Tag: San Francisco Giants

Giants laughing all the way to a sweep clobber Reds 19-4 in Thursday matinee

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The San Francisco Giants Kevin Duggar goes yard for a grand slam in the top of the third inning at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati against the Cincinnati Reds Thu May 20, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants wrapped up a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Thursday in blowout fashion — with a 19-4 victory that was the best offensive showing in MLB so far this season.

Steven Duggar hit a 427-foot grand slam, the first of his career, in the third inning. Brandon Crawford hit his 11th, the most within the team, and drove in six runs. Darin Ruf hit a two-run homer also in the third inning. The Giants lead 10-1 by the end of the third.

In the seventh inning, Evan Longoria had a two-run shot and San Francisco was up 18-2.

“It was just a contagious day today,” Duggar said. “It was a good day to be at the plate, for sure.”

The Reds scored two runs in the eighth inning but the Giants had a final run in the ninth and sealed the victory at 19-4.

“You don’t expect a 19-run outburst like this. It happens once once in a blue moon, but I do think it’s an indication that we’re having quality at-bats,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said.

He added of Duggar’s longest homer in his career: “He had a pretty magnetic smile as he came into the dugout.”

It was San Francisco’s first four-game sweep in Cincinnati since 1983 as well as their first sweep of the Reds since 1990.

The Giants finished the East Coast road trip with six wins in eight games against the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates. They improved to 28-16, the best record in the league, and strengthen their spot at the top of the NL West.

Kapler was very pleased but made clear the team is far from being comfortable.

“We’re staying humble and we’re staying hungry, because we’ve got a long way to go,” Kapler said. “We’re not going to ever be disappointed with a 6-2 road trip to the East Coast, it’s very encouraging, but we know that we have a lot of work ahead of us.”

But as it stands, the Giants are in exactly the position they want to be in ahead of their biggest series of the year.

San Francisco hosts the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park on Friday for the first of a three-game series. It is the first meeting of the season between the rivals. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m.

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Guasman pitches one hit ball into the sixth inning; Giants defeat Reds 4-0

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman throws to the Cincinnati Reds line up in the third inning at Great American Ball Park on Wed May 19, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

San Francisco Giants ace Kevin Gausman propelled the team to a 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night to clinch the series at Great American Ball Park and stay on top of the NL West by a half game.

Gausmin allowed one hit and two walks in six innings. He retired the first 10 batters, then let Nick Castellanos walk in the fourth inning. The Reds missed the opportunity to score as Mike Tauchman made a leaping catch at the left field wall.

In the fifth inning, shortstop Mauricio Dubón doubled and Tauchman had a single. With a one run lead and two runners on base, the Giants took a 1-0 lead.

Catcher Buster Posey had a three-run double to left center field with two outs in the eighth inning.

At the top of the ninth inning, Reds reliever Carson Fulmer loaded the bases and Posey hit a double clearing the bases and boosting San Francisco to 4-0.

The Giants used relievers Zack Littell and Jack McGee in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. They saved Tyler Rogers for the ninth against the best Reds batters. The first two Reds got past Rogers but he retired the next three and gave San Francisco a shutout win.

Reds starter Wade Miley, who had a no-hitter on May 7, gave up one run and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

San Francisco beat Cincinnati for the third straight night after Logan Webb threw six shutout innings for a 6-3 victory on Monday night and Anthony DeSclafani allowed just one run in seven innings for a 4-2 win on Tuesday.

The Giants have the chance to sweep the Reds in the series on Thursday, before returning home to host the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. First pitch in Cincinnati is at 9:35 a.m.

DeSclafani enjoys return to Cincinnati, home runs propel Giants past Reds 4-2

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani pitching against the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning at Great American Bank Ballpark in Cincinnati on Tue May 19, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Anthony DeSclafani enjoyed a successful return to Cincinnati on Tuesday, as he worked seven strong innings for San Francisco as the Giants defeated the Reds 4-2 at Great American Ballpark.

The win was the fourth for San Francisco in six games on its current road trip.

DeSclafani (4-1), who spent six seasons in Cincinnati, gave up one run on six hits, two walks and struck out seven while throwing 107 pitches over seven innings. He settled in after surrendering a first-inning leadoff home run to Jesse Winkler.

Luis Castillo (1-6) logged 11 strikeouts in six innings, along with three walks and six hits.

Alex Dickerson provided the offensive punch for the Giants with a three-run home run into the right field corner in the fourth inning, giving San Francisco a 3-1 lead. Dickerson’s round-tripper – his fourth of the season – also helped set a franchise-record 15 consecutive road games with at least one home run.

Brandon Crawford connected on a hanging slider from Heath Hembree in the seventh, extending the Giants’ lead to 4-1 with his 10th home run of the year. Crawford also has 23 runs batted in.

Dickerson was 3-for-4 and Crawford was 2-for-4. Both teams had eight hits.

Nick Castellanos homered to left-center off Giants reliever Zack Littell, closing the Reds’ deficit to 4-2. Jake McGee earned his 11th save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

San Francisco second baseman Wilmer Flores left the game in the second inning after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring. The Giants said Flores would be evaluated further on Wednesday.

Lefthander Wade Miley (4-3, 3.69) will start for Cincinnati on Wednesday, facing Giants righthander Kevin Gausman (3-0, 1.84). Miley threw a no-hitter on May 7, but went three innings in his last start.

College roommates Yastrzemski and Gray meet again in Giants 6-3 win over the Reds

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By Morris Phillips

Hey, a solo shot’s no big deal.

Sonny Gray and Mike Yastrzemski, college roommates at Vanderbilt a decade ago, didn’t have an opportunity to hash it out on Monday night. Yaz took Gray deep in the fifth inning to put the Giants up, 4-0, but by that point, the Reds couldn’t catch the ball, and the Giants were in full swing, doing their traveling home run show thing.

In other words, bigger issues were at hand then reminiscing about old conversations in college.

“I don’t think it fazed him,” Yastrzemski said of Gray’s reaction to the home run among friends. “We always talked about it and he said if I hit a homer in a game off him, it had to be a solo shot. So I don’t think he’s too mad about it. It’s something I hope we’ll eventually look back and give each other grief about and have fun with it.”

Just not on Monday. What was more pressing were the Reds’ recent struggles that have them losing lopsided contests, while the Giants have been surging, just what’s been needed to keep the club in first place with the Padres and Dodgers breathing down their necks.

After the 6-3 Giants win at Great American Ballpark, Gray was dead serious while reliving his inability to keep the hard-hitting Giants from going deep while needing to explain his defenses shortcomings behind him. For the record, Gray allowed two home runs while the Reds committed two damaging errors.

“A pitcher’s job is to continue to try to make pitches, make competitive pitches and continue to try to force soft contact,” Gray admitted. “There were some plays that maybe could have been made that weren’t. It was just sloppy. Like I said, it started with me.”

Gray surrendered a walk and two singles in a busy first inning that didn’t go wrong until Jonathan India couldn’t field Brandon Crawford’s ground ball cleanly, and compounded his mistake with an errant throw allowing Buster Posey to score the game’s first run.

In the fourth, Wilmer Flores went opposite field off Gray to put the Giants up 3-0, but the blast was preceded by Eugenio Suarez’ fielding error that allowed Crawford to reach. Yastrzemski’s homer came an inning later, the culmination of Gray’s outing that wasn’t good enough above or below the surface.

The Giants flew above the minutiae with the homers, now numbering 39 away from Oracle Park, which leads the majors in home runs hit by a club on the road. That the total didn’t stall at the cozy, riverfront ballpark made a statement. The Giants hit ’em, and combined with stingy defense and pitching, a winning formula has emerged.

So far, it’s a formula that’s kept the more talented Dodgers and Padres in the rear view. All three clubs won Monday, and the Giants maintained their division lead, a half game better than San Diego, and two games ahead of the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the Reds are 6-6 in their last 12 games, but they’ve allowed at least six runs in each of the losses, none of which have been by fewer than three runs, including 9-2 and 9-0 routs. The Reds have gone more than a month with a losing record, having last been over .500 on April 21.

Logan Webb enjoyed his best start if the season, cruising through six, scoreless innings by keeping Reds’ hitters off balance with a nice mix of sinkers, sliders and fastballs delivered at an aggressive pace. Webb was tight-lipped about the strategy after the game, with the exception of extolling his quick pace. He also clarified his abrupt exit, saying his shoulder soreness concerned manager Gabe Kapler enough that he lifted his pitcher despite the fact he still had plenty in his tank.

Kapler said the Giants will conduct tests on Webb’s shoulder in the coming days, but he didn’t seem concerned that his pitcher could miss time.

The Giants continue their four-game set in Cincinnati on Tuesday with Anthony DeSclafani facing the struggling Luis Castillo, saddled with a 1-5 record and 7.71 ERA.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants pitcher Wood keeping opposition off balance

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The San Francisco Giants Mauricio Dubon puts on a defensive show by falling over the field signboard to make a catch on the Pittsburgh Pirates Kevin Newman in the fifth inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sun May 16, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the Giants podcast with Morrris:

#1 Morris you got to give it to San Francisco Giants (24-16) starter Alex Wood he’s certainly become the ace of not only the Giants but the National League getting a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates (17-23) on Sunday.

#2 In six innings of work Wood gave up eight hits and one earned run and had one of those starts where he looked like he could have pitched the whole game.

#3 Wood’s ERA is now 1.75 and his runs allowed totaled shows what kind of control he’s had and no doubt he’s had a tremendous two months in the starting rotation for the Giants.

#4 The Giants got some handy work on offense with Mike Yastrzemski who hit a two run homer in the ninth inning, catcher Buster Posey had three hits.

#5 Starting pitchers for Monday for the Giants Logan Webb (2-3 ERA 4.74) and for the Cincinnati Reds Sonny Gray (0-2 ERA 3.55)

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

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

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

By Jessica Kwong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Giants drop second straight game to Bucs 8-6

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

By London Marq

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Jessica Kwong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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