Tag: mlb

Mariners’ James Paxton dominates, but the A’s come back to win a thriller 3-2

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s evened the series with the Seattle Mariners at one apiece Wednesday night. The A’s Brett Anderson, who was making his first start since being recalled from the Nashville Sounds, gave the team a quality start as he went 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs and five hits. Anderson struck out four and walked one.

Anderson’s opponent, James Paxton, was dominant. Paxton struck out 16 A’s hitters, which was a Major League-high so far this year, and the A’s could not touch him. Paxton went seven innings and allowed no runs and five hits. Paxton walked just one hitter and struck out 16. Paxton was taken out of the game as he reached the 100-pitch limit. Yet, neither pitcher figured in the decision as the Mariners’ bullpen blew the save and the A’s bats woke up to win a thriller 3-2 at Safeco Field.

The Mariners scored twice in the bottom of the third. Former A’s third baseman, Ryon Healy, led off the inning with his fourth home run of the season. Anderson walked the ageless Ichiro Suzuki. The next hitter, Dee Gordon, grounded out 1-3. Ichiro was running on the pitch and Anderson’s only play was to get Gordon at first. Mariners’ shortstop Jean Segura lined a ball to left to drive in Ichiro with the second run of the inning. Segura was out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Both Anderson and Paxton continued to pitch well. Anderson left the game in the top of the seventh with one out. Anderson had given up singles to Mitch Haniger and Kyle Seager. Bob Melvin had seen enough and brought in Ryan Dull to pitch. Dull did his job as he retired the next to hitters and the score remained 2-0 in favor of Seattle.

The Mariners brought in Juan Nicasio to pitch the eighth. Nicasio retired the first hitter. Melvin sent in Matt Joyce to pinch-hit for Chad Pinder. Joyce came through with a double to right-centerfield. Nicasio then had to pitch to Jed Lowrie. Lowrie, hitting from the left side, blasted his eighth big fly of the year to tie the game for Oakland. Lowrie now has 30 RBIs and leads the AL in that department.

A’s closer Blake Treinen was brought in to pitch the eighth and ninth. The Mariners loaded the bases with one out. Dee Gordon reached on an infield single. Segura lined a ball that hit the left-field wall on one bounce. Segura was called out at second, but the call was overturned. The A’s gave Robinson Cano an intentional walk to load the bases. Treinen reached back and struck out Nelson Cruz and Mitch Haniger to end the threat.

The A’s took the lead for good when Mark Canha slammed his fourth dinger of the season off Mariners’ closer, Edwin Diaz. Diaz retired the next three hitters. In the bottom of the ninth, Treinen had to walk the tightrope one more time. With one out, Mariners’ catcher Mike Zunino walked. Ryon Healy singled to put men on at first and second. Treinen struck out Ichiro for the second out.Dee Gordon reached on an infield single to load the bases. Gordon was called out but the Mariners challenged, and the call was overturned. Treinen had to find a way to retire Segura. His sinker was working, and he grounded out to end the game. The A’s win 3-2.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the A’s evened their season record at 15-15. The Mariners dropped to 17-12, but did not lose ground as the Yankees beat the Houston Astros again 4-0. The Angels beat the Orioles and picked up a game on both the Astros and Mariners. The A’s remain in fourth place in the AL West.

Blake Treinen recorded the win and the Mariners’ closer Edwin Diaz took the loss. Nicasio was charged with a blown save.

The three-game series concluded Thursday night in Seattle. It will again be a battle of two left-handed pitchers. Sean Manaea, who was named AL pitcher of the month, will go for Oakland. Manaea is 4-2 with an ERA of just 1.03. His opponent will be Wade LeBlanc. LeBlanc is 0-0 with an ERA of 4.61. Erasmo Ramirez was supposed to start, but he is out with an injury.

Time of game was two hours and 25 minutes.

11,603 fans attended the game.

Up Next: Game 3 between these two teams will be at 7:10 pm PT.

Mariners start May right with 6-3 win over A’s, thanks to Hernandez and Cruz

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Photo credit: @Mariners

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s knew that they were in for a tussle Tuesday night as they had to face their nemesis, Felix “King Felix” Hernandez. The Seattle Mariners’ big righty has owned the A’s over the years as he entered the game with a lifetime record of 25-10 against them. The A’s beat Hernandez in Oakland on April 15th, but they did not have any pixie dust working for them in Seattle. Hernandez went six-plus innings and gave up three hits and three runs. The A’s Andrew Triggs took the loss as he gave up six hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. His record is now 2-1 for the year. The Mariners won the first game of the three-game series 6-3.

The A’s Jed Lowrie gave his team an early lead in the top of the first when he blasted his seventh home run of the year to right field. The Mariners tied the game in the bottom of the second. Kyle Seager doubled to start the rally. He tagged and went to third when Mitch Haniger flew out. Mariners’ catcher Mike Zunino followed with a double to drive in Seager.

The Mariners got to Triggs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Dee Gordon singled. He went to second when Triggs uncorked a wild pitch. Triggs walked Mariners’ shortstop Jean Segura to put men on at first and second. Triggs retired the next hitter but could not get by designated hitter Nelson Cruz. Cruz hit the pitch 410 feet and ended Triggs’ night. The Mariners lead 4-1 after five.

The Mariners added a run in the sixth, and the A’s came back and put two on the board in the seventh. Hernandez started the seventh, but had to come out after he walked Khris Davis and gave up a double to Matt Olson to put men on at second and third with no out. M’s manager Scott Servais brought in Nick Vincent to pitch. Vincent struck out Matt Chapman for the first out. Mark Canha reached on an infield single to drive in Davis with the A’s second run of the night. Matt Olson went to third, and he scored when Chad Pinder grounded out. The Mariners finished the scoring in the bottom of the eighth when they added an insurance run. The Mariners win 6-3.

Game Notes and Stats: The A’s drop to 14-15, while the Mariners improve to 17-11. The Mariners have won three in a row and six of the last seven. The Mariners are now just 1 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. The Astros lost to the Yankees 4-0 earlier in the evening.

Dee Gordon had five hits in five trips to the plate. Nelson Cruz continued to pound Oakland as he hit his sixth big fly in the fifth to put the M’s in the lead for good.

The line score for Oakland was three runs on four hits and no errors. Seattle’s line was six runs, nine hits, and no errors. M’s closer Edwin Diaz picked his 12th save of the year. Diaz leads the majors in that department.

Up Next: Game 2 of the series will be played Wednesday night in Seattle. The A’s will send lefty Brett Anderson to the mound to handle the pitching chores. Anderson, who broke in with Oakland in 2009 at age 29, was recalled from Nashville where he had a record of 1-1 and an ERA of 1.89. Anderson pitched for the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays last year. Lefty James Paxton (1-1, ERA 5.12) will go for Seattle. Game time will be at 7:05 pm PT.

Hosmer’s 9th inning HR lifts Padres to 3-2 win over Giants

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Eric Hosmer definitely remembers AT&T Park from playing here in the 2014 World Series for the Kansas City Royals, and he got a little redemption Monday night.

Hosmer hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning off of Hunter Strickland with two outs, as the San Diego Padres defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2 before a crowd of 36,735 at AT&T Park.

It was the only hit or runner that Strickland allowed in his only inning of work.

With the victory, the Padres evened up the three-game series and the win went Kirby Yates, and the save went to Brad Hand, who was unfortunate losing pitcher on Monday night after he allowed two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning

This loss by the Giants was a double whammy, as it was discovered before the game that right-hander Johnny Cueto was placed on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday with inflammation in his right elbow.

“Obviously not good news, when you have to put him on the DL,” said Bruce Bochy, who added, “Bum (Madison Bumgarner) and now him.”

Unfortunately, former Oakland A’s pitcher and Oakland native Tyson Ross did not fare in the decision.

Ross, who went to Bishop O’ Dowd High School in Oakland, went six innings, allowing just one run on four hits, while walking three and striking out nine.

It was also a tough no decision for Andrew Suarez, who went seven innings, allowing just two runs, while scattering four hits, walking just one and striking out five.

“Did a real nice job for us to win,” said Bochy.

Suarez was helped by the Giants defense, as the Giants turned three double plays and they all were started by Alen Hansen.

Christian Villanueva gave the Padres a 1-0 in the top of the first inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Suarez.

“I left the ball up to Villanueva,” said Suarez.

The Padres tacked on another run in the top of the fourth, as Hosmer hit a triple to right-center field and then scored on a Jose Pirela groundout to second base.

Hansen scored the Giants first run of the evening in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Hansen singled to lead off the inning, stole second and then scored on an Andrew McCutchen single.

The Giants tied up the game in dramatic fashion, as after they were two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the rally began with a Gregor Blanco double down the right field line just out of the reach of Hosmer at first base.

Blanco then went to third on a wild pitch by Craig Stammen, which came on ball four to Andrew McCutchen. Buster Posey then tied up the game, as he hit a double to right field that easily scored Blanco from third base.

NOTES: Derek Holland looks to close out the home stand on a winning note, as he will take the mound against the Padres left-hander Clayton Richard.

Will Smith, who missed all of the 2017 season after Tommy John surgery, appeared in what could have been his last rehab assignment for triple-A Sacramento on Sunday. Smith pitched a scoreless inning

Hunter Pence, who is currently on the disabled list with a right thumb sprain began his rehab assignment on Friday night with Sacramento and is 3-for-12 with four runs scored and a walk in three games.

The Padres became just the 22nd time in major league history to have at least 30 plate appearances in a win, and no runners left on base (Since 1908), this according to Baseball Reference).

UP NEXT: The Giants and Padres close out their series at AT&T Park Tuesday afternoon at 12:45 pm PT.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Will playing opening season games in Japan be a norm; A’s and Mariners to open 2019 in Japan

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FILE – In this March 28, 2012, file photo, ground staff work prior to the American League season opening Major League Baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Oakland and Seattle will play an opening two-game series in Tokyo on March 20 and 21, the fifth time Major League Baseball will start its season in Japan. Oakland will be the home team for both games, Major League Baseball said Tuesday, May 1, 2018.(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Major League Baseball has committed to Japan the Oakland A’s and the Seattle Mariners who will play two exhibition games against two Japanese teams and two regular season games, which will open 2019 on March 20 and 21st.

#2 The A’s look like they’re focusing on the Howard Terminal Waterfront as their new stadium.

#3  The rumors about those aerial trams to get fans to the waterfront from 12th Street BART.

#4 You got to visit the Bronx Zoo for the first time in your broadcast career. What was that experience like?

Charlie O does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News, and Commentary: Sharks in must-win situation in Game 4 Wednesday; A’s face tough customer Mariners tonight

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 The San Jose Sharks are pushing for a recovery from loses in Games 1 and 3 down 2-1, the Sharks got a second life after winning Game 2 when the officials waved off a goal in the first overtime and Logan Couture, who scored the game-winner on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights for the win.

#2 How much pressure is on the Sharks now after the Knights won an overtime game on Monday night? Game 4 is on Sharks’ ice Wednesday night.

#3 The Oakland A’s are coming off a two-game losing streak after losing two out of three from the Houston Astros. The A’s are setting up for a three-game series tonight against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Park.

#4 The M’s have a 16-11 record second place in the AL West and two games back of the Houston Astros and can make things interesting in their chase for first place.

#5 Felix Hernandez gets the start against the A’s tonight as the A’s will start Andrew Triggs.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish play-by-play announcer with the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary for http://www.sportsraadioservice.com each week

Hundley to the rescue: Giants overcome two-run, ninth inning deficit to shock the Padres

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Nick Hundley anticipated batting with the bases loaded, two outs, and an opportunity to win Monday’s game.

He also knew manager Bruce Bochy would have few, palatable options beyond him if the game remained tied after the ninth inning.

And Hundley surmised these two scenarios before the inning began with the Giants facing an intimidating 5-3 deficit.

But if you’re a thoroughly invested, major leaguer being paid millions, what’s surprising about a little foresight if you have three hours of otherwise, idle time?

In Hundley’s case, not much.

“Just quick University of Arizona math on my part,” Hundley said.

The backup catcher’s pinch-hit single up the middle plated Buster Posey and Evan Longoria, and the Giants gained a 6-5 win over the Padres of weighty significance.

With a record of 15-14 the Giants are over .500 for the first time this season, and they have their first, full month of winning baseball in almost two years.

It appears the Giants are shedding that loosely defined label as MLB’s worst team based on their won-loss record since July 2016 when their issues arose. Simply, the NL West hopefuls have a nice set of gritty, late-inning wins already this season, and now they have a winning record, and second place in the division as well.

“It’s just great to see the guys fight all game and not quit,” said starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija.

The fight throughout the game couldn’t be minimized with the Giants scoring three times in the first, then going scoreless over the next seven frames as the Padres rallied, wearing down Samardzija, as they gained a 5-3 lead.

Longoria would commit two, uncharacteristic errors–the first a grounder that found its way through the third baseman’s legs in San Diego’s three-run sixth. But with the game in the balance, Longoria singled off closer Brad Hand, scoring Austin Slater, to narrow the deficit to 5-4. Brandon Belt, in a lefty versus lefty matchup, battled and drew a walk to load the bases. Hundley followed with his game-winning base hit, scoring Buster Posey and Longoria.

“We had some really long at-bats, and I’m sure that caught up with him,” Bochy said, explaining the tenor of the inning against a reliever in Hand that had plenty of previous success facing the Giants.

“I just didn’t shut them down. I didn’t have it today,” Hand revealed.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants try to keep it going tonight against Padres; Giants start Samardzija, who’s been struggling

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photo from the sandiegounion.com: Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley, left, heads back to the dugout after conferring with starting pitcher Eric Lauer in the first inning Tuesday night at Coors Field.

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips:

#1 Joe Panik is out with a thumb injury and will need surgery and will be out for 10 days maybe longer, according to the Giants’ medical staff.

#2 Evan Longoria’s home run helps San Francisco get a 4-2 win past the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday 4-2. It was Longoria’s sixth home run of the season.

#3 Pitcher Ty Blach got his second win, going six innings, six hits, two runs and four strikeouts.

#4 The Giants take three out four from the Dodgers and pick up their third straight series victory.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series tonight against Padres starter Eric Lauer (0-0) and Giants starer Jeff Samardjiza (1-1).

Morris Phillips does the Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s to meet the Mariners in Seattle for a three-game series

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Photo credit: seattletimes.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Seattle Mariners will host the Oakland A’s for a three-game series starting Tuesday night in the Emerald City. The A’s and Mariners met earlier this year on Mid-April, and the Mariners won two of the three games. The A’s only win came when Sean Manaea pitched. Manaea beat the M’s and their ace Felix Hernandez by a score of 2-1.

The Mariners’ record so far is 16-11, and they are in second place in the AL West two games behind the first place Houston Astros. The Los Angels Angels fell into third place as they were swept at home by the rampaging New York Yankees who have now won nine straight games. The Mariners had a good weekend, too, as they won three out of four from the Cleveland Indians. The A’s are in fourth place in the division with a record of 14-14. The A’s are 3-3 on the current road trip and return home to play the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros.

The Mariners will send Felix Hernandez to the mound Tuesday night. Hernandez lost his last start against the A’s but is 25-10 lifetime against Oakland. Andrew Triggs will pitch for the Green and Gold. Triggs is 2-0 and has an ERA of 4.70. He allowed just one run and four hits in six innings of work in his last start against the Rangers. Triggs has not allowed no more than two runs in four of his five starts. On Wednesday, left James Paxton will pitch for Seattle. Paxton is 1-1 with an ERA of 5.71. Paxton has been so-so this season but he has had success against the A’s, and his  MLB career record is 31-21 and an ERA of 3.41. The A’s have not announced their starting pitcher for Wednesday due to the demotion of Kendall Graveman to Nashville. There is speculation that the A’s will recall lefty Brett Anderson from Nashville to make a start. Daniel Gossett may also be recalled. On Thursday, Erasmo Ramirez will go fo Seattle. Ramirez is 0-7 lifetime against Oakland. A’s manager Bob Melvin has not named a starter for Thursday, either. Sean Manaea would be likely as he pitched last Friday against Houston.

Whatever pitcher faces the Mariners will have to be on the top of his game as the Mariners are loaded. Dee Gordon, who came to Seattle from Miami over the winter, is filling the bill as the leadoff hitter. Gordon is hitting .309 and has an OBP of .339. Shortstop Jean Segura has been steady, and he is hitting .298. Hopefully, the A’s pitchers can keep these rabbits of the bases as they will have to face the big boppers who are Robison Cano, Kyle Seager, Nelson Cruz, Mitch Haniger, and Ryon Healy. Cano has been an All-Star for most of his career, and he is off to a good start again. Cano is hitting .313 and has 3 homers and 14 RBIs. Cruz is getting warmed up, and he has done a lot of damage against Oakland over the years. Cruz has 5 dingers and 11 RBIs but he cannot and must not be taken lightly. The same goes for the veteran third baseman Kyle Seager. The leading power hitter in the Mariner lineup is right fielder Mitch Haniger. Haniger has sent 10 balls over the fences and has 27 RBIs to his credit. Haniger dealt the A’s some pain last season. The next fearsome power hitter will be former Athletic Ryon Healy. Healy was traded to Seattle for pitcher Emilio Pagan. Healy missed almost three weeks of the season due to a sprained ankle. He returned to action last Saturday and hit a home run in that game and two more on Sunday as the M’s beat the Indians 10-4. Ichiro Suzuki will be in left field as he fills in for Ben Gamel. Ichiro, who is his 40s, is no longer the hitter that he was when he started his career with Seattle in 2001, is still dangerous. The catching chores will be handled by Mike Zunino and David Freitas.

The Mariners’ bullpen is staffed by Juan Nicasio, Nick Vincent, Dan Altavilla, Marc Rzepczynski, James Pazos, Chason Bradford, Wade LeBlanc, and the closer Edwin Diaz.

The A’s will respond with an offense that has been quite productive. They have two players will an OPS(on-base percentage plus slugging) over 800 and three players with an OPS of over 950. Khris Davis leads the team with 7 homers. Matt Chapman and Jed Lowrie are second with six each. Mark Canha, Matt Olson, Chad Pinder, and Marcus Semien each have three. The A’s have been hitting well, and they have been getting excellent starting pitching from Manaea, Triggs, Trevor Cahill, and Daniel Mengden.

The A’s have made some adjustments to the bullpen. The A’s moved Chris Hatcher down from being the eighth-inning setup man. Hatcher has been struggling, and that role may go either Ryan Dull or rookie Lou Trivino or possible veterans Yusmeiro Petit or Santiago Casilla. Pett and Casilla have done well recently and have earned the confidence of manager Bob Melvin. The A’s have just one lefty, Daniel Coloumbe, in the bullpen and his performance this season has been shaky. Coloumbe was sent down to Nashville, but he was recalled due to the injury to Ryan Buchter. Blake Treinen remains the closer and Treinen has recorded three saves, the last coming on April 15th.

The A’s would like to win two of the three in Seattle and finish the road trip with a winning record. The Mariners have other thoughts as they know the Yankees are playing the Astros and will be able to gain ground if the Yankees take the series in Houston.

A’s survive Gerrit Cole, but get done in by seventh inning miscues in 8-4 loss to Astros

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Photo credit: @astros

By Morris Phillips

Make no mistake, there simply isn’t room for mistakes when facing the World Champion Astros.

The A’s got an idea of what it will take to compete against arguably the best team in the majors over the weekend, and errors aren’t a part of the winning equation. In a tie game in the seventh inning on Sunday, and with a chance to capture the three-game series, the A’s started booting the ball around.

A leadoff walk, followed by three Oakland errors propelled Houston’s three-run rally, in their 8-4 win over the A’s that gave them the initial series of the season between the AL West foes. Afterwards, the A’s had no one to blame but themselves.

“Defensively, we just gave it up,” Jonathan Lucroy admitted. “We gave them too many free bags, and you give guys free bags, you’re going to get hurt, especially against a team like that. We got to be better on the defensive side.”

Until the pivotal frame, the A’s seemed to have a grasp on the monumental task at hand. Tied 3-3 after 6 1/2 innings, the A’s had given as good as they got, and were in position to capture the game, and the series. That despite getting shutout 11-0 on Saturday, and suffering through the entirety of Gerrit Cole’s 12-strikeout performance.

By striking out 12 A’s, Cole set an Astros franchise record for strikeouts in the month of April with 61. That number allowed Cole–the Astros’ key off-season trade acquisition from the Pirates–to join and surpass Randy Johnson, Mike Scott and J.R. Richard, as good a trio of strikeout pitchers to come out of any MLB organization.

But in and around all the strikeouts, the A’s scratched together single runs in the third, sixth and seventh to tie.  The A’s were in position to steal one, only to rob themselves.

The A’s get a much-needed day off Monday before heading to Safeco Field, where they’ll open a three-game series against the Mariners Tuesday at 7:10 pm PT.

Longoria helps Giants clinch series with three-run jack in 4-2 win over Dodgers

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Photo credit: @MLBONFOX

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–Evan Longoria is learning fast what the rivalry between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers means.

Longoria smashed a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, as the Giants defeated the Dodgers 4-2 before a sellout crowd of 42,020 at AT&T Park Sunday. The Giants won three out of four in the series.

This was the third consecutive series that the Giants have won, and it was the first time that they have won three series in a row since May 11-21 of last season, when they won series against the Cincinnati Reds, the Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

With the victory over the Dodgers, the Giants are now 6-4 versus them this season and the two teams will not face each other until June 15-17at Dodger Stadium. This is the Dodgers last appearance at AT&T Park until the last three games of the season from September 28-30.

The Longoria home run was his sixth home run of the season, and his second of the series, as he hit one on Friday night.

“Monkey off my back with that hit yesterday,” said Longoria.

Buster Posey, who doubled with two outs got the rally started, then Brandon Belt walked and then Longoria put a Kenta Maeda pitch into the left-center field bleachers.

“What a great two-out double, then a walk and a three-run homer,” said Bruce Bochy.

Ty Blach pitched a fantastic game, as he went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walked just one and struck out four on his way to his second win of the season.

Earlier in the week, Blach, who suffered a case of food poisoning on the last road trip, where he lost eight or nine pounds, “Felt better today,” said Blach.

Brandon Belt added a run-scoring double in the bottom of the third inning, as he drove in Posey, who walked just in front of Belt.

Maeda also went six innings for the Dodgers, as he gave up four runs on five hits, walking four and striking out three and saw his record fall to 2-2 on the season.

Brandon Crawford made the defensive play of the game, as he made a diving catch on a hit by Kyle Farmer and was able to double up Cody Bellinger at second base for the third out of the inning.

The Dodgers cut the Giants lead in half in the top of the seventh inning, as Joc Pederson drove in Max Muncy, who pinch hit for Cody Bellinger.

Hunter Strickland pitched a perfect ninth inning to notch his seventh save of the season, as he picked up two saves in the series.

NOTES: Jeff Samardzija will look for his second win of the season, as he takes the ball in the opener against the San Diego Padres on Monday night, as they will send left-hander Eric Lauer to the mound, as he looks for his first win.

Reliever Will Smith, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery is currently with Triple-A Sacramento and has appeared in five games, going 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with seven strikeouts. Hunter Pence, who is out with a sprained right thumb began his rehab assignment on Friday night and is 1-for-8 with a hit by a pitch in two games in Sacramento.

This was the 10th time this season that the Giants and Dodgers have played so far in 2018, which marks just the second time in major league history that two teams have faced each other 10 times before the end of April. The Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays did it in 2003. They are three different sets of teams are doing it this month, the Padres and the Colorado Rockies, the Rays and Boston Red Sox and the Dodgers and Giants.