Tag: San Diego Padres

Giants Conforto takes advantage of faltering Padres for 2-1 win

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San Francisco Giants hitter Michael Conforto gets a two RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead on the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Sep 25, 2023 (@SFGiants photo)

San Diego (77-80). 100 000 000. – 1. 9. 0

San Francisco (78-79). 000 000 02x – 2. 7. 0

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 28,557

Monday, September 25, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO—While no one was looking, the fast fading San Francisco Giants found themselves tied in the National League playoff standings with the until recently tail dragging San Diego Padres. That would have been exciting news a week ago when no team had a chance to catch the Dodgers for the division championship but the final playoff berth was up for grabs, but at game time this warm and somewhat humid Monday evening, both the friars and the hometown Giants had an tragic number of only two with six games to go. Not that it matters much, but the Padres enjoyed a tie breaking run differential of 91 to -16.

Monday night’s terrific, hard fought, come from behind 2-1 Giants win eliminated San Diego from. the wild card race, although it also reduced San Francisco’s elimination number to one with five games remaining to be played.

The Giants, 2-8 in their last ten encounters, sent their tough luck ace, Logan Webb (10-15, 3.35 for the first 156 games of the season; 1-2, 2.36 in September). He turned in a tremendous performance tonight, throwing a 110 pitch complete game victory, in which he gave up nine hits, two of them in a stressful ninth inning, and no walks. The one run scored against him was earned and came in the first frame. The win improved his record to 11-13, 3.25.

The Pads went with Blake Snell, 14-9, 2.33 for the heretofore underperforming San Diegans and leading the majors in ERA, opponents’ batting average, opponents’ slugging average, and hits allowed per nine innings. He threw six shutout frames, stymying the Giants, who left seven runners on base under his watch. Three of them, one in each of the first three frames, were in scoring position.

The Cy Young candidate faced 25 batters, threw them 100 pitches, of which only 35 were balls, and allowed them four hits and chalked up seven strikeouts while two walks. His no decision left him at 14-9 but reduced his already low ERA to 2.25.

Tom Cosgrove relieved him in the bottom of the seventh and, after getting two outs and suffering an infield single from Slater, turned the ball over to Robert Suárez, San Diego’s first right hander of the game, who retired the side on a hard bounder to Ji-man Choi at first.

In spite of that clutch out, the Giants’ eighth inning surge made Suárez the losing pitcher, with a record of 4-3, 4.21.

The visitors struck first with a game opening infield single by Xander Bogaerts, a line double to left by Fernando Tatís, Jr., and Manny Machado’s Texas League single to left. Webb escaped further damage when Luis Matos caught Ha-Seong Kim’s line drive to left and doubled up Tatís, trying to get back to second.

The Friars maintained that one run lead until the bottom of the eighth. With Suárez on the mound, a succession of left handed pinch hitters, with one right handed starter thrown into the mix, putSan Francisco ahead, 2-1.

LaMonte Wade, Jr., batting for JD Davis, walked. The starter, Marco Luciano, doubled to right, sending Wade to third. Joc Pedeson, batting for Mitch Haniger, received an intentional walk to load the bases.

Switch hitter Patrick Bailey’s grounder to first forced Wade out at the plate. And then Michael Conforto, pinch hitting for Héliot Ramos, whacked an opposite field single to left that brought in Luciano and Pederson with the tying and winning runs.

But that didn’t end the drama. Webb didn’t just breeze through the top of the ninth. Juan Soto greeted him with a leadoff single. The Manny you love to hate sent him to second with another safety to center. Both runners moved up 90 feet on Ha-Seongs’s ground out to third.

Wade, now playing first, fielded Ji-Man Choi’s hard shot and threw Soto out at home for the second out. And then Matt Baten grounded out to second.

The three game series will continue tomorrow, Tuesday, evening at 6:45. Bob Melvin’s crew will send Seth Lugo (7-7, 3.79) against the orange and black, who’ll entrust their fate to rookie Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.85)

Giants Fall to Dodgers in Tenth 3-2; SF Drops 5 Games Back in NL Wild Card

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San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr., right, celebrates with Tyler Fitzgerald after they both scored off of a home run hit by Wade Jr. during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium on Sun Sep 24, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite having the bases loaded numerous times the San Francisco Giants were unable to get past the Los Angeles Dodgers losing in ten innings 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers were first up on the scoreboard in the second inning. J.D. Martinez doubled followed by James Outman who wasted no time knocking the first pitch out of the park for a 2-0 lead.

San Francisco would tie up the game in the fifth inning. Fitzgerald came to the plate and singled to center. Next up LaMonte Wade Jr. homered to center and this game was all tied up 2-2. It was a brand new ball game.

The deadlock would continue into the eighth inning. Both defenses had really stepped up and there was not a whole lot of offensive action from either team.

In the ninth inning the Giants were on the verge of breaking this tie. They had the bases loaded with Heliot Ramos on third, Marco Luciano on second and LaMonte Wade Jr. was intentionally walked.

San Francisco had a huge opportunity to put some runs up on the board and break the tie. Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips got out of the inning striking out Mitch Haniger giving Los Angeles the chance for a walk off. A Freeman ground out, a Muncy line out and a Martinez strike out sent this game into extra innings.

In the tenth inning the Giants once again loaded the bases with Estrada, Pederson and Haniger on base and Patrick Bailey at the plate. San Francisco did not want to come away empty a second time.

In a horrible twist of fate the Dodgers pulled off a double play and this game went into the bottom of the tenth. You can only toy with the Dodgers for so long before it bites you in the rear. With Amed Rosario on third base, Chris Taylor singled and that was ball game.

The Giants unable to turn loaded base situations into runs was their downfall in this game. They had every opportunity to win the game but just couldn’t pull it off. Although not mathematically out of a Wild Card it does now look pretty grim.

Giants post game notes: Sunday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (77-79) took on the Los Angeles Dodgers (96-59) in game four of their four game series. The Dodgers won the first game of the series 7-2 as well as the third game in a shutout 7-0.

San Francisco won game two 5-1 and are looking to even this series in game four. The Giants are running out of time with only seven games left and still sitting in sixth place for a Wild Card. They will need a lot of help to get into that third spot and they can’t give up anymore games. Making things worse for the Giants every team that is vying for the Wild Card spots won today. The Phillies, Marlins, Cubs, Reds, and Diamondbacks all winners.

Monday night the Giants will begin a three game series at Oracle Park with the San Diego Padres. On the mound for San Francisco will be Logan Webb. He has a 10-13 win/loss record with a 3.35 ERA. The Giants offense will face the Padres Blake Snell with a 14-9 win/loss record and a 2.33 ERA. Juan Soto leads the Padres in home runs with 33, and his batting average is .282 with 105 RBIs.

The Giants have a good one in Wilmer Flores who is having a great season with 22 home runs and a .281 batting average. Thairo Estrada is another offensive weapon for San Francisco with a .274 ERA. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

Soto has grand time with 2 HRs in Padres landslide win over A’s 10-1

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Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers pegs out the San Diego Padres Jose Azocar at first base in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

San Diego (NL) (72-78). 000 202 240. – 10 13. 0

Oakland (46-103) 000 000 010 – 1. 6. 0

Time: 2:50

Attendance: 8,680

Sunday, September 17, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND—The A’s thought enough of Joe Boyle to have sent Sam Moll and an undisclosed amount of cash to the Cincinnati Reds two weeks before the Notre Dame alumnus’s 24th birthday to pluck him from the roster of the AA Southern Association Chattanooga Lookouts and assign him to the AA Midland Rock Hounds of the Texas League.

Three weeks later he was with the AAA Las Vegas Aviators, where he went 0-2, 2.25 over 16 innings in three starts in the hitter friendly PCL. Today he opened for the Oakland Athletics. It was an impressive debut for the fireballing right hander, who has been working on reducing his velocity in order to improve his control.

The youngster hurled three innings of one hit shutout ball, striking out four and walking two. He threw 58 pitches to the 12 batters he faced; 35 of those offerings counted as strikes. He wasn’t involved in the decision, an overwhelming 10-1 triumph for the visitors.

San Diego came into the game with a record of 71-78, considerably better but no less disappointing than Oakland’s game time 40-102. The Padres were considered a legitimate threat to the Dodgers’ domination of the NL-West, but Bob Melvin’s crew took the field with an elimination number of seven with 13 games left to play.

So it was a day to enjoy the game and not think about its consequences in the standings. If you’re looking for a meaningful contest in the bay area, the Modesto Nut’s open the California League’s championship round at 7:30 tonight at John Thurman field.

The visitors also went the bullpen route, using Rick Martínez, whose two most frequently used pitches are the changeup and sinker, although he also employs the curve, cutter, and four seamer, as an opener. His last 11 appearances had been in relief.

He had started seven games before this one, which he began at 5-4, 3.84. He shut the A’s out on one hit, a broken bat single by Zack Gelof in the first, before departing after three frames, replaced by Pedro Avila.

Ken Waldichuk relieved Boyle to start the fourth inning and promptly gave up three consecutive hits, a lead off double to Manny Machado and singles to Xander Bogaerts and Luis Campsano. A late throw to first on a double play attempt and an infield single netted two runs for the visitors.

Avila also had trouble with the first batters he faced, issuing a base on balls to Gelof and allowing a single to Brent Rocker before settling down to retire Seth Brown, Shea Langeliers, and Lawrence Butler to preserve the Padres’ 2-0 lead.

Waldichuk set down San Diego in order in the fifth but yielded a sharp single to Bogaerts, leading off the sixth. Luis Camposano’s hard shot to short took an unexpected hop over Nick Allen’s head , and what looked like it would be a double play became a single that put two men on with no one out.

José Azocar laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved both of them up 90 feet, and Matthew Batten drove the two of them in to double the friar’s advantage.

Juan Soto’s 31st home run of the season with one on and no one down in the top of the seventh stretched the gap between the two teams to a half a dozen tallies. Soto’s blast sailed over the 388 foot marker in right center field travelled 411 feet and left his bat at 106.9mph, about 16mph faster than Waldichuk’s four seamer came in at.

Avila capped his three inning shutout performance by fanning all three batters he faced in the sixth. Tom Cosgrove, the first of two southhpaws to pitch for the Padres this afternoon, took over in the bottom of the seventh. The A’s touched him for a couple of singles by Seth Brown and Lawrence Butler, but that was all.

Devin Sweet, the rookie recently claimed off what used to be called the waiver wire from Seattle, got the nod to pitch the top of the eighth. He plunked Azocar, gave up a single to Batten and a walk to Profar but struck out Eguy Rosario and Tatis.

Oh, and by the way, after Tatis fanned, Soto blasted his second four bagger of the afternoon, his first career grand slam, a 407 foot wallop to left that gave Ray Kerr, the Pads’ other lefty to pitch today, a 10 run lead to protect in the bottom of the frame.

Geloff’s two out homer to left cut insignificantly into that lead. It was the rookie’s 13th dinger of the year, and Kerr went on to protect that nine run margin with a 1,2,3 ninth

Francisco Pérez, Oakland’s fourth pitcher of the afternoon, pitched a perfect ninth.

Avila earned the win. His record now is 2-1, 3.38. Waldichuk earned the loss. His record now is 3-8, 5.40.

The Seattle Mariners come to town to open a three game series with the A’s, starting tomorrow, Monday, evening at 6:40. The probable pitchers are Oakland’s JP Sears (5-11, 4.45) and Seattle’s Bryan Woo (3-4, 4.16).

Mason Miller struggles in second start back from 60-Day IL, as A’s fall to Padres for third-straight loss

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Sep 16, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Brett Sullivan (29) appeals to the third base umpire on a check swing by Oakland Athletics first baseman Ryan Noda (49) during the fifth inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Noda was ruled out on the play. Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

San Diego Padres 5 (71-78)

Oakland Athletics 2 (46-102)

Win: Matt Waldron (1-3)

Loss: Mason Miller (0-3)

Save: Josh Hader (29)

Time: 3:15

Attendance: 14,376

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The San Diego Padres beat the Oakland A’s, 5-2, in the second game of this three-game series on a partly cloudy Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum to hand the A’s their third-straight loss.

The A’s sent the young right-hander, Mason Miller, to the mound. Miller, who was making his second start since coming off the 60-Day Injured List, struggled with his control.

Miller walked Ha-Seong Kim, following a 1-2 count, to start the game; and then Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out for Juan Soto, who knocked Kim with a sacrifice fly to right. Xander Bogaerts then hit a donk single off the end of the bat into center for a base-hit to knock in Tatis and make it 2-0 Padres. Miller then issued a pair of two-out walks to load the bases, but he escaped further damage.

“Everytime [I’m] out there is a blessing and an opportunity,” said Miller. “I look to capitalize on things I’m struggling with, [and] make those adjustments week to week, outing to outing.” I don’t want to make any excuses for [my command].”

The knuckleballer, Matt Waldron, got the start for the Padres, and pitched scoreless innings in the bottom of the first and second. The A’s got to Waldron for a run to put the A’s on the board in the bottom of the third, as Nick Allen doubled to left with one out, and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Ryan Noda.

“I think that was my first time getting [a] hit off a knuckleball,” said Allen. “It was nice getting a double, [and] getting in scoring position for the guys.”

Luis Medina succeeded Mason Miller on the mound for the A’s, and threw a 1-2-3 top of the second, as well as a scoreless third. Medina remained in a groove in the top of the fourth, as he struck Trent Grisham out swinging to start the inning, and he got Matthew Batten looking for the second out. However, Medina walked Brett Sullivan, and gave up a single to Kim, which put runners at first and third. Medina walked Tatis to load the bases, and then he walked Soto to give the Padres a run for free.

Waldron pitched a scoreless bottom of the fourth for the Padres, and Medina came back out for the A’s in the top of the fifth. Medina hit Luis Campusano with a pitch to start the inning. He got Ji Man Choi to strike out swinging for the first out; he walked Grisham with one out; and got Batten looking again for the second out.

A’s Manager Mark Kotsay then opted to pull Medina for the lefty, Easton Lucas to face the left-handed-hitting Brett Sullivan. Sullivan hit a chopper to first that was picked up by A’s first-baseman, Ryan Noda, who threw a bouncer that went all the way to the A’s dugout.

Campusano and Grisham both scored to open the Padres’ lead to 5-1. Sullivan was originally awarded second base, but the third base umpire and crew chief, Dan Iassogna, convened the crew, and awarded Sullivan third since he had reached first before Noda got his throw off.

Mark Kotsay wanted an explanation as to why Sullivan was awarded third, and Iassogna checked in with the replay center in New York for a rule’s check, but he was backed up by Approved Ruling of Rule 5.06(b)(4)(G), which states:

“If all runners, including the batter-runner, have advanced at least one base when an infielder makes a wild throw on the first play after the pitch, the award shall be governed by the position of the runners when the wild throw was made.”

Zack Gelof hit a home run to left off Waldron to start the bottom of the sixth to cut the Padres’ lead to 5-2. Seth Brown struck out swinging, but after Aledmys Diaz singled to center, Waldron’s day was done. Padres Manager Bob Melvin brought in Scott Barlow, who gave up an opposite-field single to Lawrence Butler, which brought the tying run to the plate. However, Carlos Perez grounded back to the mound for a 1-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Easton Lucas ended up pitching two innings in total, and with two outs in the top of the seventh, he was replaced by Lucas Erceg, who would’ve ended up pitching a perfect inning and a third had Tatis not reached on an error with two outs in the top of the eighth.

Barlow ended up pitching an inning and a third of scoreless ball for San Diego, as did Robert Surarez. Dany Jimenez pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for the A’s, and the Padres summoned their closer, Josh Hader, for the bottom of the ninth.

Carlos Perez singled to left to start the bottom of the ninth, but Brent Rooker flew out to left; Nick Allen grounded into a fielder’s choice; and Shea Langeliers pinch-hit for Tony Kemp and struck out swinging to end the game.

The A’s will try and salvage a game in this series tomorrow, as they will send the young 6’7” right-hander Joe Boyle to be the opener in his major league debut.

[Joe Boyle] will open tomorrow,” said A’s Manager Mark Kotsay. “We’re looking forward to this day tomorrow to see a young man that [has] earned this opportunity.” said A’s Manager Mark Kotsay.

Stephen Ruderman is a http://www.sportsradioservice.com contributor and podcaster

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s have won 12 of last 22 games; Oakland has shown improvement despite picking up 100th loss

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Former Atlanta Braves starting pitcher now with the Oakland A’s Sean Newcomb works in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park in Cobb County GA on Sun Jul 29, 2023. Newcomb had to apologize after the game for sending sexist, racist and homophobic tweets six years ago. On Sat Aug 5, 2023 Newcomb kicked a garbage can into a fire extinguisher sending chemical spray all over the Braves clubhouse after a 10 inning loss. Newcomb had to apologize for both incidents. Newcomb starts tonight for the A’s against the San Diego Padres (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The A’s who went 3-3 on the last road trip in Arlington and Houston, lost two out of three in Texas and won two out of three in Houston. The A’s have played improved baseball going 12-10 in their last 22 games.

#2 The A’s were nearly no hit on Wednesday night in Houston by a combination of five Houston Astros pitchers. The A’s avoided getting no hit when Ryan Noda broke up the no hit bid with a single and later scoring in the inning.

#3 The A’s just couldn’t come back and fell to the Astros by four runs. The A’s lost their 100th game of the season with the 6-2 loss on Wednesday. This is the second year in a row they’ve lost 100 games.

#4 A couple of notes on tonight’s A’s starting pitcher Sean Newcomb, he comes over from the Atlanta Braves and nearly threw a no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Jul 29th. After the game Newcomb also had to apologize during a post game presser with the media not about losing the no hitter but about sexist, racist and homophobic tweets he sent out six or seven years ago. Later Newcomb on Sat Aug 5th kicked a garbage can that hit a fire extinguisher in the Braves clubhouse in frustration that sent chemical dust up in the clubhouse while a large fan was running, the team couldn’t come in the clubhouse to change out of their uniforms this was after a long ten inning game. Newcomb was angry for giving up the game winning hit to the Miami Marlins for the 7-6 loss. Do you think these might have been some of the reasons why Newcomb was dealt to the A’s?

#5 Jeremiah talk about tonight’s match ups to open the series Seth Lugo(6-7, 3.80 ERA) will go for the Padres and will be opposed by the A’s lefty, Sean Newcomb (0-1, 0.75 ERA). First pitch at 6:40pm PT.

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

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s open 10 game homestand at Coliseum Friday

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Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Newcomb will get the start on Fri Sep 15, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum against the visiting San Diego Padres (photo by clutchpoints.com)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s (46-100) come to the Oakland Coliseum Friday night to host the San Diego Padres (69-78) for three games. The A’s finished the six-game road trip against the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros with a record of 3-3. The A’s are 12-10 in their last 22 games. The team has done better in all three phases of baseball lately. The pitching has been good, the offense has come to life, and the A’s defense has been solid.

The A’s will welcome their former skipper, Padres manager Bob Melvin, back to the Coliseum for the first time since leaving Oakland after the 2021 season. Melvin managed the A’s starting midway through the 2011 season and was with the club for ten and 1/2 years.

Melvin took the A’s to the playoffs six times in his tenure at the helm. Melvin was named manager of the year in 2012 when the A’s won the AL West division title on the last day of the season, and in 2018 when the team won 97 games.

Unfortunately for Melvin, his 2023 Padres team has been a disappointment. The Padres finished second in the NL West in 2022 with a record of 89-73. The Padres superstar Fernando Tatis, Jr. was suspended for 80 games for using an illegal substance.

The Padres signed free agent Xander Bogaerts to an eleven-year contract in the off-season to bolster the Padres infield. The Padres, in the 27th largest market, have a payroll of $251.1 million, the third highest in baseball. The Mets are number one with $336 Million, and the Yankees are second with a payroll of $268.

All three teams are underachieving this year. The Padres are 69-78 in fourth place in the NL West. Bob Melvin is in the second year of a three-year contract. There have been rumors that Melvin is on the hot seat, and his days as the Padres manager might end at the end of the season.

The Padres, like many other teams in baseball, have had injuries to key players. Two starting pitchers, Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish, are out for the season. Catcher Gary Sanchez will not play again this year due to a wrist injury. First baseman Jake Cronenworth is also out for the year. However, the Padres have several key players that can be productive.

Their key players are third baseman Manny Machado, Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, and outfielders Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis. Soto leads the club with 30 homers and 90 RBIs. Machado is right behind with 28 dingers and 84 runs batted in.

Tatis, who missed the early part of the season due to his suspension, has belted 24 homers and knocked in 74. Bogaerts helped the offense with 18 big flies and 50 ribbies. Other players that can do damage include second baseman Ha-seong Kim, outfielder Trent Grisham, and first baseman Garrett Cooper.

As mentioned above, the injury jinx has hit the Padres pitching staff hard. However, starters Blake Snell and Michael Wacha have performed well for San Diego. Neither pitcher will face the A’s this weekend. The probable pitchers for the series will be Seth Lugo(6-7, 3.80 ERA) will go for the Padres and will be opposed by the A’s lefty, Sean Newcomb (0-1, 0.75 ERA).

On Saturday, The A’s Mason Miller, who pitched two scoreless innings against the Astros last Monday, will be opposed by Matt Waldron. Sunday’s game will feature Lefty Ken Waldichuk against the PAdres’ Pedro Avila. Waldichuk no-hit the Houston Astros for six innings last Monday, and it was Waldichuk’s best outing of the season.

The A’s, as mentioned above, have been playing better lately. Second baseman Zack Gelof has helped the A’s gain respectability with his outstanding play. Other players contributing to the A’s recent success include first baseman Ryan Noda, catcher Shea Langeliers, and outfielders Brent Rooker and Seth Brown.

Neither team has much to play for except bragging rights. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how the teams perform. A’s manager, Mark Kotsay, has his team playing hard until the final out. They may be down, but there is no quit on this young team. The Padres are a mystery. With all their talent, the question is, why are they floundering? On paper, they should easily handle the A’s. Will it happen? That’s why they play the games.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Good pitching beats good hitting; A’s can’t sweep nearly no hit by Houston

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The Oakland A’s Ryan Noda (left) runs past Houston Astros Yanier Diaz (right) for the A’s first run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Wed Sep 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerrry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s were prepared to sweep the Houston Astros on Wednesday night but as the old baseball saying goes good pitching beats good hitting. The Houston Astros used five pitchers who narrowly no hit the A’s. The Astros wound up with a two hit 6-2 win at Minute Maid Field.

#2 The Astros pitching into the ninth inning coughed up two runs but it wasn’t enough for the A’s to come back falling four runs short. Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly gave up the two hits and two runs in the failed no hit attempt.

#3 Jerry, talk about the Astros four run third inning off A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn who exited after the inning. Blackburn’s line three innings, four hits and four earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts.

#4 Jerry talk about Ryan Noda’s single on the bottom of the top of the ninth inning off Pressly to end the Astros no hit bid.

#5 The A’s will open up a ten game homestand against the San Diego Padres on Friday night. Starting pitcher for San Diego Seth Lugo (6-7 ERA 3.80) for Oakland Sean Newcomb (0-1 ERA 0.75) a 6:45pm PT first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

Jerry is a A’s reporter and does A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Soto slugs HR for third straight game as Pads shutout Giants at Petco 4-0

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San Diego Padres’ Juan Soto, left, celebrates with teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Sun Sep 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 Michael, talk about the San Diego Padres Juan Soto who slugged a home run in three straight games now that was key in the Padres 4-0 win at Petco Park in San Diego.

#2 The Padres Manny Machado who was overshadowed by Soto’s hot streak got a home run in his own right. Machado can do damage at any given time and the Giants had to cautious with him.

#3 Michael, talk about Padres reliever Seth Lugo who improved his record to 6-6 and held the Giants to just three hits in six innings of work stranding a running in scoring position he was key in this win.

#4 Giant starter Alex Cobb who threw a one hitter against the first place Cincinnati last Tuesday couldn’t keep the Padres in check Sunday going just three innings, six hits and four earned runs. The Padres were able to spot his pitches. You talked about having a good outing then the next outing you can bomb and that had happened to Cobb and pitcher Kyle Harrison in their next outings.

#5 The Giants head to the Windy City Monday to take on the Chicago Cubs who are trying to close the gap in the NL Central. The Giants will be going with Logan Webb (9-11 ERA 3.49) and going for the Cubs Justin Steele (15-3 ERA 2.69) first pitch 11:10AM PT.

Michael Duca is filling in for Marko Ukalovic who does the SF Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants get shutout 4-0 and drop three out of four to Padres

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San Diego Padres Juan Soto (left) celebrates his home run with third base coach Matt Williams (right) against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in San Diego on Sun Sep 3, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (70-67) are really struggling against the San Diego Padres (65-73) having lost games two and four. They couldn’t tie up the series with a win Saturday losing to the Padres 4-0. The Giants offensively and defensively they are not looking good.

Yes, they might get lucky enough to get a wild card but what then? Playing the way they are right now even winning a round in the playoffs is a long shot. They have to turn things around and Sunday would be a good time to do it.

It was not to be for the Giants. They had four hits in this game but they were shut out by the Padres. San Diego played a huge first inning scoring three runs. Juan Soto started the first inning with a two-run home run.

Fernando Tatis Jr. was on base when Soto crushed one to left center for a 2-0 lead. Xander Bogaerts doubled Manny Machado home for another run and San Diego had a great first inning leading 3-0. The Padres would add one more run in the third inning courtesy of Manny Machado extending the San Diego lead to 4-0. That would be the final.

The Padres won the last three games of this series after dropping game one in this four game series. After the third inning neither team would score for the rest of the game. It became a purely defensive game for the remaining six innings.

Soto homered in his third straight game. He has been terrific along with Manny Machado who also homered in this game. San Diego hit eight home runs in their three wins against the Giants.

This series was an important one for the Giants as they fight for a playoff spot. They were tied with the Diamondbacks coming into this game vying for the final spot in the NL. Arizona lost today losing to the Orioles 8-5.

San Francisco pitcher Alex Cobb went three innings and gave up six hits and four runs with three strikeouts. Relief pitcher Keaton Winn went five innings and gave up four hits and no runs. Padres pitcher Seth Lugo got the win going six innings giving up four hits and had four strikeouts.

It is a very nervous time for the Giants. They cannot continue with this lack of offense and defense. It just won’t fly. Even if they somehow get into the post season, they won’t go far unless they completely turn things around.

The Giants have obviously seen these guys play amazing ball. They’ve seen great starts, they’ve seen come from behind wins and the Giants have certainly seen their bats going crazy. Right now the bats are eerily silent. It is far too deep in the season to fall into the current trend we are seeing right now.

Sunday afternoon the Giants will start a three game series in Chicago with the Cubs. Logan Webb will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 3.49 ERA and a 9-11 win/loss record going for the Cubs Justine Steele (15-3 ERA 2.69).

San Francisco will try to right the ship as they head into this series. It will not be an easy series. The Cubbies lost their last series to the Reds but Chicago crushed the Reds Sunday in game three 15-7. First pitch right now is scheduled for 11:20 AM.

Giants avoid shutout with ninth-inning double in 6-1 loss to Padres

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Photo credit: San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, right, waits to face the next batter as San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts, left, rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

By: Mary Anne

The San Francisco Giants continued their series against the San Diego Padres on Saturday. The Giants lost to the Padres 6-1 at Petco Park. San Francisco fell to 70-66, while San Diego improved to 64-73.

The Giants’ starting lineup featured Austin Slater, Thairo Estrada, Wilmer Flores, Mitch Haniger, Patrick Bailey, J.D. Davis, Paul DeJong, Casey Schmitt, Wade Meckler, and Kyle Harrison. Harrison (1-1, 4.70 ERA) took the loss after pitching 5 2/3 innings and giving up six hits, six earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts, and four home runs.

The Padres got on the board first. Juan Soto homered on a fly ball to center field for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

The Padres tripled their lead in the bottom of the second inning. Xander Bogaerts homered on a fly ball to center field for a 2-0 lead. Gary Sanchez homered on a fly ball to center field for a 3-0 lead.

The Padres doubled their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Garrett Cooper homered on a fly ball to left center field. Juan Soto and Xander Bogaerts scored for a commanding 6-0 lead.

The Giants wrapped up the scoring in the top of the ninth inning. Austin Slater doubled on a sharp line drive to Fernando Tatis Jr. Casey Schmitt scored to cut the Padres’ lead to 6-1. Wade Meckler went to third base.

Notes
Wilmer Flores achieved a career-high 20 home runs in the Giants-Padres game Friday.

Up Next
The Giants and Padres will finish their series on Sunday at 1:10 p.m. Pacific. Alex Cobb (7-5, 3.57 ERA) will start for the Giants, while Seth Lugo (5-6, 3.67 ERA) will start for the Padres.