Tag: Minnesota Twins

San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (center with eye black) is greeted by teammates after hitting a triple and scoring on an throwing error by the Twins second baseman Brooks Lee for the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jul 14, 2024 (AP News photo)

Minnesota (54-42). 000 000 002. 2. 3. 2

San Francisco (47-50). 011 000 001. 3. 8. 0

Time: 2:17

Attendance: 34,115

Sunday, July 14, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Sunday afternoon’s 3-2 walk off victory by the Giants over the visiting Minnesota Twins would have been exciting even if it hadn’t come at a time when the home team was trying to establish itself as a serious contender for postseason play.

It’s no secret that the Giants had been counting on Sunday’s starting pitcher, Blake Snell, to carry them into the postseason. Nor is it a secret that his slow, injury plagued performance before last Tuesday’s strong showing against the Blue Jays was a troubling development.

Snell held Toronto to one hit over five frames that evening to improve his record to 0-3, 7.35. This afternoon, in his first appearance since then, he came as close to perfection as you can get in seven innings.

Facing the minimum possible 21 batters, he retired the first 18 before Manuel Margot touched him for a leadoff single to left. Snell recovered to induce Will Castro to hit into a 6-4-3 double play and fan Brooks Lee. The fans responded with thunderous applause. Castro and Lee eventually would make the two final outs in the top of the ninth that prevented what would have been a demoralizing loss.

Snell threw 80 pitches, 55 for strikes, and gave up just that one hit in his seven inning stint on the mound. He struck out eight. His won-lost record remained 0-3, and his ERA dropped to a still ugly 6.31, but this was the Snell the Giants thought they had acquired this spring.

The Giants went to their bullpen three times; the first, for Tyler Rogers, who hurled a perfect eighth, and and then for Camilo Doval, who faced four batters and blew the save on a walk and doubles to right by Trevor Larnach, pinch hitting for Christian Vásquez, and Margot.

Ryan Walker replaced Doval and got Castro to ground out to second, which allowed Margot to score the tying run, which was charged to Doval; that’s how he came to be charged with his fourth blown save of 2024. . Even this masks how poorly Doval pitched; if Margot hadn’t tripped trying to advance on his double, he would have made it to third easily, and Castro’s slow grounder might have put the Twinkies ahead).

Although this was the first time Chris Paddack, Minnesota’s starting pitcher, faced the Giants this season, Bay Area fans had a chance to see him at work on June 21, when he put in a subpar performance against the current occupants of the Oakland Coliseum.

This was his first career start for Minnesota against San Francisco; his previous seven against them was as a Padre. Paddack, too, has spent some time on the injured list this season, although not as much as Snell. The Twin Cities’ righty was out from June 25 to July 8. He pitched well this afternoon, although, again, not as well as SF’s lefty.

Paddack lasted five innings and gave up two runs, one of them unearned. He, too, faced 21 batters; they got five hits and a walk off him, and he struck out a half a dozen of them. While Snell had to settle for a no decision, Paddack escaped with his and now has a record of 5-3, 4.99.

Minnesota used five relief pitchers. They were Steven Okert (two-thirds of an inning, a hit and a walk with two Ks); Jorge Alcalá (a third of an inning); Caleb Thielbar (two-thirds of an inning, a hit and a strike out); Josh Staumont (struck out the one batter he faced); Griffin Jax (a perfect inning with one strike out); and the losing pitcher, Johoan Durán (one hit and an unearned run after facing one batter).

The Giants took an early lead in the second inning, when they took advantage of Carlos Santana’s failure to hold on to Lee’s relay for what would have been an inning-ending double play to go ahead 1-0. A walk to Yastrzemski and Thairo Estrada’s single to left drove in Matt Chapman, who had hustled down the line in the aborted DP attempt, scored the go ahead tally.

SF doubled its lead with back to back doubles in the third. LaMonte Wade hit the first, a one out shot that bounced over the Visa advertisement in right center field, followed by Patrick Bailey’s fly in the same direction that stayed in play.

Once Walker saved Doval’s bacon, the Giants responded in stunning fashion. Yastrzemski smacked Jhoan Durán’s 96mph splitter to right center field. The ball got past Max Kepler in right and was retrieved by Margot in center.

He threw to Lee at second who relayed the ball in the direction of third base in an attempt to prevent Yastrzemski from turning his hit into a leadoff triple. The ball went past Diego Castillo, and Yastrzemski romped home with the winning run. Lee was charged with the error and Durán, now 5-4, 2.93, with the loss.

This was the first time the Giants had won a series since taking two out of three from the Braves in Atlanta on July 2-4. It was a good way to go into the all-star break. Their next scheduled game will be on Friday, July 19 in Denver.

Minnesota Twins Carlos Santana (30) celebrates with third base coach Tommy Watkins (40) after hitting a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jul 13, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Minnesota Twins Carlos Santana provided the extra power and go ahead home run in the top of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Saturday night in the Twins win over the Giants 4-2.

#2 The Santana home run was under review as it played the left field foul line and was ruled fair it also gave Santana his 30th home run in all current Major League parks.

#3 At 38 years old Santana hit his 13th of the 2024 season and his 314th of his career. In addition to his home run he got a base hit and walked twice.

#4 Hayden Birdsong who started for San Francisco allowed one earned run in five innings and surrendered just two hits. Birdsong has had some good outings filling in for Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray. Birdsong can earn a spot in the rotation as long as he can be consistent with winning ball games.

#5 Twins and Giants match up for the rubber game today at Oracle. Starting pitcher for the Twins RHP Chris Paddack (5-3, ERA 5.18) for the Giants RHP Blake Snell (0-3, ERA 7.85) first pitch 1:05pm PT.

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Santana (30) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 13, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

By William Espy

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants continued their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday evening in front of a crowd of 32,518 fans. The Giants defeated the Twins in the first game of the series on Friday, with a final score of 7-1. Saturday the Giants just couldn’t get enough hitting and lost in a two run game to the Twins 4-2 at Oracle Park.

Entering the night, the Giants found themselves three games out of a wild-card spot, while the Twins were looking to hold onto theirs as the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals looked to chase them down. Byron Buxton, who is in the middle of an eight-game hitting streak, was notably out of the lineup for the Twins.

Carlos Correa was scratched last minute as well, meaning the visitors were without two of their key players to start the night. Ryan Jeffers entered the lineup, and the rest of the infield was shifted around for Minnesota to accommodate the change.

Prior to the game, the Giants had a Wall of Fame ceremony for the “Core Four”: Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla, and Sergio Romo. The four relief pitchers were an important part of the Giants’ bullpen when the team won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

It’s rare to see a group of players given an honor like the Wall of Fame at the same time, but under these circumstances, it seemed clear that the organization had an opportunity to do something special this time and they were ultimately rewarded with a plaque on King Street. In a symbolic passing of the torch, the inductees threw out the ceremonial first pitch to current members of the Giants’ bullpen.

With quite a few franchise legends at the ballpark for this game, there was certainly pressure on the Giants to perform at a high level and given the state of the Twins’ lineup, they had no excuses not to. They have historically been successful against the Twins at Oracle Park, as they had won seven of their last nine home games against them.

It was a battle of young pitchers, as both starters had a combined total of 21 career MLB starts. The Giants’ #4 prospect, Hayden Birdsong made his fourth career MLB start for the home team. Meanwhile, the Twins went with Simeon Woods Richardson who was making his 17th career start, and first appearance against the Giants.

Game recap: Things got off to a rough start for Birdsong, as he hit the Twins’ leadoff hitter Willi Castro to start the night. After two fly-outs to Michael Conforto and a weak ground ball which was handled by Patrick Bailey, Birdsong was able to get through the first inning with no further consequences.

Brett Wisely got the first hit of the night in the bottom of the first, and a two-out single by Bailey put runners on the corners. Oracle Park erupted moments later as fans thought Matt Chapman gave the Giants the lead with a three-run home run, but the ball was just outside of the foul pole and it remained a 0-0 ballgame for the time being. After multiple long foul balls, eventually, Chapman flew out to Castro to end the inning.

Both pitchers were struggling early despite not giving up a run in the first inning. Birdsong’s control was leaving much to be desired, which led to him walking Carlos Santana in the second inning. Meanwhile, Woods Richardson had thrown 22 pitches after just a single inning.

A fantastic diving catch by Mike Yastrzemski in the top of the third inning robbed the Twins of their first hit of the night. After three innings, neither team had registered a run but both had stranded a few batters. Birdsong’s control continued to be an issue as the game progressed though, as in the fourth inning he hit his second batter of the night, this time it was Jeffers.

This ultimately led to the Twins getting on the scoreboard, as a one-out double by Matt Wallner drove Jeffers in. There was also an error on the play by Yastrzemski which allowed Wallner to advance to third, keeping the pressure on Birdsong.

He walked Santana for the second time but seemed to be on the right track after striking out Max Kepler. Unfortunately for the Giants though, that wasn’t the case as a passed ball would allow Wallner to score and make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors. A ground ball to Chapman by Manuel Margot would allow the Giants to get out of trouble.

Heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, Woods Richardson’s pitch count was under control and the Giants were struggling to make solid contact against him. The first two batters in the inning struck out before Conforto drew a walk. Then, the Giants got their spark as a ground-rule double from Wilmer Flores put them both in scoring position for Yastrzemski.

He hit a slow dribbler to the shortstop, who was unable to make a play. As a result, Conforto scored and the Giants reduced the lead to a single run with runners on the corners. They’d be left stranded though, as Thairo Estrada would fly out to left field and end the inning.

The Twins tried to get a rally going in the fifth inning, but they ended up leaving two runners stranded. By the midway point of the inning, there was movement in the Giants bullpen, and rightfully so, as it seemed like Birdsong was running on empty.

Moments later, the Twins followed suit and started warming up some relief pitchers of their own. Soler put pressure on Woods Richardson immediately with a lead-off double. That pressure resulted in a wild pitch during the very next at-bat which allowed Soler to easily advance to third base and now the tying run was just 90 feet away.

Wisely struck out after a lengthy at-bat, but Heliot Ramos brought Soler home with a slow groundball single up the middle. With one out and a runner on, Rocco Baldelli made a call to the bullpen. Cole Sands entered the game in the bottom of the fifth, ending Woods Richardson’s night fairly early. Sands would quickly get out of the inning as Bailey grounded into a double play.

Both starters would receive no decision on the night, as Taylor Rogers would come out to start the sixth inning for the Giants. Rogers struck out the first batter he faced, but the veteran Santana restored Minnesota’s lead with a solo shot to make it 3-2.

The play was put under review and after a lengthy second look, the call was confirmed to the dismay of the fans in attendance. Kepler nearly added a tally of his own with a hard-hit ball that ended up bouncing into McCovey Cove, but this one was called a foul ball which was confirmed after review. Kepler did end up getting on base with a single though.

Rogers wouldn’t last a full inning, as he was pulled for Randy Rodriguez after 31 pitches and only one out. Rodriguez gave up a single to the first batter he faced, Margot, but Vazquez grounded into a double play to end the inning.

After a scoreless top of the seventh inning, the Twins made a pitching change once again to start the bottom of the inning as Jorge Alcala entered the game. The Giants started the eighth inning well with Erik Miller taking over on the mound and getting the first two batters out.

Santana continued to be a spark plug for the Twins though, as he got a single to swing momentum in Minnesota’s favor. Kepler followed suit, getting a single into right field which advanced the runner to third. Margot who was 1-for-3 on the night at this point stepped up with a chance to either extend his team’s lead or he could get his opposition out of trouble. He struck out looking, and the Giants kept the deficit at a single run.

Griffin Jax entered the game for the Twins to start the bottom of the eighth. He struck out Wisely to start the inning and Ramos flew out to right field, giving the Giants two outs very quickly. The next batter, Bailey hit a ball hard into into the gap.

It was nearly a home run but was just short. It ended up being the next best thing though, as his triple put the tying run 90 feet away once again. They’d be unable to capitalize though, as Chapman flew out to right field.

Sean Hjelle entered the game in the top of the ninth to try to keep the Giants deficit at one before their final chance to tie things up. Vazquez got his first hit of the night to start the inning, and Castro followed it up with a single of his own.

Larnach stepped up to the plate with no outs and runners on first and second and got his first hit of the night as well. As fans started prematurely heading for the exit, things had the ability to get disastrous for the home team.

The Twins scored a run on Jeffers’ groundball, but the Giants got a double play as well, which was likely the best-case scenario for them. Brooks Lee walked then leisurely jogged to second base with no opposition. Ultimately, the Giants escaped with minimal damage though as Wallner would strike out to leave two runners stranded in scoring position.

As the Giants looked to pull off a comeback at the 11th hour, the Twins had Jhoan Duran take over on the mound for the bottom of the ninth. Conforto struck out to begin the inning, then LaMonte Wade Jr stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter for Wilmer Flores. He grounded out to second base, and Yastrzemski stepped up to the plate as the Giants’ final hope. He’d ground out as well, and the Giants would fall 4-2. Cole Sands would be credited with the win, while Taylor Rogers got the loss.

Twins and Giants duel once again Sunday at Oracle Park in the rubber game match starting pitcher for Minnesota RHP Chris Paddock (5-3, ERA 5.18) for San Francisco Blake Snell (0-3, ERA 7.85) first pitch 1:05pm

San Francisco Giants Sat Jul 13, 2024 starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong will duel against Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson at Oracle Park in San Francisco (Getty file photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Morris, the San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison pitched into the sixth inning on Friday night against one of the toughest line ups in baseball the Minnesota Twins pitching shutout ball talk about a quality start.

#2 Brett Wisely was key with three hits and two RBIs in the Giants 7-1 win. Run production and good pitching won this series opener for San Francisco.

#3 With the Giants having lost four of their last five games Friday’s win was crucial and Harrison delivered with a quality start.

#4 Harrison also got defensive support from Wisely and Heliot Ramos behind him on the diamond to stop some balls from getting through.

#5 Tonight (Saturday) a game that your covering the Twins will start RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (3-1, ERA 3.48) and for the Giants RHP Hayden Birdsong (1-0, ERA 4.40) first pitch slated at 4:05pm PT

Morris Phillips is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison (right) hands over the ball to manager Bob Melvin in the sixth inning sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Minnesota (53-41). 000 001 000. 1. 10. 0

San Francisco (46-49). 120 011 20x. 7. 9. 0

Time: 2:24

Attendance: 34,106

Friday, July 12, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–Friday night the Giants bounced back from the defeat they had suffered at the hands of Toronto Wednesday afternoon, a defeat that could have demoralized them. The team they beat Friday night was far superior to the one that beat them Thursday, but the Giants scored a resounding 7-1 triumph over the Minneapolis Twins.

The enigmatic Kyle Harrison, who started for the home town nine, had lost his previous start six days ago in Cleveland, going 3-1/3 innings and surrendering five runs, four earned, in a 5-4 defeat. That was his first start since sitting out 20 games with a sprained right ankle.

His most effective pitch is the four seam fastball, a delivery that the Twins thrive upon. His record entering the fray was 4-4, 4.24 (hence the adjective “enigmatic”). He held the visitors scoreless for the 5-1/3 innings he was on the mound, but one posthumous run, earned, was charged against him when Rylan Walker, who relieved Harrison after he had allowed a leadoff single to Carlos Correa and a double to Carlos Santana, retired Will Castro on a grounder to first that drove in the former from third, ending the shutout but leaving the orange and black ahead, 3-1.

Harrison allowed five hits and a base on balls during his tenure, striking out three to earn the win that made him 5-4, 4.08 for the season. He threw 83 pitches, 50 qualifying as strikes. Melvin and Co. used three relievers, Ryan Walker (1-2/3 IP, two hits); Tyler Rogers (an inning, a hit, a strikeout); and Camilo Duval (one inning, two hits, and a strikeout).

Harrison’s opposite number was Joe Ryan, born San Francisco and residing in San Anselmo. The Giants made him their 39th round draft choice in 2014, out of Sir Francis Drake High, but he chose to attend Cal State Stanislaus, from which Tampa Bay selected him in the seventh round of the 2018 draft.

The Twin Cities acquired his services in ’21, when he was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Nelson Cruz to St. Pete. He went 11-10, 4.51 for the Twinkies last year and had a record of 6-5, 3.29 when he threw his first pitch of the evening.

He, too, lasted 5-1/3 frames, but there the similarity ends. Ryan allowed five runs all of them earned, on six hits. He walked three and struck out six and had a pitch count of 98 (62 strikes). He took the loss and now has a record of 6-6, 3.53.

The team from Minneapolis-St. Paul, like SF, sent three other pitchers to the mound. Caleb Thhielbar worked two thirds of an inning; Josh Staumont and Kody Funderburk toiled an inning apiece. Staumont was charged with two runs. on two hits and a walk; Funderburk, with a walk. Staumont logged a K.

San Francisco took an early lead with a run in the first inning on a lead off triple to right by Jorge Soler followed by LaMonte Wade, Jr.’s, sacrifice fly to left. They tacked on an additional two tallies in the second on Mike Yastrzemski’s double to left that plated Thairo Estrada, who had reached base after forcing Conforto out at second, and Brett Wisely’s RBI pop fly single to center.

Wisely’s made more resounding contact in his next at bat, in the sixth. He smacked a one out triple off the Visa advertisement on the right center field fence. He trotted home with the Giants’. third run when Soler followed up with a single to left.

Wisely continued his offensive rampage with another shot to right center. This one bounced over the same Visa ad for an automatic double that brought Chapman home from third with Giants’ fourth run. The blow came off Caleb Thielbar, who had relieved Ryan with runners on first and second and one down.

When it rains, it pours, and San Francisco poured it on in the home seventh against Josh Staumont, the Twin Cities’ third pitcher. Michael Concerto’s two bagger with Ramos, who had singled, and Chapman, who had walked, on base increased the Giants’ advantage to 7-1.

All star Héliot Ramos, who went two for four, made a beautiful diving catch of Carlos Santana’s dying quail in the top of the fourth. Jorge Soler also went two for four with an RBI . But it was Wisely whose star shone the brightest.

He made a nifty leaping grab at short of Byron Buxton’s soft liner with two on and no outs that for the moment prevented a run from scoring. More noteworthy was his work at the plate. He went three for three with a single, a double, and triple, driving in a pair of runs.

The Giants may yet be contender. They’ll face the Twins again Saturday, in the second of this three game series. Righty Hayden Birdsong (1-0, 4.40) will face the Twins’ Simeon Woods Richardson (3-1, 3.48) at 4:15 in the afternoon.