Tag: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Diamondbacks Gallen throws six innings of no hit ball against Giants line up

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Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen was dealing against the San Francisco Giants here he is pitching to Michael Conforto in the bottom of the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Sep 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Zac Gallen led the way for the Arizona Diamondbacks bringing a no hitter into the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants and after Gallen was lifted the Giants finally were able to get a hit.

#2 Gallen improved his record to 11-6 after pitching six innings, walking four and striking out eight batters. Michael no doubt about it he had a good mix of pitches working for him?

#3 The Diamondbacks got home run help from Eugenio Suárez and Pavin Smith and cut the lead on the NL West first place Los Angeles Dodgers trailing the Dodgers by five games.

#4 LeMonte Wade carried the load for San Francisco on Wednesday night with a home run and four RBIs but the Giants fell two runs short.

#5 The Giants are dueling with the Diamondbacks as we speak right now Arizona starter RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, ERA 4.30) is matched up against Giants LHP Blake Snell (2-3, 3.56) first pitch at 12:45pm PT at Oracle Park.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Birdsong’s command burns him again, and Gallen shuts Giants down with six no-hit innings in 6-4 win for Arizona

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Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen shown throwing against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Sep 4, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Arizona Diamondbacks 6 (79-61)

San Francisco Giants 4 (68-72)

Win: Zac Gallen (11-6)

Loss: Hayden Birdsong (3-5)

Time: 2:42

Attendance: 22,855

By Stephen Ruderman

The Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants again Wednesday night, 6-4, to take the first two games of this series, as Hayden Birdsong had another outing cut short due to his command, and Zac Gallen threw six no-hit innings to hand the Giants their fourth-straight loss.

After losing two of three to the Marlins of all teams at home, the Giants dropped their third-straight game in a wild and somewhat-emotional 8-7 loss to the Diamondbacks in the series opener Tuesday night. The Giants would look for Hayden Birdsong to turn the page on a brutal August.

Birdsong got off to a great start for the Giants after getting called up at the end of June, and his strong July earned him a spot on MLB.com’s top 100 prospect list. However, things were completely different for the young right-hander August.

Birdsong was lit up by the Washington Nationals for seven runs over just two innings in our nation’s capital on Aug. 6, and he got hammered for five more runs by the Detroit Tigers in his next start on Aug. 11. Birdsong went 0-4 with an 8.68 ERA in his five starts in August. What magnified his problems was that he struggled with his control as well.

Unfortunately, Birdsong’s control problems followed him into his first inning of September, as he walked the first two hitters of this game. Former Giant and D-Backs outfielder Joc Pederson struck out swinging for the first out, but Josh Bell grounded a base-hit into right-center field to knock in Geraldo Perdomo for the first run of the game.

Birdsong struggled again in the top of the second. Eugenio Suarez led off the inning with a home run to left field to make it 2-0. Birdsong then walked two more as the inning progressed, but he was able to escape without any further damage.

Diamondbacks’ starter Zac Gallen started his night with a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the first, but he ran into some trouble after he issued three-straight two-out walks to load the bases in the bottom of the second. However, with the Giants being the Giants, Curt Casali struck out after a lengthy eight-pitch at-bat to end the inning.

Birdsong pitched his first and only scoreless inning of the night in the top of the third, but it didn’t come without its drama. He was done after just three innings, as he walked five and threw 77 pitches.

Spencer Bivens picked up the fort and gave the Giants four innings. Pavin Smith hit a home run in the top of the fifth to make it, and The Diamondbacks manufactured a run in the top of the seventh to make it 4-0.

Meanwhile, Gallen retired ten straight, starting with his strikeout of Casali to end the bottom of the second. Mike Yastrzemski drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth to snap that streak, but Heliot Ramos grounded into a double play, and Michael Conforto struck out to end the inning.

Gallen also had a no-hitter going through six innings, and he had struck out eight. However, he threw 100 pitches, so Diamondbacks Manager Torey Lovullo opted to bring in Kevin Ginkel in the bottom of the seventh.

Earlier Wednesday night, Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge combined to no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Diamondbacks were now nine outs away from throwing the second combined no-hitter of the night as this game went to the bottom of the seventh.

However, it would not come to be, as Tyler Fitzgerald grounded a base-hit up the middle for the Giants’ first hit to lead off the bottom of the seventh. LaMonte Wade then hit a home run to the water in right for splash hit number 104, and it was now 4-2.

The Giants were making a late comeback just as they did Tuesday night. The only question was whether they could complete it this time.

Unfortunately, the Diamondbacks got both runs back against Camilo Doval in the top of the eighth, and it was now 6-2. A.J. Puk then came in and threw a one, two three shutout inning in the bottom of the eighth.

Taylor Rogers, who finished the top of the eighth, came out to throw a scoreless inning in the top of the ninth. Luvollo then brought in Justin Martinez, who converted a four-out save Tuesday night, in a non-save situation in the bottom of the ninth.

Like Tuesday night, the Giants made a charge in the bottom of the ninth. Michael Conforto walked to lead off the inning, and Fitzgerald doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Wade then grounded a base-hit to knock in a pair, and it was now 6-4. The tying run was now coming up to the plate in Luis Matos, but Martinez retired the side in order to close it out.

Zac Gallen got the win after his six no-hit innings, and Kyle Harrison took his fifth loss in his last six starts. Harrison’s last five decisions have all been loses.

The Giants fall to 68-72, and if anyone still cares, they are now eight and a half games back of the Braves for the third wild card with 22 games to go. Their tragic number is now 14.

The Giants can salvage a game in this series with a win on getaway day Thursday. The National League Pitcher of the Month for August, Blake Snell (2-3, 3.56 ERA), will make the start for the Giants. Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.30 ERA), who recently came back after being out for four months, will take the ball for Arizona. First pitch will be at 12:45 p.m. PT.

After the game ended, the Giants and Matt Chapman agreed to a six-year $151-million extension. Chapman was scratched from the lineup Wednesday night, but his leadership and defense have been a big boost for the Giants this season.

Harrison struggles, as Giants’ comeback falls short in wild series opener 8-7 loss to Diamondbacks at Oracle

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San Francisco Giants starter Kyle Harrison leaves for the dugout after being lifted by Giants manager Bob Melvin in the top of the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Sep 3, 2024 (AP News photo)

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Arizona Diamondbacks 8 (78-61)

San Francisco Giants 7 (68-71)

Win: Ryne Nelson (10-6)

Loss: Kyle Harrison (7-7)

Save: Justin Martinez (8)

Time: 2:47

Attendance: 23,545

By Stephen Ruderman

The Diamondbacks torched Kyle Harrison for six runs in just two and two thirds innings and jumped out to a 7-1 lead, and even though the Giants made a late spirited comeback, Arizona ultimately held on to win a wild 8-7 series opener at Oracle Park on Tuesday night.

President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi had himself a solid off-season in which he signed Jung-hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler and Blake Snell. As a result, there was a lot of excitement surrounding the Giants at the beginning of the season. Expectations were high, and fans were showing up.

The Giants went through the usual ups and downs of the long 162-game grind. At three separate times this season, they looked like they were done only to get hot and play the kind of winning baseball we all have known they’re capable of.

However, things were never able to truly materialize. Now with the Giants now wrapping up their third-straight season of mediocrity, there was a very different vibe on the shores of McCovey Cove Tuesday night.

23,545 fans, the lowest crowd of the season, filled into Oracle Park to watch a Giants’ team six and a half games out of the third wild card spot with 24 games to go. There was a real sense that the patience of this fanbase had run out with the meritocracy of the last three years, and that feeling carried right into the game.

While the Giants were still barely hanging by a thread onto contention, everyone knew the reality that with the Diamondbacks in town, the Giants were really playing spoilers. They called up Marco Luciano and Luis Matos prior to the game, and it appears that the Giants have begun their transition to play-for-next-year mode.

Luciano would be at second base tonight. It was a new position for the Giants’ young phenom, who committed five errors in five games in his brief stint with the team in late May.

The Diamondbacks got to work right away against Giants’ starter Kyle Harrison in the top of the first inning. Geraldo Perdomo singled on a ground ball up the middle to start the game, and Corbin Carroll roped a double down the left field line.

I told ya the lack of vibes had carried over into the game. The Diamondbacks had runners at second and third with nobody out and had a chance for a crooked number right off the bat.

Josh Bell grounded out to short, which knocked in Perdomo to put Arizona on the board, but it was a big first out for Harrison. Harrison struck Christian Walker out for the second out, and he had a chance to limit the damage to just a run.

Harrison then got ahead of Randal Grichuk 1-2, but Grichuk fouled off four pitches with two strikes to work the count to 2-2. He then hit a home run to right-center field to give the Diamondbacks their crooked number.

Ryne Nelson took the ball for Arizona in the bottom of the first with an early 3-0 lead, but the Giants would have a response. Mike Yastrzemski drew a leadoff walk, and Tyler Fitzerald slashed a double off the end of his bat down the right field line to put runners at second and third with no one out. Sound familiar?

Like the Diamondbacks, the Giants got on the board via an out, as Heliot Ramos knocked in Yaz with a sacrifice fly to right. However, the Giants would not be able to add on.

Harrison hoped to settle down after his offense got him a run, but the Diamondbacks got that run right back in the top of the second. Nelson then threw a one, two, three inning in the bottom of the second, but Harrison wouldn’t be able to stay out of trouble.

Harrison set down the first men he faced, but the Diamondbacks were relentless, and they loaded the bases with two outs. That ended Harrison’s night after just two and two thirds innings.

Bob Melvin brought in Tristan Beck, and I’ll get the bad news out of the way. Kevin Newman came up, and he lined a base-hit up the middle to knick in a pair. The Diamondbacks had a 6-1 lead, and this was turning into an ugly night for the Giants.

The one shiny spot on the ugly start Tuesday night was the appearance of Beck. Beck was pitching just six months after having an aneurysm in his right arm that required surgery.

Beck was acquired from the Braves in the Mark Melancon Trade in 2019, and he had a solid rookie season when he finally made it to the big leagues last year. Beck was unable to pitch for most of this season, but he put in the hard work to find his way back to the Giants.

Beck threw three and a third innings, and he gave up a run in the top of the fifth. It was a big day for him, and he made clear after the game how thankful he was for the support following everything he went through this year.

Matt Chapman hit a line drive home run to left-center in the bottom of sixth to make it 7-2, but Nelson was dominant Tuesday night over six and two thirds. He gave up just two runs and four hits, and he struck out nine.

Despite the lows the Giants have suffered this season, they have never phoned it in. They have been a group of true fighters who have grinded out every out all season. Even at their lowest points, they never gave up. Tuesday night was no different.

Diamondbacks Manager Torrey Lovullo brought in Ryan Thompson for what was expected to be a quiet bottom of the eighth inning. However, the Giants had other plans with the top of the order up.

Yastrzemski led off the inning with a home run to left-center to make it 7-3, and the Giants put runners at first and second with two outs. Jerar Encarnacion and Patrick Bailey then knocked in runs with base-hits to cut the deficit to 7-5.

Lovullo brought in Justin Martinez to face Luciano. Luciano committed another error in his return to the big leagues tonight, but he had a chance for a big hit in the bottom of the eighth. On the first pitch, he took a slider right on the inside corner and fisted it the other way to right for a base-hit, and it was now 7-6 with the tying run just 90 feet away at third.

The Giants and the 23,545 fans at the ballpark tonight were making noise. Luis Matos came up, but he struck out on three pitches, and the Diamondbacks kept their lead going to the ninth.

Arizona would get a run back against Erik Miller in the top of the ninth to make it 8-6, but the Giants still kept it going against Martinez in the bottom of the ninth. Yastrzemski lined a base-hit to right to start the inning, and after Fitzgerald struck out for the first out, Heliot Ramos lined a double down the line in left to make it 8-7.

It was a one-run game again, and the Giants had the tying run in scoring position with one out. The Giants had a chance to once again pull off a big win and give themselves and their fans a faint glimmer of hope with their season all but done.

However, it was not meant to be. Chapman grounded out back to the mound, and after Lovullo elected to walk LaMonte Wade, Encarnacion struck out swinging to end the game.

Ryne Nelson picked up the win; Kyle Harrison took the loss; and Justin Martinez got his eighth save of the year. The Giants have now lost three-straight and fall to 68-71. They are now seven and a half games back of the Braves with 23 games to go, and their tragic number to be eliminated is 16.

Hayden Birdsong (3-4, 5.14 ERA) will try and bounce back after a rough August, and he will take the ball for the Giants in the second game of this series Wednesday night. Zac Gallen (10-6, 3.87 ERA) will make the start for the Diamondbacks. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m PT.

He was a Giant? Chad Santos 1B-2006- #14

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2006 Topps San Francisco Giants Chad Santos card (By Topps Chewing Gum Company)

CHAD SANTOS – 1B – 2006 – # 14

He Was a Giant?

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

No one no one can accuse Santos of not taking advantage of an opportunity.

In three games with the Giants in 2006, the burly Hawaiian played against three different teams, faced three different pitchers and ripped three different hits.

Actually, it was two different types of hits. Santos slashed two singles… and slugged a HOME RUN for pete’s sake in a thimble full of action.

After that, Santos never played for the Giants or for any other big league team.

Why Was He A Giant?

After eight years of spectacular play from First Base Gold Glove God J.T. Snow, the Giants went in a different direction at the position in 2006.

That direction was South.

Seemingly, Snow dumped a load of quick sand around first base before he was jettisoned out of town.

Every player the Giants gave a legitimate shot to replace the multiple Gold Glover sank ignominiously.

That list included the moribund Lance Niekro, retread Mark Sweeney and the deflating Shea Hillenbrand.

Santos meanwhile did his best to pummel opposing pitchers fruit juicy red during the snippet of a chance he was given.

Before & After

Originally, a late round draft pick by the Royals out of his Honolulu high school in 1999, Santos produced decent power numbers as he advanced though the Kansas City farm system – but never got a call-up to the parent club. Signed by San Francisco as a minor league free agent in ‘06, Santos got his only shot at big league play when opening day first base starter Neikro and the others floundered.

He Never Had a Bobblehead Day. But…

Santos entered his first big league game as a defensive replacement in a home game vs. the Phillies (7/16/06). In his first MLB at-bat he ripped a single to center field to lead off the sixth inning off of veteran lefty Rheal Cormier.

After collecting another hit the next day in a start vs. the visiting Brewers, Santos sat for a couple of days.

Chad was back in the lineup vs. Chan Ho Park and the visiting Padres (7/20/06). In the second inning With a runner on and two out, Santos walloped a towering drive to straight away left field and over the outfield barrier for a two-run roundtripper. The Giant went on to a 9-3 victory before a packed house of more than 42,000 fans.

Giants Footprint

Granted, Santos’ Giants experience was a sliver of a sample size but projected over a full major league, Santos would have batted a lusty .429, with 54 HR and 108 RBI.

Giants fans and Santos will be forever left wondering “what if”… talk about leaving a Chad hanging.

Marlins deal final blow to Giants’ playoff hopes and take series with wild 7-5 win

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Miami Marlins Nick Fortes (right) is congratulated by teammate Jonah Bride (41) after scoring from third base on a Jesus Sanchez sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Miami Marlins 7 (51-86)

San Francisco Giants 5 (68-70)

Win: Xzavion Curry (1-2)

Loss: Logan Webb (11-9)

Save: Calvin Faucher (6)

Time: 2:38

Attendance: 41,187

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants just lost two out of three at home to one of the worst teams in Baseball in the Miami Marlins, who fought through a wild game to win 7-5 in what very well may have been the final dagger in the Giants’ playoff hopes here in 2024 on Sunday.

The dim orange sun shined on this beautiful first day of September at Oracle Park to signify the beginning of the meteorological fall, as well as the final month of the baseball season. With the Giants six and a half games back of the Braves for the third wild card in the National League, this unfortunately signified the beginning of the end of the Giants’ season.

Sunday was also Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day at the ballpark, and kids fighting cancer got to take part in a pregame ceremony on the field. Just before the Giants took the field, Rhydian Daniels, who had been diagnosed with muscle cancer at the age of nine, got to ring the bell signifying that he beat cancer in front of this sold-out crowd.

After a rough 4-3 loss Saturday night, the Giants looked to take the series against the Marlins. The Giants once again turned to Logan Webb to be the stopper. Webb got off to a great start with a one, two, three inning in the top of the first.

The Giants would be up against the young Miami right-hander, Darren McCaughan. Mike Yastrzemski led off, and he took the second pitch of the inning from McCaughan and hit it out to the arcade in right field to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. For Yastrzemski, it was his 100th-career home run.

After Yastrzemski’s home run McCaughan was all over the place. Tyler Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch, but he was caught trying to steal second base. Matt Chapman was also hit with two outs, and he was crouching in pain, but he stayed in the game.

Webb threw another one, two, three inning in the top of the second, and Curt Casali became the third Giant hit in just the first two innings of this game with one out in the bottom of the second. There was understandable frustration from the Giants’ bench when Casali was hurt, but since it was not intentional and had to do with McCaughan’s lack of control, no warnings were issued.

Nick Fortes singled on a ground ball up the middle and into center field for the first hit and base-runner for the Marlins with two outs in the top of the third. Webb ultimately threw a scoreless inning, and the Giants had a rally going against McCaughan in the bottom of the third.

Fitzgerald hit a ground ball the other way into right field for a base-hit to lead off the bottom of the third. That brought up Michael Conforto, who grounded into a weird play. Not a double play, a weird play.

Conforto hit a chopper up the middle that was fielded by Marlins’ shortstop Otto Lopez, who hesitated and then stumbled to the bag at second. Fitzgerald was called safe by Second Base Umpire Jim Wolf, but the Marlins challenged the play.

The boys in New York found an angle that that could say for sure indicated that Otto beat Fitzgerald to the bag, and the call was overturned. Bob Melvin and the Giants’ dugout were not happy about the overturned call, and they let Third Base Umpire and Crew Chief Alan Porter know. Porter then warned them and returned to his position at third.

Not to worry though. Chapman lined a base-hit to left to put runners at first and second with one out. LaMonte Wade then beat out the back end of a potential double play, and the throw sailed past first, which allowed Fitzgerald to come in to score and make it 2-0.

Both pitchers threw one, two, three innings in the fourth, and Webb was on a roll. Webb had set down 11 of the first 12 men he faced today, and he appeared well on his way to another dominant outing.

However, everything changed for Webb and the Giants in the top of the fifth. Jeff Conine’s son Griffin led off the inning with an opposite-field base-hit to left. Lopez lined out to second for the first out, and Jose Devers, the younger cousin of Rafael Devers, grounded into a fielder’s choice.

David Hensley then singled the other way to put runners at first and second with two outs. Nick Fortes followed that up by lining a base-hit to left-center to knock in Devers and put the Marlins on the board. The ball was over run by left-fielder Michael Conforto, and the runners ended up at second and third.

That brought up Kyle Stowers, who hit a home run to the 415 out in right-center, and the Marlins suddenly took a 4-2 lead. Webb was dealing through four innings, but the Marlins scored four runs out of nowhere in the top of the fifth to make it a new ballgame.

The Giants bounced back in the bottom of the fifth. Yastrzemski walked to lead off the inning, and Fitzgerald singled him over to second. That brought out Marlins Manager Skip Schumaker, who pulled McCaughan for the left-hander, Kent Emmanuel.

Michael Conforto walked to load the bases, and Matt Chapman knocked Yastrzemski in with a fielder’s choice to make it 4-3. Melvin sent Mark Canha to pinch-hit for Wade, and the move paid off, as Canha singled the other way to right to knock in Fitzgerald and tie the game.

Schumaker then brought in Xzavion Curry to face Jerar Encarnacion. After a seven-pitch at-bat, Encarnacion knocked in Conforto with a sacrifice fly to left-center, and the Giants retook the lead.

It was quite a wild fifth inning. The game appeared to be a pitcher’s duel through four, but the Marlins scored four runs in the top of the fifth, and the Giants bounced back with three in the bottom of the fifth.

Webb was back out for the top of the sixth, and he was right back in trouble. Jesus Sanchez singled to right and stole second, and then Jonah Bride tied the game with a double to center. Conine singled Bride over to third, and Lopez got Bride in on a ground out to third.

The Marlins had the lead again, and this game suddenly turned from a pitcher’s duel into a wild seesaw game.

Webb was done after six innings. He gave up six runs and eight hits, and he struck out four.

Curry stayed out to throw a one, two, three shutdown inning in the bottom of the sixth for Miami, and the Marlins looked to add on against Camilo Doval in the top of the seventh. Fortes singled into the hole at short to lead off the inning, and Stowers walked. Derek Hill bunted the runners over to second and third, and Sanchez got Fortes home with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 7-5.

From there, the game sailed the rest of the way. The Giants would not get another base-runner the rest of the game. Mike Baumann, John McMillon and Calvin Faucher did the honors of setting down the Giants one, two, three in the seventh, eighth and ninth.

As for Giants’ pitchers, left-hander Erik Miller threw a scoreless top of the eighth, and Landen Roupp had a one, two, three top of the ninth.

Xzavion Curry got the win; Logan Webb took a really tough loss; and Calvin Faucher got the save, his sixth of the year.

The Giants fall to 68-70, and after a day off Monday, they will welcome the powerful Arizona Diamondbacks into Oracle Park for a three-game series starting Tuesday night.

The Giants remain six and a half games back of the Braves, who lost their game in Philadelphia in 11 innings, but make no mistake, the Giants will be playing the role of spoilers in their series against the Diamondbacks this week.

The pitching matchup is still to be determined. First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

With today being Sept. 1, that also meant that rosters expanded from 26 to 28. Prior to the game, the Giants called up catcher Blake Sabol and right-handed pitcher Tristan Beck to fill the two extra spots on the roster.

The Giants drew a sold-out crowd of 41,187 at Oracle Park Sunday. It was the largest crowd for a Giants’ game at Oracle Park since 41,189 fans came to see Wilmer Flores walk off the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 4, 2022.

Major League Baseball News and Notes:

Darren Baker, the son of Dusty Baker who until today was most known for nearly getting trampled by David Bell before J.T. Snow saved him in Game 5, made his major league debut for the Washington Nationals today.

Baker was sent to pinch-hit with the Nationals trailing the Chicago Cubs 14-1 in the bottom of ninth inning at Nationals Park. Baker took the first big league pitch he saw from Cubs’ right-hander Ethan Roberts and grounded it over the mound and into center field for a base-hit.

Dusty, who had managed both the Cubs and Nationals, was on hand to see his son get his first big league hit.

Marlins swam comfortably in Bay waters, and/or Pacific Ocean, beat Giants 7-5 and series (2-1)on a beautiful day in the City by the Bay.

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Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (center-left) and left fielder Kyle Stowers (center-right) jump for joy after taking two out of three from the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Miami Marlins (51-86) were the fish that got away in McCovey Cove, as they beat the San Francisco Giants (68-70) 7-5, and clinched the series, 2/3 on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the 415.

The Marlins had a pedestrian first inning, with a strikeout and two infield ground outas. The bottom of the frame was worse. Starting pitcher Darren McCaughan gave up a solo leadoff home run to right fielder and legacy player, Mike Yastrzemski, hit two batters before getting out of the inning.

In the bottom of the third, the Giants scored another run, on a throwing error by Otto Lopez. After three innings, Miami was down 2-0 and one hit to show for themselves. It wasn’t until the top of the fifth inning that the South Florida visitors showed life.

The Marlins used this inning to put up four runs and take the lead from the home team.. Catcher Nick Fortes hit an RBI single (David Hensley), putting them within one run, 2-1 SF. Later, their leadoff batter and left fielder Kyle Stowers, belted a 3-run dinger (Hensley & Fortes) to catapult them in front of San Francisco 4-2. However, they could not celebrate for very long, due to the Giants immediate response.

In the bottom of the fifth, the G-Men managed to get the bases loaded with no outs tallied. This scenario has played out before for SF, with nothing to show for it. This time was different, as Matt Chapman grounded out, but allowed Yastrzemski to score.

With a one run deficit, the Giants put in Mark Canha asa pinch hitter and defensive replacement for LaMonte Wade Jr. That chess move resulted in an RBI single, tying the game at four. Next DH Jerar Encarnacion hits a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Michael Conforto, simultaneously putting San Francisco back in the lead, 5-4..

After the eventful inning on both sides, the Giants were done scoring for the day. Miami scored again in the top of the sixth inning, when Jonah Bride’s RBI single scored Jesus Sanchez, to tie the contest again. Otto Lopez had a productive ground out, as Bride made it home to put Miami back in front. 6-5 after six complete innings.

In Biblical form, Jesus sacrificed himself for the betterment of others in the top of the seventh inning. Sanchez’ fly ball allowed the last run of the game (Stowers), and solidified the series win. The Giants were unable to respond the last three innings and the Florida Fish sealed the game, 7-5.

A bookend scenario for Yastrzemski, as he scored the first run of the game with a homer (100), but made the last out on the game with a strikeout.

Both teams are off Monday, but the Marlins will head back to South Beach and host the Washington National Tuesday, September 3 at 3:40 PM EST. LHP Patrick Corbin (4-12, 5.50) versus RHP Max Meyer (3-4, 5.44)

The Giants will also host (Arizona Diamondbacks) a team on Tuesday 9/3 at 6:45 PM PDT.. Pitchers for both teams are TBA.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Marlins and Giants conclude series today at Oracle Park

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Miami Marlins Griffin Conine (56) circles the bases after hitting after hitting his first big league home run in the top of the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Sep 1, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Miami Marlins Griffin Conine hit his first Major League home run on Saturday night where all the runs were needed to edge out the San Francisco Giants 4-3 at Oracle Park. The sound off Conine’s bat on Saturday night you almost tell it was going to be a slash hit over the right field wall.

#2 Conine is the son of former Marlin Jeff Conine who the time passes since Jeff retired and Griffin getting his first home run at Oracle Park .

#3 Giants starter Mason Black gave up the Conine home run ball. Black took the loss going five innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs. Black raised his ERA to 7.45.

#4 Conine did get the ball back from the fan who fished it out of McCovey Cove and that fan received in exchange a bat, photo and another ball.

#5 Marlins and Giants conclude this three game series today at Oracle Park. Starting pitcher for the RHP Marlins Darren McCaughan (0-0, 8.62) and for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (11-8, 3.24).

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Conine gets first big league jack for Fish in 4-3 win over Giants at Oracle

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The Florida Marlins Jonah Bride (41) congratulates Griffin Conine (56) after Conine hit his first MLB home run in the top of the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Aug 31, 2024 (AP News photo)

Miami (50-86) 020 001 100. 4. 7 2

San Francisco (68-69) 000 011 010. 3 7. 0

Time: 2:22

Attendance: 36,087

Saturday, August 31, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–On this cool Saturday evening, the Giants struggled for the second time in a row against the toothless Miami Marlins. This time there were no late inning heroics, and the home team went down, 4-3, falling once more below the .500 mark. That outside shot at a playoff berth is looking more and more unlikely.

Mason Black, Saturday night’s starting pitcher for the orange and gold was their third round choice in the 2021 draft. This year, he had divided his time between San Francisco, where he went 0-1, 8.79, and Sacramento, where his record was 5-6, 4.59 (2-1, 2.91 in August).

He was recalled to the parent club for tonight’s occasion. His performance wasn’t particularly impressive, but he still shows signs of promise. He was the losing pitcher, having allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits, one of them a homer.

That left him with no wins and two losses. But he didn’t walk anyone and struck out half a dozen opposing batters and managed to lower his ERA to 7.45. He threw 74 pitches to 18 batters. His five inning appearance was the longest of his so far short major league career.

Taylor Rogers, who replaced Black at the beginning of the visitors’ sixth, was ineffective in his 500th big league appearance, surrendering a leadoff homer to Connor Norby and leaving runners at the corners with one out when Spencer Bivens came on in relief and shut down the Miami rally by getting Jonah Bride to ground into a U6-3 double play.

Bevin stuck around to pitch another frame. The Marlins got a run off him, but they got some help from some unexpected sources. Otto López led off with a walk and tried to steal second. He was called safe, and the Giants tried to appeal the decision. Home plate umpire and crew chief Alan Porter disallowed the appeal, presumably because it hadn’t been requested within the required time limit.

López went on to score on ground outs by Griffin Conine and David Hensley. Erik Miller and Camilo Doval each pitched a hitless and scoreless inning..

Black’s opposite number, Edward Cabrera, brought an unimpressive 2-6, 5.60 record with him. His only previous appearance against the Giants came last year, when he was credited with the win in a game in which he held them to two runs, both earned, on six hits and two walks while garnering eight strikeouts. He lasted 5-1/3 innings tonight, permitting two runs, one earned, on six hits and a pair of walks. He threw 98 pitches, 61 for strikes. His record now stands at 3-6, 5.33.

Cabrera was followed by John McMillon (a perfect inning) and Jesús Tinoco, who surrendered a solo homer to Michael Conforto (his 15th), a 418 foot blast to right center in the eighth that travelled at 111.8 MPH and brought the Giants into a run of tying the contest. Calvin Fauche earned his fifth save with a perfect ninth that ended with strikeouts of Jerar Encarnación and a pinch hitting LaMonte Wade, Jr.

The rubber game of this three game set will take place Sunday, at 1:05 in the afternoon. Logan Webb (11-8, 3.24) will toe the rubber for the Giants. The Marlins haven’t announced who they’ll send to the mound

San Francisco Giants podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Giants rally in 8th to beat Marlins; Snell just needs some run support

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San Francisco Giants starter Blake Snell pitched seven innings allowing four hits and one run against the Miami Marlins on Fri Aug 30, 2024 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 San Francisco Giants were getting shutout by the Miami Marlins through seven innings until Matt Chapman came to the plate and with one swing of the bat hit a three run RBI double as the Giants took a 3-1 lead and eventually won by that score.

#2 The ball that Chapman hit was a slider on a two strike count. Chapman has been key all season long not only with his glove but also with the bat and Friday night was no different when he went yard in a the eighth inning Friday.

#3 Giants manager Bob Melvin was relieved on Friday night after Chapman’s big hit. The Giants had been struggling in particular the Giants had split a four game series with the Milwaukee Brewers but it was that fourth game loss 6-0 last Thursday which had Melvin worried.

#4 With the win on Friday the Giants are back at the .500 at 68-68 and are 6.5 games back for the last Wild Card sport. September will be a critical month for the Giants in order to try and catch up for a shot at the post season.

#5 It’s a Saturday night 6:07pm PT first pitch the Marlins will start Edward Cabrera (2-6, 5.60) and for the Giants RHP Mason Black (0-1, 8.79) at Oracle Park.

Jeremiah Salmonson is a Oakland A’s podcaster on Friday’s at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Chapman’s three run double is a gamer as Giants rally in 8th to defeat Marlins 3-1

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San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman slugs a three run double to clear the bases in the bottom of the eighth against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park on Fri Aug 30, 2024 (AP News photo)

Miami (49-86) 000 000 100.  1. 4. 0

San Francisco (68-68) 000 000 03x.  3. 6. 1

Time: 2:21

Attendance: 33,606

Friday, August 30, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–In an unexpected pregame move, the  Giants outrighted valued veteran Thairo Estrada to Sacramento and recalled Brett Wisely to the big league club.  The outcome of the game was not unexpected, but the steps that led to it certainly were.

The floundering Marlins, 49-85 at game time, and  relying on the right arm of an undistinguished wannabe for six excellent innings, led the Giants, 1-0 after 7-1/2 frames before falling to their hosts, 3-1.

The come from behind triumph brought the home team back to its almost impenetrable glass ceiling of .500 at 68-68 and gave some hope that the orange and back might just sneak into the playoffs.

The Giants did not throw an undistinguished wannabe at the Marlins. They put Blake Snell on the mound to start the game. In spite of the defending Cy Young winner’s command problems in his last start, problems that him to leave that game after three innings, he had come out of the late-signing, injury induced first half ineffectiveness to earn a  2-0, 1.72 record in August when he threw his first pitch at 7:16 this pleasant Friday evening.

When he was through, Snell had thrown 96 pitches, 69 of which qualified as strikes, over seven innings, allowing only a single tally, on four hits and a walk. The only extra base hit off him was a first inning double to Jake Burger. Although the lefty had to settle for a no decision that kept his won-lost record  at 2-3, he reduced his ERA to 3.56.

Tyler Rogers relieved Snell to face the fish in the top of the eighth. He retired them in order, earning his third win against four losses and bringing his ERA down to 3.06. Ryan Walker earned his fifth safe by also setting the Marlins down one, two, three in the ninth.

The Marlins’ starter, Adam Oller, didn’t come to work with as impressive a resumé as Snell.He was 2-8, 6.30 in 2022 and 1-1, 10.07 for the departing Athletics last year. The Mariners claimed him on waivers in July and sent him to Tacoma,where he finished that season.

This year, he went to spring training as a non-roster invitee of the Cleveland Guardians. The Marlins signed him as a minor league free agent in July and sent him to their AAA farm team in Jacksonville before calling him up on the 18th of this month.

He pitched 10-1/3 in two starts since then and showed up at Third and King with a 1-1, 5.23 record. His work tonight was every bit as good as Snell’s. The rookie held the Giants to two hits and an equal number of walks over six frames.

One of those hits was an infield single by Mike Yastrzemski. The other was LaMonte Wade, Jr’s double in the third. He struck out eight of the 21 Giants he faced and, like Snell, chalked up a no decision. His ERA now is 3.31.

Mike Baumann, who followed Oller, was tagged with the loss and now stands at 3-1, 5.40. George Soriano, who allowed the three runners who were on base when he relieved Bauman in the eighth  to score, was charged with a blown save.

By the top of the seventh what had been a scoreless tie had evolved into a tense pitchers’ duel. The tension rose with Derek Hill’s leadoff single to right.

With Otto López at the plate, Hill stole his sixth base of the season, but he stayed when López flew out to Grant McCray deep into the right center field warning track. McCray made a good throw to third, which vindicated third base coach Griffin Benedict’s caution, especially after David Hensley smacked a line drive single to right to bring Hill home with the game’s first and Miami’s only run.

The Giants turned the game around in the home eighth.  Jerar Encarnación pinch hit for Casey Schmidt hit a lead off single to right center, McCray fanned, but Yaz drew a walk, sending Encarnación to second, where the newly returned Wisely pinch ran for him. Bauman fanned Michael Conforto for the second out.

It was at this point that Soriano replaced Baumann. He tagged Soriano’s sixth offering, an 85mph slider for a double to left center that cleared the bases and put the Giants ahead, 3-1

Mason Black (0-1, 8.79) will be recalled  from Sacramento to start Saturday, Saturday’s, game scheduled to begin at 6:05.  Edward Cabrera (2-6, 5.60) will be his opposite number for the Fish.