Buster shakes things up, Giants come back for biggest win of the season to beat Padres 6-5

San Francisco Giants Jung Hoo (51) Lee celebrates Matt Chapman (right) home run in the bottom of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jun 4, 2025 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 5 (35-25)

San Francisco Giants 6 (34-28)

Win: Sean Hjelle (1-0)

Loss: Jason Adam (1-3)

Save: Randy Rodriguez (1)

Time: 2:21

Attendance: 34,821

By Stephen Ruderman

Buster Posey shook things up, and it proved pivotal in multiple ways, as the Giants came back from down 5-0 to beat the Padres 6-5 in what was no doubt their biggest win of the season.

Prior to the game, LaMonte Wade Jr., the fifth-longest tenured Giant, who had been here in 2021, was designated for assignment. Wade was hitting .167, and with the fact that Bryce Elridge is on his way to the big leagues, Wade was destined to be the odd man out. Wednesday night was the night.

Catcher Sam Huff was also designated for assignment. Infielder Christian Koss was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento.

The Giants signed veteran first-baseman Dominic Smith to a one-year major league contract and added him to the roster. Smith spent time with the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds last season, and hit .233.

To complete the shakeup, Buster called up outfielder Daniel Johnson and catcher Andrew Knizer from Sacramento. Johnson and Knizer both have major league experience. Johnson started the season in the Mexican League with the Cliente de Durango, and signed a minor league deal with the Giants on May 2. Knizer signed a minor league deal on May 21.

Johnson is also a local kid, as he was born and grew up in Vallejo. He attended Jesse M. Bethel High School, where he hit .515 in his senior season in 2013.

Since their 24-14 start in which the offense clicked on all cylinders playing situational baseball, the Giants have gone 9-14, and the offense’s struggles from the last three seasons returned. After last night’s 3-2 loss in 10 innings, the Giants fell to just five games over .500 for the first time since April 8

After Farhan Zaidi tinkered with the roster on an almost-daily basis for the last three years, Buster has kept the roster mostly intact since Opening Day. However, with the recent struggles, moves were going to be made at some point. A shakeup like this can sometimes come across as rash, changes needed to be made.

Smith and Johnson would both be in the lineup, as Kyle Harrison took the ball for the Giants on a tranquil and foggy night at Oracle Park. Unfortunately, it looked like it was going to be another one of those nights for the Giants. The Padres struck early with a pair of runs on a two-out triple by Gavin Sheets in the top of the first inning.

The Giants’ offensive struggles continued. Padres’ starter Nick Pivetta retired 14 of the first 15 men he faced, including 13-straight from the bottom of the first through the fifth.

Harrison worked his way in and out of trouble, as he got through the second, third and fourth with the deficit still at two. Harrison would then have a very rough go of things in the top of the fifth.

The Padres had runners at first and second with one out for Jackson Merrill, who lined a double down the left field line to make it 3-0. Sheets, who knocked in the Padres’ first two runs with his triple in the top of the first, hit a sharp chopper off the top of Harrison’s back, and the ball ricocheted into shallow right field. Two runs scored, and the Padres had opened up a 5-0 lead.

Harrison left the game, and Bob Melvin brought in Sean Hjelle, who retired the next two. It was clearly not the best night for Harrison, who gave up five runs over four and two thirds innings. He gave up nine hits, and he did not pitch a single one, two, three inning.

The Giants have come back from a 5-0 deficit to win a game this season. Oddly enough, it was April 9, the last time the Giants came into a game just five games over .500. The Giants came back from down 5-0 to beat the Reds on Mike Yastrzemski’s walk-off splash hit in the bottom of the 10th.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Daniel Johnson, the new kid, fisted a base-hit to center to end Pivetta’s streak. Patrick Bailey then came up and hit a double to right-center, which scored Johnson, and put the Giants on the board.

Hjelle threw a one, two, three inning in the top of the sixth, and the Giants would put a real dent in San Diego’s lead in the bottom of the sixth. Jung Hoo Lee doubled with one out, and two batters later, Matt Chapman hit a two-run home run to the first row of the left field bleachers to make it 5-3.

It suddenly felt like April. The crowd was fired up, and so was the Giants’ dugout. Most importantly, the Giants had that aura again. There was a feeling in the Giants’ dugout that they were going to come back and win the game.

Hjelle threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the seventh, and he retired eight of the nine men he faced over two and two thirds innings. Hjelle was not going to get the most credit Wednesday night, but he quietly played a big part with his performance.

The Giants were ready to strike in the bottom of the seventh. Willy Adames drew a walk to start the inning, and after Johnson lined a base-hit to center, Pivetta was done. Jason Adam came in and struck out Bailey, and then Tyler Fitzgerald flipped a single to right-center to load the bases.

Heliot Ramos came up to the plate. Ramos took a slider down and away for ball one, and then he golfed a slider at the knees down the left field line to tie the game.

It was a brand-new game, and the Giants were still going. Lee hit a sacrifice fly to right-center, and Fitzgerald scored to give the Giants the lead.

Tyler Rogers was summoned for the top of the eighth, and he saw some action right away. Jose Iglesias led off the inning, and hit a chopper in between the mound and first base. Rogers dropped it, and then he slipped, but as he slipped, he recovered the ball and underhanded it to first to get the out.

It was a remarkable play by Rogers, who was a bit dinged up. He was checked on, but he stayed in the game to complete a scoreless inning.

Since Camilo Doval pitched Tuesday night, Melvin summoned his old closer, Ryan Walker to try and nail down the save Wednesday night. However, we would get our usual drama from Walker.

Tatis lined a base-hit to left-center to start the top of the ninth. Then Luis Arraez hit a shot out into the gap in right-center, but Johnson, playing in his first-ever game at Oracle Park, ran like the wind to take away extra bases and save the Giants’ lead.

Johnson’s catch especially paid huge dividends, because Manny Machado blooped a single to left to put runners at first and second. Melvin had seen enough, and he brought in Randy Rodriguez.

Rodriguez struck out Jackson Merrill, and then both runners pulled off a double steal to get to second and third. Gavin Sheets, who had knocked in four of the Padres’ five runs, was at the plate with a chance to put the Padres back ahead. Rodriguez got Sheets to pop out, and the Giants held on for their biggest win of the season.

Sean Hjelle was rewarded for his effort with the win. Jason Adam took the loss, and Randy Rodriguez picked up his first-career save.

And how about the local kid, Daniel Johnson. He went 2-for-4 and scored two of the Giants’ six runs, and his tremendous running catch in the top of the ninth single-handedly saved this game. It looks like Buster’s moves paid off in more ways than one.

The Giants improve to 34-28, and they can get a split in the series with a win Thursday afternoon. The Giants will have the right man on the mound in Robbie Ray (7-1, 2.43 ERA). Dylan Cease (1-4, 4.66 ERA) will go for San Diego.

First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m.

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

Rob Manfred dropped the bomb Wednesday. He told Evan Drellich of The Athletic that the Major League Baseball Joint Competition Committee will officially propose implementing an Automated Balls and Strikes challenge system next season. While it is not official, the majority of the committee is made up of owners, which makes it very likely we will see the ABS challenge system implemented next season.

Final Thoughts:

This was a big win, and this is the exact kind of win that gets a struggling team hot.

However, I am worried about the team for the first time. One of the biggest reasons the Giants have struggled is that they have abandoned the situational hitting that got them off to their 24-14 start, and have been relying on home runs again. I get that this is likely due to guys pressing at the plate, but if they can’t kick this habit soon, the Giants will risk falling out of contention.

That is why the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday night was so big. They kept the line moving, and the big hit was Heliot Ramos’ line-drive double down the left field line. That is the kind of baseball the Giants have to play to get out of this slump. If they can go back to consistently playing the kind of situational baseball that got them off to their 24-14 start, they will be just fine.

Giants waste strong performance by Webb and strand 12 on base in rough 1-0 10-inning loss to Padres

San Diego Padres hitter Jose Iglesias slugs a sacrifice fly that scores teammate Jake Cromwell in the tenth inning for the game’s only run against catcher Patrick Bailey and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Jun 2, 2025 (AP photo)

Monday, June 2, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 1 (34-24)

San Francisco Giants 0 (33-27)

Win: Robert Suarez (1-1)

Loss: Ryan Walker (1-3)

Time: 2:51

Attendance: 35,680

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants left 12 men on base Monday night, and Logan Webb’s eight shutout innings were all for naught, as the combination of wasted opportunities and a little bit of Manfredball led to a 10-inning 1-0 win for the Padres to start the homestand.

After a torrid 24-14 start over the first six weeks of the season, the Giants’ offense has collapsed over the last three and a half weeks. Instead of playing situational baseball and stealing bases like they did over the first six weeks, the Giants have relied on home runs, which is exactly what got them into trouble the last two years.

Thankfully, the Giants have still been able to win some games, and have not fallen below six games over .500. It has been in large part due to their superb pitching staff, and possibly the best bullpen in the game.

After getting swept out of Detroit by the juggernaut Tigers last week, the Giants were able to come out of Miami with two out of three over the subpar Marlins. Monday night, the Giants returned home to begin a four-game set against the San Diego Padres.

Like the Giants, the Padres got off to a hot start, but have sputtered as of late. In fact, this looked to be an evenly-matched series.

The Giants would send their ace, Logan Webb, to the mound in the series opener on a brisk and cool night on the shores of McCovey Cove. Webb started off the night by throwing just nine pitches in a one, two, three top of the first inning.

Stephen Kolek took the ball for the Padres in his sixth start of the season. His first two starts after being called up from Triple-A El Paso were great. He threw five and a third shutout innings against the Pirates at PNC Park on May 4, and then he threw a complete game shutout in Denver against the Rockies six days later.

However, Kolek’s last three starts were another story. In his last three starts, he has given up 15 earned runs over 16 and a third innings. Either Kolek would be the perfect man for the Giants’ offense to pounce on and start to get hot again, or the Giants’ struggling offense to help Kolek settle down a bit.

Unfortunately, it would somewhat be the latter. I say somewhat, because Kolek had a hard time getting his feet on the ground early, as he ran into trouble in the bottom of the first and second.

The Giants put runners at the corners with two outs in the bottom of the first, but Mike Yastrzemski struck out to end the inning. The Giants then loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the second on a rally for absolutely free. However, Tyler Fitzgerald then grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Heliot Ramos grounded into an inning-ending double play.

It was two more wasted opportunities for a struggling Giants’ offense. Kolek was on the ropes twice, but the Giants bailed him out both times.

Fortunately for the Giants, the Padres’ offense couldn’t come through either, as Webb wiggled his way out of trouble in the second and third.

There was a little bit of drama in the early innings. LaMonte Wade was hit in the hand by Kolek in the bottom of the second and had to leave the game. Wade was x-rayed after the game, and he only had a contusion and no broken bones. Webb hit Elias Diaz in the top of the third, and after Kolek hit Wilmer Flores in the hand in the bottom of the third, Wilmer had a few choice words for the Padres’ young right-hander.

It used to be that the home plate umpire could take charge and issue warnings. However, since 2020, Major League Baseball has had its umpires gather as a crew before issuing warnings. The umpires all gathered after Wilmer was hit, but with Home Plate Umpire Ryan Wills’ inability to take charge, that exacerbated the situation.

I couldn’t tell if warnings were issued. I assume they were, because when Wills and First Base Umpire and Crew Chief Lance Barksdale went over to talk to Padres Manager Mike Shildt, there was barking from the Padres’ dugout.

It also unnecessarily delayed the game, as it took the umpies a couple of minutes to sort out. If Wills had been able to take charge and issue warnings himself on the spot, there would not have been a delay, and there probably would not have been any barking from the Padres’ dugout either.

The benches did not clear, and the game would finish without any further incident. However, in a four-game series between two division rivals, things can get heated, so don’t be surprised if something happens later in this series.

After Wilmer was hit, Kolek settled down to throw a pair of one, two, three innings in the fourth and fifth. Meanwhile, Webb settled down to throw a one, two, three inning in the top of the fourth, but he had to work through another jam in the top of the fifth.

Kolek ended up going five and two thirds Monday night, and he gave up just three hits.

Webb ended up going eight, matching his longest outing of the season. Webb gave up six hits over his eight shutout innings. He didn’t walk anybody, and he struck out seven.

The Giants wasted two more golden opportunities in the seventh and eighth, and after going down scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, it was time for some Manfredball!

Ryan Walker was on the mound for the top of the 10th. Tyler Wade—no relation to LaMonte Wade—bunted the Manfred runner, Jake Cronenworth, over to third base. Jose Iglesias then got Cronenworth in with a sacrifice fly to left field for the game’s first run. Walker threw just seven pitches in what was a one, two, three inning, but he was still in line for the loss.

The Padres had a 1-0 lead going to the bottom of the tenth. Robert Suarez, who had pitched the bottom of the ninth, was back out, and Jung Hoo Lee was the ghost runner for the Giants.

Christian Koss bunted Lee over to third. Matt Chapman then hit a sharp one-hopper, but it was right to Iglesias at third, and Chapman was retired for the second out.

The Giants last hope would be Jerar Encarnacion, who was making his season debut. Encarnacion impressed by hitting five home runs in 35 games for the Giants last season, but he fractured his left hand diving for a ball during Spring Training.

In his 2025 debut, Encarnacion was thrown into a big spot with a chance to be the hero. The count quickly went to 0-2. Encarnacion fouled one away, and made perfect contact with a 101-mile-per-hour sinker and hit a bullet to the right side. Unfortunately, it was right into the glove of Padres’ first base-man Luis Arraez, and the game was over. The Padres won 1-0.

The Giants went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and they left 12 men on base. This was also the Giants’ 15th-straight game in which they scored four runs or fewer. The last time that happened was in 1965 with an offense that featured three hall-of-famers. I don’t know about you, but I see that as a good omen.

Robert Suarez got the win, and Ryan Walker got the loss despite his only action being a seven-pitch one, two, three inning. Manfredball strikes again!!!

The Giants fall to 33-27, and they will just have to try and bounce back Tuesday night. Landen Roupp (3-4, 3.54 ERA) will be on the bump for the Giants. Ryan Bergert (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who has appeared in just four games and hasn’t made a single start, will take the ball for San Diego.

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

Giants News and Notes:

To make room for Jerar Encarnacion, Luis Matos was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento after hitting what proved to be the game-winning home run on Sunday in Miami.

That’s the harsh reality of the beautiful game of Baseball. You can hit what proves to be the game-winner one day, but if you’re hitting .167 on the season, you could very well be sent down to the minors the next.

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic Mon Jun 2, 2025: Matos hits game winning home run Sunday is demoted on Monday

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong works on the Miami Marlins lineup at Loan Depot Park on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

SF Giants podcast Marko Ukavolic Jun 2, 2025:

#1 The San Francisco Giants took two of three games from the Miami Marlins over the weekend and have won four out of their last six games. The Giants have been playing around .500 ball.

#2 Taking a look at Sunday’s game the Giants got home run production from Luis Matos who hit a three run home run that helped beat the Miami Marlins 4-2 at LoanDepot Park in Miami.

#3 Matos home run was one to marvel he hit 390 feet to left center and it was enough to give the Giants a good front and a 4-0 lead.

#4 The Giants didn’t score after the Matos home run noting that the Giants have not scored in 14 games in a row after scoring four or more runs. They have been hurting for offense.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series starting tonight with the San Diego Padres RHP Stephen Kolek (3-1 ERA 4.11) the Giants will be starting RHP Landen Roupp (3-4 ERA 3.54) first pitch slated at 6:45pm PDT.

Join Marko Ukalovic for Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Get Past Marlins, Win 4-2, Taking the Series

San Francisco Giants Luis Matos smacks a three run home run in the top of the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Sun Jun 1, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (33-26) won their series over the Miami Marlins (23-34) winning game three 4-2 Sunday. Giant’s pitcher Hayden Birdsong had a great game going 5 1/3 innings. Heliot Ramos had a couple of hits, one of them a three run home run which turned to be the winning play of the game.

Game recap: The Giants got on the board in the third inning for a 1-0 lead. The very dependable Wilmer Flores grounded out to second with Ramos on third scoring the first run of the game.

The 1-0 lead did not last long, in fact in the very next inning, the fourth inning San Francisco put up some insurance runs when Ramos hit a home run to left center with Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey on base and the Giants had a nice 4-0 lead that would persist into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Miami finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning scoring one run. Otto Lopez singled Xavier Edwards home from second base and the score was 4-1 in favor of the Giants.

Through seven innings, San Francisco had five hits, and the Marlins also had five hits. The huge fourth inning for San Francisco put them in a great position to win this series. Hayden Birdsong finished a solid game going 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits but only giving up the one run. His ERA now stands at 2.37 in a good outing. He was relieved by Ryan Walker who got San Francisco out of the sixth inning.

The Giants got on base via a walk in the top of the seventh inning but nothing more. Jordan Hicks would take over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hicks walked the first batter he faced Eric Wagaman, but struck out Connor Norby and just when things were looking like they had settled he walked Liam Hicks.

Jordan Hicks forced manager Bob Melvin’s hand when he walked a third runner Javier Sanoja, loading the bases with only one out. Tyler Rogers came in to try and get the Giants out of this inning. He was facing the top of the batting order Xavier Edwards who singled Wagaman home and this game was a 4-2 tally with two outs. Rogers got the third strikeout with minimal damage.

Wilmer Flores singled to start out the top of the eighth inning but next at bat Matt Chapman hit into a double play. Willy Adames also singled but Schmitt struck out and that would close out the top of the inning.

Giant’s pitcher Erik Miller came into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Marlins really got something going in the bottom of the eighth. With one out Wagaman hit a double and the Marlins had two runners on second and third base, Ramirez and Wagaman with one out.

The Giants bullpen got really busy and that was it for Miller. Camilo Duval came to the mound to try and save the inning. He loaded the bases and with two out and was faced with a serious situation but came through striking out Sanoja and getting out of the eighth inning. San Francisco had hung onto their 4-2 lead when it could have ended very badly.

The Giants went quietly in the top of the ninth inning. Luis Matos singled and then stole second base, to no avail, when Ramos grounded out for the third out. It would be up to Camilo Doval to save the game for San Francisco.

He faced the top of the Marlin batting order and gave up a single to first batter Xavier Edwards who had his fifth hit of the day. Jesus Sanchez grounded into a double play and the Giants were one out away from the win. Doval got the out, the save and the Giants got not only the win but the series win.

A win is a win but we finally saw the San Francisco offense step up but one thing turns around and something else struggles and that was the bullpen Sunday. They really had a tough time but Doval saved the game. San Francisco finished with five hits although the Marlins outhit them with nine. Again Kudos to Hayden Birdsong who pitched a great game.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Giants beat the Marlins in game three to take the three game series 2-1. The Giants won the first game of the series 2-0 but then dropped game two to Miami 1-0. San Francisco came out ahead with a 4-2 on Sunday. Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong pitched 5.1 innings, five hits and one earned run gave up one earned run and struck out five. Marlins starter Ryan Weathers pitched six innings, allowed five hits, four earned runs, walked three, and struck out seven.

They will take this win into San Diego where they start their series with the Padres Monday. This will be a battle for second place in the National League West. One game separates the two teams in this four-game series. Logan Webb will have another go on the mound after having struggled in his last outing. He has a 5-5 win/loss record and a 2.82 ERA. Stephen Kolek will start for the Padres with a 3-1 win/loss record ERA 4.11. First pitch Monday is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Pete Rose-Shoeless Joe eligible for Hall of Fame induction; Former Giant Longoria to sign one day contract with Rays and then retire;

Former Cincinnati Reds and MLB all time hits leader Pete Rose (pictured) along with former Chicago White Sox Shoeless Joe Jackson were forgiven by baseball for their association with gambling and are eligible for Hall of Fame status as announced by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred Tue May 13, 2025 (AP News file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 As were coming on the air breaking news Major League Baseball has opened the door for former Chicago White Sox Joe Shoeless Jackson and former Cincinnati Reds Pete Rose to be eligible for Hall of Fame induction status and baseball commissioner Rob Manfred had cleared the way for both players to be have their names restored in baseball. Rose admitted betting on baseball while managing the Reds and Joe Jackson was accused of being a participant in throwing the 1919 World Series loss to the Reds in a eight game series.

#2 Former San Francisco Giant third baseman and Tampa Bay Ray Evan Logoria will be signing a one day contract with the Rays and retire as a Tampa Bay Ray on June 7th at George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Bay. Longoria finished his big league career in Arizona in 2023 but never really officially retired. Longoria is considered the greatest player in Rays history. The Rays said that not only Longoria is recognized as the greatest Ray in history but he also defined Rays baseball history.

#3  Cleveland Guardians pitcher Ben Lively had to leave last Monday’s game versus the Milwaukee Brewers due to right forearm inflammation. Lively left in the fourth inning. Lively threw a few warm up pitches but had to leave because of discomfort. Lively talked it over with the trainers and manager Stephen Vogt.

#4 Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff will not be back anytime soon. According to Brewers manager Pat Murphy on Monday night he told the media that Woodruff is suffering from tendinitis in his right ankle. The ankle bothered him during a triple A appearance at Nashville. Woodruff was already rehabbing from a shoulder injury.

#5 The Colorado Rockies had won Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres 9-3 and then they fired manager Bud Black. The Rockies lost the day before on Saturday getting trounced by the Padres 21-0 at Coors Field. The Rockies set the record for the most losses by a team for the month of April and had a major league worst start at 7-33. The win on Sunday snapped the Rockies eight game loss streak. The Rockies also fired their bench coach Mike Redmond. Clint Hurdle went from hitting coach to bench coach and third base coach Warren Schaeffer will be the interim manager for the rest of the season.

#6 The Sacramento A’s are tied for second in the AL West and are just above .500 at 21-20 and who completed a six game homestand with the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees winning only two games out of six in Sacramento. The A’s were just one game away from moving into a tie for first place with the Mariners back on Tue May 6th but lost and fell two back. The A’s open up a three game set tonight in LA against the Dodgers could the A’s have a shot in this series and gain some ground?

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

Enjoy Aqua Adventure Waterpark at 40500 Paseo Padre Parkway Fremont and While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

 

Headline Sports Charlie O Sun May 11, 2025: Warriors feeling the pinch from Timberwolves without their star Curry; Celtics close the series gap on Knicks now down 2-1; plus more news

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry can only encourage his teammates as Curry out with a hamstring injury in game 3 can only watch the Minnesota Timberwolves defeat the Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sat May 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Charlie O Sun May 11, 2025:

#1 Charlie, the Golden State Warriors have gone down with a 102-97 loss in game 3 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors are like Popeye who lost their can of spinach playing without superstar Stephen Curry.

#2 Warrior top scorers from Saturday’s game 3 playoff game Jimmy Butler with 33 points and Jonathan Kuminga with 30 points as hard as they tried the Warriors fell five points short as time ran out and the Timberwolves move ahead in the series 2-1.

#3 In other NBA news the Boston Celtics cut the New York Knicks 2-0 lead in half with a win at Madison Square Garden in New York 115-93. The Celtics came into game 3 with backs to the wall but their talented corp of leading scorers with Payton Pritchard with 23 points and Jayson Tatum with 22 points righted the Celtics direction. The Celtics can tie up the series at 2-2 as they tip off against the Knicks on Monday night at MSG for game 4.

#4 Charlie turning to Major League Baseball the Sacramento A’s continue to surprise with a five run sixth inning against the visiting New York Yankees at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento and come up with a 11-7 win to tie the three game series on Saturday.

#5 The Colorado Rockies are now threatening the 2024 Chicago White Sox worst loss in baseball record Saturday they got completely trounced by the San Diego Padres by three touchdowns 21-0 if it were a football game. What’s worse the Rockies didn’t score a single run and the Rocks pitching staff got rocked all afternoon.

#6 Rockies manager Bud Black left starter Bradley Blalock out to on the mound to figure things out as Blalock got lit up for 13 hits and 12 runs in 3.2 innings of work before being relieved by Juan Mejia who got rocked but not as bad for six hits and four earned runs in 1.1 innings.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giant’s Lack of Offense Results In Another Loss to Padres 5-3

San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr rounds second base and heading for third after single by Luis Arraez. The San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames can only watch at Petco Park in San Diego on Wed Apr 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants offense was hurting in their latest series losing against the San Diego Padres 5-3. San Francisco was swept in this two-game series. Through five innings the Giants only managed a single and a walk. It was dismal.

The Giants got something going in the latter innings but like yesterday’s game one, it was too little too late. Every time the the Giants attempted a rally, the Padres answered right back in control from start to finish. The bright spots in this game were the two home runs from Heliot Ramos and Mike Yastrzemski both solo shots.

Game recap: Much the same as Tuesday the Padres got going early scoring in the second inning for the early 1-0 lead. Tyler Wade singled driving in Gavin Sheets. The Padres struck again in the third inning when Elias Diaz hit a solo home run extending their lead to 2-0.

San Diego piled on a couple more runs in the fifth inning ; their offensive woes clearly turned around. Fernando Tatis Jr. got the inning off to a great start with a single. Luis Arraez and Manny Machado both singled, the Machado single driving in Tatis Jr. for a 3-0 tally.

San Diego then loaded the bases scoring a second run in the inning off a Jose Iglesias infield single driving Arraez across home plate for a 4-0 lead going into the sixth inning. Through five innings the Giants had only managed a walk and a LaMonte Wade Jr. single, a disappointing offensive effort. They had some ground to make up, they had to get their bats going.

It was not until the sixth inning that San Francisco finally got on the scoreboard. It was only one run but the Giants were finally getting some offense going. Tyler Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch taking first base advancing to second on a Mike Yastrzemski single.

Jung Hoo Lee had an infield single that brought in the Giants first run when Fitzgerald scored for a 4-1 Padre lead. San Diego pushed their lead back to four runs in the sixth when Luis Arraez hit a triple and drove base runner Elias Diaz home for a 5-1 lead. The Padres were just relentless answering every time San Francisco threatened.

The Giants hit a couple of home runs, one in the seventh off the bat of Heliot Ramos and a second in the eighth inning courtesy of Mike Yastrzemski. San Francisco had snuck back into this game but still trailed by two runs 5-3. They would have to keep the Padres from doing any further damage in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Giants held on in the bottom of the eighth but still trailing going into the ninth inning they had some work to do. They had been having success coming back from deficits but lately that has dimmed a bit. San Francisco went quietly in the ninth with a Patrick Bailey strike-out followed by a LaMonte Wade Jr. strikeout. Wilmer Flores who has been struggling popped out for the final out and a 5-3 Padre win, San Diego sweeping the series.

San Francisco only had five hits in the game, the Padres finished with ten hits. Giant’s pitcher Landen Roupp lasted 4.1 innings allowing seven hits, four runs, three walks and four strikeouts. Spencer Bivens relieved Roupp pitching for 1.2 innings, the fifth and sixth. He allowed three hits and one run.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the Giants wrapped up their two game series with Padres getting swept after losing game one Tuesday 7-4. In game one, the Giants had a nice rally going in the sixth inning very nearly tying up the game trailing 4-5 but San Diego pushed right back in the seventh inning with a couple of runs to seal the deal.

Roupp allowed four unanswered runs and the Padres had a 4-0 lead after five innings. The Giants mustered just a run in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth inning and lost by two runs.

San Francisco will now head back home for a four-game series with the Colorado Rockies that will get underway Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM. Wednesday’s loss dropped the Giants into third place in the National League West giving the Los Angeles Dodgers sole possession of first place. The Giants Justin Verlander (0-2 ERA 4.99) will take the mound in search of his first win as a Giant. The struggling Rockies will start Kyle Freeland (0-4 ERA 4.93.

Giants Fall Behind Early, Lose To Padres 7-4

San Francisco Giant LaMonte Wade Jr (right) slide into third base safely advancing on a San Diego Padres throwing error. Padres third baseman Xavier Bogaerts is too late applying the tag at Petco Park in San Diego on Tue Apr 29, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (19-11) got a slow start in their series with the San Diego Padres (18-11) losing game one in their two-game series. The Giants fell behind early in the first inning 3-0 putting themselves behind the eight ball from the get-go.

The Giants did rally in the sixth inning scoring 3 runs getting within one run 5-4 with 3 innings left in the game. San Francisco has been excelling in coming back from deficits but it didn’t happen Tuesday night.

Game recap: San Diego got going early scoring three runs in the first inning. Xander Bogaerts singled Manny Machado home for the first run of the game. The Padres would add to their lead in the first when a Jose Iglesias single drove both Gavin Sheets and Bogaerts home for a 3-0 lead.

San Francisco did not get on the board until the fourth inning when Willy Adames hit a 399 foot long ball. The Giants brief rally came to an end when the Padres struck again scoring 2 more runs in the fourth taking a 5-1 lead. Luis Arrez hit a sacrifice fly bringing Jason Heyward home followed by a Manny Machado single driving in Elias Diaz.

San Francisco needed to answer before this game got out of control and that is exactly what they did in the sixth inning very nearly tying up this game. It was a three run inning for the Giants that started with a Jung Hoo Lee single driving Willy Adames home. San Francisco would add a couple more runs when LaMonte Wade Jr. doubled and Lee and Heliot Ramos both scored on an error. Trailing by a single run 5-4, the Giants were back in the game.

San Diego extended their lead in the seventh inning courtesy of a Xander Bogaerts home run with Gavin Sheets on base pushing their lead back out to 7-4. Going into the eighth inning the Giants were running out of time. Jung Hoo Lee flied out, and both Matt Chapman and Wilmer Flores struck out. San Francisco was three outs away from losing game one in this series.

Giant’s pitcher Lou Trivino breezed through the bottom of the eighth inning and San Francisco had one final inning to at least score three runs to tie, a tall order. San Diego closer Robert Suarez came into the game looking to finish off the Giants. Ramos flied out, Wade Jr. popped out to third and it was up to Patrick Bailey to try to extend the ninth inning. He grounded out and that was the ball game 7-4 in favor of San Diego winning the first game of this two game series. The Giants had gone out quietly in the eighth and ninth innings.

San Francisco starter Logan Webb had a rough first inning giving up three runs settling down in the second and third innings but gave up two more runs in the fourth. He went five innings allowing nine hits and five runs with six strikeouts.

The Giants finished the game with seven hits. The Padres had 11 hits and San Francisco just couldn’t keep up with them. The Padres who had been struggling offensively lately turned that all around in this game stringing hits together.

Game notes: The Giants started their week off taking on the Padres (18-11) in a short two-game series for Tuesday and Wednesday. The Giants came into Tuesday night’s game after winning their series over the weekend with the Texas Rangers.

The Padres had a rough outing in their last series losing to the Tampa Bay Rays in a sweep. The Giants are currently tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers in first place with the Padres in third. The Padres will be looking to get back on the winning track after getting off to a pretty good start on the season.

The Giants have had a hot start to the season as well excelling in a number of come from behind wins. Last season they were leaving far too many runners stranded which has not been the case this year. They have their eye on sole possession of first place in the National League West. Logan Webb got touched up going five innings, allowing nine hits and five runs. For the Padres starter Nick Pivetta 5.1 innings, five hits and three earned runs.

Game two in this series is scheduled for an early first pitch at 1:10 PM on Wednesday. Landen Roupp will take the mound for San Francisco. He has a 2-1 win/loss record with a 4.56 ERA. Probable pitcher for San Diego is Michael King who comes into this game with a 3-1 win/loss record and a 2.18 ERA.

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Giants take series from Rangers with 3-2 walk-off win with little league home run

San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos dives in at home plate taking advantage of a Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger’s throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning for a walk off by little league home run win at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Apr 27, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Texas Rangers 2 (15-13)

San Francisco Giants 3 (19-10)

Win: Camilo Doval (2-1)

Loss: Luke Jackson (0-3)

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 40,118

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants keep finding ways to win, and Sunday, it was on a little league home run, as the Giants walked off the Rangers 3-2 to take the series.

Following Brandon Crawford’s retirement ceremony prior to the game Saturday, Sunday was your more typical laidback day at the ballpark. In fact, it felt more like a weekday game than a Sunday afternoon game. It was another tranquil gray and overcast afternoon at Oracle Park, as Northern California goes through its final bout of winter-like weather.

After Patrick Bailey fisted a walk-off single for the Giants’ fourth walk-off win of the season Saturday, the Giants were looking to take the series against the Rangers. They also had a chance to reach a new season-high nine games over .500.

Jordan Hicks, who has had a rough go of things in his return to the rotation, made the start, and he ran into problems right off the bat in the top of the first inning. Jake Burger doubled with one out, and then only moved one base to third on a squib double to left field off the bat of our old friend, Joc Pederson.

Hicks struck Adolis Garcia out on a foul tip for the second out of the inning, but Marcus Semien fisted a base-hit to right field to knock in both runs and give the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

Jack Leiter, the son of longtime starting pitcher Al Leiter, took the ball for Texas, and the Giants would have their response in the bottom of the first. Their response was a base-hit and three walks, but a response is a response, and the Giants had scored a run to make it 2-1.

Hicks settled down after his rocky top of the first, as he faced the minimum over the next three innings. Leiter, too, settled down, as he pitched scoreless innings in the bottom of the second and third.

Heliot Ramos reached on a chopper along the third base line to start the bottom of the fourth and stole second. After LaMonte Wade popped out to third for the first out of the inning, Bruce Bochy pulled Leiter for left-hander Jacob Latz. Patrick Bailey, the hero Saturday, flew out to left to get Ramos to third.

Christian Koss needed a big hit, and he came through with a base-hit to left-center. Ramos scored, and just like that, we were tied.

Hicks pitched one last scoreless inning in the top of the fifth to cap off his afternoon. It wasn’t a quality outing, but Hicks was solid after his rocky first inning. Overall, he gave up two runs and seven hits. He didn’t walk anybody, and he struck out three.

Bob Melvin brought in Hayden Birdsong, who has been dominant early on in the season, for the sixth inning. Birdsong was greeted by a rude awakening when Pederson tripled to lead off the inning, but it would be no problem. Birdsong set the side down in order without allowing Pederson to cross the plate, and the game stayed tied.

Birdsong proceeded to throw two more scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. He struck out five in his three innings of work, and moved his ERA down to 1.13.

Camilo Doval threw a one, two, three inning in the top of the ninth, and the Giants had a chance for yet another walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.

Bochy brought in former Giant Luke Jackson for the bottom of the ninth to face Heliot Ramos. The first pitch was a slider that Ramos chopped to the third base side of the mound. Jackson went over to his right to get it, but he flung the ball into right field. As Ramos rounded second and headed for third, first-baseman Jake Burger threw to third, and that was thrown away. Ramos scored, and the Giants won it on a walk-off little league home run.

The Giants got their fifth walk-off win of the season to improve to a new season-high nine games over .500 at 19-10. The Giants have not only gotten off to a great start this season, they have gotten off to a great start playing almost nothing but good teams.

Now, the Giants will head down to San Diego for a short two-game set against the Padres, who have cooled off a bit since their hot start. The teams will enjoy a day off Monday in San Diego, and then they will get going Tuesday night. The Giants will have their ace in Logan Webb (3-1, 1.98 ERA) on the mound, and he will be opposed by right-hander Nick Pivetta (4-1, 1.20 ERA).

First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.

Padres Take Series from A’s in 2-1 Finale Win

A’s take on the Padres on Wednesday afternoon in West Sacramento (Photo: Athletics on X)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — Sutter Health Park in Sacramento hosted the rubber game between the A’s and the Padres on Wednesday afternoon. The Padres had taken the first game of the series on Monday, while the A’s responded with a 10-4 victory on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s matchup featured Osvaldo Bido on the mound for the A’s, facing Randy Vasquez for the Padres. Both pitchers delivered strong performances, but the A’s offense struggled significantly, managing only two hits and ultimately losing the series finale, 2-1.

The A’s got on the scoreboard first in the second inning when Luis Urias hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Shea Langeliers. Initially, Langeliers was ruled out at the plate, but after a quick review, the call was overturned, awarding the A’s the early 1-0 lead.

San Diego responded swiftly in the third inning, as Oscar Gonzales drove in Xander Bogaerts on a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 1-1. The Padres scored again in the fifth inning with another sac-fly, this time by Gavin Sheets, bringing in Bogaerts once more. That 2-1 lead would stand for the remainder of the game, as the Padres’ pitching silenced the A’s bats.

Despite the loss, Bido pitched reasonably well for Sacramento, throwing five innings and allowing two runs on nine hits while striking out five. Although the nine hits appear problematic, many resulted from soft contact that found gaps in the defense. On the Padres’ side, Randy Vasquez was effective over five innings, giving up just one run on a single hit with three walks and one strikeout.

Offensively, the A’s struggled throughout, producing just two hits and one run in the entire game. They’ll have a chance to regroup with an off day on Thursday before facing the New York Mets at Sutter Health Park on Friday night at 7:05 PM PST. Mets starting pitcher RHP Griffin Canning (0-1 ERA 2.79) for the A’s JP Sears 1-1 ERA 3.46.

With this loss, the A’s fell to 5-8 on the year, while the Padres improved their early-season record to 10-3.

Note: Jacob Wilson continued his impressive start to the 2025 season, recording another hit on Wednesday and extending his hitting streak to 13 games.