Tag: mlb

The Force of wind and rain doesn’t stop A’s who crush Marlins 20-4 on Stars Wars day at Coliseum; Win is Oakland’s sixth in a row

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) is greeted at the plate after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the third by teammates Abraham Toro(31) and Tyler Nevin (26) against the visiting Miami Marlins at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat May 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

Oakland A’s Brent Rooker slugged two home run in the third inning during a 10 run rout of the Miami Marlins for a 20-4 win at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday on Star Wars day. The game delayed three hours and 30 minutes by windy and rainy conditions. The game was supposed to have started at 1:07 but got underway at 4:30pm.

It didn’t matter much as the A’s were ready to swing the bats at the visiting Marlins expense. Rooker who hit the two home runs in the third inning became the first A’s player in 30 years to do it. Rooker took Marlins pitcher Trevor Rogers deep with a two run home run and later in the inning Marlins pitcher Darren McCaughan coughed up a three run homer to Rooker.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay said that Rooker delivered last season that’s why he was the A’s team representative at the 2023 All Star game. Kotsay said that Rooker got hot and capitalized on mistakes and he wound up hitting a couple of them today.

The A’s reached a season high in runs with 20 and hits with 21. They simply just teed off on Marlins starter Rogers 2.1 innings, eight hits and three runs, then McCaughan 4.2 innings, nine hits and eight earned runs, and Emmanuel Rivera one inning pitched four runs and four hits.

Rooker was seeing the ball as big as maybe a softball added a base hit for good measure in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rooker became the 60th player in big league history to hit two home runs in the same inning. The last player to do it was the Philadelphia Phillies Trea Turner and the last A’s player to hit a pair in the same inning was former first baseman Mark McGwire when he did it against the Seattle Mariners on Sep 22, 1996.

“I grew up in Memphis a big (St. Louis) Cardinals fan so he was kind of one of the first players I remember watching during his time there,” Rooker said. “Being able to do anything the same as him is a huge accomplishment and something that’s really cool for me.” Rooker also wears McGwire’s old number 25.

Post game notes: The Marlins and A’s go at it again Sunday at 1:07pm PDT to conclude the three game series. The A’s are looking for their seventh straight win and second series sweep in a row. The Marlins who came to Oakland after sweeping the Colorado Rockies are looking to get back in the win column after dropping the first two games of the series. Starting pitcher for the Marlins on Sunday RHP Sixto Sanchez (0-1 ERA 8.36) and for the A’s RHP Joe Boyle (2-4 ERA 6.08).

Former Marlins lead off hitter Luis Arraez who was traded to the San Diego Padres on Friday night for three minor leaguers and one big league reliever got off to a quick start going 4-6 which included two runs and an RBI against the Los Angeles Angels at Anaheim Stadium on Saturday. The Arraez trade must have had an impact on the Marlins he was traded just before Friday’s game as he was scheduled to lead off. The shock must have impacted the Marlins who lost 3-1 and then on Saturday night getting crushed 20-4.

Troy Ewers is a beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Phillies slaughter Giants on rainy night at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia 14-3

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The Philadelphia Phillies Bryson Stott (5) hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning against the San Francisco Giants. The Giants catcher behind Stott is Tom Murphy at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-19)

Philadelphia Phillies 14 (23-11)

Win: Range Suarez (6-0)

Loss: Keaton Winn (3-4)

Time: 3:01 (1:10 delay)

Attendance: 42,610

By Stephen Ruderman

The Phillies just took it to the Giants, as they slaughtered them 14-3 on a rainy night at Citizens Bank Park, and the Giants have now dropped four of their first five games on this road trip.

The Phillies beat the Giants 4-3 in the series opener last night after the Giants’ offense wasted more key opportunities. Tonight, the offense would have to face the left-hander and the National League Pitcher of the Month for April, Ranger Suarez, who came into tonight undefeated at 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA. The Giants countered with Keaton Winn, who after a rough first two starts to his season, has pitched well over his last four starts.

Before tonight’s game, both teams had to deal with an hour-and-10-minute rain delay. The game was finally able to begin, but intermittent rain would continue throughout the night.

Once the game began, Suarez walked Austin Slater to start things off. After striking both Thairo Estrada and Jung-hoo Lee out looking, Wilmer Flores flew out on a low-hanging fly ball to left field.

When the Phillies came up to bat, they were more than ready for Keaton Winn. Kyle Schwarber walked to start things out and advanced to second on a passed ball by Tom Murphy. J.T. Realmuto also walked, and Bryce Harper lined a single the other way to left to load the bases. Winn then hit Alec Bohm, which scored the first run of the game, and Brandon Marsh lined a base-hit to right to score Realmuto and make it 2-0.

Winn got Nick Castellanos to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to finally get the first two outs of the inning. Harper scored to make it 3-0, but it was a pair of outs Winn desperately needed. Unfortunately for Winn, the Phillies weren’t done. Bryson Stott singled to right to score Bohm and make it 4-0, and Edmundo Sosa reached on an infield hit to second, which knocked Winn out of the game after two-thirds of an inning. Mitch White came in for Winn and allowed a single to Johan Rojas to make it 5-0.

With the Phillies up 5-0 and Suarez on the mound, the Giants had their work cut out for them, and Suarez responded by throwing a 1-2-3 top of the second inning.

The Phillies came back up in the top of the second and kept going. Realmuto tripled to start the inning and scored on a wild pitch. Tom Murphy felt his knee pop while going after the wild pitch on the wet and slippery glass and was replaced by Blake Sabol, who was called up from the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats prior to the game.

The bases were empty, but that didn’t stop the Phillies. Harper walked; Bohm singled; and Marsh walked to load the bases. Stott grounded to second for a 6-4 fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning, but another run scored to make it 7-0. Stott singled on a ground ball that hit off the glove of the diving second-baseman, Thairo Estrada, and ricocheted into right-center to make it 8-0. Sosa grounded out back to the mound for the second out, but Nick Castellanos scored to give the Phillies a 9-0 lead in just the second inning.

The Giants got in both the run and hit columns in the top of the third, and they scored two more runs in the top of the fifth to make it 9-3. I guess you could say that a positive out of tonight’s blowout is that the Giants got to Suarez for three runs, but this still ended up being the ninth-straight game in which the Giants’ offense was limited to three runs or less.

The Phillies scored four more runs off Randy Rodriguez in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it a real laugher, as they now led it 13-3. Philadelphia tacked on one more off Erik Miller in the bottom of the seventh to make it 14-3. Bob Melvin then brought in Tyler Fitzgerald to throw batting practice in the bottom of the eighth, but the Phillies’ offense seemed to have had enough for one night and went down 1-2-3.

Ranger Suarez went six innings, and he was followed up by Jose Ruiz, who pitched scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Phillies Manager Rob Thompson went to the struggling Seranthony Dominguez for a maintenance inning in the top of the ninth, and he of course pitched a scoreless inning.

So, that’s it. Suarez the win, Winn the loss, and the Giants tie their season-high—or shall I say season-low—four games under .500 at 15-19, and they will have to bounce back tomorrow night on ESPN’s Sunday Night Game of the Week. The good news for the Giants is that they will have their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in Philadelphia, 4:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

News and Notes:

Catcher Patrick Bailey was indeed played on the 7-Day Concussion Injured List after taking a foul ball to the mask off the bat of Alec Bohm last night, and as mentioned above Blake Sabol was called up and made his 2024 Debut.

As for Tom Murphy, who felt a pop on his knee when going for the wild pitch from Mitch White in the bottom of the second inning, he will undergo an MRI tomorrow. Safe to say it doesn’t look good, and good chance the Giants will have to call up another catcher.

A’s gain ground in AL West now 1.5 games back of first place; Defeat Marlins 3-1 at Coliseum; Victory is Oakland’s 5th straight win

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Oakland A’s Brent Rooker (25) is congratulated by Abraham Toro (31) after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the fourth against the Miami Marlins at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri May 3, 2024 (Oakland A’s X photo)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Miami (9-25).        000 000 001.  1. 7.  1

Athletics (16-17).   002 100 000. 3. 5.  0

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 8,533

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics’ drive towards contention continued Friday night when they defeated another resurgent contingent for their fifth straight victory 3-1 over the Miami Marlins. The Marlins came to the Coliseum with a dismal 9-24 balance sheet but fresh from having swept a series for the first time all season, by taking h three straight games from the Colorado Rockies.

The A’s left the park at 16-17, extending their winning streak to five games, Tyler Nevin’s  hitting streak halted at nine.  He went 0-3 with  a hit by pitch.

JP Sears, the lefty who started for the A’s, has wavered between awfulness and excellence. His worst performance was his first, five earned runs on six hits in 3-2/3 inning on March 30. His best came on April 11, when he held the Rangers to one hit in 6-1/3 frames for his first win of the season. 

He was on his game Friday night, allowing four hits and a walk but nary a run, on 95 pitches,  62 for strikes, again over a 6-1/3 frames. He got the well earned win and reduced his ERA to 3.89.

Miami’s starting pitcher, Ryan Weathers, resembles a Marlin; he leaps to considerable heights but also descends into the depths. He ended last season with a six inning, shutout, two hit start against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Last Sunday, in his most recent start, the 23 year old southpaw also went only four innings but surrendered five hits and three walks but escaped with a no decision against the Nationals.

Entering Friday, he was 2-2, 4.55. After throwing 99 pitches, 30 of them balls, over a span of six innings, he surrendered three runs, all earned, on five hits, including a home run. He struck out five and didn’t walk anyone.

He brought his ERA down a smidgen  to 4.54 eventually was charged with his third loss against two wins. 

The action began just before the first pitch was thrown. Luis Arraez had been announced as the Marlins’ lead off batter. But he was pulled from the lineup at the last moment, and cleanup hitter Dane Myers inserted in his slot, with other changes up and down the lineup.  There had been rumors that Miami and San Diego were working on a trade that would have sent the infielder to the Padres.

This was their consummation. (Shades of. José Canseco learning in the on deck circle that he’d been dealt to Boston)! The Marlins got three prospects and relief pitcher Woo-Sok Go in exchange for the stellar second sacker.

The teams traded goose eggs for three and a half innings until Abraham Toro smacked a one out single to center and trotted home on Brent Rooker’s 440 foot blast over the NBC SportsCalifornia sign in left center for his six home run of the year and a 2-0 Athletics lead.

They added another tally in the bottom of the sixth on Max Schuemann’s two bagger off the right center field wall, which almost subcame to The Curse of the Leadoff Double, except that the speedy Ruíz beat out a two out ground to short that scored Schuemann, who’d been sacrificed to third by Darell Heraiz.

They picked up where they’d left off with Abraham Toro’s leadoff double against the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth. This time, The Curse of the Leadoff Double struck, and that was the only baserunner for the Athletics in that frame.  

Austin Adams got the last two outs for the A’s in the top of the seventh. Miichael Kelly got the first two in the eighth but yielded a single to right to Otto Myers and a base on balls to Bryan de la Cruz. He got an 0-2  count on Josh Bell and then hit with a pitch, clogging the basepaths.  The count went to  2-2 on Tim Anderson before he went down looking at the third strike.

Declan Cronin retired the A’s in order in the bottom of the seventh and eighth.

Lucas Erceg almost shut the fish down in order in the ninth.  With two out, Nick Gordon beat out a grounder to short. in spite of  a beautiful play by Hernaiz. Vidal Bruján then dropped a double into the left field corner that brought Gordon home and narrowed the gap. to 3-1. Then Erceg earned his second save of the season by getting Jesús Sánchez to ground out to third 

Saturday, afternoon, Paul Blackburn (2-1, 3.34) will take the mound for the Athletics while Trevor Rogers (0-4, 4.31) will do the same for Miami first pitch 1:07pm PDT.

Giants waste more opportunities, as Phillies get to Hicks to win series opener 4-3

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San Francisco Giants starter Jordan Hicks delivers to the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the second inning at Citizens Bank Ballpark on Fri May 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-18)

Philadelphia Phillies 4 (22-11)

Win: Matt Strahm (2-0)

Loss: Aaron Hicks (2-1)

Save: Jose Alvarado (6)

Time: 3:00

Attendance: 40,888

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants’ offense wasted more opportunities, and the Phillies got to the undefeated Aaron Hicks to beat the Giants 4-3 in the opener of this four-game wraparound series, as the Giants have now dropped three of the first four games of their road trip.

After dropping the first two games of their three game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, the Giants scored two runs in the seventh inning to salvage a game in the series yesterday. Now, the Giants were headed to Philadelphia to face the red-hot Phillies, who after winning the National League Pennant in 2022, and getting within a win of the pennant again last season, were off to a 21-11 start.

The Giants sent Jordan Hicks to the mound, and the Phillies went with Aaron Nola, who pitched a scoreless top of the first. As for Hicks, a reliever brought in over the off-season to convert to a starter, he has been off to a great start, as he entered tonight’s game 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA.

Hicks got Kyle Schwarber to fly out to center to start the bottom of the first inning. However, he ran into trouble when he gave up an infield single to Trea Turner and walked Bryce Harper with one out. Hicks then bore down, as he struck out Alec Bohm looking on four pitches, and he got J.T. Realmuto to ground out back to the mound to escape the inning unscathed.

Patrick Bailey and Matt Chapman walked to start the second inning, and after Mike Yastrzemski struck out swinging, Thairo Estrada doubled to center to knock both runners in. As for Bailey, he has taken a foul ball off his mask off the bat of Alec Bohm. After experiencing blurry vision following his walk and run, Bailey had to leave the game.

Hicks pitched a scoreless bottom of the second, which would have been a 1-2-3 inning had it not been for a one-out throwing error by Matt Chapman at third base. The Giants were in business against Nola again in the top of the third, as Michael Conforto and Tom Murphy, the latter of whom came in to catch for Bailey, singled to start the inning.

The Giants had runners at first and second with nobody out and were ready to extend their 2-0 lead, but Chapman grounded into a 5-3 double play, and Yastrzemski swung out swinging to end the inning.

It was another wasted opportunity for the struggling Giants’ offense, and it would prove to be a momentum switch. Schwarber reached on the second error in as many innings for Chapman. Turner struck out looking, but Harper drew his second walk to put runners at first and second for the Phillies with one out.

Bohm then came up and hit a ground ball into left field to score Schwarber and put the Phillies on the board. Realmuto walked to load the bases, and Brandon Marsh singled on a ground ball up the middle to center field to score two and give the Phillies the lead.

Nola threw a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, and Hicks set down the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fourth, but things would get tricky again for Hicks. Turner singled the other way to right and stole second, and then he scored all the way from second on a passed ball by Tom Murphy, which also happened to be ball four to Bryce Harper to make it 4-2 Phillies.

Phillies Manager Rob Thompson lifted Aaron Nola after just four innings for Matt Strahm, who pitched a shutdown 1-2-3 top of the fifth. Hicks was also done after four, as Sean Hjelle came in for the bottom of the fifth, and for Hicks, it was six up, six down in the fifth and sixth.

Mike Yastrzemski reached on a two-out error and got to second on a wild pitch by Seranthony Dominguez, who came in for the sixth, but the Giants wasted another opportunity. Orion Kerkering came in for the seventh and gave up three-straight singles to Nick Ahmed, Jung-hoo Lee and LaMonte Wade Jr. to load the bases with nobody out for the slugger, Jorge Soler.

It was another golden opportunity for the Giants, but Soler grounded into a 6-3 double play. Ahmed scored on the play to make it 4-3 and get the tying run to third, but it was a massive blow to the Giants, and Conforto flew out to right to end the inning with the Phillies still ahead.

Luke Jackson gave up a leadoff single to Realmuto to start the bottom of the seventh, but he retired the next three men in order. Jeff Hoffman came in for the top of the eighth, and threw a 1-2-3 innings while striking out the side. The submariner Taylor Rogers also struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth, though his inning was not a 1-2-3 innings like Hoffman’s was.

The Phillies brought in their closer, Jose Alvarado, who gave up a leadoff single to Thairo Estrada. Ahmed flew out to center, and Lee grounded out to short. Estrada, the tying run, advanced to second on Lee’s groundout to put the tying run in scoring position with two outs. Bob Melvin decided to have Wilmer Flores pinch-hit for Wade, but Flores struck out swinging to end the game.

At the end of the day, it was another tough loss for the Giants, who fall to 15-18. However, the Giants were two or three missed opportunities away from beating one of the best teams in Baseball in the Phillies in their park.

As frustrating as the Giants’ start to the 2024 Season has been, especially with an offense that has wasted many opportunities in the early going, they are a couple of bats away—whether it be midseason acquisitions, or two or three guys in the lineup getting hot—from having a solid offense to bolster a strong pitching rotation that will get even stronger as the season progresses.

It is frustrating for fans and for this writer, but I have confidence this team will eventually get it together at some point later in the season.

Anyway, the Giants will be back at it for the second game of this series Saturday night with Keaton Winn on the mound. First pitch will be at 6:05 p.m. in Philadelphia, 3:05 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

News and Notes:

According to Bob Melvin, Patrick Bailey is feeling better and is not going through concussion protocol. However, with head injuries, nothing is certain, and I would surely expect that the Giants will monitor him again when he gets to the park Saturday.

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg: Marlins and A’s both coming off winning sweeps in tonight’s battle at Coliseum

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Oakland A’s pitcher JP Sears throws against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Thu Apr 11, 2024. Sears goes tonight Fri May 3, 2024 against the Miami Marlins at the Oakland Coliseum to open the three game series (AP file photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Augie Mesenburg:

#1 The Oakland A’s are coming off a sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates and improved their won loss record to 15-17. The A’s come into Friday night’s ball game against the Miami Marlins with a four game win streak.

#2 What a difference it’s been for the A’s they started the season 1-7 and now they come into Friday night’s game with a four game win streak and looking to extend it to five.

#3 The A’s had started out with their success which goes back to their first road trip when they won series in Detroit and Texas and then on their second road trip they split a four game series in New York and won a three game series in Baltimore. The A’s came home to sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates in the last series and host the Miami Marlins tonight at the Coliseum.

#4 The Marlins are coming off a three game sweep of the Colorado Rockies to improve their record to 9-24. The Marlins are last in the AL East and have struggled but once you get a taste of winning like the A’s have a team can catch fire.

#5 Game one of the series underway the Marlins are starting LHP Ryan Weathers (2-2 ERA 4.55) and the A’s JP Sears a lefty (1-2 ERA 4.64) both clubs coming off winning three game sweeps how do you see this one?

Augie Mesenburg is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com and is a reporter for 103.2 FM KHAI Honolulu

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s host Marlins tonight at Coliseum; Oakland hopes to extend win streak to five

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Oakland A’s starter Ross Stripling throws to the Pittsburgh Pirates line up, Stripling went six innings of perfect ball against the Pirates on Wed May 1, 2024 at the Oakland Coliseum. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Oakland are on a roll they have won four straight games going into tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins. The A’s have turned heads and have turned a corner having won series road games in April against the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, and split a four game series against the New York Yankees. The A’s just swept the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 In the A’s last game against the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum, Oakland starter Ross Stripling was dealing pitching six innings, no runs, three hits and two strike outs. Stripling and five other pitchers combined in a four hit shutout of the Pirates.

#3 The A’s hit two home runs Wednesday afternoon Abraham Toro and Tyler Nevin that helped them beat the Pirates 4-0 it was the A’s first season sweep.

#4 Stripling had been struggling previous to the win on Wednesday he had a combined ten loses over this season with the A’s and last season with the San Francisco Giants. At least for Wednesday’s game he found himself on the winning side of a shutout in Oakland.

#5 The A’s host the Marlins tonight at the Coliseum. Starting for Miami LHP Ryan Weathers (2-2 ERA 4.55) for the A’s LHP JP Sears (1-2 ERA 4.64) first pitch 6:40 pm PDT. The Marlins have been struggling and are last in the NL East at 9-24.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s hope LA firm can find investors who can come up with $500 million for Vegas ballpark

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Rendering of the Sydney style Opera House ballpark that would take up nine acres at the old Tropicana Hotel and Casino location at Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd. Construction is scheduled to start in April 2025 (Renderings from the Oakland A’s)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1 The Oakland A’s have hired Los Angeles investor Galatioto Sports Partners to help look for one or more private investors. The investors are trying to help raise $500 million of A’s owner John Fisher’s share of he construction costs for the Las Vegas ballpark.

#2 Daniel, the plan is to have the ballpark sit on nine acres of the 35 acres at the Tropicana. Fisher needs to come up with $500 million of $1.5 billion for his share of he costs and the A’s are counting on Galatioto Sports Partners to find enough investors to make those payments. If that happens 42% of the team’s ownership costs will be financially bought up closing in on half of he value of the team.

#3 Galatioto Sports Partners has helped over 100 sports financing deals and that includes the sale of the Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno in 2004 who bought the team from Walt Disney Co., Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli and his wife who own the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in 2005 also had help from the partnership. While their reputation is solid some minority partners might come in saying they’ll invest only if they have say in running the club. That might not be acceptable for Fisher under those circumstances.

#4 The Tropicana Hotel and Casino who closed for business in March is set for demolishment in April 2025. Fisher wants to make certain that the $500 million of the $1.5 billion towards stadium construction costs will be paid by investors who could very well own up to 42% of the club.

#5 Written into the agreement is Flip Tax that would require Fisher to pay 20% tax on the full price of the team in the event Fisher decides to sell the club before 2028.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants avoid sweep comeback and beat Red Sox; Giants open series in Philadelphia next

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski (5) is greeted at the Giants dugout after hitting a top of the third inning home run against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thu May 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 How special is it for Mike Yastrzemski and those who follow to see him come to Fenway Park and hit one out in grampa’s old backyard.

#2 The Giants pitcher Ryan Walker pitched perfect baseball into the sixth inning giving up three hits and one run before leaving talk about what’s been working for him.

#3 Camilo Doval has had picked up his sixth save in the ninth inning of relief. Another reason why the Giants have so much success and confidence in Doval.

#4 San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin said in his post game presser, “Six hits. Scratched three runs out of it today, but there’s still more out there.”

#5 Giants open up a four game series that runs through Monday at Citizens Bank in Philadelphia. First pitch on Friday 3:40pm PDT. RHP Jordan Hicks starts for San Francisco (2-0) and for Philadelphia RHP Aaron Nola (4-1).

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#1

Harrison solid, Giants eke out late 3-1 win to salvage game; Yaz homers at Fenway

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Top of the third inning home run by San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski at his grandfather Carl Yastrzemski’s old place of business Fenway Park in Boston on Thu May 2, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Fenway Park

Boston, Massachusetts

San Francisco Giants 3 (15-17)

Boston Red Sox 1 (18-14)

Win: Kyle Harrison (3-1)

Loss: Zack Kelly (0-1)

Save: Camilo Doval (6)

Time: 2:21

Attendance: 30,065

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants scored two runs in the seventh inning to beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 and avoid the sweep at Fenway Park.

The Giants dropped the first two games of this series, and were now in danger of getting swept for the the third time in their four series at Fenway Park. The Giants were swept by the Red Sox in their first series at Fenway Park in 2007 (June 15-17), as well as in a short two-game set in 2016 (July 19-20).

The Giants needed a win to avoid getting swept for the third time at Fenway, and in order to do that, the Giants’ offense, which was held to only two runs over the first two games of this series, would have to wake up. The Giants would also need a solid outing from their young left-hander, Kyle Harrison, who despite coming into today’s game with a 4.09 ERA, has been off to a decent start this season.

The Red Sox sent Josh Winckowski to the mound for today’s game, and he started things off with a scoreless top of the first inning.

Harrison ran into trouble in the bottom of the first after hitting Rafael Devers and walking Tyler O’Neill with one out. Harrison struck out Rob Refsnyder, but he walked Connor Wong to load the bases. Harrison was in the jackpot early, but he got Garrett Cooper to fly out and escape the inning unscathed.

Both pitchers pitched scoreless innings in the second, and Mike Yastrzemski hit a home run to the Red Sox’ bullpen beyond the short fence right-center field to put the Giants on the board. It was a special moment for Yastrzemski, who was playing in his second series at Fenway Park, where his grandfather and hall-of-famer Carl Yastrzemski called home for 23 years. Carl Yastrzemski had paid a visit to his grandson prior to the game, and it truly paid off dividends.

Yastrzemski, who is the second-longest-tenured Giant, was facing uncertainty after starting the season 1-for-20, but he has since heated up, and has swung the bat much better.

Devers singled on a ground ball up the middle to start the bottom of the third, and O’Neill doubled high off the Green Monster in left to tie the game. Harrison then walked Refsnyder, and the Red Sox appeared to pounce. However, Harrison struck out Wong swinging, and got Cooper to ground into a 5-3 double play to end the inning and escape any further damage.

With the game now tied 1-1, Winckowski pitched a 1-2-3 inning. Harrison ran into trouble again in the bottom of the fourth after giving up a one-out double to Ceddanne Rafaela. Harrison struck out Zack Short looking, and Jarren Duran hit a line drive up the middle into center field that seemed destined to fall and give the Red Sox the lead, but center-fielder Jung-hoo Lee dove and made a spectacular catch to end the inning and keep the game tied.

After Thairo Estrada grounded out to third to start the top of the fifth, Red Sox Manager Alex Cora lifted Winckowski for Brennan Bernardo. Bernardo set down Yastrzemski and Nick Ahmed to combine with Winckowski for a 1-2-3 inning.

Harrison walked Tyler O’Neill with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but he induced a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Refsnyder to end the inning. That would be it for Harrison, who did not throw a single 1-2-3 inning in five shaky innings of work. However, he did his job, which was to have a solid outing, as he gave up just a run and three hits, and struck out seven. What really hampered Harrison was five walks and a 95-pitch pitch count.

Bernardo and Zack Kelly combined to throw a scoreless top of the sixth. Ryan Walker came in for the bottom of the sixth, and pitched through a one-out single.

Patrick Bailey lined a single the other way to left to start the top of the seventh, and Matt Chapman singled to left to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Thairo Estrada then came through with a big hit for a Giants’ offense that has struggled to get them with a single the other way to right to put San Francisco back ahead.

Cam Booser came in for Kelly, but the Giants were not done yet. Austin Slater struck out swinging, but Nick Ahmed knocked in Chapman with a sacrifice fly to right to extend the Giants’ lead to 3-1.

Erik Miller, who was the Giants’ opener last night, came in and pitched a shutdown 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh. There would actually not be another base-runner the rest of the game. Japanese import Naoyuki Uwasawa threw a 1-2-3 top of the eighth in his major league debut, and Tyler Rogers threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth.

Uwasawa threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, as he set down all six men he faced in his debut. Camilo Doval then came in and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for his sixth save of the year.

Harrison got the win, and Zack Kelly took the loss. With this win, the Giants were indeed able to avoid their third sweep in four series at Fenway Park, as they improve to 15-17.

The Giants will now head to Philadelphia for the second leg of this three-city road trip, where they will take on the red-hot Phillies for a four-game wraparound series. Jordan Hicks will open the series for the Giants with first pitch at 6:40 p.m. in Philadelphia, and 3:40 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants’ offense struggles again in 6-2 loss to Red Sox at Fenway

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Boston Red Sox second baseman Emmanuel Valdez completes a double play after forcing San Francisco Giants base runner Matt Chapman (26) in the top of the ninth inning at Fenway Park in Boston on Wed May 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Fenway Park

Boston, Massachusetts

San Francisco Giants 2 (14-17)

Boston Red Sox 6 (18-13)

Win: Kutter Crawford (2-1)

Loss: Daulton Jeffries (0-2)

Time: 2:14

Attendance: 30,787

By Stephen Ruderman

The San Francisco Giants’ offense was stymied again at Fenway Park, as the Boston Red Sox beat the Giants 6-2, and now have won the first two games to take the series.

After the Giants took two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete a 6-4 homestand, the Giants went to Boston hoping to get back to .500 for the first time since March 30. Unfortunately for the Giants, the Red Sox shut them out last night, and the Giants would have to bounce back in a bullpen game.

For the Red Sox, Kutter Crawford made the start. Jung-Hoo Lee lined a base-hit to right to open the game, but Crawford set down the next three men he faced in order. Erik Miller would be the opener for the Giants, and he survived a pair of walks in the bottom of the first inning.

Crawford pitched a 1-2-3 top of the second, and Daulton Jeffries replaced Miller, as he threw a scoreless bottom of the second. Tom Murphy then led off the top of the third with a home run over the Green Monster in left field for the Giants’ first run of the series.

Jeffries gave up a leadoff single to Ceddanne Rafaela in the bottom of the third, and then proceeded to walk Jarren Duran. Rafael Devers came up and hit a double to left to tie the game, and then Rob Refsnyder grounded out to short, which knocked in Durran to give Boston the lead.

The Giants bounced back with a two-out rally in the top of the fourth. Michael Conforto walked, and Thairo Estrada doubled him to third. Mike Yastrzemski, who is playing in his second series at Fenway Park where his grandfather and hall-of-famer, Carl Yastrzemski once played, laid down a bunt along the third base line to tie it up.

Jeffries immediately ran right back into trouble in the bottom of the fourth, as Connor Wong led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a ground out off the bat of Dominic Smith. Enmanuel Valdez doubled the other way off the Monster in left to put the Red Sox back ahead, and two batters later, Duran tripled in Valdez to make it 4-2.

Following back-to-back two-run innings for the Red Sox, the Giants’ lethargic offense went down 1-2-3 against Sanchez in a true shutdown inning. The submariner Taylor Rogers, who finished the bottom of the fourth, gave up a single to Refsnyder to start the bottom of the fifth.

Rogers then induced flyouts from Tyler O’Neill and Wilyer Abreu. Bob Melvin lifted Rogers for Luke Jackson, who immediately surrendered a base-hit to Wong, as well as a base-hit by Smith to knock in Refsnyder and make it 5-2.

LaMonte Wade Jr. walked to start off the sixth, but Sanchez then retired the side in order. Jackson pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth, and Sanchez did the same in the top of the seventh. That would do it for Sanchez, who struck out six, and gave up just four hits and two runs against the struggling Giants’ offense.

Mitch White came in for the bottom of the seventh and retired the first two men he faced. However, Abreu singled, and Wong doubled to tack on another run for the Red Sox to make it 6-2.

Chris Martin came in for Boston, and he and White each pitched 1-2-3 innings in the eighth. Red Sox Manager Alex Cora went to Greg Weissert for the ninth. After giving up a leadoff single to Matt Chapman, Weissert struck out Michael Conforto, and got Thairo Estrada to line into a 6-3 double play to end the game.

Kutter Crawford got the win, and Daulton Jeffries took the loss. The Giants fall back to three-games under .500 at 14-17, and they will try and salvage a game in this series with Kyle Harrison on the mound. First pitch will be at 1:35 p.m. in Boston, and 10:35 a.m. back in San Francisco.