DeSclafani goes six in 4-0 shutout win to sweep Rockies

San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani was the winning pitcher of record going six innings against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Apr 11, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Anthony DeSclafani made a great impression before the home crowd for the San Francisco Giants.

DeSclafani, pitching at Oracle Park for the first time as a member of the Giants, pitched six strong shutout innings, allowing zero runs on eight hits, walking just one and striking out eight, as the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-0 before a crowd of 6,560 at Oracle Park.

This is the fourth straight win for the Giants and they have won five out of their last six, all over division opponents.

With the victory, the Giants completed their first sweep of the Rockies at Oracle Park for the first time since June 26-28, 2017.

Alex Dickerson gave DeSclafani instant offense in the bottom of the first inning, as he took a German Marquez pitch and put it into the center field bleachers to give the Giants a quick 1-0 lead.

The biggest play of the game will not appear in the box score, but it was a stolen base by Brandon Belt that manufactured the second run of the first inning by the Giants.

Following the Dickerson home run, Belt walked and then with Evan Longoria at the plate, Belt stole second without a throw and standing up.

On the very next pitch to Longoria, he put it into center field to score Belt with a huge second run of the inning.

After that rough first inning, where he threw 35 pitches, Marquez settled down, as he only allowed two more hits until the bottom of the sixth inning.

It was in that sixth inning, that with one out that Belt launched a solo home run onto the arcade for his first home run of the season.

LaMonte Wade, Jr. made his Giants debut and it was a memorable one, as he singled, doubled and walked in his first three at-bats before flying out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Giants tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Evan Longoria drove in Mike Yastrzemski, who doubled with one out in the inning.

NOTES: Reyes Moronta was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right flexor strain and Wade, Jr. was recalled from the alternate site to take his spot on the roster.

Also before the game, the Giants received infielder Thairo Estrada from the New York Yankees for cash considerations. Estrada will report to the Giants alternate site, while outfielder Jaylin Davis was recalled and placed on the 60-day disabled list with left knee patella tendinitis.

Entering the game, Giants’ starting pitchers have tossed 5.0-or-more innings and allowed three-or-fewer runs in each of SF’s first eight games…only twice in the modern era have the Giants had a longer streak to begin a season (2002 & 1937)…the rotation has posted a 2.61 ERA, the third best figure in the National League behind Miami (2.01) and Milwaukee (2.08), (Stats, LLC).

Today marks the 21st anniversary of the first ever regular season game at what is now known as Oracle Park.

On April 11, 2000, Kirk Rueter threw the first pitch in what was then called Pacific Bell Park to Devon White, who singled to right field; however, it was the Kevin Elster show that day, as he hit three home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Giants 6-5 before a sellout crowd of 40,930. Barry Bonds hit the first Giants home run in the new ballpark, as he hit a solo home run off of Chan Ho Park.

Bay Area native Ed Montague was the home plate umpire for that inaugural game.

UP NEXT: Aaron Sanchez looks for his first win of the season, as he takes for the Giants on Monday night in the opener of the three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, who will send left-hander Wade Miley to the mound, as he looks for his second win of the season.

Crawford’s heroics on stage once again; Giants edge Rockies 4-3

San Francisco Giants hitter Brandon Crawford launches a three run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning at Oracle Park against the Colorado Rockies on Sat Apr 10, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO-Brandon Crawford seems to have found his hitting stroke through the first two games of the home stand.

Crawford hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, helping the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies before a crowd of 6,176 at Oracle Park. This was the Giants third win in a row and have also won four out of their last five games.

It was the second game in a row that the veteran shortstop gave the Giants the lead that they refused to give up.

Alex Dickerson led off the inning with a walk, and pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores walked; however, Evan Longoria popped out for the first out and then Crawford launched a Ben Bowden pitch onto the right field arcade to give the Giants the lead for good.

Logan Webb started for the second time this season, and pitched five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out six. Webb also gave up a two-run home run to Ryan McMahon that gave the Rockies a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning.

Webb, who went those five innings did not fare in the decision. The same goes for Rockies starter Chi Chi Gonzalez, who also went five innings, allowing just one run, scattering four hits, walking three and striking out one and did not fare in the decision.

The Giants got to Gonzalez in the bottom of the third inning, as Tommy La Stella doubled to lead off the inning, then C.J. Cron made a great stab at first base to get Mike Yastrzemski and then Dickerson singled in La Stella.

Cron also made a great play in the bottom of the first inning, as robbed Dickerson of a base hit that would have given the Giants a lead early against Gonzalez.

The Rockies got to Webb in the top of the fifth inning, as Gonzalez helped out his own cause by singling off of Webb, then after Garrett Hampson struck out for the second out of the inning, McMahon gave the Rockies the lead when his two-run home run landed in the Rockies bullpen.

This was the second inning in a row that the Rockies scored, as they got on the board in the top of the fourth inning, Raimel Tapia singled to center field to score Charlie Blackmon from second base, as he doubled with one out in the inning.

The bullpen was huge in relief of Webb, as Caleb Baragar, Reyes Moronta, Tyler Rogers and Jake McGee combined to throw four innings, allowing no runs on just one hit, walking just one and striking out five.

Baragar gave up a walk and struck out a batter in his lone inning of work to pick up his second win of the 2021 season.

McGee pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out one on his way to picking up his second save in as many days and his fourth save of the season.

NOTES: Donovan Solano was presented with the 2020 Silver Slugger award prior to the game, as he was presented the Silver Slugger award by Hitting Coaches Donnie Ecker and Justin Viele along with Director of Hitting/Assistant Hitting Coach Dustin Lind.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeScalafini make his Oracle Park debut for the Giants, as he looks for his first win for the first win of the season, while the Rockies will send German Marquez will take the mound for the Rockies, as he also goes for his first win of the season.

Cueto throws a gem in the home opener for 3-1 win

San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto throws to the Colorado Rockies line up on Fri Apr 9, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

With the pomp and circumstance of Opening Day and the return of the fans to Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants did not disappoint their throng of fans.

Johnny Cueto came within one out of a complete game, as he went 8.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out seven and the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 3-1 at Oracle Park.

After not being allowed into the ballpark during the Covid-19 shortened season, the Giants played before 7,390 fans in the 22-year old yard for the first time since Bruce Bochys last game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 28, 2019.

Brandon Crawford drove in two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he doubled with the bases loaded to score Darin Ruf and Buster Posey with the only runs that the Giants would need.

Alex Dickerson added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he singled to right field to score Brandon Belt.

The Rockies tried to get back into the game in the top of the ninth inning, as Garrett Hampson hit a sacrifice fly that scored Micah Owings with the lone run for the Rockies on the afternoon.

Cueto was masterful on the afternoon, as he did not allow a hit until there was one out in the top of the fifth inning when Raimel Tapia singled to left field. The Giants were able to get out of the inning, as they turned an inning-ending double play to keep the Rockies off the board.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler came out to the mound following Owings triple and Hampsons sacrifice fly; however, Cueto stayed in the game. After he allowed a single to Rockies shortstop Trevor Story that brought the tying run to the plate, that was the end of the line for Cueto and he was replaced by Jake McGee, who closed out the game for his third save of the season.

Rockies starter Austin Gomber was cruising into the fifth inning with no hits allowed; however, Posey put an end to that with one out, as he singled.

Gomber went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs, on just one hit, walking four and striking out five, as he lost for the second time in as many starts.

NOTES: Bryan Stow threw out the ceremonial first pitch just over 10 years after he was brutally beaten at Dodger Stadium. Stow, who spent nearly nine months in a medically induced coma threw the first pitch to Giants assistant coach Alyssa Nakken.

Evan Longoria sat out the home opener after feeling side effects from taking the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine on Thursday. Something was seen on the Giants home uniforms for the first time since they moved into Oracle Park, names on the back of their home jerseys.

UP NEXT: Logan Webb takes the mound on Saturday afternoon for the Giants, while Chi Chi Gonzalez will take the mound for the Rockies.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants home opener Friday with Rockies; Cueto scheduled starter for SF

The San Francisco Giants Darin Ruf circles the bases after hitting his second home run of the season in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres pitcher Blake Snell at Petco Park on Wed Apr 7, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 Michael, the Giants last two wins have been by a narrow margin but if your a good club you can win the close games such what they did against the Seattle Mariners and on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres.

#2 Talk about Wednesday starting pitcher Kevin Guasman he’s not the number one starter without a reason throwing seven innings, four hits and one run scored and improves his ERA to 1.32.

#3 Michael, Darin Ruf was key in his home run at bat against the Padres on Wednesday he has two home runs in nine at bats now.

#4 The Giants last two wins are from two come from behind wins Giants manager Gabe Kapler knows that old saying all too well that good pitching beats good hitting and a team like the Padres will battle you.

#5 Next up for the Giants it’s the home opener against the Colorado Rockies (2-4) and the Giants Johnny Cueto is scheduled to get the call talk about his start and how important it is to be back at Oracle for the home opener on Friday.

Join Michael for the Giants podcasts on Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

He Was A Giant? Feature; Jake Brown 1975 By Tony the Tiger Hayes

(photo from San Francisco Giants)

Jake Brown – OF – 1975 – # 32

He Was A Giant?

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

These days you typically don’t find top MLB prospects seeking off -season employment just to put food on the table.

You’re even less likely to find one who would jeopardize it all by working an industrial manufacturing job with the same inherent, hair-raising dangers graphically described in Upton Sinclair’s 1905 novel “The Jungle.”

But that’s where former top Giants top draft pick Jake Brown – who appeared in 41 games for San Francisco in 1975 – found himself in October of 1973.

Unlike some athletes of that era who land cushy public relations jobs or sold Buicks and Oldsmobiles in the off season, Brown was elbows deep in the nitty-gritty.

After batting .290 with 80 RBI for Triple-AAA Phoenix that year, Brown traded in his flip-down sunglasses and polyester baseball threads for protective goggles and fire retardant coveralls to work behind limb endangering heavy machinery at a Texas steel factory.

Predictably, the results were, well, predictable.

In an instant Brown went from being a contender for a major league roster spot to becoming a candidate for amputation.

Why Was He a Giant?

Originally a 33rd round draft pick by Minnesota out of high school in Houston, Brown instead opted to attend Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge. There, he would significantly improved historical draft status with two standout seasons for the Jaguars.

Brown was subsequently selected with the Giants’ first round pick (second overall) in the secondary phase of the June, 1969 amateur draft. The now defunct secondary phase was held for players who had previously been drafted.

The muscular OF was faced with a lot of competition in the Giants minor league rungs, but was steadily progressing when the unheard of happened.

Before & After

The prospective big leaguer was working on a sheet metal assembly line when his left arm was caught between a lathe and a piece of sheet metal – the appendage was viciously and severely lacerated, and also fractured in two places.

Amputation was strongly considered.

“I figured that was it. I just knew I was going to lose my left arm,” Brown said two years later.

But skilled Texas neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Eppright discovered a single nerve still intact running the length of his arm.

Miraculously, Jake was able to wiggle his pinkie finger and the arm was saved.

Brown lost a lot of blood and spent two weeks intensive care. The arm was saved, but what about his baseball career?

Despite his harrowing encounter, Brown was determined to play in the major leagues.

He would miss all of 1974, but by 1975 Brown was ready to go.

Brown began the season at Double-AA Lafayette and at age 27 proved he had his stroke back – batting .307 in 19 games for the Drillers.

He soon got the call he was long waiting for from the mezzanine level offices of Candlestick Park.

Skipper Wes Westrum was on the horn welcoming him to the Major Leagues.

Brown made his MLB at Candlestick Park in a Saturday afternoon blow out loss to the Cardinals, entering the game in the late innings as a defensive replacement.

Afterwards an emotional Brown expressed his gratitude to the Giants organization.

“ A lot of clubs would see a guy get hurt that bad and forget about them. I have to thank them for this opportunity,” Brown said.

Brown encountered his share of problems with the Orange & Black, but would play out the ‘75 season as a backup OF and pinch hitter for SF – hitting .209 in 43 at-bats.

Brown found himself back at back at Lafayette in 1976. In mid-season, he was dealt to Atlanta along with three other players including 1B Willie Montanez in exchange for IFs Darrell Evans and Marty Perez.

Brown would retire from baseball following the ‘76 season having not returned to the majors.

He Never Had a Bobblehead Day. But…

It appeared Brown was beginning to feel his big league sea legs when he belted the ball hard three times, including a booming double in a 8-6 loss at Philadelphia (5/28/75). In his next start, Jake batted in the cleanup spot and whacked a three-run, bases-loaded double off Dave McNally in the first inning of a 13-5 win at Montreal (6/1/75).

But in keeping with the snake-bit theme of his career, the next day’s papers had nary a mention of Brown’s three-RBI two-bagger.

Instead, splashed across the front page of the San Francisco sports sections was a generous photo of the Giant knocked out cold on the the Jarry Park warning track.

Brown had had a bead on a long Larry Parrish, 3rd inning blast. Jake got leather on the drive as he soared towards the outfield fence. Initially, it appeared the popular rookie had made a phenomenal catch.

But after flying though the air, Brown’s face bashed into an outfield support post. The ball bounded off his glove and skipped over the wall for a home run.

Brown suffered a fractured cheek bone and a concussion and would be out of action for two weeks.

Giant Footprint

Sadly, in 1981 Brown would pass in Houston from Leukemia.

Though he died way too young – just 33 – let’s hope that his final days Brown took solice that he he was able to accomplish to big league dream.

“It was a miracle my arm was restored,” Brown once said. “When I knew they’d somehow fixed it, I was determined to perform for the Giants.”

That, he did.

Giants take Thursday off before homestand with Rox and Reds

San Francisco Giants hitter Evan Longoria swings hard enough to break his bat for a ground out in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Mon Apr 5, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 8, 2021

Following a much-needed extra-inning victory over San Diego on Wednesday, the San Francisco Giants have an off day on Thursday before starting a weekend homestand hosting the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park.

The Rockies are off to a 2-4 start, while the Giants are 3-3. Colorado is fifth in the National League in runs scored (37), but struggle with an overall team batting average of .228 (16th). In between a season-opening win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and Wednesday’s 8-0 victory over Arizona, the Rockies lost four straight games.

Ryan McMahon leads the Colorado offense with four home runs and a .381 average and seven runs batted in.

Giants hitting leaders in the early going include Donovan Solano (.409 average), Evan Longoria (.318 avg., .773 slugging percentage, three home runs and five RBI), and Darin Ruf (three RBI, .400 OBP).

Kevin Gausman has yet to win a decision for San Francisco, but has an 0.66 WHIP in 13 2/3 innings along with 11 strikeouts and a 1.32 earned run average in two starts. Jake McGee has a win and two saves out of the bullpen with five strikeouts in four innings.

The weekend probable pitchers (Colorado-San Francisco): Friday – Austin Gomber (0-1, 3.00) vs. Johnny Cueto (0-0, 4.76); Saturday – Chi Chi Gonzalez (1-0, 5.40) vs. Logan Webb (0-1, 5.06); Sunday – German Marquez (0-0, 3.60) vs. Anthony Desclafani (0-0, 1.80).

Following the series with Colorado, the Giants host Cincinnati Monday through Wednesday before an eastern road trip to Miami and Philadelphia.

Sac fly in the 10th lifts Giants past Padres 3-2

San Francisco Giants second baseman Donavon Solano left and shortstop Brandon Crawford (right) give thanks to the Almighty for a Giants win at Petco Park on Wed Apr 7, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Donovan Solano’s sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning provided San Francisco with its margin of victory Wednesday, as the Giants edged San Diego 3-2 at Petco Park.

Solano drove in pinch-hitter Alex Dickerson, who was placed at second base to start the inning. Dickerson moved to third when Austin Slater flied out to center, and, after Mike Yastrzemski reached on an infield hit, scored on Solano’s fly to right off Padres reliever Tim Hill (0-1).

In the bottom of the 10th, Wandy Peralta threw a scoreless inning, stranding designated runner Jurickson Profar at third to earn his first save. Jake McGee (1-0) threw a scoreless ninth and picked up the win.

The Padres tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Wil Myers homered to left-center off San Francisco reliever Tyler Rogers.

Darin Ruf’s two-run home run to deep center off Padres starter Blake Snell put the Giants up 2-0 in the top of the second. San Diego cut that lead in half in the bottom of the fifth on Jorge Mateo’s RBI single to center.

Giants starter Kevin Gausman gave up one earned run on four hits over seven innings; he struck out five and walked one. Snell struck out eight and walked four while giving up two earned runs on two hits in his five innings of work.

Snell also got his first major league hit, a single in the third inning.

The Giants have Thursday off, then host Colorado for a three-game weekend series.

Caratini’s late inning home run wins it for the Padres 3-1

San Diego Padres’ Victor Caratini, center, is congratulated by Manny Machado, right after belting a two run seventh inning home run against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in San Diego on Tue Apr 7, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Things were looking good in the middle game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres were going good, but that all changed with one pitch.

Victor Caratini hit a two-run home run off of Matt Wisler in the bottom of the seventh inning, helping the Padres to a 3-1 victory over the Giants at Petco Park.

With one out in the inning, Wisler walked Ha-Seong Kim on six pitches and on the first pitch to Caratini, he launched it into the right field seats to give the Padres the lead for good.

Keone Kela pitched a perfect seventh inning, striking out two to pick up his first win of the young season. Former Giants closer Mark Melancon threw a perfect ninth inning that included a strikeout to pick up his third save of the 2021 season.

Yu Darvish made his second start of the season, as he went six innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking one and striking out seven, as he was straddled with a no-decision.

Aaron Sanchez made quite a first impression on the Giants and their fans in his first start as a member of the team. In five innings of work, Sanchez gave up just one run on six hits, not allowing a walk and striking out four and like Darvish, did not fare in the decision.

Brandon Crawford got the Giants on the board in the top of the third inning, as he took a Darvish offering and planted it into the right-center seats for his first home run of the season to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately, that lead did not last long, as Sanchez gave up a game-tying, run-scoring single to Eric Hosmer in the bottom half of the third inning to score Jake Cronenworth and that would be the score until Caratini untied it in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Giants managed just three hits on the night against the Padres, as Buster Posey and Austin Slater picked up the other two hits.

NOTES: In the opener of the three-game series that the Giants won 3-2, they were helped by hitting three solo homers…the last time the Giants won a game by hitting three solo home runs to account for all their runs was October 3, 2015 vs. Colorado (Kelby Tomlinson, Marlon Byrd and Brandon Crawford each homered), this according to SportsRadar.

Crawfords home run in the top of the first inning was the teams 10th of the season and the ninth solo home run. Evan Longoria hit the only non-solo home run, when he hit a two-run home run on Friday night against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman will make his second start of the season, as he takes the mound in the series finale for the Giants, while the Padres will send Blake Snell for his second start of the young season.

Giants smash three homers in hair-raising 3-2 win at San Diego

By Morris Phillips

The Giants didn’t impress anybody in Seattle with their late inning collapse on Thursday and eerily quiet bats on Saturday night.

But they did impress on Monday in San Diego.

Mike Yastrzemski, in a pinch-hitting role, broke a 2-2 tie with a home run in the seventh inning, propelling the Giants to a 3-2 win over the Padres at Petco Park. Yastrzemski’s big blow came after he was 1 for 13 against the Mariners, and told the local media he had no excuses for his substandard start to the season.

“I just stunk this weekend,” he said.

On Monday, Yaz was back in comfort zone: swinging a big bat, and characteristically saying as little as possible afterwards.

“We were gritty today, DeSclafani did great and we faced a good pitcher.” Yastrzemski told the NBC Sports Bay Area audience on the field after the game.

MLB.com’s Maria Guardado was able to get more out of Yastrzemski in a zoom session interview after the game, and the answers were revealing from one of the game’s more cerebral hitters.

“I was obviously hoping it was either a home run or a deep flyout,” Yastrzemski said. “It was kind of working into what I wanted to do mentally with my swing. I was getting beat a lot in Seattle and spinning off the ball. I just wanted to really stay through the middle of the field, and I just got a pitch that I could do it with.”

Yastrzemski’s home run off reliever Craig Stammen came on a 2-0 sinking fastball, and continued the slugger’s penchant for coming up with big hits in big spots, a trend that began in the COVID-truncated 2020 season. But Yaz wasn’t the only big bat for the Giants on Monday.

Darin Ruf homered in the second, and Evan Longoria homered in the fourth, his third round tripper in four games. All three blasts were solo shots and gave the Giants the lead each time.

Anthony DeSclafani made his San Francisco debut and held the Padres to one run on four hits in five innings of work. Even more significant was the team’s bullpen, working the final four frames while allowing a run on four hits as well.

Jake McGee picked up the save after walking Manny Machado and hitting Eric Hosmer with a pitch with two outs. Tommy Pham flew out with the two runners aboard to end it.

Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was injured while swinging at a pitch in the third. Tatis struck out and crumpled to the ground at home plate in obvious pain. He was diagnosed with a partially dislocated shoulder and could miss a month or more after signing a $340 million contract in the off-season.

Wondering how a 3-2 ballgame lasts 3 hours, 35 minutes in today’s baseball climate despite commissioner Rob Manfred’s insistence that games preceed at a faster pace? Here’s how.

Both teams started their fifth starter in their initial appearance of the season and both pitched deliberately. Between them, DeSclafani and San Diego’s Adrian Morejon started hitters with first pitch strikes on just 20 of 40 occasions. That led to a lot of deep counts, and lengthy at-bats as both pitchers were determined not to get hurt by lineups adept at extra-base hits and home runs. While both ultimately pitched well, they didn’t last long. Morejon, who had pitches hit as fast as 97 mph, allowed the first two Giants’ home runs, and was done after throwing 64 pitches in four innings.

DeSclafani threw 86 pitches in five innings of work, and had only one clean inning, the third, were he retired all three batters.

Both teams paraded relievers into the game after that–five on each side–and the common theme was yes, almost all pitched effectively, but they took their time. Matt Wisler, who found disaster in his previous appearance in Seattle, and McGee were particularly patient, mixing in balls and strikes at nearly an equal rate.

And that brings us to the main reason the game lasted so long: the Padres and Giants combined to throw 126 balls (with 184 strikes mixed in) and 314 pitches total. That’s a lot for a nine inning game, but reflective of how determined teams are of not letting lineups packed with power hitters hurt them. The Giants may be 2-2 and projected to finish third or worse in the NL West, but they can hit. Even at this early stage, and despite a Sunday afternoon off, the Giants lead MLB in homers with nine (tied with the Astros).

The Giants and Padres pick it up on Tuesday with Aaron Sanchez making his Giants debut in a matchup with Yu Darvish at 7:10 pm.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Giants open up in San Diego for 3 game series tonight

The San Francisco Giants Evan Longoria goes deep in the top of the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners on Fri Apr 2, 2021 at T Mobile Park in Seattle (AP News photo)

#1 The Giants (1-1) opened up their season in Seattle on Thursday night for the start of a three game series their most recent game Saturday night they were shutout 4-0 by the Mariners (1-1) pitching staff of starter Chris Flexan, relivers Kendall Graveman, Anthony Miseiewicz, and Rafael Montero.

#2 The Giants simply couldn’t get any hitting going on Saturday against the four Mariner pitchers was this a game that the M’s pitching staff had the Giants off balance or they were just that good.

#3 The Giants did pick up their first win of the season in game 2 of the series against the Mariners with a 6-3 win on Friday night. The Giants picked up the bulk of their run production in the sixth and seventh inning scoring two and three runs off M’s starter Yusei Kikuchi and reliever Drew Steckenrider.

#4 It’s not too often the Giants get a Sunday off and instead of making this a four game series it was a three game series giving the Giants Sunday off a travel day of sorts.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series against the San Diego Padres starting tonight at Petco Park, the Giants will start Anthony DeScalfani and for the Padres Adrian Morejon. This will be Desclfani’s first game pitching in a regular game for the Giants.

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

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips Mon Apr 5, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud