 4th.

Mark Kotsay hopes his team will continue to play as they did against the Braves. The A’s have the worst record in baseball. They are on track to break the New York Mets record of 120 losses in a season. Let’s hope the team gets off to a good start Friday night.

Giants three run sixth inning rally beats Marlins 4-3 at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr., right, celebrates with Michael Conforto after scoring against the Miami Marlins on J.D. Davis’ sacrifice fly during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 19, 2023. (AP News photo)

Miami (23-22). 000 002 010. – 3. 6. 1

San Francisco (21-23). 000 103 00x. – 4. 5. 0

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 30,673

Friday, May 19, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Before tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins began, the Giants announced a bunch of roster moves. They selected two players from their AAA Sacramento River Cats farm team, the widely heralded catcher Patrick Bailey and right handed pitcher Ryan Walker.

They also recalled Héliot Ramos from the River Cats, but only to put him on the 60 day injured list. Joey Bart also went on the IL, for 10 days, retroactive to yesterday, and last Wednesday’s starting pitcher, Ross Stripling joined him on the list, for 15 days, also retroactive to yesterday, the 18th. Outfielder Cal Stevenson was designated for assignment.

When the game ended, San Francisco had extended it winnning streak to four, squeaking past the Marlin, 4-3.

The Giants’ starter, Anthony DeScalfani (3-3,3.06 at game time), is no stranger to roster moves. He spent his first big league season with the fish, for whom he went 2-2, 6.27 in 2014. After that, he spent five years with Cincinnati, before coming to San Francisco for the miraculous 2021 season, when he went 13-7, 3.17. His lifetime record in the show was 53-51, 4.06 when he took the mound.

DeScalfani’s opposite number for the Marlins also has had his ups and downs. Sandy Alcántara began last year poorly but ended up winning the Cy Young Award for the National League. He came to town at 1-4, 4.91 for ’23. Lifetime he was 35-47, 3.23; 1-2, 2.43 against the Giants.

The Giants couldn’t get a hit off Alcántara for 3-2/3 frames, when Michael Conforto hit a weak ground to third for a single. Mitch Haniger promptly followed with a line drive that landed at the foot of the National Car rental sign in left center. for a double that brought Conforto home in a close play at the plate. The inning ended with the Giants up, 1-0, because, although DeScalfani had yielded a pair of hits, both the Luis Arraez, he hadn’t let any runner to advance beyond third.

Arraez made it 3 for 3 with double to left that sent Jorge Soler, who had led off the top of the sixth with a walk, to third . Bryan DeLa Cruz sent a dull line drive that split the distance between Yastrzemski in center and Comforto in right, for a two bagger that brought in both runners, put Miami ahead, 2-1, and drove DeScalfani from the mound, replaced by Scott Alexander.

Alexander walked Joey Peyton. Burdick flew out to the warning track in right, advancing both runners 90 feet. He escaped the inning by getting Jacob Stallings to ground out to Crawford.

De Scalfani had lasted 5-1/3 innings and surrendered five hits and two walks. Both. of the. runs he allowed were earned; one was posthumous. He threw 84 pitches, 55 for strikes, while his ERA creeped up almost imperceptibly to 3.09. He escaped with a no decision.

The Giants responded in their half of the sixth with a walk to Wade. Estrada then hit a grounder back to Alcántara. Not only did the Giants’ second sacker beat the throw to first, but he advanced to second–and Wade to third–when Alcántara’s wild throw got past first baseman Garrett Cooper.

Sacrifice flies by Davis and Conforto put the home team ahead, 3-2. Yastrzemski drew a walk, and Casey Schmitt drove Alcántara’s 100th offering just out of Wendle’s reach at short and into left field for an RBI single. And so ended Alacántara’s night. After 5-2/3 innings, he had yielded four runs, all earned, on five hits and three walks. He struck out five. 34% of his pitches were balls. He was tagged with the loss, giving him a record of 1-5, 5.05.

Southpaw Andrew Nardi came in from the bullpen to reieve Alcántara and fanned Wilmer Flores, who pinch hit for Sabol, to halt the Giants’ attack.

Patrick Baily made his big league debut, replacing Flores in the top of the seventh. HIs battery mate was John Brebbia. Bryan Heoing replaced Nardi on the mound for Miami with no one on and two out in the bottom of the seventh.

Taylor Rogers (the left handed brother) had the top of the eighth all but sewn up, but De La Cruz drove a two out, 3-2 sweeper into the left center field bleachers for fifth home run of the season, shortening San Francisco’s lead to 4-3. His submarining right handed brother, Tyler ,relieved him and pitched to pinch hitter Jon Berti, who popped out to second.

Once more there was a brouhaha over a ball call. This time it was on Davis’s lead off walk in the bottom of the eighth when catcher Jacob Stallings requested time and home plate ump Marvin Hudson didn’t grant it, although he made some sort of gesture. The argument ended in the ejection of Stallings and Miami skipper, Skip Schumaker.

Tyler Rogers remained in the game to pitch the top of the ninth. He put the fish down in. order, earning his second save of the year in the process.

Scott Alexander got the win. He’s now 4-0, 4.96.

At 1:05 tomorrow, Saturday afternoon, Braxton Garrett (1-2, 5.20) will face the Giants for Miami. Logan Webb (3-5, 3.20) will toe the rubber for San Francisco.

Giants Gear Up For Three Game Series with Miami Friday night at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart, left, congratulates pitcher Camilo Doval after the team’s 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wed May 17, 2023 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Thursday the San Francisco Giants (20-23) got a well-deserved day off. They are coming off a sweep of the Phillies, their first of the season and they did it mostly without the long ball. Michael Conforto had a home run in game one of the series but that was it for San Francisco. The lack of home runs did not hurt the Giants in this series proving that they can win without the long ball. They’re offense is firing on all cylinders right now.

The Giants will need that offense as they head into a three-game series with the Miami Marlins (23-21) at Oracle Park. The Giants had 31 hits in their last series; their offense has really come alive. They last played the Marlins in April winning 5-2 in 11 innings in the third game of the series after losing the first two games.. Both Conforto and Mike Yastrzemski hit home runs in the 11th inning of that third game.

The Giants offense will be tested by Miami this weekend. Luis Arraez is the big hitter for the Marlins with a .378 batting average. Sandy Alcantara will take the mound for Miami with a 4.91 ERA and a 1-4 win/loss record. San Francisco will send Anthony DeSclafani who comes in with a 3.06 ERA and a 3-3 win/loss record to open the series on Friday night.

The success of any team comes at the hands of their pitching and along with the offense that the Giants have been showing lately, they have what they need right now to do well in this series.

These two teams are fairly evenly matched with the Giants scoring more runs and home runs. The Marlins come into this game on a three-game winning streak. Both of these teams come into the game with a lot of confidence so it may well come down to pitching. The Marlins edge the Giants team batting average .250 to .244. and hits 359 to 356.

The Giant will be without Joc Pederson who is listed out with a right hand contusion on a 10-day IL.

This game will get underway Friday night at Oracle with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants coming off 3 game sweep of Phils host Marlins Friday night

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San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores hits a two-run single during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 18, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants Thairo Estrada got the key in Wednesday’s game slugging a RBI single that broke a 4-4 deadlock between the Giants and Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

#2 Wilmer Flores and Casey Schmitt both had RBI hits for the Giants Blake Sabol and Brandon Crawford both had RBI hits as the Giants have pulled it together picking up their sixth straight win over the Phils.

#3 Michael, talk about Schmitt who been a been a big part of the offense and has been a big inspiration for the Giants in the last two weeks Schmitt has been on the team.

#4 The Giants also got help from JD Davis and Mitch Haniger in the eighth inning with pinch singles and yes the art of bunting is back as Joey Bart squared around with the bases loaded. Is the Giants recent success due to manager Gabe Kapler who just found a few tricks in his baseball bag?

#5 The Giants have the day off and open a three game series against the Miami Marlins Friday night at Oracle Park at 7:15 pm PT. Starting for the Marlins Sandy Alcantara (1-4 ERA 4.91) he’ll be opposed by the Giants Anthony DeScalfani (3-3 ERA 3.06).

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

Estrada’s 8th inning RBI basehit gives Giants leg up on Phils in 7-4 win

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San Francisco Giants’ Joey Bart, right, bunts for a single in front of Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto during the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed May 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

Philadelphia (20-23). 000 310 000. – 4. 8. 1

San Francisco (20-23) 400 000 03x. – 7 11. 0

Time: 2:55.

Attendance: 25,303

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Sometimes the hassles attendant on day games after nights games pile up until you never again want to see baseball played in broad daylight. But there are afternoons when it’s 59º and the sun is shining on McCovey Cove with just enough haze to soften the outlines of the east bay hills and remind you of a Japanese woodblock print.

It’s days like that, days like today, that let you forget about the standings, about aging veterans and rookie mistakes, blown saves and other missed opportunities and just sit back and enjoy the sunshine and the action on the field. It was a good day to watch San Francisco beat the Phils by the score of 7-4.

It didn’t hurt that the Giants jumped all over Philadelphia’s starter, Taijuan Walker, from the get go combining singles by Wilmer Flores, Casey Schmitt, Blake Sable, and Brandon Crawford with walks to LaMonte Wade, Jr and Mike Yastrzemski to put four runs on the board and two men on the base paths when Walker was yanked in favor of Matt Strahm with two out in the bottom of the first.

He had thrown 40 pitches, 21 for strikes. He escaped with a no decision, which left him with a record of 3-2, 6.53. Incidentally, Strahm got Joey Bart out to end the inning and pitched strongly until Connor Brogdon relieved him in the fourth. Andrew Vasquez took over for him in the fifth. and Andrew Bellatti with one on and one out in the sixth.

It was a strong start for San Francisco, but there was trouble to come.

San Francisco’s starter, Ross Stripling, didn’t experience any serious difficulties until the top of the fourth, when Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos singled, Kyle Schwarber walked, and JT Reamuto sent a double down the left field line that brought the first two runners home and sent Stripling to the showers, replaced by Sean Manaea, who yielded a sacrifice fly to Alec Bohm that scored Schwarber and allowed Realmuto to take third. That and a called third strike to Marsh brought the frame to a close.

Stripling had gone 3-1/3 innings and allowed three runs, all earned although one was posthumous. The Phillies touched him for four hits, and he walked one and struck out two. His ERA inched up to 7.24. Like Walker, he got a no decision.

Manaea coughed up the lead in the visitors’ sixth, when Stott got a hold of an 85.9mph slider and sent it travelling 101.7 mph over the Levi’s Landing sign, It probably didn’t make it to McCovey Cove, but visitors’ homers don’t count as splash hits anyway.

Jakob Junis pitched a splendid sixth for San Francisco, striking out the side in the old sense of the expression: three batters, three Ks. After allowing a lead off single to Bohm in the seventh, Junis departed, replaced by Scott Alexander. This made sense; Alexander is left handed, the next three batters in Philadelphia’s lineup were, too. The first, Marsh, laid down a sacrifice bunt. Junis fielded it and threw to second, but not in time.

Now there were runners on first and second no one out and the right handed Josh Harrison pinch hitting for Clemens. Junis struck him out. Stott hit a broken bat bouncer to Estrada at second, which became a 4-6-3 double play, but not. before Philadelphia challenged the call. The review showed that Harrison was well and truly out.

Seranthony Domínguez took over pitching duties for the Phillies in the whole seventh and immediately was helped by a spectacular diving catch by Schwarber in left of a dying liner by Flores.

In the eighth, John Brebbia relieved for the second time in as many games. He did his job, and we still we tied at four going into the bottom of the eighth. Gregory Soto now was pitching for the Phillies. JD Davis pinch hit to Sabal and singled to right. Mitch Haniger pinch hit for Crawford and singled to center.

Brett Wisely pinch ran for Davis, who had gone to second. Bart got. a bunt single to load the bases. Wade hit a grounder to second that forced Wisely out at home. Estrada’s single to center scored Haniger. Conforto to third that forced Bart out at. home but advanced the other two runners. Flores smacked a two run center to left. Mike Yastrzemski struck out, but we went into the ninth with the Giants ahead, 7-4.

That was Duval time. He was looking for his 11 th save, the second in two days. It wasn’t easy, a wild pitch and hit batter combined with Realmuto’s lead off single and walk to Stott loading the bases with one out and Trea Turner at bat. Duval got. ahead of him, 0-2. There was a conference at the mound. The count went to 1-2. Duval got him swinging.

Brebbia was the winning pitcher. He’s now 2-0, 4.67. Soto (1-3, 4.95) took the loss. And Camilo Doval got the save His ERA stands at 2.29.

The Giants. have tomorrow off and will face the Marlins here on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Marlins on Friday Sandy Alcantara (1-4 ERA 4.91) and for the Giants Anthony DeSclafani (3-3 ERA 3.06) a 7:15 pm PT first pitch.

Giants Avoid Sweep Beating Marlins In 11 Innings 5-2

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San Francisco Giants’ Michael Conforto is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the 11th inning at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Wed Apr 19, 2023 (AP News photo)

Giants Avoid Sweep Beating Marlins In 11 Innings 5-2

By Barbara Mason

It’s no secret that the San Francisco Giants (6-11) have been struggling for awhile now. Wednesday afternoon they took on the Miami Marlins (10-9) hoping to avoid a sweep. The losses by one run, the extra inning losses are starting to mount and are becoming a far too familiar scenario. While the Giants are not getting blown out in any of these losses they are not getting many positive results with poor offense. Hot starts with cold finishes has been the order of this road trip. The Giants got that turned around in game three of this series with a 5-2 win avoiding getting swept by the Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami.

There was not much going on for either team in the first three innings of this game. Darin Ruf got the Giants up on the board in the fourth inning with a one-run double. Wilmer Flores scored and the Giants had a 1-0 lead. The Giants would not have another hit for the remainder of the game.

The Marlins would tie up the game in the fifth inning 1-1. A one-run single from Garrett Cooper drove Garrett Hampson home and this game was even.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Marlins had runners on first and second with two outs and the Giants had some work to do trying to get to a tenth inning and prevent the walk-off. Miami was unable to close out the game and we had extra innings coming up.

The Giants had runner Joey Bart on third base in the tenth inning, couldn’t bring him home and the Marlins had another walk-off chance. Miami had a double steal in the tenth and had the bases loaded with one out. The Giants had two huge strike outs to end the inning and relief pitcher Camilo Doval got San Francisco out of a very sticky situation, getting this game into an 11th inning.

The hit that the Giants had been waiting for all game came off the bat of Michael Conforto hitting a two run homer and San Francisco led 3-1. The Giants had finally gotten the hits they needed to close out a game. San Francisco was not done yet. Mike Yastrzemski took advantage of a hanging breaking ball hitting his second home run of the series, a two-run homer, and the Giants had a 5-1 lead.

Despite the lead this win did not come easy for the Giants. The Marlins loaded the bases with two outs trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the eleventh. San Francisco got out of it with some great pitching and finally won a game.

The Giants had avoided the sweep as they finish up this road trip and head home for a four game series with the New York Mets which starts up Thursday night. Sean Manea (0-0 ERA 4.76) will take the mound for the Giants and Kodai Senga (2-0 ERA 3.38) will start for the Mets. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

Giants Lose Fifth in a Row to Miami 4-2

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Jakob Junis, left, talks with San Francisco Giants catcher Blake Sabol during the bottom of the fourth inning at Loan DepotPark in Miami on Tue Apr 18, 2023 (AP News photo)

Giants Lose Fifth in a Row to Miami 4-2

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday evening the San Francisco Giants (5-11) continued their series with the Miami Marlins (10-8) and dropped their fifth in a row 4-2 at LoanDepot Park in Miami. The Giants the night before on Monday lost 4-3 to the Marlins after taking an early lead in that game leading 3-0 but failed to score for the rest of the game. The Giants couldn’t get any offense going against the Marlins on Tuesday night. The Giants have not won a single game on this current road trip. They continue to score early but cannot hold the lead.

As the Giants have seen lately the Giants took an early lead in this game. Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run home run for the early 2-0 lead.

The Marlins would cut the Giants lead in half in the third inning. Jon Berti hit a sacrifice fly and Jacob Stallings scored. The Giants would now try to not only protect their lead but add to that lead.

Miami broke the game open in the fourth inning. Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a go-ahead three-run homer taking a 4-2 lead. The Giants had again given up the lead and failed to score for the rest of the game. The final was 4-2. This loss would hand the Giants a fifth in a row.

San Francisco is in a bad way right now. Not much went right in this game. The Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood was forced to leave the game with a left hamstring strain after only 2 2/3 innings. This was a real blow especially since Wood was having a good start giving up only one hit, one run and striking out three.

Consistency has been an issue and leaving runners stranded is another problem. San Francisco has also been struggling with strikeouts. Ten times this season the Giants have struck out ten or more times. Injuries have also hit the Giants. Mitch Haniger has an oblique issue, Joc Pederson with a wrist injury, Austin Slater a hamstring and Luis Gonzalez with back issues.

While these injuries do not excuse what is happening on the field, a healthy squad is certainly what every team would like to see.

The Giants J.D. Davis had 3 hits and Wilmer Flores had two in this game. The Giants had seven total hits but San Francisco left six runners stranded in this game. The losses are mounting and it is so frustrating for the team. It is early in the season but they are certainly setting a concerning precedent.

Tuesday the Giants will try to avoid the sweep in game three. Alex Cobb (0-1 ERA 3.14) will be on the mound for San Francisco while Trevor Rogers (1-2 ERA 4.20) will get the nod for Miami. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 AM.