Tag: Pittsburgh Pirates

Giants Beat Mets Via Monster Offense Winning 12-4 and Taking Series

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San Francisco Giants Rafael Devers second from right celebrates with teammates after hitting a three run home run against the New York Mets in the top of the third inning at Citi Field in New York (AP News photo0

By Barbara Mason

After getting crushed in Saturday’s game 12-6 the San Francisco Giants (56-56) came roaring back in the final game of the series Sunday for a 12-4 win. The Giants had monster third and fourth innings scoring seven runs taking a 7-1 lead with five innings still left in the game for more offensive fun at the expense of the New York Mets (63-49) at Citi Field in New York.

The finished off the game in the ninth inning scoring five runs winning the game 12-4. Rafael Devers had an amazing game scattered with RBIs, hits and a home run thrown into the mix. He was on fire. Jung Hoo Lee also had a monster game with four hits on four at bats.

The Mets took the early lead in the bottom of the first inning 1-0. Francisco Lindor who had a huge game yesterday hit a solo home run to left getting a good start for New York.

After a quiet second inning for both teams, San Francisco turned the heat up in the third inning scoring four runs. Patrick Bailey got the inning going with a single that allowed base runner Jung Hoo Lee to score. The Giants delivered a blow to the Mets courtesy of a Rafael Devers three run home run taking a 4-1 lead. Bailey and Heliot Ramos both scored on that long ball.

San Francisco went on another rampage in the fourth inning scoring three more runs and taking a 7-1 lead. Patrick Bailey grounded into a fielder’s choice and Casey Schmitt scored for the first run of the inning.

Heliot Ramos hit an infield single reaching first base and allowing Jung Hoo Lee to score for another run. Rafael Devers would hit yet another single in the inning and Bailey scored for the third run of the inning and the 7-1 lead.

It had been rough outing for Mets starting pitcher Frankie Montas made even worse by the multitude of boo’s coming from the fans in the stands. Montas was relieved after four innings allowing seven hits, seven runs, two walks and three strikeouts. He was relieved in the fifth inning by Austin Warren who was pretty spotless going four innings allowing two hits, no runs. one walk and five strikeouts.

The Mets did score one run in the fifth inning. Francisco Alvarez hit a double and Jeff MCNeil scored on a Giant’s throwing error.

The Giants starting pitchers Carson Whisenhunt finished 5 1/3 innings allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. He had a great outing but seemed to fatigue slightly in the bottom of the sixth inning. He was relieved by Jose Butto who took it into the seventh inning. He finished with 1 hit, no runs, no walks and 3 strikeouts. San Francisco pitching was stellar in this game.

It was an uneventful sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Not much for either team in the final innings of this game although In the ninth inning San Francisco threatened to add more runs to their tally. They loaded the bases with two outs looking for more runs. They got those runs adding a couple more taking a 9-2 lead when Dominic Smith singled Rafael Devers and Heliot Ramos home.

With two Giants runners still on base Casey Schmitt brought the gang home for his sixth home run of the season. Matt Chapman and Smith both scored on that home run for 3 more runs in a five-run inning.

The Mets were not finished but it was far too little too late. They scored a couple of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning but that would be it. The final was 12-4 in a well-rounded effort offensively and defensively for the Giants. San Francisco started the game on fire and finished in the same manner.

Game notes: The Giants took on the Mets in the rubber game of their series Sunday afternoon. The Giants were looking for a little payback after getting beaten soundly Saturday 12-6. San Francisco starter Carson Wisenhunt pitched 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, one earned run, two walks and four strikeouts. For Mets starter Frankie Montas pitched four innings, allowing seven hits, seven earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts.

Next stop for the San Francisco Giants will be a three-game series with the Pittsburg Pirates Monday night. The Giant’s Justin Verlander will have another go at it after finally winning his first start of the season. He has a 1-8 win/loss record and a 4.53 ERA. At the time of this post the Pirates were still undecided as to who will take the mound in game one. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:40 PM PT.

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips: Giants tailspin at 3-13 worst in Majors since July 9

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San Francisco Giants right fielder Mike Yastrzemski (5) leapt over a padded wall to make a spectacular catch and into the right field netting for the out against the Pittsburgh Pirates Jack Suwinski at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 The Giants continue with their downward trend now further dropping their record to 3-13 the worst loss mark since July 9th in the Majors after getting swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

#2 The Giants once again failed to get run support for starter Logan Webb. The Giants got six hits and one run in the 2-1 loss.

#3 The Giants losing to a last place visiting team on their home field was just another added pin in their collection of recent loses further putting them six out for that last coveted wild card spot.

#4 For starter Logan Webb another great outing in his start pitching 5.2 innings, five hits, one earned run, four walks and 11 strikeouts. With reliever Ryan Walker pitching the score tied 1-1 in the top of the tenth the Pirates Henry Davis hit a ground out to second base that allowed ghost runner O’Neil Cruz to score what would be the game winning run.

#5 The Giants DFA’d pitcher Sean Hjelle who leave the Giants who had a 1-1 ERA 7.80. The Giants also traded pitcher Tyler Rogers to the New York Mets for pitchers Blade Tidwell and José Buttó, and outfielder Drew Gilbert. 

#6 Giants will be off Thu Jul 31 before opening up a three game series against the New York Mets Fri Aug 1. The Giants have not announced a starter and the Mets will go with LHP David Peterson (7-4 ERA 2.83) with a 4:10pm PT first pitch at Citi Field in New York.

Join Morris Phillips for the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants fall under .500 for first time this season with 2-1 loss to Pirates and season could be lost cause

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San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers heads back to the dugout after flying out in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Pittsburgh Pirates 2 (47-62)

San Francisco Giants 1 (54-55)

Win: Isaac Matson (3-1)

Loss: Ryan Walker (2-4)

Time: 2:41

Attendance: 38,144

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants, who were 12 games over .500 on June 12, have just been swept by the Pirates with a 2-1 10-inning loss Wednesday afternoon after wasting another strong start by Logan Webb, and have fallen all the way to under .500 (54-55) for the first time this season, as the Giants suddenly now appear prepared to kick the tires on this season.

There is no way to sugarcoat it; this homestand and the second half thus far have been an absolute nightmare. The Giants came into today looking to avoid their first 0-6 homestand since 1896. That’s right; not 1996, 1896, before the modern era of baseball when Grover Cleveland was president.

The Giants have dropped 11 of their last 13, and have fallen from 12 games over .500 on June 13, all the to .500, and faced falling under .500 for the first time this season with a loss today. Thursday is also the Trade Deadline in Baseball, which meant Wednesday was the final day to determine who’s contending and who’s not. To be blunt: Wednesday was a must-win.

The Giants once again turned to Logan Webb to be the stopper. The Giants needed a strong performance from Webb, who was coming off a pair of rough starts to open the second half. 

Webb worked in and out of jams through the first five innings on July 19 in Toronto, but he ran into a brick wall, as the Blue Jays got to him for four runs in the bottom of the sixth. He then got torched by the Mets for six runs this past Friday.

The sun did everything it could to peak through the peaceful blanket of fog over Oracle Park this afternoon. It was great weather for pitching, and that was good news for Webb, who wiggled his way out of a couple of jams early on and looked more like his normal self

Unfortunately, it was the worst weather for the Giants’ faltering offense. Pirates’ starter Mike Burrows retired the first nine men he faced Wednesday, and we had ourselves a pitcher’s duel.

Early in the game, the Giants traded their longtime submariner, Tyler Rogers, the third-longest tenured Giant, to the New York Mets for reliever Jose Butto and a pair of prospects. This was a shocking move and a sign that the Giants are going to be sellers at the deadline tomorrow.

The Giants already came into Wednesday’s game at risk of falling under .500 for the first time this season. Now with the fact that they were ready to start selling, today suddenly felt like a last-ditch effort for the 2025 San Francisco Giants.

The Giants desperately needed something to go their way, and they got it in the bottom of the fourth. Heliot Ramos and Willy Adames both got base-hits, and the Giants had runners at first and second with two outs for Dominic Smith. Smith got a fastball right down the pipe, and lined it to right field for a base-hit. Ramos scored, and the Giants struck first.

Hey, the Giants finally got a line-drive base-hit with a runner in scoring position. They did a lot of that early in the season, and that is precisely what carried them to their 24-14 start. Jung Hoo Lee finally went the other way after trying to pull the ball the last several weeks, but it was right into the glove of the diving Jack Suwinski in left.

The Pirates had a response against Webb in the top of the fifth. Isaiah Kiner-Falefa lined an opposite-field base-hit to right to lead off the inning, and Spencer Horwitz followed that up with a double into the gap in right-center to tie it.

The Pirates then loaded the bases one out, and were threatening to do more. However, Webb got Nick Gonzales to hit a chopper back to the mound that Webb used to start a one to two to three double play, and he got out of it with the game still tied.

Burrows threw another one, two, three inning in the bottom of the fifth, and after Henry Davis singled with one out in the top of the sixth, Webb was done. Spencer Bivens then came in and retired the next two to end the inning.

Webb gave up five hits and walked four over five and a third innings, but he gave up just a run and struck out 11. Unfortunately, the Giants’ offense did what they’ve always done, and gave Webb very little support.

Burrows ended up giving up three hits, walking one and striking out seven over six innings.

The game fittingly went extra innings, and Ryan Walker took the ball for the top of the tenth. Oneil Cruz started the inning as the ghost runner runner at second and got to third on a ground out by Nick Gonzales. Jack Suwinski walked, and that brought up Henry Davis.

Davis hit a chopper back to the mound, and Walker had Oneil dead to rights between third base and home plate. However, for whatever reason Walker tried to turn a double play, and he failed to get Suwinski at second. Oneil scored, and the Pirates had the lead.

The Giants were three outs away from falling under .500 for the first time this season. Isaac Mattson, who had pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth, was back out for the bottom of the tenth. 

Lee was the ghost runner at second, and the Giants caught a break, as Casey Schmitt hit a blooper to left that Suwinski lost in the sun. Mike Yastrzemski then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners up to second and third.

It felt as if the Giants were mounting one last rally to try and save what many believe was going to be a magical season. Patrick Bailey took three-straight out of the zone to work a 3-0 count, but in typical fashion for this team, Bailey struck out. Heliot Ramos was the last hope, and he too struck out to end the game.

Fittingly, the Giants completely wasted their last-ditch rally, and they indeed lost to fall under .500 for the first time this season.

Isaac Mattson got the win, and Ryan Walker took the loss.

The Giants have now dropped 12 of their last 14 games, and they have gone 13-26 since June 12, the worst record in all of Baseball during that stretch. 

The Giants’ record is now 54-55, and with the Padres completing a sweep of the Mets down in San Diego today, the Giants are now six games back of the Padres for the third wild card.

The Giants will have the deadline off Thursday, as they will head back out on the road for a road trip that will mimic this homestand, with three in New York against the Mets, and three in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.

The Giants have yet to announce their starters for their series at Citi Field this weekend, and we may not even know what this team will look like after Thursday. At this point, the only thing I can say for sure is that if the Giants want to make a run at this thing, it will take a miracle.

First pitch on Friday will be at 7:10 p.m. in Queens, 4:10 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

  • The two prospects the Giants received for Tyler Rogers are right-handed pitcher Blade Tidwell and outfielder Drew Gilbert. Both could feasibly be ready to be called up to the big leagues as soon as this season.
  • It’s also being reported that Giants’ closer Camilo Doval could be available to be traded before Thursday. It is a pretty clear signal that they are truly preparing to sell and start focusing on the future.
  • Mike Yastrzemski made what may have been the catch of the year for the Giants in the top of the eighth, as he ran a long way towards the right field line to catch a foul ball off the bat of Jack Suwinski, and was able to come up with it, as he bounced into the netting over the side wall.

It is quite unfortunate that this catch couldn’t have been part of the story of a much-needed win for the Giants.

Final Thoughts:

In 2022, the Giants were 10 games over .500 after a win in Pittsburgh on June 18. They then collapsed and fell all the way to eight games under .500 on Sept. 18. Though they did go on a tear to make it to play a meaningful game in the fifth-to-final game of the season on Oct. 1, and they ended up going 81-81. 

In 2023, the Giants were 13 games over .500 after winning the resumption of a suspended game on July 19. They suffered a massive collapse in the final two months of the season, and finished under .500 at 79-83

Here in 2025, the Giants went from 12 games over .500 on June 13, all the way to a game under .500 today. What looked to be a bounceback season for the Giants after three-straight mediocre seasons is now about to be their fourth-straight mediocre season.

It’s technically not over yet. The Giants are six games back of the Padres for the third wild card spot with 53 games to go, and mathematically, they still have a lot of opportunities. Baseball is a weird game, and this Giants’ team is certainly capable of winning 15 of their next 20 games to surge back into the race.

Buster Posey built this team around doing a little bit of everything. They hit home runs; they played situational baseball; they played small ball; they even stole bases; and they pitched and played defense. That’s why they got off to their 24-14 start.

Then for whatever reason, they revived the failed Farhan Zaidi strategy of relying on home runs, and they completely fell apart. It makes absolutely no sense, and I truly have no idea why they did that. Maybe they were pressing. I don’t know.

Really, all it took was the Giants going back to playing the way they did in Spring Training in April. It wasn’t rocket science.

Unfortunately, the Giants could never truly get it going again, and just 22 days after one of the most magical wins in Giants’ history, they suddenly now appear ready to focus on next season.

I still felt like the Giants could make a run, but this mediocre core is not a viable long-term strategy, and they’re going to get old in a couple of years. They need to develop guys around it to make it a stronger core. 

Buster inherited one of the worst farm systems in all of Baseball from Farhan, and he needed to start building it and preparing for the future. Blade Tidwell and Drew Gilbert are a good start, and the Giants could get even more for Camilo Doval.

It is unclear whether Buster is buying and selling, or strictly selling, though it seems to be the latter. Robbie Ray could also nab some good prospects, and the Giants would be wise to deal him if they are truly selling.

They still can compete over the next few years as they build the farm system, and I imagine that is what Buster has in mind. The Giants’ top prospect, Bryce Eldridge, should be up next season, and Helliot Ramos will be entering his prime. A trio of Eldridge, Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee could be akin to that of Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent and Ellis Burks in 2000.

I still wouldn’t rule out a miracle for this season, but that is quite unlikely. This has been a disappointing season, but if the Giants truly want to return to winning baseball next season, changes need to be made. 

The one positive you can take out of this collapse is that those necessary changes will be made, and that the future is about to get a whole lot better.

Verlander shines, Giants bats stymied as they fall to Pirates 3-1

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By Vince Cestone

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants mustered only 2 hits, wasting a strong Justin Verlander start, falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

With the Giants’ seventh-straight loss at Oracle Park, they fell five games out of the Wild Card race. With the trade deadline only two days away, it’s going to be hard for the Giants to justify buying.

San Francisco opened the scoring in the fourth inning, with a solo home run from the hot-hitting Willy Adames. After a horrendous first half, Adames smashed his seventh home run of July.

The Giants were up 1-0. They finally were ahead first, but then the mistakes happened.

Rewind to the first inning. Giants had runners at first and second with one out, when third baseman Matt Chapman hit a popup on the infield. The infield fly rule was called, but left fielder Heliot Ramos got caught between second and third. Rally killed there.

But it was the eighth inning where weirdness happened. With one on and one out and the scored tied at one, Pirates left fielder Tommy Pham hit an infield dribbler that Rogers fielded as he ran towards the third-base line. Rogers couldn’t get a grip on the ball and the runner was safe.

On the very next play, a ground ball to second turned ugly off the bat of Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Giants second baseman Casey Schmitt fielded the ball but his throw hit Hayes as he approached first base. Rogers appeared to be looking at second base instead of the incoming throw.

Then, with the bases loaded, former Giants catcher Joey Bart singled on a grounder to left field, giving the Pirates a 2-1 lead. A lead they would not give back.

Before the eighth-inning chaos, the Pirates tied the game on a fifth-inning solo home run by ninth-place hitter Liover Peguero.

Lost in the weirdness of the late innings, was a great start by Verlander. He went five innings, giving up just 6 hits, one run, one walk, while amassing seven strikeouts.

Despite the defensive miscues, the Giants’ lack of offensive is forcing them to play perfect baseball, which is hard for any team to do. And it doesn’t help when their big trade acquisition Rafael Devers went 0-for-4 in the game and is hitless in his last 14 at-bats.

The Giants will try to get right on Wednesday in the series finale against the Pirates. Giants ace Logan Webb (9-8, 3.38 ERA) will take on Pirates’ pitcher Mike Burrows (1-3, 4.15 ERA) at 12:45 p.m. at Oracle Park.

Time is running out for the Giants. If they want to stay in this Wild Card race, the time for them to win is now.

McCutchen’s late-inning homer steals the show in Giants’ top pitching prospect’s debut, Bucs raise the Jolly Roger in game one

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San Francisco Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt pitches to a Pittsburgh Pirates batter during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, July 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN FRANCISCO–McCutchen homers late and leads Pirates to game one win amid Giants’ top pitching prospect respectable debut.

Monday night the Giants, worn out from a three game sweep against the Mets over the weekend, played host to the Pittsburgh Pirates to start the second half of a six game homestand. Falling to 2-7 since the All-Star break, the Giants turned to their top pitching prospect, left-hander, Carson Whisenhunt to get back in the win column. 

The 24-year-old got his contract selected by the Giants Monday afternoon in a series of roster moves sending RHP Sean Hjelle to AAA Sacramento and designating RHP Carson Ragsdale for assignment, clearing up a roster spot for Whisenhunt to make his MLB debut.

With AAA Sacramento, Whisenhunt posted a 8-5 record with a 4.42 ERA, 28 BB, and 86 K. Ranking in the Triple-A top-10 with 97.2 innings pitched at the time of his promotion, the southpaw also led qualified pitchers in ERA. 

Donning the first number 88 in Giants history, Whisenhunt represented his aunt’s birthday, dad’s football number, and the year his mother graduated. Safe to say their presence was felt on and off the field as his family got to enjoy the debut from the stands. 

It took the rookie two innings to shake off the nerves. Following two fly-outs to open up the game, the Pirates’ Nick Gonzales deposited a first-pitch changeup over the left field wall to start the scoring. A harsh welcome to the big leagues for Whisenhunt as the Pirates offense continued to slug in the second. Three more came across to score, two on an Isiah Kiner-Falefa double and one more via Tommy Pham single. Three hits, two walks, and four runs through the first two frames would be the only threat to Whisenhunt. 

In what shaped up to be a productive outing, Whisenhunt received a well-deserved ovation from the 35,000 plus as he walked off the field after five innings, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, and 3 K. He became the first Giants pitcher to start his MLB debut and go at least 5.0 innings in the game since RHP Logan Webb did back in 2019.

After his first big league start, the new Giant gave praise to his catcher Patrick Bailey and his ability to keep him calm while changing the game plan after the Pirates attacked the changeup in the first two innings. Whisenhunt, who is known for his changeup, had to switch things up to throw the Pirates lineup off balance and he prevailed.

2 H, 0 BB, and 0 ER through innings three, four, and five.  

His ability to adjust in-game and trust his relationship with Bailey behind the plate is a good sign for the Giants and hopefully something he can build off in his next outing. He could save the Giants some prospects if he can produce as he did in the minors and they don’t have to trade for another starter.

Prior to the game, manager Bob Melvin acknowledged the holes in the rotation for the Giants and said it was a good opportunity for Whisenhunt to take advantage of. Depending on how they view his five innings of work, we could see the rookie take over one of the vacancies in the rotation. 

The Giants offense, who went 0-for-23 with runners in scoring position over the weekend against the Mets, kept Whisenhunt in the game early on. Responding with a run of their own in the home first on a Matt Chapman triple that got by the diving Alexander Canario in right field allowing Heliot Ramos to score from first. 

In the home second, Yastrzemski led the way with a walk and Patrick Bailey followed with a single placing runners on the corners with no outs. Brett Wisely kept things going with a ground-rule double, scoring Yastrzemski and moving Bailey to third. A few batters later, Willy Adames went with an outside pitch to right field and drove in Bailey to make it a one run game. 

The Giants continued to trail by a run until the fourth, where Heliot Ramos doubled with one out and later advanced to third on a Devers groundout. Willy Adames lined a base-hit to left field, Ramos scored, and the game was tied. 

From Carson to Carson, the right-handed Seymour took over for Whisenhunt in the sixth yielding a hit and a walk, but keeping the Bucs off the board. 

The difference-maker came in the top of the seventh when former Giant, Andrew McCutchen blasted a two-run home run to left on a hanging slider. McCutchen’s 10th home run of the season brought home what wound up being the game’s winning run. 

The Giants fought until the final out in the ninth, putting together a rally that saw Willy Adames score to put them within one. Manager Bob Melvin said postgame that it “just felt like one of those games we were gonna come back and win”. 

Adames had himself a night going 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and three very hard hit balls, one of them right into a Pirates glove. 

With the tying run in scoring position in Jung Hoo Lee and the winning run at first base (pinch-runner Luis Matos), Patrick Bailey dug in with intentions to replicate his heroics he provided a few weeks ago with his walk-off inside-the-park home run to defeat the Phillies. 

Pirates closer David Bednar forced a weak groundball to second base and Bailey was thrown out at first to end the game. 

Still searching for that offensive magic, the Giants dropped their fourth straight and started the homestand 0-4. Another disappointing night with RISP, as the lineup hit a combined 4-for-13 and left a total of 12 men on base. 

With the Padres comeback win over the Mets down in San Diego Monday night, the Giants are now four games out of the final National League wild card spot. 

Justin Verlander (1-8, 4.70) takes to the mound Tuesday night against the Pirates’ LHP Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.82) and aims to keep his winning energy in the air, following his first win of the season last week in Atlanta. 

First pitch at 6:45pm. 

SF Giants post game report: Home runs and more wasted opportunities do Giants in, as Mets complete sweep with 5-3 win

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Carson Wisenhunt (18) will start against the Pittsburgh Pirates Mon Jul 28, 2025 at Oracle Park. Wisenhunt is the Giants third highest prospect. Wisenhunt walks off the field after pitching in the Futures Game at the MLB All Star Game on Sat Jul 12, 2025 at Truist Field in Cumberland GA (Getty photo)

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco CA

New York Mets 5 (62-44)

San Francisco Giants 3 (54-52)

Win: Jose Butto (3-1)

Loss: Randy Rodriguez (3-2)

Save: Edwin Diaz (23)

Time: 3:10

Attendance: 40,124

By Stephen Ruderman

Home runs by Ronny Mauricio and Juan Soto in the top of the seventh inning did Randy Rodriguez and the Giants in, as the Mets completed the sweep of the Giants with a 5-3 win on Sunday Night Baseball at Oracle Park.

Sunday was the 2025 Hall-of-Fame Induction Ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Billy Wagner, CC Sabathia and Ichiro Suzuki, as well as the late-great Dick Allen and Dave Parker, the latter of whom passed away just a month ago, made up the Class of 2025.

The Giants honored their own hall-of-famer. Granted, it was the Mascot Hall-of-Fame, but the Giants held a ceremony for their longtime mascot, Lou Seal, prior to the game.

Back to the serious business of baseball. The Giants were limited to just a run in each of the first two games of this series against the Mets, who took the first two games of this big three-game series. This evening, the Giants looked to avoid the sweep on Sunday Night Baseball.

Sunday night was Hayden Birdsong’s turn in the rotation, but with Birdsong down in Sacramento, Bob Melvin turned to his 32-year-old left-hander, Matt Gage, to be his opener. Gage set the tone nicely with a 1-2-3 to of the first inning.

Kodai Senga made the start for the Metropolitans, and started his evening with a scoreless bottom of the first. The Giants then had runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the second, but Senga struck out Patrick Bailey and Brett Wisley to wiggle out of it without any damage.

Spencer Bivens came in for the Giants, and escaped a jam in the top of the second. However, Bivens wasn’t so lucky in the top of the third, as the Mets manufactured a run to get on the board.

The Giants looked to respond in the bottom of the third, as Heliot Ramos was standing at second base with two outs. Willy Adames then hit a check-swing roller along the third base line that stayed fair and was going to turn out to be an infield hit, but for whatever reason, Ramos took off for third, and was tagged out by Mets’ third-baseman Ronny Mauricio to end the inning.

Bivens survived a one-out double by Jeff McNeil in the top of the fourth. Matt Chapman then put the Giants on the board with a line-drive home run to left-center field to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

Francisco Alvarez led off the top of the fifth with a double, and Mauricio lined a double down the right field line, which knocked in Alvarez to put the Mets back ahead. Melvin brought in the lefty, Joey Lucchesi, who was able to escape further damage with some help from shortstop Willy Ademes, who cut Mauricio down at the plate.

Senga retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the fifth. Adames then lined a base-hit to left, and Chapman hit his second home run of the game, a towering drive to left-center, to give the Giants their first of the evening.

The Giants led 3-2 going to the sixth, but McNeil hit his second double of the game with one out. Melvin summoned his all-star, Randy Rodriguez, who worked out of it and kept the Giants ahead.

However, Mauricio led off the top of the seventh with a blast into the water in right to tie the game. A member of the Jung Hoo Crew, so either McCovey Cove Dave wasn’t there, or he was positioned elsewhere in the cover. Juan Soto then hit an opposite-field home run to left with two outs, and the Mets were back ahead 4-3.

The Giants wasted an opportunity in the bottom of the eighth, and the Mets tacked on another run in the top of the ninth against Sean Hjelle to make it 5-3.

The Mets brought in their lights-out closer, Edwin Diaz, for the bottom of the ninth to try and close it out. Wisely flew out to right to start the inning, but the Giants loaded the bases with one out.

The Giants were unable to make anything out of a one-out double by Jung Hoo Lee in the bottom of the ninth last night, and the Giants hoped for a better fate with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth today.

However, the Giants had yet to get a single hit with a runner scoring position in this entire series, and that would remain the case through the very end. Adames was caught looking, and Chapman struck out looking to end it.

The Giants ended up going 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position in this series, and the sweep was complete.

Jose Butto, who pitched the bottom of the sixth, got the win; Randy Rodriguez took the loss; and Edwin Diaz picked up his 23rd save.

The Giants fall to 54-52, and they are just two games over .500 for the first time since March 31. Even worse, the Padres smoked the Cardinals 9-2 this afternoon in St. Louis, so the Giants are now three games back of San Diego for the third wild card spot.

The Giants will hope for better luck against the 44-62 Pittsburgh Pirates, who come into Oracle Park for three games starting Sunday night. However, the Pirates have won five of their last six, having swept the Detroit Tigers, and taking two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Left-hander Carson Wisenhunt (8-5, 4.42 ERA at AAA Sacramento), who is the Giants’ third-highest ranked prospect, and was even considered one of the top 100 prospects in all of Baseball not too long ago, will take the ball for the Giants in his major league debut Monday night. Taking the ball for Pittsburgh will be right-hander Mitch Keller (4-10, 3.53 ERA).

First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong: Marlins 8 game win streak need one more win for club record; Bucs Davis gets gamer to beat Cards 1-0; plus more news

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Miami Marlins Kyle Stowers circles the bags and praises the good Lord after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins on Tue Jul 1, 2025 at LoanDepot Park in Miami (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 The Miami Marlins continued their winning streak on Tuesday night with a 2-0 shutout win over the Minnesota Twins. The Marlins picked up their eighth straight win and are on win away from the club record set in 2008 of nine straight wins.

#2 Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis knocked in the game’s only run on Tuesday night to defeat the St Louis Cardinals 1-0 and also defeated the Cardinals 5-0 on Wednesday night. Pirates starter Paul Skenes has not had a winning decision in six starts. Just the same Skenes and the Pirates will take the win.

#3 Cardinals have scratched first baseman Wilson Contreras and third baseman Nolan Areando from Wednesday’s game versus the Pirates. Contreras injured his left hand and is suffering a contusion when he got hit by Pirates starter Paul Skenes. Arenado was injured with jammed right middle finger and has missed two games in a row. Cards manager Oilver Marmol said he’s hopeful that Contreras and Areanado will be able to return on Friday.

#4 Former San Francisco Giant outfielder and Texas Ranger Kevin Pillar announced his retirement from MLB on the “Foul Territory” show. Pillar also spent the first of his seven years with the Toronto Blue Jays and last played with the Texas Rangers and was released back in late May.

#5 Houston Astro Yordan Alvarez is on the IL with a hand injury the right hand was broken on Tuesday and Alvarez is seeing a specialist to try to resolve the issue. Alvarez sat for two month and started working out in June and took swings at the Astros complex last Monday. Alvarez said he was suffering pain on Wednesday. Alvarez is hitting .210, 3 home runs, 18 RBIs, 21 hits.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Michael Duca Fri May 2, 2025: Ex- Yankee Mariano Rivera and wife named as defendants in church civil suit child abuse case; Man in PNC fall listed as critical; plus more MLB news

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Former New York Yankee Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara have been named as defendants in a civil lawsuit claiming their responsible for an older child abusing a younger child in the church the Riveras own Westchester County New York (photo from Mariano Rivera Instagram)

MLB podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Former New York Yankees Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara have been accused of being a non protector a girl that was abused by an older child at Rivera’s church that they own in Westchester County in New York. The Rivera’s were added to a defendants list in a civil lawsuit by the girl and the mother stating that the girl was abused in 2018. It is important to note that the Rivera’s have not been charged with any crime.

#2 A scary and tragic fall took place at PNC Park in Pittsburgh during Wednesday night’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. A man fell above the 21 foot Roberto Clemente wall in right field. The training staffs from the Cubs and Pirates attended to the man and he was taken from the right field warning track on a cart. Pittsburgh Public Safety, Pittsburgh Police and EMS said the man was listed in critical condition and listed it as an accident.

#3 Kansas City Royals left hand pitcher Noah Cameron took a no hitter into the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night in his big league debut. Cameron was called up to replace pitcher Cole Ragans who is out with a sore groin. Cameron stayed in until the Rays Curtis Mead broke up the no hitter with a base hit to left field. Royals manager Matt Quataro came out and replaced Cameron and the next day (Thursday) he was demoted to the triple A Omaha. Cameron became the first pitcher who debuted to go seven innings since the Toronto Blue Jays Nick Kingham who got two outs in the seventh against the St Louis Cardinals on April 29, 2018.

#4 The Colorado Rockies ended the month of April with a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. It didn’t make a difference the Rockies still went down with the losingest April in the history of Major League Baseball going 5-25. The Rocks had a eight game losing streak going until they snapped the skid on Wednesday. Last season the White Sox had won just six games in the month of April.

#5 The Sacramento A’s who started the 2025 season in the cellar have got a bump up in their last homestand they took out of three from the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. On this current road trip they took three out of four from the Rangers and have improved their home record to 6-9 and moving five games over .500 on the road record to 11-6. For the A’s has it been getting the key hits? The right kind of pitching? and to manager Mark Kotsay’s credit just great managing?

Join Michael Duca Fridays for the MLB podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: 49ers make easy work of Aaron Rogers and Jets; Raiders decision to punt backfires in loss; plus more news

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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rogers sits on the Jets bench during Sep 9, 2024 Monday Night Football game at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers took care of business with a convincing win over Aaron Rogers and the New York Jets. It seems like every player at every position for the 49ers successfully did their job in getting the 32-19 win.

#2 The Las Vegas Raiders lost on what critics say on a decision by Raider head coach Antonio Pierce deciding to punt rather than go for it on fourth and one with just over seven seconds left in the game. Pierce reasoned the defense would their job get the ball to the offense and score which didn’t happen Sunday afternoon.

#3 Turning to baseball, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes had himself a Monday night striking out nine batters over six innings and has a strike out total of 151 which is a franchise record. Skenes 10-2 allowed six hits in the 3-2 win over the Marlins and lowered his ERA to 2.10.

#4 You gotta talk about the near catch that turned out to be a home run when Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder Johan Rojas had the ball in the glove but the ball was jarred loose when Rojas’ arm made contact with the top of the padded fence and went over the fence for a home run.

#5 Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani just might swipe 50 bases for the season yet. Ohtani closed in on 50 stealing his 47th base against the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Ohtani was the lead off hitter in the contest who also scored twice and got two hits.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants score five in eighth inning to pull off another incredible comeback win in Pittsburgh 7-6

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San Francisco Giants Jorge Soler (2) greets Matt Chapman (26) who slugged a top of the eighth inning three run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Thu May 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, May 23, 2024

PNC Park

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

San Francisco Giants 7 (25-26)

Pittsburgh Pirates 6 (23-28)

Win: Luke Jackson (2-1)

Loss: Hunter Stratton (0-1)

Save: Tyler Rogers (1)

Time: 2:45

Attendance: 23,162

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have done it again, as they came back late for the second day in a row, today with a five-run top of the eighth inning, to beat the Pirates 7-6 and take the series on Thursday.

Following their worst loss of the season Tuesday night, in which the Giants blew a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth and lost the game, they bounced back with their biggest win of the season Wednesday night, as they came back from down 5-0 to win it.

As the Giants tried to take the series Thursday afternoon, they were up against a challenge, as they had to go up against the Pirates’ young pitching phenom, Paul Skenes. Skenes was making this third-career big league start. Skenes was 1-0 in his first two starts with a 2.70 ERA. He also pitched six no-hit innings in his last start on May 17 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Luis Matos led off the ballgame Thursday, and he hit a ground ball the opposite way into right field to start things off. No rally would metastasize, however, as LaMonte Wade grounded into a double play, and Thairo Estrada swung out swinging to end the innings.

On the pitching front, this would be a bullpen game for the Giants, and left-hander Erik Miller was tasked to be the opener. Unfortunately for Miller, he was greeted to a rude welcome by Andrew McCutchen, who hit a home run to left-center to start off the bottom of the first.

Miller proceeded to retire the side in order after McCutchen’s home run, and Skenes set the Giants down 1-2-3 in the top of the second. Nick Gonzales led off the bottom of the second with a triple to center, but Miller was able to retire the next two guys he faced without the run scoring. Bob Melvin then pulled Miller for Mason Black, who got Joey Bart to ground out to short and end the inning, as the Giants got out of it unscathed.

Skenes pitched a scoreless top of the third, and Black, a 1-2-3 bottom of the third.

The Giants were poised to break through against Skenes get on the board in the top of the fourth. Estrada walked with one out, and Matt Chapman singled him in over to third. Jorge Soler came up and hit a ground ball to third that could have been a double play ball to end the inning, but after Jared Triolo threw to second-baseman Nico Gonzales to get Chapman at second, Gonzales was unable to get a throw off to first, and Estrada scored to tie the game.

The Giants tied it up, but their good fortunes would not last long. Connor Joe walked to start the bottom of the fourth, and O’Neil Cruz struck out looking for the first out of the inning. Black then walked Gonzales and hit Triolo to load the bases for Joey Bart, and of course the former Giant would burn them, as he hit a grand slam to straightaway center to stake the Pirates out to a 5-1 lead.

It surely great for the Giants’ 2018 first round and second-overall draft pick, who struggled to get a footing in San Francisco, but who has found a bit of success since being dealt over to the Pirates on April 2 after making the Giants’ opening day roster but not appearing in a game.

Curt Casali singled with one out in the top of the fifth, but Skenes pitched another scoreless inning. Black ran back into trouble in the bottom of the fifth after giving up back-to-back singles to McCutchen and former Giants’ farmhand Bryan Reynolds. Connor Joe lined out to right, and Black was pulled for left-hander Taylor Roger, who struck Cruz swinging and got Gonzales to fly out to left to end the inning with the Giants’ still trailing 5-1.

Skenes pitched one last scoreless inning in the top of the sixth, and his day was done after giving up a run and striking out three. His ERA is now at 2.25.

Joey Bart looked to do even more damage to his former team with a two-out double off Rogers in the bottom of the sixth. Ji-hwan Bae then tried to sneak in a bunt hit, but he ended up bunting the ball right to Wade at first to end the inning.

Jose Hernandez came in for Skenes in the top of the seventh and got Ryan McKenna to fly out to right to start the inning. Heliot Ramos then hooked a home run down the left field line, his second of the year, to make it 5-2.

Luke Jackson came in for Rogers in the bottom of the seventh, and his struggles continued. With one out, the Pirates got the run right back when Reynolds hit a home run out to right-center, all the way to the back of the stadium, to make it 6-2.

Hunter Stratton, who replaced Hernandez with two outs in the top of the seventh, was back out for the eighth, and the Giants were more than ready to pounce. Wade and Estrada singled to start the inning, and Matt Chapman hit a home run to left-center to suddenly make it a one-run game at 6-5.

It was the eighth home run of the year now the now-white-hot Chapman, who ties Thairo Estrada for the team lead in home runs. Chapman also ended up hitting a home run in all three games of this series.

The Giants were not done yet. Jorge Soler immediately followed up Chapman’s home run with a double to center to put the tying run in scoring position. Wilmer Flores then singled the other way to right to score Soler and tie the game, and for the second day in a row, the Giants came back to tie the game.

Now, the Giants were looking to take the lead. Ramos flew out to right, and then Pirates Manager Derek Shelton pulled Stratton for the veteran left-handed flame thrower, Aroldis Chapman.

Patrick Bailey was at the plate for the Giants, and while he was up, Marco Luciano, who came in to pinch-run for Flores, took second on a wild pitch by Chapman and took third on a passed ball. Brett Wisely then came up with two outs and lined a base-hit up the middle to center field to knock in Luciano and give the Giants the lead.

Randy Rodriguez, who pitched two perfect innings in relief Wednesday night, earned the trust of his manager, Bob Melvin, to pitch the bottom of the eighth in a one-run game. Rodriguez did not disappoint, as he threw a 1-2-3 inning.

David Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for the Pirates, and since Camilo Doval pitched each of the last two nights, Melvin decided to go with the submariner, Tyler Rogers, to try and close out the game with finesse. Bae reached on another error by Luciano at short to start the inning. Fortunately for Rogers and Luciano, McCutchen popped out to short, and Bae was thrown out trying to steal second. Reynolds singled to left with two outs to extend the game, but Joe popped out to Wade in foul territory to end it, and the Giants held on to win another big game.

Luke Jackson got the win despite giving up the home run to Reynolds. He was the pitcher for the Giants when they scored five runs to take the lead in the eighth, so he got the win. That’s baseball. Hunter Stratton took the loss for Pittsburgh, and Tyler Rogers picked up his first save of the season.

The Giants are back to within just a game of .500 for the first time since April 28, as they improve to 25-26. They will now head to New York, where they will take on the Mets for three at Citi Field in Queens starting Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Giants Kyle Harrison (4-1 ERA 3.60) will be on the mound and for the Mets Christian Scott (0-2, ERA 4.32), as the Giants will try and get back to .500 for the first time since March 31. First pitch will be at 7:10 p.m. in New York, 4:10 p.m. back in San Francisco.

News and Notes:

Prior to the game, Blake Snell was placed on the paternity list, as his girlfriend, Haeley, is preparing to give berth. Nick Avila, who was sent down to Double-A Richmond when Snell was activated off the IL yesterday, was called back up.

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB staff writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com