Tag: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Crawford and Gausman looking forward to All Star Game; Posey looking forward to resting thumb

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San Francisco Giants catch Buster Posey leaves the field after getting hit in the thumb against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the sixth at Chase Field in Phoenix (AP file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 Catcher Buster Posey’s thumb has landed him on the ten day Injured List he’ll take the All Star break and then some the timing of the All Star break couldn’t have come at a better time.

#2 Posey is one of the notable players at the All Star game hitting a first half, .328, 12 homers, 28 RBIs in 58 games a decent first half.

#3 Posey was all set to go to the All Star game in Denver but said the thumb injury won’t allow him to hit or catch and his kids who were coming on the trip were disappointed.

#4 San Francisco starting pitcher Kevin Gausman has had a terrific first half (9-3 ERA 1.73) he’s also had a successful number of strikeouts at 124.

#5 Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford has had a great first half with the bat and glove hitting .282, 48 runs, 74 hits and 18 home runs.

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

Gausman solid in helping Giants in sweep of Nationals 3-1 at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman throws to the Washington Nationals line up on Sun Jul 11, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco in the first inning. The contest was the finale of the three game series. (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Kevin Gausman may not have been able to pitch in the All-Star Game in hometown of Denver, but what a showing he put on in his final start of the first half.

Gausman went six innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking three and striking out nine and the San Francisco Giants completed a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals before a crowd of 26,639 at Oracle Park. With the victory, Gausman raised his record up to 9-3 on the season and lowered his earned run average from 1.74 to 1.65.

All the offense that the Giants needed came on one swing from Curt Casali, who launched a three-run home run into the Garden area beyond the center field wall in the bottom of the second inning.

Casali took a Erick Fedde pitch and planted it into the netting for his fourth home run of the season, and the Giants went into the All-Star break with the best record in baseball for the first time since the 2016 season and it is seventh time in team history that they have reached the All-Star break with the best record in the majors.

Since coming off the injured list last month, Casali is now 17-for-42 (.404) with four home runs during that stretch.

Brandon Crawford led off the inning with a single, and after Donovan Solano struck out for the first out of the inning, then Steven Duggar singled and then Casali hit his three-run home run.

Crawford continues to swing the bat well, as he went 3-for-4 on the afternoon, and picked up his fifth three plus game in his last eight games.

Fedde, who allowed the three runs in the bottom of the second inning, ended up going five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out and saw his record fall to 4-6 on the season.

The Nationals knocked Gausman out of the game in the top of the seventh inning, as both Juan Soto and Josh Bell walked to lead off the inning, then Starlin Castro singled to load the bases and Castro was the last batter that Gausman would face.

Dominic Leone came on to replace Gausman and got Josh Harrison to ground into a force play that scored Soto, but Leone then got pinch-hitter Ryan Zimmerman to fly out to Duggar in centerfield for the second out and then got out of the inning, when he got Victor Robles to strikeout for the final out of the inning.

Asides from scoring those three runs in the Giants wasted ample opportunities, as they put the first two runners of the inning on base in the bottom of the first inning and then again in the bottom of the third inning; however, Fedde was able to get out of the inning unscathed.

Tyler Rogers came on in the top of the eighth inning to replace Leone, and continues to be one of the best relievers in the National League during the first half, as he retired the Nationals in order.

Closer Jake McGee replaced Rogers in the top of the ninth inning, and picked up his 19th save, tying his career high that he obtained with the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2014 season.

McGee gave up a two-out double to Castro, but then got Harrison to line out to Solano to end the game.

NOTES: Caleb Baragar was recalled from Sacramento, while Tyler Beede was optioned back to Sacramento.

The Giants have now hit 132 home runs on the season, the most in the majors and lead the Toronto Blue Jays by two home runs, as they have hit 130 home runs on the season. This is just the third time since moving to San Francisco in 1958 that the Giants have led the majors in home runs at the All-Star break, they also led the majors in 1958 with 95 and then in 1989, when they went into the All-Star break with 80 home runs.

UP NEXT: Following the All-Star break, the Giants will fly to St. Louis for a three-game series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium that begins at Busch Stadium on Friday night. After the three-games in St. Louis, the Giants will head to Los Angeles, where they will face the Dodgers for a four-game series and this will be the final time that the Giants travel to Dodger Stadium during the 2021 regular season.

DeSclafani goes six to pickup his 10th win of the season 10-4

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San Francisco Giants Brandon Crawford swings for the fences for a sixth inning solo home run at Oracle Park in San Francisco Sat Jul 10, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Despite that the fact that he won his 10th game of the season, Anthony DeSclafani is not going to the All-Star Game.

DeSclafani went six innings, allowing zero runs on just three hits, walking just one and striking out six, as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 10-4 before a crowd of 25,901 at Oracle Park.

The right-hander, who improved to 10-3 on the season received immediate help from his offense in the bottom of the first inning.

Wilmer Flores got the hit parade started in the bottom of the first inning, as he walked, then Mike Yastrzemski and it looked like Jon Lester was going to get Darin Ruf on an easy fly ball to left field; however, former Giants outfielder Gerardo Parra lost the ball in the sun for an error that loaded the bases.

Following the Parra error, Donovan Solano singled in Flores, and then Brandon Crawford followed it up with a long fly out to Parra that scored Yastrzemski from second base. Joey Bart made his first appearance of the season, and came through in style, as he singled to reload the bases.

The Giants final run of the inning came off the bat of Thairo Estrada, who hit a dribbler along the third base line that Starlin Castro was unable to get in time and Ruf easily scored from third base.

Things got even worse for the Nationals in the bottom of the third inning, as the Giants broke the game wide open, when they scored five runs and chased Lester.

Crawford singled for the second time in as many at-bats to score Ruf, who doubled to lead off the inning. Bart then singled in Solano, who reached on a fielding error Castro at third base.

Estrada then singled in Crawford, and that the end of the line for Lester, who gave up eight runs (three earned) on nine hits, walking two and striking out one in just 2.1 innings of work and lost for the fourth time on the season.

It was a career day for Estrada at the plate, as he went 4-for-5 on the afternoon.

Tyler Beede made his return to a major-league game for the first time since having Tommy John surgery, as he replaced DeSclafani in the top of the seventh inning. Beede went one inning, allowing three runs on two hits and struck out two.

Crawford ended his afternoon in a way that only he can, as he hit his 18th home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning and ended the day going 3-for-3.

The Nationals finally got on the board in the top of the seventh inning, as Alcides Escobar hit a two-run triple that just being a terrific catch by Yastrzemski that would have ended the inning; however, it brought home Parra and Tres Barrera, who led off the inning with a single and then Beede hit Barrera. Beede then regrouped to strikeout Victor Robles and Josh Harrison, but Beede gave up the triple to Escobar, who then scored on a Beede wild pitch.

Yastrzemski made a fantastic diving catch in what used to be the visiting bullpen off the bat of Castro to end the top of the sixth inning.

Jaxson Reetz came off the bench in the top of the ninth inning for the Nationals and picked up his first major league, a double to right field off of John Brebbia. Reetz scored his first major league run on a Josh Harrison ground out that forced Robles at second base.

NOTES: To make room for Bart on the roster, Logan Webb was optioned to Sacramento after he went three innings on Friday night against the Nationals.

Since he came off the injured list on June 12, Curt Casali is hitting .400 (16-for-40), with five doubles, a triple, three home runs and nine runs batted in and the Giants 23-6 in games where Casali starts this season.

There was a scary scene in the stands during the game, as a fan began to choke on her food and a gentleman immediately performed the Heimlich Maneuver on the woman. The woman was choking on three pieces of her hot dog, and the gentleman who performed the maneuver was none than Dr. Willie Ross, who is a pediatrician and also the father of current Nationals pitcher Joe Ross and former Oakland Athletics pitcher Tyson Ross, who grew up in Oakland and went to Bishop ODowd High School.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman closes out the first half for the Giants, as he takes the mound on Sunday afternoon, while Eric Fedde will take the mound for the Nationals.

Three home runs give Giants huge victory 5-3 over Nats

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San Francisco Giants Darin Ruf (33) belts a fifth inning solo homer against the Washington Nationals on Fri Jul 9, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After learning that their All-Star Catcher Buster Posey was forced to go on the injured list, Gabe Kapler turned to his backup for help.

Curt Casali hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning, but the big blow came off the bat of Darin Ruf, who hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 5-3 in the opener of their three-game series at Oracle Park.

It was the second run batted in for Ruf, who drove in the first run of the night in the bottom of the first inning, when he singled in Mike Yastrzemski to give the Giants a quick 1-0 lead.

Logan Webb returned to the starting rotation, as he went three innings, allowing one hit, not walking a batter and striking out four.

Unfortunately, Jose Alvarez was unable to hold onto the lead, as he gave up three runs on two hits in the top of the fourth inning, walking one in just 1/3 of an inning. Following being pulled by Kapler, and being inspected by third base Dan Bellino, Alvarez was ejected by home plate umpire David Rackley; because, Alvarez did not agree Rackleys strike zone.

The big blow by the Nationals in the inning came off the bat of Tres Barrera, who tripled to centerfield that scored both Juan Soto and Josh Bell to get the Nationals within one run.

Former Giants outfielder Gerardo Parra came back to town and haunted his former team, as he doubled in Barrera to tie up the game.

Ruf then gave the Giants the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, as he launched a solo home run deep into the left-center field bleachers that was estimated at 433 feet.

Wilmer Flores then gave the Giants their third home run of the game, as he hit his ninth home run in the bottom of the seventh inning that closed out the scoring for the victorious Giants.

Once again, the Giants defense came up big, as Brandon Crawford showed flashbacks of Game 7 of the 2014 World Series, as he made a nifty play when Barrera grounded into the twin killing that also retired Starlin Castro at second base.

Tyler Rogers got into a jam into a jam in the top of the top of the eighth inning, as he loaded the bases with one out; however, it was another double play that got him out of the jam and out of the inning, as Parra grounded into the inning-ending double play to Donovan Solano, who threw to Crawford to retire Josh Harrison and then Crawford threw to Ruf to just get the speedy Parra to retire the side. The Nationals did look into challenging the call at first base; however, they did not challenge.

Closer Jake McGee came on in the top of the ninth inning and got Nationals veteran Ryan Zimmerman to strike out swinging for the first out, and then Alcides Escobar flew out to Yastrzemski for the second out of the inning; however, things got dicey after the Escobar fly out.

Trea Turner picked up an opposite field single, and after a visit by Kapler, Turner advanced to second on defensive indifference and then McGee walked Soto and then Bell grounded out to Crawford for the final out of the game and McGee secured his 18th save of the season.

In all, the Giants sent seven relievers to the mound after Webb and the Giants picked up their 55th win of the season against 32 losses.

NOTES: Posey was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left thumb contusion retroactively to July 6 after he was injured after he was hit on the glove hand at Chase Field, and Webb replaced Posey on the roster.

With the injury that will keep him out until after the All-Star break, Posey, who was elected to start for the National League in Tuesdays All-Star Game at Coors Field in Denver will miss the game due to the injury and will not attend the festivities.

Since Kevin Gausman is scheduled to start for the Giants on Sunday, the Denver area native will not pitch in the game; however, it is unclear if he will join Crawford for the game.

With three more home runs tonight against the Nationals, the Giants now have 130 home runs on the season, passing the Toronto Blue Jays with 128 home runs for the most home runs in the major leagues this season.

Since moving to California in 1958, the Giants have led the major leagues in home runs at the All-Star break on two previous occasions, in 1989, when they hit 80 home runs at the break and then in their first season in San Francisco, they hit 95 home runs in 1958.

The Giants unveiled their City Connect Jersey by Nike, and will wear during the entire series against the Nationals and then every Tuesday night home game.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani will take the mound on Saturday afternoon for the Giants, as he looks for his 10th win of the season, while the Nationals will send veteran Jon Lester to the hill, in search of his third win of the season.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Webb gets the call tonight against Nats as Giants hold one game lead over LA

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San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb will be looking for his fifth win tonight against the visiting Washington Nationals at Oracle Park Fri Jul 8, 2021 (file photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

On the SF Giants podcast with Miguel:

#1 Michael the Giants are coming off a series loss to the St Louis Cardinals dropping two out of three but winning Wednesday night’s game at Oracle Park 5-2 thanks to the fine pitching of Alex Wood.

#2 The Giants go into tonight’s game against the Washington Nationals just a game in front of the second place Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park every game counts to stay in front of the Dodgers.

#3 Michael talk about Darin Ruf for a moment big night Wednesday hitting a two run homer in the eighth a crucial blast that helped the Giants win that game by two runs.

#4 Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford heads to the All Star game with 17 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .275 average and he’s had quite a first half with the glove at short. He should represent San Francisco well going into Denver on Monday.

#5 Michael starting pitchers for tonight’s game at Oracle Park for the Nationals Paolo Espino (2-2 ERA 2.48) for the Giants Logan Webb (4-3 ERA 3.86) a 6:45 pm (PDT) first pitch.

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

Giants Webb coming off shoulder strain; pitch count will be watched Friday night

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb throwing against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sat May 29, 2021 at Dodgers Stadium Los Angeles will be the starting pitcher against the Washington Nationals on Fri Jul 9, 2021 at Oracle Park (AP file photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants had the day off on Thursday after losing two of the last three games in the series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Giants won 5-2 on Wednesday at Oracle Park to avoid being swept.

San Francisco (54-32) are still first in the NL West but are tied on the most wins in the league.

The Giants start a three-game series against the Washington Nationals on Friday before facing the Cardinals after the All-Star break on July 16 at State Farm Stadium. First pitch at Nationals Park is at 6:45 p.m.

San Francisco plans to start with right-handed pitcher Logan Webb on Friday. Giants manager Gabe Kapler announced on Wednesday that Webb, who has been out since May 29 due to a right shoulder strain, will come off the injured list. He did not give any indication of how many innings Webb might pitch. Webb will likely take Long’s spot in the rotation but it is unlikely he will throw more than 50 to 60.

The Giants’ pitching for the opener against Washington will likely include right-handed pitcher Tyler Beede, who was off the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Beede had Tommy John surgery in March 2020 and completed a 12-start rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento. He finished with a 6.56 ERA.

In unfortunate news, the Giants’ director of Dominican Republic Operations, Pablo Peguero, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, the organization announced yesterday evening. He died in his home in Santo Domingo at the age of 68. Peguero was with the Giants for the past 18 years and was a ‘beloved member of the Giants family and has been synonymous with baseball in the Dominican Republic for decades,” the team’s President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi said in a statement.

Echoes of 1993: The Giants beat the Cardinals, 5-2 and avoid a sweep with historical significance

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Avoiding being swept is part of the championship equation with the key being don’t make it a major part of your diet. The Giants did that Wednesday night, besting the Cardinals 5-2, and winning the finale of a three-game set.

The win kept the Giants atop the NL West ahead of the Dodgers, who lost to the Marlins in Miami. The Giants also maintained baseball’s best record, and–with the All-Star break three games away–their win total continues to be reminiscent of their 1993 squad that won 103 games.

There’s just one distinction the 2021 Giants want that eluded the ’93 club: a postseason appearance.

The Giants rolled into September 1993 with an 89-48 record and a 3 1/2 game lead on the Dodgers. But they couldn’t maintain that pace. A loss to the Pirates preceeded a four-game sweep at Candlestick Park by the Cardinals, then three more losses to the Chicago Cubs. Despite a huge win streak that saw them win 14 of 15 after that, the Giants fell on the season’s final day to the Dodgers and went home empty with 103 wins.

That was the last time the Cardinals swept the Giants in a four-game series, and they last beat the Giants in a three-game set in San Francisco in 1991. Thirty years later, the Giants avoided reliving any of that history on Wednesday.

The indelible lesson: avoid lengthy, losing streaks. Thus far in 2021 the Giants have lost three straight once, and just suffered a four-game slide last week.

Alex Wood pitched seven innings, allowed three hits and a run, and picked up his eighth win of the season. After Nolan Arenado doubled home Paul Goldschmidt in the first inning for a 1-0 St. Louis lead, Wood took control. He departed after the seventh, leading 3-1. Mike Yastrzemski and Donovan Solano doubled home runs in the second and fifth innings to put the Giants ahead, and Darin Ruf added a two-run homer in the eighth to provide some cushion.

“(Wood) had all of his pitches working well,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “He had good command and control of all three of his pitches and mixed it up well. That was a pretty gritty and tough outing from him. It was exactly what we needed.”

“I felt like I commanded my fastball really well and stuck the slider,” Wood said. “Good overall night, that’s for sure. Games like that are important. I was happy to come out and do my job tonight.”

The Giants reverted to their winning pattern of taking control of games in the middle innings, a formula the Cardinals adopted in winning the first two games of the series. This time, the Giants took advantage of hard luck starter Johan Oviedo, who has failed to win any of his first 16 starts at the big league level, including all 12 this season. Oviedo showed some distraction early when he jawed with Yastrzemski after his RBI double in the second with the issue being that the pitcher felt the Giants were relaying information to their hitters. Yastrzemski, who carries himself too quietly to get caught up in petty beefs, acknowledged Oviedo’s tough words, but offered few back.

“Any advantage that we can take, whether teams are paranoid, whether they think we’re doing something that we’re not, it’s just a way to hopefully get a distraction off the hitter and to get it onto the baserunner so they can’t make their pitches. I definitely think that he had a lot of intent thinking that I was relaying signs, which I wasn’t. I had nothing.”

The Giants are off on Thurdsay and finish the first half of the season with a three-game set with the Nationals. No pitcher has been announced for Friday, but the possibility that Tyler Beede could make his season debut after missing more than a year due to Tommy John surgery is getting some steam.

He Was a Giant? Jeff Stember was a right handed pitcher for the SF

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Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeff Stember pitched only one game August 5, 1980 at the Houston Astrodome and is the feature of He Was a Giant? by Tony the Tiger Hayes (1980 Topps Baseball Card photo)

Jeff Stember – RHP – 1980 – # 50

He was a Giant?

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

Stember’s big league pitching career could not have gotten off to worse start.

Literally.

On the first pitch Stember ever threw in the majors (8/5/80), Houston’s Terry Puhl squared it up, sending a screaming liner into the rainbow hued left field seats of the Astrodome.

So much for good first impressions.

“As soon as Puhl hit the home run I went out to the mound and told (Stember), ‘Welcome to the National League,” said San Francisco catcher Mike Sadek.

The nervous righty would commit a balk later in the first inning, but actually retired six of the seven Astros following Puhl’s blast. Unfortunately, Houston struck again in the third inning plating two unearned tallies on a Jose Cruz triple.

After Stember retired perennial All-Star Cesar Cedeno on an infield pop-out to end the third, the 6-foot-5, 220 pound New Jersey native’s big league debut – and as it turned out – his MLB career, was over.

With Houston leading 3-1, Max Venable was sent to pinch hit for Stember in the fourth.

The Giants managed to battle back and beat the Astros 9-3. The victory was fueled by a pair of run scoring singles by Sadek. LHP Gary Lavelle recorded the victory with four innings of shutout relief.

Despite the comeback, Giants manager was still chapped about Stember’s outing.

“If he throws the ‘A’ fastball he’ll be alright,” Bristol explained. “It’s that ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ that I don’t like. And I told him that.”

Stember’s first big league game was also his last big league game.

Why was he a Giant?

In the 1970s, Giants scouts found amateur gold on the pitching mounds of New Jersey, signing two pitchers (Ed Halicki and John Montefusco) who would each throw no-hitters for San Francisco in 1975 and 1976 respectively.

San Francisco was looking to repeat that formula when they selected Stember with a 26th round pick in the 1976 draft out of Westfield High School in Westfield, N.J.

While Stember’s big league career ended in a blink of an eye, he was actually the Giants best pick up of the ‘76 amateur draft. Of all the players San Francisco drafted and signed that year – including first round pick, high school IF Mark Kuecker – Stember was the only one to play in the big leagues.

Future stars they passed on included the eventual Hall of Famers: IF Alan Trammell (second round); IF Wade Boggs (seventh) and local OF Rickey Henderson who was selected by his hometown A’s in the fourth round.

Before & After

Stember’s minor league numbers didn’t blow anyone away as he toiled alongside future Giants such as Chili Davis, Bob Brenly and Fred Breining. In six minor league campaigns – all with the Giants organization – he was 38-49 with a 4.98 ERA .

He Never Had a Bobblehead Day. But…

Though he was roughed up by a good portion of the Houston lineup in his only big league appearance, Stember did manage to muzzle the bat of Joe Morgan, the future Giant and Hall of Fame 2B.

In the first, Stember got Lil’ Joe on a ground out and then a pop out in the third.

Giant Footprint

Stember is recognized by the Jewish Baseball Museum as one of the dozens of Jews to have played big league baseball. Others with ties to the Giants include former team president Al Rosen and manager Gabe Kapler and the all-time best Giants play-by-play man Hank Greenwald.

They were Giants? By Tony the Tiger Hayes; Darren Ford and Horace Speed

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Former San Francisco Giants Darren Ford in his Somerset Patriots uniform played for the Giants for the 2010 and 2011 seasons Ford didn’t get a bobblehead but he got a ring with the 2010 World Series Championship Giants

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet

THEY WERE GIANTS?

By Tony “The Tiger” Hayes

Darren Ford – PR/OF – 2010-11 – # 34

Horace Speed – PR/OF – 1975 – # 38

They Were Giants?

Not since Herb Washington – a former college track star without a baseball background – was issued an unforgettable 1975 Topps card with “pinch runner” as his position, has substitute base running been in vogue.

Like Washington’s sans-a-belt Swingin’ A’s baseball pants and flapless batting helmets, the pinch-runner has been sadly all but been laughed out of baseball. Why waste a player? Excitement be damned. Wait for a home run the analytics say. Over the years, San Francisco has had at least two short-lived players whose direct track into a game has included the slapping of lead-footed teammates on the butt as they took their spot on the base path.

The aptly named Speed and Ford (think Mustang) – combined to play in 50 games with the Giants – with 31 of those appearances coming as pinch-runners.

“I know what my role is to go out there and steal a base and get in scoring position. I trust my instincts,” said Ford in his his first day in the majors with the Giants in 2010. “You can’t teach speed and I’m blessed.”

Why Were They Giants?

The Los Angeles raised Speed, who was signed to his first pro contract by San Francisco in 1969, made the club’s opening day roster in 1975 as a backup to Gary Matthews, Von Joshua, Garry Maddox and Bobby Murcer.

“Deep down I always wanted to be a Giant. I will hit .300, drive in 100 runs and hit 20 home runs. Home runs are the hardest because I hit a lot of line drives,” a confident Speed proclaimed. “But I know you just don’t walk into a starting position, especially on this club.”

He was right. Speed made just three starts for the Giants and was back in the minors by mid-May.

While Speed was considered a more rounded prospect and a clubhouse comic – he supposedly did a great Ed Sullivan impersonation – Ford was promoted to San Francisco in Sept. 2010 strictly for his base path acumen. He may have been the only player ever promoted to the Orange & Black after hitting just .250 at Double-AA.

Before & After

The grandson of former big leaguer Ted Ford, Darren came up through the Brewers farm system before a 2008 trade for 2B Ray Durham brought him to San Francisco.

He would make it into seven games in the fall of ‘10, but never came up to hit.

Ford made it back to the bigs with SF again in 2011 – this time getting a few hits off the bench.

After leaving the Giants organization in 2012, Ford spent a seasons each in the Seattle and Pittsburgh organizations before returning to the Giants fold in 2014-16 – however he did not receive a big league call-up the second time around.

Speed would appear in just 17 games with the Giants in ‘75, batting .133 (2-for-15) before returning to the minors for the next three seasons. He resurfaced with the Cleveland Indians in 1979-80 batting .217 in 96 contests.

They Never Had Bobblehead Days. But…

Ford may not have swung a bat for the 2010 World Champions, but he made an unforgettable first impression on Giants fans – using his speed to lead the Orange & Black to victory in his big league debut in a home game vs. Colorado (9/1/10). Running at first base for Mike Fontenot in the bottom of the 8th with the score tied 1-1, Ford advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tim Lincecum.

With one out and a 0-2 count on Andres Torres, Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez bounced a pitch in the dirt that bound a short distance from Rox back stop Miguel Olivo.

Ford daringly took the initiative to sprint to third and then he kept on running home with what would be the winning run of a 2-1 outcome when a hurried Olivo airmailed his throw into left field.

“I knew it would be bang-bang. I’ll say this: the kid didn’t hesitate. He can fly,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “He showed no fear there.”

Speed appeared in eight big league games before making his first plate appearance for San Francisco. He reached base in his first start, stroking a double off Don Gullet in a 5-4 win at Candlestick over the eventual world champion Reds (4/29/75).

Giant Footprint

In his first big league multi-hit game (he only had four of them) Speed batted 2-for-4 with 2 RBI to lead Cleveland to a 3-0 win at Toronto (6/30/78). Also collecting two knocks for the Indians that day: Tribe starting 2B Duane Kuiper.

Thirty-two years later, Kuip was behind the mic on the Giants telecast when Ford debuted with his mad dash from second base:

“Ford’s gonna go! “ Kuiper bellowed. “(The throw is) into left field and the Giants take the lead! Unbelievable!”

Cardinals hang on at the end to defeat Giants 6-5 in second game of series

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St Louis Catcher Yadier Molina belts an RBI single in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Jul 6, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN FRANCISCO—The St. Louis Cardinals owe Dylan Carlson a really expensive steak dinner.

The Cardinals left fielder made an over the shoulder catch slamming into the left field wall to preserve a 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants 6-5 on Tuesday evening at Oracle Park.

Jason Volser, with two runners on and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, hit a deep drive to left fielder that looked to have been the walk off hit until Carlson reached up and robbed the Giants of a comeback victory.

San Francisco were 3-16 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base as they have lost the first two games of the series. St. Louis have won two games in a row after losing two in a row.

St. Louis starting pitcher Adam Wainright (7-5) pitched five innings giving up three runs on six hits while walking four and striking out three to earn his seventh win of the season.

The Cardinals (43-44) jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Nolan Arenado golfed a 3-2 off speed pitch from Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto and deposited the ball into the left field bleachers for his 17th home run of the season.

“I think he was just off the plate with several of his pitches,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler on Cueto’s outing. “Johnny is at his best when he’s getting ahead and staying ahead (of batters). I don’t think he was in count leverage enough to really have his best outing.”

Arenado, a known Giants killer when he played for Colorado, continued his barrage against the Giants as he now has 32 career homers against San Francisco.

The Giants (53-32) answered back in the third inning as their RBI leader came up with a clutch two-out hit. Brandon Crawford’s opposite field single off Wainright brought in Mike Yastrzemski and Wilmer Flores.

Crawford, who was named to the National League All-Star roster on Sunday, now has 55 RBI on the season, second in the the NL.

Paul Goldschmidt helped St. Louis regain the lead in the fourth inning. The other notorious Giants killer lined a bases loaded single into left field scoring two and giving the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.

Cueto (6-5) suffered the loss as he gave up four runs on nine hits while striking out seven and only walking one batter in six innings.

“I won’t be taking any days off. I’m going to be working very hard to get ready for the second half. My goal is to stay healthy and also for my teammates to stay healthy,” Cueto said.

Crawford, who went 4-5 on the evening and is now batting .275, drove in his third run of the game in the fifth inning with a double down the right field line to cut the St. Louis’ lead to one run.

“It’s hard to replace somebody like Buster (Posey) or (Brandon) Belt or (Evan) Longoria,” said Crawford when asked if injuries have began to take its toll on offense. “It’s kind of trying to get through this little time period without them with some wins and not dropping off too much.”

Yadier Molina gave the Cardinals an insurance run with a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning off reliever John Brebbia who replaced Cueto on the mound.

Edmundo Sosa hit his second home run off the season in the eighth inning off of Brebbia. The former Cardinals reliever gave up two runs on three hits in one and two-thirds innings.

“I thought Brebbia, in particular pitched well, outside of the breaking ball he threw to Sosa, I though he pitched really well. Sometimes it doesn’t look that and in this particular case it doesn’t. So I can understand that,” Kapler said.

The Giants rallied for two runs in the bottom half of the eighth. Mike Yastrzemski RBI single and a RBI double by Flores on a popup that landed in the Bermuda triangle in shallow center field between three Cardinal fielders.

Justin Miller recorded the final two outs to earn his first save of the season.

GAME NOTES: OF Jaylin Davis was placed on the 10-day injured list (left hamstring strain).

RHP Tyler Beede returned from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

IF/OF Jason Vosler recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

RHP Jimmie Sherfy designated for assignment.

UP NEXT: The Giants look to avoid the sweep against the Cardinals as they conclude their three-game series on Wednesday 7/7 at 6:45pm at Oracle Park.