Tag: San Francisco Giants

Giants Find A Way to Win In Another One Run Game Beating Rockies 6-5

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By Barbara Mason

After trailing 5-2 going into the top of the ninth inning, the San Francisco Giants (39-28) scored four runs to top the Colorado Rockies (12-54) 6-5 in an unlikely win. They got some great at bats from the bottom of the lineup to finish off the Rockies. It was an amazing comeback for the team in another one-run win for the team.

Game recap: San Francisco got on the scoreboard in the first inning leading 1-0. Willy Adames sacrificed Jung Hoo Lee home for the early lead. When it looked as if San Francisco would be able to manage this game, the Rockies tied up the game in the second inning. Ryan Ritter singled Brenton Doyle home for the 1-1 tie in the second inning.

This game got a bit more interesting when Colorado took the lead in the fourth inning 2-1. Ryan McMahon hit a solo home run out of the park and the Rockies were handling the San Francisco pitching.

Adames answered back in the fifth inning with a solo home run to tie this game back up. The Rockies went on to hit their second home run of the game in the same inning and took back the lead 3-2. Kyle Farmer hit a solo home run to left and Colorado was holding their own.

The Giants Kyle Harrison pitched five innings allowing four hits, three runs, two walks and six strikeouts. He was relieved by Spencer Bivens in the sixth inning.

The Rockies took the 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning and were six outs away from winning game one of the series. San Francisco got out of the inning leaving the Rockies Tyler Freeman stranded on third base. In their last series, San Francisco won game one in the tenth inning and game two on a walk-off. All three games were one-run wins.

The Giants still had two innings left to either tie or take the lead in this game. They would be looking to the bottom of their lineup to get the job done. San Francisco was unable to do any damage in the top of the eighth inning.

It was the Rockies who did damage in the bottom of the eighth scoring another run and taking a 4-2 lead. Thairo Estrada grounded out and Hunter Goodman scored from third base for their fourth run of the game. Colorado continued to hammer the ball scoring another run now leading 5-2 with two outs on a Brenton Doyle triple that drove McMahon home. The Giants had a huge mountain to climb going into the ninth inning.

San Francisco needed three runs to stay in this game. The Giants Casey Schmitt got right to work to cut the Rockies lead hitting a home run to left center. This was his first home run of the season.

The Giants got a runner on first via a walk and the tying run was at the plate. The Giants Andrew Knizner drew a walk and San Francisco had back-to-back walks and runners on first and second with Jung Hoo Lee at the plate with no outs.

Despite having a two run lead, the Rockies were in trouble. After a wild pitch, Knizner and Lee advanced to second and third base. Colorado closer Zach Agnos was having a meltdown walking a third runner loading the bases with only one out.

Victor Vodnik relieved Agnos looking to save this game for Colorado. The Giants Heliot Ramos sacrificed Knizner home and it was a one-run game with Wilmer Flores looking for the tying hit. Flores hit a little infield dribbler allowing Lee to score and this game was tied. 5-5. San Francisco was not finished. Mike Yastrzemski singled Adames home to take the lead scoring four runs in the ninth inning and now leading 6-5.

Camilo Doval came into the game looking to finish off the Rockies in a wild ninth inning for San Francisco. The Giants held on to win the game as the wheels fell off for Colorado 6-5.

Game notes: After sweeping the struggling Atlanta Braves over the weekend, the Giants took on the Rockies at Coors Field. The Giants only had 16 hits over their last series and only three hits in game three but managed to win the game and got the sweep.

Tuesday night the Giants face another struggling team, in fact the Rockies have the worst record in baseball. The Rockies are 41 games under .500. This is a series that San Francisco should handle easily but they do continue to struggle offensively.

The Giants Matt Chapman was unable to take the field and the team would certainly miss him. He is on a 10-day injured list with right hand inflammation.

San Francisco took care of business in Tuesday’s game winning the first game of the series. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 5:40 PM Wednesday. The Giants Robbie Ray will take the mound for game two. He has been lights out with a 8-1 win/loss record and a 2.44 ERA and will no doubt give the Rockies a whole lot of trouble. The Rockies Kyle Freeland will start for Colorado with a 1-8 win/loss record.

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Giants open six game road swing to Colorado and Los Angeles Tuesday

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San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski belts a two run RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Jun 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic:

#1 Mike Yastrzemski was getting around on the baseball pretty well on Sunday with three RBIs and stretched out his five game hitting streak as the Giants edged the Atlanta Braves on Sunday 4-3 at Oracle Park.

#2 The Giants win gave the Braves their seventh straight loss and the struggling Braves have now lost 14 of their last 17 games and are 27 for 37 and are now ten games below .500.

#3 Yastrzemski was key in the fourth inning for San Francisco with a two RBI double in right field. Yastrzemski scored on an error by the Braves Ozzie Albies who couldn’t handle a hot potato hit by Tyler Fitzgerald hit to second base.

#4 The Giants starter Landen Roupp who pitched six innings allowed five hits and three earned runs, walking two and striking out two which was enough to get the win.

#5 The Giants open a three game series in Denver Tues Jun 10th against the Colorado Rockies in what would look like a cakewalk for the Giants as the Rockies are struggling through a record loss season.

#6 The Giants conclude the road trip to Los Angeles and the Dodgers starting on Thursday night. The Giants are scheduled to play at Dodger Stadium but the National Guard has declared all of downtown Los Angeles an unlawful assembly due to riots in protest of ICE arresting LA citizens and processing them for deportation. Talk about the scenario for the Giants just to play in a volatile neighborhood to get from their hotel to the park and back again?

Marko Ukalovic does the SF Giants podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Villanueva: Giants standing tall in the Bay

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A look at the Oracle Park scoreboard in San Francisco on Sun Jun 8, 2025 during Atlanta Braves-San Francisco Giants third game of three game series (photo Michael Villanueva)

PUBLISHED ON June 8, 2025 by Sports Radio Service

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Michael what impact will Matt Chapman presence in the lineup influence the Giants’ offense today and how important is he?

#2 Now how important is it for the Giants to take Advantage of the Braves’ losing streak and gain ground in the NL West race?

#3 What impact has Landen Roupp’s growth as a starting pitcher had on the Giants’ 2025 rotation?

#4 Since Wednesday night, Giants are now on a 5 game winning streak following the games from the Padres and now Braves and got the sweep over the Braves Sunday 4-3 at Oracle Park.

#5 Giants finish off the Braves with an early season sweep taking game 3 of another close game final score, 4-3. Next up for the Giants Tuesday night at 5:40pm PDT in Colorado at Coors Field. Starting pitcher for the Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (1-1 ERA 4.34) for the Rockies LHP Carson Palmquist (0-4 ERA 8.50).

Michael Villanueva is a Major League Baseball podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

SF Giants game wrap: Chapman’s the hero and ends pitcher’s duel with walk-off HR in Giants’ fourth-straight win, 3-2 over Braves

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman runs the bases after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the tenth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco Sat Jun 7, 2025 (AP News photo)

Saturday, June 7, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Atlanta Braves 2 (27-36)

San Francisco Giants 3 (37-28)

Win: Tyler Rogers (3-2)

Loss: Pierce Johnson (1-3)

Time: 2:05

Attendance: 35,162

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants pulled off their fourth win in a row in what was a pitcher’s duel, as they were down to their final out, and Matt Chapman hit a walk-off home run to left field to cap off an epic Giants’ 3-2 win over the Braves Saturday.

After Buster Posey shook things up on Wednesday, the Giants have been undefeated. They blew a lead last night, but they were able to win it on a walk-off wild pitch for their seventh walk-off win of the season.

Saturday, on Pride Day, and another gorgeous day for baseball at Oracle Park. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie was on hand for pregame ceremonies, as were LGBTQ leaders, including State Senator Scott Weiner.

Iowayna Pena, Director of Government Affairs and Real Estate Development for the Giants, and a prominent leader in the LGBTQ Community, threw out the first pitch with the new Pride Ball. What is the Pride Ball you ask? It is a baseball with rainbow stitching. The Seattle Mariners first came up with the idea this year. To my knowledge, it was not used in Saturday’s game, but it would be pretty cool if they start using it for Pride Day next year.

Logan Webb took the ball. Let’s be honest here: Logan Webb is Matt Cain with a sinker. Webb looks like Cain; has the same build as Cain; and has the same mechanics as Cain. Most importantly and unfortunately, Logan Webb suffers the same level of being screwed by his offense as the great Matt Cain.

Saturday would be the same for the Giants’ ace. Webb started off strong, as he retired the first six men he faced. Webb ran into trouble but escaped a jam in the top of the third, and then he threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth.

Braves’ starter Bryce Elder started off almost just as strong. He threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the first, followed by a pair of scoreless innings in the second and third.

The Giants struck first in the bottom of the fourth, as Wilmer Flores led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to left field off a hanging slider by Elder. Elder retired the next three, but Braves Manager Brian Snitker decided to get thrown out of the game by Home Plate Umpire Gabe Morales afterwards.

Good chance Snitker got tossed to motivate his struggling team that has not had the kind of season they expected, and who has lost some tough games as of late. It appeared to work, as Michael Harris led off the top of the fifth with a home run to right-center to tie it. Webb retired the next three, and Elder threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the fifth.

The Braves then staged a rally off Webb in the top of the sixth, as they loaded the bases with nobody out on three-straight singles. Matt Olson popped up into an infield fly, and then Marcel Ozuna grounded into a fielder’s choice to put the Braves ahead.

Webb struck out Harris to end the top of the sixth and his day, as his pitch count got to him. Webb was just great over six innings, as he struck out ten, and didn’t walk a single guy.

The only problem? You guessed it: Webb couldn’t get any support. Elder one-upped Webb with 12 strikeouts over eight dominant innings. Elder, too, didn’t walk anybody, and on top of that, he only gave up three hits.

That’s why the Giants must have been ecstatic to see former Giant Pierce Johnson in the bottom of the ninth. Well, that, and the fact that it was a wild pitch by Johnson that won the game for the Giants last night.

Pierce Johnson struck out Daniel Johnson to start the bottom of the ninth, and then Heliot Ramos grounded a base-hit to left-center. Wilmer then popped up, and the Giants were down to their last out.

Matt Chapman came up to the plate as the Giants’ last hope on this beautiful afternoon. The count was 1-1 when Johnson threw Chapman a semi-hanging curveball in the bottom half of the zone. Chapman turned on it, and hit a two-run home run to left to win it for the Giants.

It was the eighth walk-off win for the Giants this season, and their second walk-off home run. Believe it or not, the Giants had nine walk-off wins at this point of the season in 2011.

Tyler Rogers, who pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the ninth, got the win, and Pierce Johnson took the loss for the second day in a row.

The Giants improve to 36-27, and they will go for the sweep Sunday with Landen Roupp (3-4, 3.18 ERA) on the hill. Spencer Strider (0-4, 5.68 ERA) will take the ball for Atlanta.

First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva: Giants edge out Braves in walk off fashion in 3-2 win

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San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Michael, the San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman hit a two run walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning at Oracle Park against the Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Saturday for their fourth win in a row.

#2 Heliot Ramos got on board with a single and one out and relief pitcher Pierce Johnson who dropped his record to 1-3 got Wilmer Flores to pop up and then Chapman came up with his 12th homer of the season.

#3 The Braves starter Bryce Elder, allowed a run and three hits and struck out 12 in eight innings of work and the Braves lost another heartbreak losing their sixth straight game.

#4 Giant starter Logan Webb pitched six innings struck out ten and allowed two runs and surrendered six hits. It was the fourth time that Webb had strike outs in double digits this season.

#5 Atlanta and San Francisco match up again on Sunday afternoon at 1:05pm PDT. Starter for the Braves RHP Spencer Strider (0-4 ERA 5.68) for the Giants RHP Landen Roupp (3-4 ERA 3.18) first pitch slated for 1:05pm PDT at Oracle Park.

Michael Villanueva is an MLB analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Giants Fitzgerald scores on 10th inning wild pitch to beat Braves 5-4 to open three game series

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San Francisco Giants Tyler Fitzgerald is mobbed by teammates after scoring the game winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning against the Atlanta Braves Fri Jun 6, 2025 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO–On Friday night at Oracle Park, the San Francisco Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 5–4 in a thrilling walk-off, extending their winning streak to three games in a row. The Giants handed the Braves their fifth consecutive defeat, improving to 25–15 thanks to early offense, clutch pitching, and an exciting extra-inning finish. Despite a few rocky moments along the way, the Giants’ tenacity was demonstrated in this thrilling victory.

The Giants quickly took the lead, scoring three runs in the first inning as a result of timely hitting and Braves errors. Wilmer Flores and Jung Hoo Lee each contributed run-scoring knocks to take advantage of Atlanta’s defensive errors, while Heliot Ramos continued to be a force at the plate with three hits. The Braves refused to go quietly, even though the Giants appeared to be in control and had a 4-0 lead by the end of the second inning.

Atlanta clawed back in the middle innings, beginning with a run in the fifth before Matt Olson tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh—his 13th of the season. The Braves’ bullpen held the line from there, including a scoreless ninth by veteran closer Craig Kimbrel, who recently returned to the roster. The Giants had chances but struggled with execution on the basepaths, including a costly pickoff of Tyler Fitzgerald in the ninth that nearly derailed their momentum.

The automatic runner rule gave San Francisco a new opportunity in the 10th inning despite the baserunning problems. On a groundout, Tyler Fitzgerald, who began the inning on second, moved up to third. Fitzgerald then raced home and scored the game-winning run in walk-off fashion after Braves reliever Pierce Johnson uncorked a wild pitch that bounced past catcher Sean Murphy with the game on the line. It was the Giants’ seventh season-long walk-off victory.

The Giants’ defense was crucial in keeping the score tied and facilitating the walk-off. Dominic Smith contributed with strong defense at first base, Mike Yastrzemski displayed good outfield positioning, and Matt Chapman made a crucial throw to cut down a runner. The Giants’ depth and composure under duress were demonstrated by Camilo Doval’s scoreless ninth inning on the mound and Spencer Bivens’ escape from a bases-loaded jam in the top of the tenth to secure the victory.

This game was a gut-punch for the Braves, who dropped to 18–20 amid mounting frustrations. For the Giants, it was another example of a team that continues to find different ways to win, even when the game gets messy. With momentum on their side, San Francisco will look to keep rolling as they head into the weekend, while the Braves are left searching for answers to halt their sudden skid.

Starting pitchers for Saturday for Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (2-3 ERA 4.56) for San Francisco RHP Logan Webb (5-5 ERA 2.55) first pitch 1:05pm PDT at Oracle Park.

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva: Ray with 9 strikeouts holds back Padres for win; Giants open series with Braves Friday

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San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray was dealing on Thu Jun 5, 2025 against the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo from Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Michael big day for the San Francisco Giants Robbie Ray picking up his eighth win with a 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres Thursday afternoon at Oracle Park.

#2 Ray had nine strikeouts over seven innings of work and is the first pitcher in the National League to win eight games.

#3 Ray at 33 retired the Padres in order four times and the Padres couldn’t get past first base in the last four innings of the ball game.

#4 What’s remarkable about Ray is when the Giants got him last season he couldn’t start pitching until July and coming into this year he’s showing shades of the 2021 Cy Young pitcher that he was.

#5 Giants open up a three game series with the Atlanta Braves on Friday night. Starting pitcher for the Braves RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (4-4 ERA 3.13) for the Giants RHP Hayden Birdsong (3-1 ERA 2.37) first pitch 7:15pm PDT.

Michael Villanueva does the SF Giants podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ray shines with nine strikeouts over seven strong innings, as Giants earn split with 3-2 win over Padres

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San Francisco Giant starter Robbie Ray kept the San Diego Padres in check picking up his eighth win against one loss at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Jun 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 2 (35-26)

San Francisco Giants 3 (35-28)

Win: Robbie Ray (8-1)

Loss: Dylan Cease (1-5)

Save: Camilo Doval (8)

Time: 2:28

Attendance: 37,436

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants pulled off another one, as Robbie Ray struck out nine over seven strong innings, and the Giants beat the Padres 3-2 to get a split in this four-game series on Thursday afternoon.

After their biggest win of the season Wednesday night, in which they came back from down 5-0, the Giants sought to get the split in the series finale on another nice day for baseball at Oracle Park. They had the perfect man on the mound in Robbie Ray, who despite not having the official ace title, has been the Giants’ most dominant starter this season.

Ray came into Thursday’s game 7-1. He took his first loss of the season last Saturday in Miami after his offense was unable to provide him any support in a 1-0 loss. With the Giants’ offense finally scoring more than four runs Wednesday night, there was hope that he would get more support today.

Ray started off the day nicely with a one, two, three inning in the top of the first. The Giants looked to pounce on Padres’ starter Dylan Cease, who has not had a particularly good season thus far. Cease came in 1-4 with a 4.66 ERA, and with the Giants’ offense carrying some of the momentum from last night, he was the perfect man to face.

The Giants had runners at second and third with one out after Jung Hoo Lee got screwed on a ground-rule double to Triples Alley. That bounce over the wall would come back to bite the Giants, who would waste a golden opportunity to make an early statement.

Ray got out of a jam in the top of the second, and he appeared to be headed for a quick and quiet inning after striking out the first two men he faced in the top of the third. However, Luis Arraez reached on an infield hit that deflected off Ray, and Manny Machado broke the ice with a home run to left-center field.

The Padres had a 2-0 lead, but the Giants were ready to respond in the bottom of the third, as they loaded the bases with one out. Willy Adames put the Giants on the board with a sacrifice fly to right-center field, and then one of the other newbies, Dominic Smith stepped up to the plate.

Smith fell behind in the count early, as he whiffed at the first two pitches. Smith took a pair of pitches to work the count to 2-2, and then he fouled off three-straight. Smith was looking to fit in quite nicely with a Giants’ team that has worked two-strike at-bats all year long.

Cease threw a perfect pitch on the outside corner, but Home Plate Umpire Will Little did not give him the call, and the count was now full. The next pitch, the ninth of the at-bat, was a slider that Smith drove into the gap in right-center for a ground-rule double that gave the Giants the lead.

Ray then responded with a six-pitch one, two, three inning in the top of the fourth, and he went on to retire 11-straight. At the end, Ray retired 13 of the final 14 men he faced to cap off a dominant seven-inning performance. On top of that, he walked just one, and he struck out nine. Ray now has 87 strikeouts through 13 starts this season.

Randy Rodriguez, fresh off converting his first big league save Wednesday night, took the ball for the eighth. Rodriguez gave up a leadoff single to Brandon Lockridge, but he was able to work his way through the inning.

Camilo Doval came in for the ninth and looked to bounce back after his blown save on Tuesday. It wouldn’t be easy, and just as they did Wednesday night, the Padres put runners at second and third with two outs. Doval then struck out Jake Cronenworth on a filthy low slider to end it, and the Giants won it 3-2.

Robbie Ray got the win to improve to 8-1, and Dylan Cease took his fifth loss. Most notably, Camilo Doval picked up his 100th-career save.

The Giants improve to 35-28.

The Atlanta Braves, who blew a 10-4 lead in a brutal loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, will fly across the country for a three-game series at Oracle Park that will start Friday night. The Giants will look to take advantage of a Braves’ team that has been unable to click so far for whatever reason.

Hayden Birdsong (3-1, 2.37 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season in the series opener Friday. Birdsong has given up four earned runs, and has struck out 14 over 14 and two thirds innings in his first three starts.

Spencer Schwellenbach (4-4, 3.13 ERA)—a solid baseball name—will counter for Atlanta.

First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Giants can end Padre series with a split today at Oracle Park

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (26) rounds third base in the bottom sixth inning after hitting a home run as he is being congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (9) at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the San Diego Padres on Thu Jun 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast:

#1 The San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos hit a double in the bottom of the seventh inning to knock in two runs. Jung Hoo Lee hit a sacrifice fly and the Giants took the lead and went onto beat the San Deigo Padres 6-5 to avoid getting swept.

#2 The Giants had went 16 games in a row scoring four or less runs that was a relief for manager Bob Melvin.

#3 Reliver Sean Hjelle pitched for 2.2 innings in relief and picked up the win this after being called up from Triple A Sacramento on Tuesday.

#4 Stephen didn’t get ask you about former Giants LaMonte Wade, Christian Koss and Sam Huff’s departures and what they meant to the Giants as their numbers weren’t enough to keep them any longer.

#5 Padres and Giants conclude this four game series today at Oracle Park. The Padres are going with Dylan Cease (1-4 ERA 4.66) the Giants are starting Robbie Ray (7-1 ERA 2.43) first pitch 12:45pm PDT.

Stephen Ruderman is filling in for Morris Phillips who does the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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

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

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

San Diego Padres 5 (35-25)

San Francisco Giants 6 (34-28)

Win: Sean Hjelle (1-0)

Loss: Jason Adam (1-3)

Save: Randy Rodriguez (1)

Time: 2:21

Attendance: 34,821

By Stephen Ruderman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

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

Final Thoughts:

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

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

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