Tag: Pittsburgh Pirates

Yaz’ two run homer helps Giants split with Bucs 4-1; Wood’s win now 5-0 for SF

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Wood delivers a first inning pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates line up at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sun May 16, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants were not about to let the Pittsburgh Pirates take the series on Sunday afternoon. After allowing the Pirates walk-off victories on Friday and Saturday, the Giants with Alex Wood pitching six innings and maintaining his perfect record beat Pittsburgh 4-1 to split the four-game series at PNC Park.

Wood (6-0) gave up one run, struck out six and walked one. Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run homer to right-center field off David Bednar in the ninth inning to boost San Francisco’s lead to 4-1. Yastrzemski’s play sealing the Giants’ victory came after he missed Saturday’s game due to side soreness.

In the first inning, San Francisco scored a run on a grounder. Pirates outfielder Ka’ai Tom tied the game in the fourth with a sacrifice fly.

Buster Posey had three hits as well as a walk. Evan Longoria had a single off Mitch Keller in the sixth inning and broke the tie with a run on a wild pitch by reliever Clay Holmes.

Giants sidearmer Tyler Rogers allowed no runs in the ninth inning and nabbed his fourth save. But San Francisco left a runner on base in every inning except the last one and stranded 10.

The difference between Friday and Saturday, versus Sunday, was that Caleb Baragar, Rogers and Matt Wisler did what the relievers in the two losses could not.

With a 24-16 record, the Giants still lead the NL West.

San Francisco on Sunday also reinstated Alex Dickerson from the injured list and optioned LaMonte Wade Jr to the Sacramento River Cats. Brandon Belt, who has been experiencing side tightness, was scratched.

The Giants continue their road trip on Monday with the first of a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. First pitch is at 3:40 p.m.

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Giants drop second straight game to Bucs 8-6

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The Pittsburgh Pirates Jacob Stallings belts a two run home run off San Francisco Giants reliever Jake McGee in the ninth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sat May 16, 2021 (AP News photo)

By London Marq

While the national media have had their eyes glued to Southern California’s National League teams, the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodges, it has been the northerners the San Francisco Giants who have secured the top spot in the Division entering play today.

Leading the West, even at this early stage in the season is an achievement in itself given how stacked the division is. If they can play well now, it will only build momentum for them later in the year when it really counts. The Giants dropped their second straight game to the Pirates on Saturday night 8-6 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

On the road in Pittsburgh, they confidently jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning. The Pirates allowed two home runs in the first inning alone. The first, Darin Ruf’s solo shot gave them a one-run lead. A few batters later, Brandon Crawford belted a ball into the right-center bleachers for a two run homer, rounding out the rough start for the Pirates starter, Tyler Anderson

Two innings later with two outs and two men on base, Mauricio Dubon sent a ground ball through the gap and into right field to score Ruf to give the Giants a four run lead 4-0.

The Pirates would have their day however. Playing station-to-station Gonzalez and Tom got hits to push across two RBI’s in the fifth inning to narrow the lead. The Giants would see Tauchman hit yet another two-run homer in the sixth. Despite all the homers and early success, the late success would come from the Pirates.

Behind some clutch hitting and a wild pitch from the Giants Camilo Doval the Pirate snatched four runs in the seventh and tied the game at six a piece. The score would hold and threaten extra innings into the bottom of the ninth. Jacob Stallings hit a two-run walk off home, sending the Giants back to the hotel room for long night of contemplation after blowing a four run lead.

Still leading the NL West by one game, the Giants will have to find a way to get back in the win column to bolster their lead. Tomorrow the Giants play the Pirates for the final game of the four game series. With a win they could tie the series up, and restore some confidence. Either way, they’ll be onto Cincinnati face the Reds on Monday.

Starting pitchers for Sunday for the Giants Alex Wood (4-0 ERA 1.80) for the Pittsburgh Pirates Mitch Keller (2-4 ERA 7.81) a 10:00 AM PDT

Pirates Polanco’s 11th inning sac scores winning run 3-2

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By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Friday, May 14, 2021

Gregory Polanco’s 11th inning, bases loaded sacrifice fly gave Pittsburgh a 3-2 win over San Francisco Friday night at PNC Park in what started out as a pitching duel – all of the scoring occurred after the seventh inning.

The Giants slipped to 23-15, still leading the National League West by 2 games over San Diego. The Pirates are in last place in the NL Central, 7 games out of first place.

Pittsburgh brought in Luis Oviedo (1-1) to face the Giants in the top of the 11th. After Brandon Crawford was placed at second, Mauricio Dubon flied out to center, moving Crawford to third. Austin Slater delivered a base hit to right, plating Crawford with the go-ahead run.

With Caleb Baragar (2-1) on the mound for San Francisco, the Pirates forged their game-winning rally. Michael Perez was placed at second and scored on Adam Frazier’s triple to right, tying the game at 2-2. After Kevin Newman popped out to short, Bryan Reynolds and Will Craig were both intentionally walked.

Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Frazier with the winning run.

Crawford broke the scoreless deadlock with a solo home run in the top of the ninth, putting San Francisco up 1-0. The Pirates responded with an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds that sent the game into extra innings.

Frazier led off the Pittsburgh ninth with a single, moved to third on Newman’s single and scored when Reynolds singled to right.

Giants starter Kevin Gausman struck out 12 without a walk, giving up one earned run on five hits. Closer Jake McGee was charged with his second blown save of the season, and Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless 10th.

Miguel Yajure surrendered one hit in his five-inning start for the Bucs, with four strikeouts and a walk. Sam Howard, David Bednar and Richard Rodriguez each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

Johnny Cueto (2-1, 3.52) starts for San Francisco on Saturday, facing the Pirates’ Tyler Anderson (3-3, 3.05).

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Why this team continues to be so successful

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The San Francisco Giants Anthony DeSclafani delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thu May 13, 2021 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants (23-14) are having a good roll right now with one of the best records in baseball if you have to point to one thing that has working for them what would you say it is?

#2 When Giants manager Gabe Kapler first took over the team last season he had his doubters but here in 2021 he pretty much has met all the criteria and the team has a 2.5 game lead in the NL West and has won seven of their last ten games.

#3 Michael talk about everybody hitting on this ball club and no exception for Steven Duggar who hit a solo shot on Thursday to help the Giants get a 3-1 win.

#4 Once again starting pitching and the bullpen has been pulling out all the stops with starter Anthony DeSclafani who pitched five innings one hit and five strike outs.

#5 The Giants play game two of this four game series tonight at PNC Park let’s talk about the pitching match ups for the Giants Kevin Gausman (3-0 ERA 1.97) and for the Pittsburgh Pirates (15-22) Miguel Yajure (0-1 ERA 8.31).

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

Duggar’s 5th inning home run helps pace Giants in 3-1 win over Bucs

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The San Francisco Giants Steven Duggar is greeted at home plate by Anthony DeSclafani after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thu May 13, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants relied on good pitching and Steven Duggar’s first homer in nearly two years to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Thursday night at PNC Park and improve to 23-41 at the top of the NL West.

Starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani in five scoreless innings allowed only one hit, a single by Jacob Stallings in the first inning.

Duggar hit his first home run since June 13, 2019 in Petco Park, to right-center field with one out in the fifth inning off rookie starting pitcher Wil Crowe. It was his seventh career homer in four seasons and broke a scoreless tie.

The Giants had not scored in the first four innings against Crowe. Duggar, who was not on the lineup until Brandon Belt was scratched shortly before first pitch due to left side tightness, stepped up to the occasion.

“You just lock it in, it’s a lot of fun,” Duggar said of the last-minute opportunity to play. “We’re always ready here, so whether you’re off the bench or starting, so a lot of fun tonight and definitely excited to get the opportunity to start.”

After Duggar’s home run, San Francisco had two more runs in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 3-0. Duggar and Mauricio Dubon each had two hits. Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save.

In five innings, Crowe allowed three runs and six hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

San Francisco nabbed their fifth victory in six games and boosted them to a season-high nine games over .500.

On Friday night, Giants right hand pitcher Kevin Gausman (3-0, 1.97 ERA) will face Pirates left hand pitcher Tyler Anderson (3-3, 3.05 ERA) for the second in the four-game series. First pitch is at 3:35 p.m.

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Giants day off report: Giants open four game series in Pittsburgh Thursday night

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San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is seen here in as the Los Angeles Dodgers general manager in this Nov 9, 2016 photo said that he will be looking for left handed hitting for the Giants when the trade deadline comes around in July (AP News file photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants enjoyed a day off on Wednesday after a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday to sweep the two-game series and safeguard their spot at the top of the NL West. They now lead the San Diego Padres by two games and the Los Angeles Dodgers by three games.

Holding a 22-14 record, the Giants are tied at the most wins with the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland A’s and Boston Red Sox. San Francisco and St. Louis, with a .611 win percentage, are the best in the league.

The Giants are on the road to face the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds before returning to Oracle Park to host the defending champion Dodgers. First pitch for Thursday’s game at PNC Park is at 3:35 p.m.

On Tuesday, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi spoke about the MLB trade deadline more than two months away, in light of how well the team is doing now. Zaidi said that last year the organization talked quite a bit about adding a left-handed bat which could have been the difference. The Giants ended up finishing last season a pitch away from making the playoffs.

“A lot of the best pieces in July are if you add a complementary piece that really addresses an area of need and can really clean up the roster. We’ll be looking at all those things,” Zaidi said on KNBR’s “Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks” show.

“It’s really early and I don’t see ourselves positioning as a buyer or a seller, but we’re in this to be competitive,” he continued. “You like to reward a clubhouse and a group that’s playing well like the way our guys are right now.”

The Giants spent much of Tuesday also celebrating a home run by right fielder Drew Robinson in their Triple-A affiliate Sacramento River Cats. Robinson’s solo homer in the top of the second inning was cheered across the minor and major leagues because it was his first since he lost an eye in an attempted suicide in April 2020.

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Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Vazquez admits to solicitation charges with minor; Astros’ Cole K’s 300 batters in a season; plus more

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photo file from nytimes.com: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez admitted to Pennsylvania Police that he had sexual relations with a 13 year girl. Vazquez’ admissions has sent shockwaves through the Pirates organization and MLB.

On Headline Sports with Tony Renteria:

Breaking: Antonio Brown will not be prosecuted for rape allegations from Florida ex-trainer Britney Taylor

#1 Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Felipe Vazquez admitted that he did have sexual relations with a 13 year old minor. The mother of the minor said she contacted police after finding photos that Vazquez sent to her daughter’s phone. Vazquez reportedly admitted to contacting the minor, who he met at a Pirates game when he was in the bullpen and got her contact information at the time.

#2 Houston Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole struck out 300 batters becoming the 18th pitcher in MLB history to do so. Cole is 18-5 with an ERA of 2.61. The Astros are having a great year and having pitching like this from Cole certainly has complimented the ball club.

#3 Just looking ahead to the postseason, the Oakland A’s are in first place in the AL wild card. They have dominated some of baseball’s best teams winning series from teams like the New York Yankees and Houston Astros. If the A’s can get past the wild card, the road to the World Series is past teams like the Astros and Yankees.

#4 After Sunday’s second quarter drubbing by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oakland Raiders are regrouping and taking a look at their secondary, who took a bath when the Chiefs scored four touchdowns all the scoring they needed to upend Oakland 28-10.

#5 After the tough loss last Sunday at home, the Raiders have four away games in their next five games, which schedule wise can be considered their toughest challenge of the season.

Tony does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

S.F. Giants Thursday game wrap: Bucs take 3 out of 4 from Giants with 4-2 win

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sfgate.com photo: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Joe Musgrove works in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, in San Francisco.

By Jeremy Harness

It was a matinee that surely will be forgotten by all as the San Francisco Giants fell flat 4-2 on Thursday afternoon to conclude the three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates losing three out of four. Pirates starter Joe Musgrove was the talk of the town getting a quality start off SF pitching five innings of shutout ball and got a triple to help his own cause.

The Pirates’ Jacob Stalling provided some offensive punch by contributing a home run. The Giants’ Evan Longoria hit a homer, but it wasn’t enough as the Giants now have lost four of their last five. The Pirates have been dominating since 2014 when visiting San Francisco winning 14 of their last 20 visits.

Musgrove improved his record to 10-12 and has said that he improved his motion by shortening his delivery, thanks to Bucs pitching coach Justin Meccage. Musgrove said he’s trying to eliminate a couple steps in his backswing for the shorter motion.

Musgrove in his five inning pitched surrendered four hits and struck out seven hitters for the win. It was reliever Felipe Vazquez, whose mix of pitches, sat the Giants down as he picked up his 28th save in the ninth going an inning with one walk, and two strikeouts.

Vazquez is remembered for his Monday clubhouse brawl with teammate Kyle Crick on Monday when Crick was playing music that Vazquez asked him to turn it down. Vazquez then invited Crick to punch him and he didn’t so Vazquez got to slugs in on Vazquez and Crick got a punch on Vazquez that bloodied him. It might have fueled the Bucs because they walked away with a 3-1 series win.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Charlie Silvera was a Giant in SF even though he wasn’t a Giant; Giants-Bucs in game 3 of 4-game series today

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photo from newyorktimes.com file:

On the Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 He wasn’t a Giant, but he was a huge part of the San Francisco baseball community former New York Yankee and San Francisco native Charlie Silvera, who passed away at age 94, caught for the Yanks for nine seasons between 1948-56 was a staple in the Giants press box for many years as a baseball scout.

#2 Michael talks about their working relationship as Charlie was a fixture in the press box and his many conversations they had about baseball in their many years working together.

#3 After winning two out of three games in Los Angeles, the Giants came back to Oracle Park and lost the first game of the series to the Pittsburgh Pirates then Tuesday the Giants get a one-run win 5-4, and it goes back to what Michael says, you just never know what’s always going to happen on any given day.

#4 Madison Bumgarner had a quality start even though the Giants lost the game to four runs in the top of the ninth inning on Monday night, Bum went seven innings, six hits, two earned runs, and five strikeouts.

#5 Michael talk about the torn labrum and capsule in the throwing shoulder of Giant pitcher Reyes Moronta. Manager Bruce Bochy says Moronta will had the surgery in LA on Tuesday to repair the tear.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts weekly at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cueto looks dominant in season debut, Giants get past Pirates 5-4

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Photo credit: sfexaminer.com

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO — After missing over a year after Tommy John Surgery, Johnny Cueto looked phenomenal in his season debut.

Cueto went the required five innings, allowing just one hit, walking just and striking out four and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 before a crowd of 26,877 at Oracle Park.

With the one-run victory, the Giants are now 34-15 this season in one-run games and their .694 winning percentage is the best in the majors.

The Giants gave Cueto all the runs that he would need in the bottom of the first inning, as Mauricio Dubon singled to lead off the inning, Brandon Belt doubled Dubon to third and after an Evan Longoria strikeout, Stephen Vogt singled both Dubon and Belt for the first two of his four RBIs on the evening.

Kevin Pillar then singled and then Brandon Crawford squirted one thru the infield to score Vogt with the third run of the evening.

Vogt added a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit his ninth home run of the season.

The Pirates, who could not muster anything off of Cueto, finally got in the top of the eighth inning with two outs. Kevin Newman got the rally started, then former Giants farmhand Bryan Reynolds singled, and then former Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera doubled down the right-field line to get the Pirates on the board.

Josh Bell then cut the Giants lead down to one, as he launched his 37th home run of the season into the left field bleachers.

Mitch Keller also went five innings, allowing five runs on nine hits, not walking a batter and striking out seven.

Shawn Anderson pitched the final 1.1 innings to notch his first major-league save and his first since pitching for the University of Florida.

NOTES: To make room for Cueto on the 40-man roster, Williams Jerez was designated for assignment.

Cueto is the 62nd different Giants player to suit up this season, the most in the National League and second most in the majors, behind the 63 that put on the uniform of the Seattle Mariners.

The 62 players are the most in Giants history and currently tied for the fourth-most in major league history.

Prior to this season, the Giants’ record for most players in a season was 51 set during the 1990 season.

Bruce Bochy won his 1,996th career game, leaving four shy of the magical 2,000 mark.

Pirates reliever and former Giants pitcher Kyle Crick underwent surgery on the index finger on his right hand as the result of an injury that occurred during an altercation with Felipe Vázquez in the clubhouse.

The behavior exhibited by these two players last night is unacceptable, inconsistent with the standards expected of a Major-League player and will not be tolerated by the organization,” general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement.