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Giants Wisely takes Dodgers deep with ninth inning 2 run homer in 5-3 win

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San Francisco Giants Brett Wisely (0) is congratulated at the plate by Jorge Soler (2) after Wisely’s two run home run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Jun 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

Los Angeles (51-32). 000 020 001. 3. 7. 1

San Francisco (40-43). 000 012 002. 5.8. 0

Time: 2:15

Attendance: 40,052

Friday, June 28, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–On this pleasant Friday night on McCovey Cove, Bob Melvin’s ragtag bundle of past their prime and perhaps not quite ready for prime time fugitives from the injured list and the triple A roster, fighting to get a toehold in the race for a wild card slot, defeated the division leading Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3 in a game that made McCovey Cove look like Playland at the Beach; it was a roller coaster of a contest.

Logan Webb, who constitutes a virtual one man rotation, took the mound with a record of 6-6, 3.16, although his totals for June were a less pleasing 2-2, 4.09. His supporting cast was bolstered by the return of LaMonte Wade, Jr. and his .333 batting average from the injured list.

Wade wasn’t even listed in the media notes’ thumbnail biographies of active players. Brett Wisely played second, replacing the ailing (but still on the active roster) Thairo Estrada, giving slick fielding Nick Ahmed a chance to strut his stuff at short.

Webb gave the Giants just what they wanted of him, seven strong innings, after which he left with a 3-2 lead. In that span, he threw 93 pitches, 62 for strikes. Both of the runs he allowed were earned and came on five hits and three walks. He struck out six. All he got for it was a no decision that lowered his ERA to 3.12.

The Dodgers sent their second round choice in the 2020 draft, Landon Knack, to duel with the Giants’ ace. The 26 year old, who had gone 1-1 with an impressive ERA of 2.10, did a decent job and left with his team ahead, 2-1. He, too, got a no decision.

His mound tenure lasted a mere 4-2/3 frames in which he threw 76 pitches, 49 of which were counted as strikes. The run was earned and came on a home run, one of the five hits he gave up. He logged seven strikeouts and didn’t give. up any walks.

The rival nines traded zeroes until the top of the fourth. Miguel Rojas led off with a single to right and scored on Gavin Lux’s double. After Cavin Biggio took a called third strike and 大谷 翔平, ,AKA Shohei Ohtani, took an intentional walk, Will Smith singled Lux home. Fiat Lux.

The Giants took one run back after Webb got Freddie Freeman to bounce into an inning ending 1-6-3 double play. They did it on a 410 blast by Luis Matos over the Bank of America sign in left center field. It was his fourth round tripper for the Giants this year and his second since having been recalled from Sacramento a week ago. After two more hits and an out, Athony Banda retired Wade to close out the frame.

Right after that, the Giants announced over the PA system the news of Orlando Cepeda’s death. There was a moment of silence in honor of the fallen Hall of Famer. Then the game resumed. Sic transit gloria mundi.

San Francisco picked up where it had left off after LA failed to score in the sixth. Ramos beat out hit to first to lead off the frame against Daniel Hudson. After Bailey flied out to left, Matt Chapman sent the ball in the same direction, 414 feet deep, for his 10th dinger of the season and a 3-2 Giants lead.

Tyler Rogers entered the game in the top of the eighth and maintained that margin in spite of a lead off infield single by Ohtani.

That was more than Camilo Doval could do in the ninth. Andy Pagés led off against him with a triple to center. In the blink of an eye, Jason Heyward’s sacrifice to medium deep center knotted the game at three. Nonetheless, the Giants’ closer got the win and now is 3-1, but an earned run average of 4.56.

Ryan Yarbrough had held the Giants at bay in the eighth, but it was ex-Athletic Blake Treinen who gave up the walk off homer into the seats of Levi’s Landing that brought the hard won victory to the home team. Wisely, hit it with Matos, who had drawn a lead off walk, on base.

Fireworks followed the mobbing. But Fitzgerald’s homer was fireworks enough.

The game scheduled for Saturday, afternoon at 4:15 will feature Tyler Glasnow (8-5, 2.88) on the mound for the boys in blue. The Giants will round up the usual suspects, that is, their starter is yet to be announced, an indication that it will be another bullpen game.

A’s 11 Game Road Losing Streak Comes to an End Beating Arizona 9-4

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Oakland A’s Zack Gelof (20) is congratulated at the plate by Shea Langeliers (23) after scoring against Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the third inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Fri Jun 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (29-54) losing streak came to an end beating the Arizona Diamondbacks (39-42) 9-4. The A’s had 14 hits and four home runs in this game. Three of those home runs came in the ninth inning, the first two back to back. JP Sears had a great game on the mound. This was an all-around complete game for the team.

Thursday, Oakland had the day off, a badly needed bit of time off. These guys have been struggling for a long time now in fact the last time they won a road series was back on April 26. This series could be a tough call for the A’s as they take on last seasons’ National League Champions.

Arizona had a very slow start this season and they are still fighting to catch up although they are third in the NL West. Their offense has been solid but they have stumbled considerably on the mound. Friday night the A’s battled and ended their long 11 game road losing streak with a win over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Game recap: The Arizona Diamondbacks got this game going early scoring twice in the first inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled Ketel Marte home for the 1-0 lead. They extended their lead when Randal Grichuk hit a ground rule double and Gurriel scored taking a 2-0 lead and the Arizona offense had not disappointed. Arizona pitcher Slade Cecconi blew right through Oakland in the first two innings.

The Oakland starting lineup got a feel for Arizona pitcher Blade Cecconi in the opening innings and took it to the Diamondbacks in the third inning. Brent Rooker singled Zach Gelof home followed by a single off the bat of Shea Langeliers that drove Miguel Andujar home and this game was tied 2-2. Cecconi got a little shaky walking two runners in the third inning as the A’s had settled in offensively.

Oakland took the lead in the fourth inning. Max Schuemann sacrificed Armando Alvarez home. Schuemann has made great strides making his way from near the bottom of the lineup moving on up. He has been consistent and Alvarez has also made waves. Both of these guys were responsible for giving Oakland a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning.

The Oakland lead was short-lived when the Diamondbacks tied up this game 3-3 in the sixth inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had his second hit of the game and it was a hit that left the yard for a solo shot.

After a rough start A’s pitcher JP Sears came alive. He gave up the two runs in the first inning but then it was Sears who was blowing through the Arizona lineup. He would finish going six innings allowing five hits, three runs with six strikeouts. After a fine pitching performance Sears was relieved by Scott Alexander.

The Diamondbacks took back the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning 4-3. Ketel Marte had his second hit of the game, a single that drove Corbin Carroll home. Oakland got out of the inning but with only two innings left in the game they had some work to do trailing by a single run.

Oakland got to work straight away with their first at-bat in the eighth inning. Tyler Soderstrom hit his seventh home run of the season to tie up this game 4-4. The Soderstrom home run was just the beginning for the A’s. They took the lead 5-4 when Zach Gelof tripled and Armando Alvarez scored. Oakland finished off the inning on a Max Schuemann single that drove Zach Gelof home giving the A’s a 6-4 lead.

A Brandon Hughes pitch right down the middle sailed out of the yard off the bat of Brent Rooker for the A’s first home run of the ninth inning. Oakland would hit a second home run in the same inning; this one from Shea Langeliers in back to back homers and an 8-4 lead.

There was no quitting for these guys as they hit their third home run of the inning, this one courtesy of Daz Cameron extending their lead to 9-4. Oakland had four home runs in this game and they also had 14 hits in a highly productive offensive effort.

It was “Miller Time” as pitcher Mason Miller came in to close out this game. He struck out the first two batters he faced. The reaper secured the win 9-4 in a three up, three out ninth inning. The Athletic drought had come to an end.

Game notes: Friday night the A’s went into Phoenix with a single purpose in mind: to end an 11-game road losing streak. The A’s took on the Diamondbacks after getting swept by the Anaheim Angels earlier this week dropping their fifth straight game overall.

While manager Mark Kotsay blames the slide on a lot of mental mistakes, it goes deeper than that. The A’s lefty JP Sears made the start. Sears has also been struggling going 0-3 in his first four starts in June with a 9.18 ERA. In his past two starts he did not get past the second inning. His struggles with command are no secret Sears has never faced Arizona in his three-year career. Sears had a much better game than his last three outings going six innings, giving up five hits, three runs , striking out six hitters in the A’s win.

The Diamondbacks came into this game after losing to the Minnesota Twins Thursday 13-6. Arizona started right-hander Slade Cecconi to open the series. Cecconi has never faced Oakland in his two-year career. Cecconi went four innings, giving up five hits, three earned runs, and struck out seven hitters.

Game two in this three game series will be played Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM. Hogan Harris will get the start for Oakland with a 1-1 win/loss record and a 2.72 ERA. The A’s offense will be facing Zac Gallen with a 5-4 win/loss record and a 3.12 ERA.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Was raid designed to expedite Mayor Thao out of office before a recall election?

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Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao addresses the news media at Oakland City Hall on Mon Jun 24, 2024 regarding the raid on her Oakland home last week (photo from yahoo.com news)

On the Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 Jerry, the last thought on Mayor Sheng Thao’s mind right now are the departure of the Oakland A’s who leave for Sacramento after this season. Thao whose home was raided last week has given two press conferences since the raid.

#2 Jerry, Mayor Thao who faces a recall, how much of the reasons for the recall fall on her for losing the Oakland A’s besides the high crime, retail and businesses moving out of Oakland, and firing police chief LeRonne Armstrong at the beginning of her term.

#3 The Mayor through media reports has been accused of accepting illegal campaign donations from California Waste Solutions. The FBI confiscated ice chest size cases of documents from Thao’s home there’s always a chance they could find a document that ties her to accepting illegal campaign contributions but on the other hand it could amount to nothing. The Mayor has insisted that this is a waste of time and she said she did nothing wrong.

#4 On the surface of it with the recall and the state of the City of Oakland is this raid a further push to make the Mayor look bad and it would actually help push her out of office?

#5 Jerry, the Oakland Ballers the Pioneer Minor League team who before their season started wanted to play just one game at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Jun 29th for a special game. The Ballers sent out a press release on Thursday saying the A’s shot down that idea of using the Coliseum because there is a clause in the contract that the A’s have say so who they share the Coliseum with. The Ballers will not be permitted to play that one game there. Some say it might be an embarrassment to the A’s if the Ballers were to get over 25,000 fans to show up which is a lot more the A’s have drawn for a single game all season.

Jerry Feitelberg filled in for Daniel Dullum for the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts heard each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s have given up 30 runs in the last five games; Hope to stop the skid tonight in Arizona

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Oakland A’s pitcher JP Sears seen here throwing against the Houston Astros on Sat May 25, 2024 struggled in his last outing against the Minnesota Twins giving up eight runs on Sat Jun 22, 2024. Sears starts Fri Jun 28, 2024 in Arizona in an effort to get back on track. (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, for A’s manager Mark Kotsay the struggles continue as the A’s lost their fifth straight game on Wednesday in Anaheim.

#2 The pitching has struggled in the last five games the A’s have given up 30 runs that’s six runs allowed. Once again Kotsay is trying work with the pitching staff. It’s critical that the A’s work on keeping the run production down its one of the reasons why the A’s are on this skid.

#3 Of the 14 runs the A’s pitching have given up have come from two pitchers JP Sears (8) and Mitch Spence (6). The rest of the starters have also struggled to keep the A’s in games.

#4 Jeremiah, with the loses it’s kept the A’s from seeing closer Mason Miller to come in and shut down their opponents. So when Miller does get a chance he could be cold or his timing off because he hasn’t seen action in awhile.

#5 Tonight the A’s will start JP Sears (4-7, ERA 5.04) he’ll face the Arizona Diamondbacks Slade Cecconi (2-6, ERA 5.74) at Chase Field in Phoenix. First pitch 6:40pm PT. After having Thursday off could that help get the A’s get back on track and give them a chance to end the 5 game skid tonight?

Join Jeremiah each Friday for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors Draft podcast with David Zizmor: Warriors move the furniture around to get Quinten Post from Boston College in NBA draft

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Boston College Eagles center Quinten Post drives against a Virginia defender on Feb 22, 2023 at Boston. Post was the Atlantic Conference’s Most Improved Player and was traded to the Golden State Warriors as their 52nd pick. (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with David;

#1 The Golden State Warriors on Wednesday didn’t even get a pick. Come Thursday the Warriors had the 52nd selection overall and traded that pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder Lindy Waters III who had played four years for the Thunder.

#2 The odd thing about it was the Warriors sent cash to the Thunder and got the 52nd pick back and traded for Boston College center Quinten Post.

#3 The Warriors in making in getting Post will have a hard cap and will not be able to spend more than $189 million in salary this season. You have to wonder if this deal was planned by design.

David Zizmor is a Golden State Warriors analyst for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Aces Win Third Game In a Row Beating Chicago Sky 95-83

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Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and guard Tiffany Hayes (15) celebrate after scoring during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Aces defeated the Chicago Sky on Thu Jun 27, 2024 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

By Barbara Mason

Ever since the return of Chelsea Gray, the Las Vegas Aces (9-6) have won three games in a row including Thursday night’s win over the Chicago Sky (6-10) 95-83.. They have a nicely balanced offense now. A’ja Wilson had another huge game with 31 points and Jackie Young finished with 22 points. Kelsey Plum had a 21 point game. Wilson had 15 points in the opening quarter, Young had 12 points in the third quarter and Plum had 17 in the fourth quarter as they took turns standing out in an impressive win.

Game recap: The Sky came out fast winning the first quarter 25-21. A’ja Wilson had an outstanding first quarter with 15 points keeping her team close in the first 12 minutes waiting for the rest of the team to catch up. The Aces did indeed catch up coming right back punishing Chicago in the second quarter 25-14. At the half Las Vegas had a 46-39 lead.

The Aces extended their lead in the third quarter leading 72-63 with a single quarter left in the game. Las Vegas continued to pile on the points and at 7:40 left in the game had a 82-65 lead, their largest lead of the game.

Chicago continued to fight back but they were running out of clock with under six minutes left to play. Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray joined Wilson in a solid second half. Jackie Young had 12 points in the third quarter as the Las Vegas starters showed up big time in the final two quarters.

The Sky cut into the Aces lead with 4:22 left in the game. What had once been a 17 point lead was now an 88-78 Las Vegas advantage. The Aces had to tighten up offensively and Kelsey Plum was the answer with 16 points in the final quarter with under three minutes left in the game. The Sky fought hard but came up short after a nice rally and Las Vegas had won their third game in a row 95-83 snapping Chicago’s two game win streak.

All night long it was a battle between the Aces A’ja Wilson and the Sky’s Angel Reese. Reese finished with a double double, 18 points and 11 rebounds. In the end it was Wilson who won the challenge.

Game notes: Thursday night, the Aces took on the Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago and picked up their third straight win. Since the return of Chelsea Gray this team has been firing on all cylinders, with a balanced offense and defense having won three straight games. They got their third win in a row in Thursday night and the Aces are currently holding down fifth place in the overall standings and third place in the Western Conference.

Saturday afternoon, the Aces will take on the 4-13 Washington Mystics at Entertainment & Sports Arena looking to add to their string of wins. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 11:00 AM.

Giants come back but unable to finish off sweep in 10inning 5-3 loss to Cubs

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The Chicago Cubs Ian Happ connects for a two run home run in top of the tenth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Jun 27, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago Cubs 5 (38-44)

San Francisco Giants 3 (39-43)

Win: Hector Neris (7-2)

Loss: Luke Jackson (4-2)

Save: Porter Hodge (1)

Time: 2:51

Attendance: 31,535

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants couldn’t sweep the Chicago Cubs on Thursday as the Cubs Ian Happ hit a top of the tenth inning two run home run to beat San Francisco at Oracle Park 5-3 breaking a 3-3 deadlock. With the win the Cubs end a four game losing streak and avoid getting swept in four games.

The Giants’ offense has stayed alive in this series, and they looked to keep that going, as the Giants looked to complete their sweep of the Cubs on this beautiful sunny and hazy day at Oracle Park. Jordan Hicks, who struggled in the heat of his old ballpark in St. Louis, would make the start and hoped to bounce back in a more temperate climate in San Francisco.

Hicks started off the inning with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and Cubs’ starter Shota Imanaga did the same in the bottom of the first.

Hicks threw a scoreless inning in the top of the second, but it didn’t come without its drama. Ian Happ walked with one out; and then with two outs, Dansby Swanson blooped a base-hit to left-center field, and Happ was nailed at the plate trying to score all the way from first base. Imanaga then threw a scoreless inning in the bottom of the second.

Pete Crow-Armstrong was nicked by a pitch to start the top of the third, and two batters later, Nico Hoerner hooked a low-hanging home run down the left field line to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead. Michael Busch struck out swinging, and then Cody Bellinger reached on an infield hit to third.

Seiya Suzuki then hit a line drive to right, but right-fielder Luis Matos came in on the ball when he should have gone back, which allowed the ball to go over his glove and hit off the bottom of the wall. Bellinger scored, and Suzuki went into third with a triple.

Hicks escaped the top of the third without any further damage, but the Cubs had themselves a 3-0 lead. The Giants threatened in the bottom of the third, as Nick Ahmed walked to start the inning, and Curt Casali singled Ahmed over to second. However, the Giants’ offense reverted back to their old ways and were unable to come through.

Both pitchers threw 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, and after Hicks ended his afternoon with a scoreless top of the fifth. Hicks was fairly solid, giving up three hits on five hits with seven strikeouts.

Imanaga pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fifth, and Spencer Bivens came in to pitch a 1-2-3 inning for San Francisco in the top of the sixth.

Austin Slater singled to start the bottom of the sixth, but Heliot Ramos popped out, and Wilmer Flores flew out. Matt Chapman singled the other way to right to move Slater over to second, and that brought up Jorge Soler.

Soler continued his renewed success with runners in scoring position by putting the Giants on the board with a ground rule double to left-center. Imanaga then threw a wild pitch to Luis Matos, and Chapman scored to make it 3-2.

Matos hit a squibber to second that he was able to beat out, and Soler came in to score to tie it. Just as the Giants came back from down 4-0 to tie Monday night’s game, they came back from 3-0 with a three-run bottom of the sixth inning to tie Thursday’s game.

Erik Miller came in and retired the first two men he faced in the top of the seventh. Hoerner then lined a base-hit up the middle into center field and stole second, and Michael Busch walked. That brought up Cody Bellinger, who struck out swinging to end the inning.

Luke Little replaced Imanaga and threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh. Suzuki led off the top of the eighth with a double off of Ryan Walker, but Walker retired the next three guys he faced to get out of it without any damage.

Tyson Miller pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth for Chicago, and Sean Hjelle pitched out of trouble for the Giants in the top of the ninth. Cubs’ closer Hector Neris then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to send this thing to the 10th.

Luke Jackson came in for the 10th, and with the game in extra innings, that of course meant the inning would start with a runner at second. Suzuki grounded out to end the inning, and then Ian Happ hit a home run to the Cubs’ bullpen out in right-center to put Chicago back ahead 5-3.

Porter Hodge was the new pitcher for the Cubs in the bottom of the tenth, and Patrick Bailey was the runner at second for the Giants. Brett Wisely singled on a Texas leaguer to left to start the bottom of the 10th, but Hodge retired the next three batters down in order to end it.

The Giants were unable to get the sweep, which would have given them a lot of momentum going into a very tough nine-game stretch that will start Friday night.

Hector Neris got the win; Luke Jackson got the loss; and Porter Hodge picked up his first-career save.

The Giants fall to 39-43, and that stretch will begin with a three-game series against their hated rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, that will start Friday night. Logan Webb (6-6, 3.16 ERA) will be on the mound, and he will be opposed by Dodgers’ right-hander Landon Knack (1-1, 2.10 ERA).

Giants News and Notes:

LaMonte Wade Jr. will be activated off the Injured List tomorrow and is expected to be in the lineup against the Dodgers. Wade strained his left hamstring on May 27 against the Phillies.

Most importantly, the Giants will be getting a big bat back in the lineup with Wade, who was hitting .333 before going down.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s hope to end 5 game skid in Arizona Friday at Chase Field

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Oakland A’s reliever TJ McFarland deals to the Los Angeles Angels in the top of the sixth inning at the Big A in Anaheim on Wed Jun 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Oakland A’s starter Joey Estes pitched shutout ball against the Los Angeles Angels until the bottom of the sixth inning where the Angels scored five times in the bottom of the sixth inning taking a 5-1 lead.

#2 Estes was lifted by manager Mark Kotsay in the bottom of the sixth inning after pitching 5.2 innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs. He was finesse until he got into that sixth inning jam.

#3 The Angels Zack Neto belted a three run double that broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth and with a five run rally in the sixth the A’s chances to turn it back were dim and they wound up taking their fifth straight loss.

#4 Strange play Jeremiah, Max Schuemann hit a double and the A’s baserunner Kyle McCann missed touching home plate and turned around and ran into teammate Armando Alvarez at the plate and it was too late McCann was out.

#5 The A’s head to Arizona to open a three game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. A’s will start JP Sears (4-7, ERA 5.04) the Diamondbacks have not announced a starter as of Wednesday night. First pitch 6:40pm PT.

Jeremiah filled in for Jerry Feitelberg each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants have a shot a sweeping today; Cubs start ace Imanaga in effort to salvage series

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San Francisco Giants Luis Matos reaches home plate after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run against the Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Jun 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

On San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, the Giants are getting some clutch hits and Wednesday was no different when Michael Conforto and David Villar both who hit back to back home runs in the second inning tying the game and set the tone of the Giants picking up their third straight win over the Chicago Cubs Monday through Wednesday.

#2 Luis Matos got the go ahead home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Matos hit his second home run of the season. Matos is hitting .240 how impressive and impactful has Matos hitting been in the Giants line up?

#3 With the loss the Cubs have now lost four straight they surfaced out of last place momentarily surpassing the Cincinnati Reds only to drop back into last place in the NL Central once again. The Cubs had been competitive and earlier a post season contender what changed and brought the lovable losers back to this present day?

#4 Talk about the debut of rookie pitcher Hayden Birdsong who was just called up from Triple A Sacramento and started for the parent club on Wednesday pitching 4.2 innings, giving three runs, six hits, and five strikeouts. Birdsong said he was stoked to pitch in a winning ball game in his big league debut.

#5 Michael talk about Thursday’s starters for the Cubs it’ll be LHP Shota Imanaga (7-2, ERA 2.96) and for the Giants RHP Jordan Hicks (4-4, ERA 3.24). Imanaga is having a good season and the Cubs despite their struggles have relied on Imanaga and have played well behind him. Hicks has pitched well enough to win games that he has lost and has a commanding ERA of 3.24.

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

Conforto and Villar belt back to back homers; Matos go ahead HR key Giants in 1 run win over Cubs 4-3

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Luis Matos (right) is congratulated by San Francisco Giants third base coach Matt Williams (9) after hitting a bottom of the fifth home run against the Chicago Cubs that put the Giants on top at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jun 26, 2024 (AP News photo)

Chicago (37-44). 010 110 000 3. 9. 0

San Francisco (39-42). 030 010 00x. 4. 6. 1

Time: 2:25

Attendance: 30,893

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–There was an air of indeterminacy to this Wednesday night’s Giants 4-3 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs that went beyond (perhaps it’s better to say they preceded) the usual questions about a game’s outcome.

The home team’s starting pitcher was 22 year old righty Hayden Birdsong, promoted from Sacramento on game day to make his major league debut. He had been a reliever in college and the low minors, but the Giants have been trying to stretch him out until he’s strong enough to join the starting rotation.

Compared with Birdsong, the Cubs’ opener, another Hayden, a 26 year old surnamed Wesneski, with 163-1/3 big league innings, including 41 this season under his belt, was a wizzend veteran. He brought a record of 2-4, 3.29 and a WHIP of 1.20 for the year with him to the mound. The lineup card distributed before the game lists him in the bullpen section. This was his fourth start of the season, but I haven’t been able to determine how many, if any, of the other three were as an opener.

Would this, then, be the Giants’ third consecutive bullpen game? And would the Cubs adopt the same multi-arm strategy?

Although Birdsong retired the side in order in the first, his control weakened in the second frame, and a pair of walks, a wild pitch, and Pete Crow-Armstrong’s single to right put the Cubs up, 1-0. (What musical match ups tonight afforded us! Two Haydens and a raven facing a Birdsong)!

The Giants got that run back and two more in their half of the frame. Patrick Bailey led off with a walk, and, after Jorge Soler and Thairo Estrada fanned, Michael Conforto put San Francisco ahead his his ninth home run of the year, a 411 foot blast over the left auxiliary scoreboard in right field, and David Villar followed with his first, a 433 foot no doubter that landed in in the patio in front of the center field batter’s eye.

The Chicagoans closed in on their hosts in the top of the fourth. Christopher Morel led off with a single to left and would have gotten a double if a replay hadn’t shown that Conforto’s throw had cut him down at second. Dansby Swanson sent Héctor Ramos to the warning track to haul down his fly to center. Birdsong walked Crow-Armstrong on a full count, and he scored all the way from first on Miguel Anaya’s single to left. That made it a 3-2 game, with SF still in front.

Both teams had pitchers warming up in the bullpen in the top of the fifth, even before Seiya Suzuki knotted the score with his dinger into the Cubs’ warm up space with the bases empty and two out. Luke Jackson stopped his warm ups, walked to the mound, and threw in earnest to Ian Happ, whose grounder to first ended the inning.

The Giants had gotten all they could reasonably expect from Birdsong. He gave them 4-2/3 innings and left with the score tied. That eased the strain on their overtaxed bullpen. It was more than what’s required from an opener but less than what you want from a starter. He threw 97 pitches, 55 for strikes. The three runs scored against him were earned and came on six hits, three walks, and a wild pitch, He now has a major league record of 0-0, 5.79.

It also was better than the more experienced Hayden Wisneski could do. He didn’t come out for the bottom of the fifth, having thrown 72 pitches, 30 of which were balls, and having allowed only two hits, but both of them were home runs.

Wisneski walked one batter and struck out three. The no decision left him at 2-4, 3.60. Drew Smyle, the losing pitcher in Wednesday night’s game and Monday night’s walk off Giant win, replaced Wisneski and coughed up the lead on a two out solo home run by Matos, 375 feet from home into the left field bleachers, his third round tripper in the part of the season he’s spent in the show.

Smyle was gone after toiling an inning and a third, leaving runners on first and second with two out in the sixth. Porter Hodge got the second and third outs, but the orange and black were back on top, 4-3. Hodge hurled a scoreless seventh and yielded to Keagan Thompson for the eighth.

Erik Miller jumped on the monticular merry-go-round to hurl a 1-2-3 seventh for the home towners, followed by Tyler, the right handed submarining Rogers brother, who, with a little help from a pitcher’s best friend, preserved the Giants’ 4-3 avantage.

An advantage that Camilo Doval almost threw away en route to his 14th save. Two Giant pitchers already had picked a runner off base. Doval tried to do it on Swanson, who had singled to lead off the top of the ninth.

He threw the ball past Villar, putting the potential tying run in scoring position. But Doval bore down and retired the next three Cubs to preserve the 4-3 win and give the Giants a chance to sweep the series, which will wind up Thursday, afternoon. The first pitch is slated for 12:45 and to be thrown by Jordan Hicks (4-4, 3.24). He’ll be opposed by Shota Imanaga (7-2, 2.96).