Tag: St Louis Cardinals

San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (right) is tagged out by St Louis Cardinal catcher Jimmy Crooks (left) in the top of the sixth inning at Busch Stadium in St Louis on Sat Sep 6, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Going into the ninth inning the San Francisco Giants (72-70) were looking good leading 2-0 with ace closer Ryan Walker on the mound. Walker had not allowed a run in his last ten appearances. The St. Louis Cardinals (71-72) offense woke up in the ninth inning with four hits scoring three runs and coming away with the walk-off 3-2 Saturday night at Busch Stadium.

The most disappointing of all was that the Giants could have pulled to within three games of the current third wild game which right now appears to be the New York Mets. New York lost to the Reds today so San Francisco did not lose any ground but could have made up some precious ground. It was a real heart-breaker..

Game recap: The first three innings of Saturday night’s game were quiet. San Francisco pitcher Justin Verlander had a lengthy 24 pitch first inning giving up a single before settling in and going three and out through the third inning. Neither team had much going on offensively until the fourth inning.

San Francisco got up on the scoreboard in the fourth inning scoring two runs. Casey Schmitt sacrificed Dominic Smith home for the early 1-0 lead. They extended their lead when Drew Gilbert doubled and Matt Chapman scored from third base for a 2-0 lead.

Justin Verlander kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard pitching through six scoreless innings. He had an exceptional game allowing three hits, no runs, no walks with six punch-outs. He was relieved in the seventh inning by Joey Lucchesi who breezed through the seventh.

With only two more innings left in the game, the Giants needed an insurance run or two and the long ball was strangely silent. Neither team had been hitting in this pitcher’s duel; fvie hits for San Francisco and three for St. Louis.

San Francisco took the 2-0 lead into the top of the ninth inning. The Giants had done a great job limiting the Cardinals hits only allowing five hits in game one and Saturday night only three through eight innings.

San Francisco went down one, two, three and now faced the heart of the St. Louis lineup in the bottom of the ninth inning. They would be looking to Ryan Walker to close out this game and take a 2-0 series lead.

Walker has not allowed a run in his last ten outings so a lot of hope was pinned on this guy. It was a shaky start for Walker allowing a Nolan Gorman single followed by a Masyn Winn single and the tying run was aboard and the go-ahead run was at the plate.

The Cardinals Jimmy Crooks was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded with no outs. The Cardinals had a golden opportunity to turn this game around. St. Louis picked just the perfect time to start hitting.

They went into the inning with only three hits but finished the game with seven hits. With the bases loaded St. Louis were not about to let this game go. Thomas Saggese singled Gorman home and they topped this game off with a Jordan Walker double that drove Winn and Hampson home and that was the ball game.

The Cardinals had pulled off the walk-off after trailing for the entire game 3-2. San Francisco held for eight innings but it all fell apart in the ninth inning.

This was a heart breaking loss for the Giants after such an amazing run cutting short their home run streak as well as their five-game winning streak. They have now won 11 of their last 13 games hoping to come back strong tomorrow in game three to win the series.

The one bit of good news is that the Mets dropped their game to the Reds Saturday. San Francisco did not lose any ground but a win would have meant a lot. They will hopefully turn this all around in Sunday’s game three.

Game notes: Saturday evening the Giants battled the St. Louis Cardinals in game two of their three game series after winning game one Friday night 8-2 and losing Saturday night 3-2. Every game going forward is critical.

They are not far off for that third wild game despite many claiming they are out of the hunt. The way that this team has been playing all bets are off. The Giants trail the Mets by four games with 21 games left in the season.

San Francisco just needs to take care of their own business and they just might see some action in October. The New York Mets have a tough schedule to close out the season although the Giants remaining schedule is far from easy .

It’s just that the Mets schedule is a bear. The way the Giants had been playing right now they have certainly set the stage for one amazing finish. They are regarded right now as one of the hottest teams in the majors. The Giants who lost to the Cardinals Saturday didn’t lose any ground in the Wild Card race are still four games for the last wild card spot.

San Francisco will send Kai-Wei Teng (2-3 ERA 7.23) to the mound Sunday who had a great outing in his last game Monday against Colorado. The Giants will need more of the same from Teng. The Cardinals will start Sonny Gray who comes into this game with a 12-8 win/loss record and a 4.43 ERA. First pitch for game three is scheduled for 11:15 AM deciding the series.

San Francisco Giants Willy Adames takes a look at his home run ball’s flight against the St Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St Louis on Fri Aug 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Every single player on the San Francisco Giant’s (72-69) roster had hits in their 8-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals (70-72) in game one of their three game series Friday. Jung Hoo Lee had four hits and Patrick Bailey with three hits and on top of that the Giants also hit two more home runs in the first inning off the bats of Rafael Devers and Willy Adames. They finished the game with 18 hits.

The Giants continue to improve their play now three games over .500 although they have something like an 11% chance of making the playoffs and are four games back for the last Wild Card spot.

This current turnaround unfortunately came a bit too late because right now they are playing lights out. The Cardinals were also in the hunt but their chances have also diminished. The Giants are playing crazy good baseball right now but despite that according to FanGraphs they have almost a 5% chance to make the playoff.

Depending who you believe whether it be 5 % or 11%, the odds are not in the Giants favor. What a shame they could not have turned the season around earlier but it is what it is. All that is out of their control right now and their playing the best ball that they can and let the chips fall where they may.

While it will probably turn out badly, they have to be very proud of the way they are playing right now. The Giants took the first game of this three game series. Giants starter Carson Seymour pitched five innings allowed two hits, one run, one walk and two strikeouts.

The Giants’ Devers and Adames made sure that streak would live another day. Devers hit the first of two home runs in the first inning, a solo shot to center for a 1-0 lead. Adames followed that hit with a home run of his own for a 2-0 lead, another solo to center keeping center fielder Victor Scott II busy watching the ball fly into the stands. It was a great start for San Francisco, not so much for the Cardinals.

San Francisco Giants took the 2-0 lead into the fourth inning where they unleashed a barrage of runs taking a 6-0 lead. Drew Gilbert drove in the first run hitting a sacrifice driving Jung Hoo Lee home taking a 3-0 lead.

Patrick Bailey and Devers both hit singles in the inning driving in two more runs. Casey Schmitt and Patrick Bailey both scored runs on those hits and the Giants were looking great with a 5-0 lead. They would tack one more run on when Adames grounded into a fielders choice driving in Heliot Ramos and San Francisco had a 6-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning.

St. Louis pitcher Michael McGreevy had a rough time in the four innings he pitched. He gave up nine hits, six earned runs, one walks and only three strikeouts. He was relieved in the fifth inning by Gordon Graceffo.

The Cardinals finally made it up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning. They scored a single run off a Scott II single driving in Jimmy Crooks but St. Louis had a whole lot more work to do in this game trailing 1-6.

The Giants took the 6-1 lead into the top of the seventh inning. Matt Chapman started off the inning with a single followed by a Jung Hoo Lee triple allowing Chapman to score and the hits just kept on coming. Now leading 7-1, Casey Schmitt singled driving in Lee for an 8-1 tally with no outs. Gilbert fouled out and Ramos hit into a double play to end the inning and this game went into the bottom of the seventh inning.

San Francisco’s Tristan Beck took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. San Francisco starting pitcher Carson Seymour had a great showing going five innings allowing only two hits, one earned run, one walk with two strikeouts. He was relieved in the sixth inning by Matt Gage before Beck took over in the seventh. Beck got the Giants out of the inning and it was on to the eighth.

With two outs in the eighth inning that Giants were threatening to add to their score loading the bases with Schmitt at the plate. Unfortunately Schmitt struck out and San Francisco had missed a great opportunity put more runs on the board.

The Cardinals hit a solo home run in the eighth inning cutting the Giants lead to 8-2 but they were three outs away from losing the game in the ninth inning. Jimmy Crooks struck out swinging, Thomas Saggese flied out and Jordan Walker struck for the third out and that was the ball game with the Giants taking game one 8-2.

San Francisco finished the game with 18 hits. while the Cardinals had only five. There was some great offensive play going on for the Giants in this game. Beck finished the three final innings only allowing two hits and one run.

The two teams will meet up Saturday night in game two with first pitch scheduled for 4:15 PM. Justin Verlander will be on the mound for the Giants with a 3-10 win/loss record and a 4.29 ERA. The Cardinals Andre Pallante will start in game two with a 6-13 win/loss record and a 5.38 ERA.

San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman (26) forearm bashes Heliot Ramos (17) in the top of the sixth inning after hitting a home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Wed Sep 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (71-69) beat the Colorado Rockies (39-101) sweeping them in a 10-8 win in game three of their series. They hit three home runs in tonight’s game keeping their streak going strong. Matt Chapman had two homers in the game more than making up for the time he missed after getting ejected in Tuesday’s game. Chapman was suspended one day for making contact with Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeman during a bench emptying brawl in the top of the first inning on Tuesday. Chapman has appealed the suspension.

The first a solo shot and the second a three run home run. Drew Gilbert hit the third home run in the seventh inning.

Game recap: San Francisco got this game going early jumping all over the Rockies taking a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. Matt Chapman more then made up for the time he missed in yesterday’s game hitting a solo home run to center in the second inning for the early 1-0 lead.

San Francisco continued to pile on the runs scoring three more runs in the third inning taking a 4-0 lead. Rafael Devers singled Patrick Bailey home extending their lead to 2-0. It turned into a very busy inning for the Giants. Willie Adames sacrificed Heliot Ramos home. San Francisco followed that up with a Wilmer Flores singled driving Rafael Devers home looking very much in control of this game with the 4-0 lead.

The Rockies finally got up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning 1-4 but still had a lot of work to do. Brenton Doyle hit a single driving Ezequiel Tovar home from third base for the one-run inning.

Colorado had more in store not only tying up the game but taking their first lead of the game 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tyler Freeman singled Kyle Karros home as the Rockies began to pile on the runs. Hunter Goodman singled and another Colorado run came in; Freeman scored off a San Francisco error. Jordan Beck came to the plate and singled a couple or runners home, Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman, giving the Rockies a 5-4 lead. The challenge now for the Rockies would be to protect the one-run lead going into the sixth inning.

It had been a good game for San Francisco starting pitcher Robbie Ray going into the fifth inning but that came to an end when Colorado started fireworks of their own hitting lights out. Ray finished going 4 2/3 innings allowing 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. He was relieved by Joel Peguero who got the Giants out of the inning and going on to pitch into the sixth inning.

The Giants were up for the challenge robbing the Rockies of their short-lived lead in the sixth inning. Patrick Bailey got the party started hitting a single driving Casey Schmitt home tying up the game 5-5. Heliot Ramos came to the plate hitting another single driving in Luis Matos giving the Giants the lead back 6-5 lead. Matt Chapman hit his second home run of the game, a 3-run home run, driving in Patrick Bailey and Heliot Ramos. When the dust had settled San Francisco had a 9-5 lead going into the seventh inning.

San Francisco would tack on one more home run off the bat of Drew Gilbert, a solo shot to right and the Giants had their third home run of the game taking a 10-5 lead. San Francisco’s home run streak was alive and well as the Giants continued to send balls soaring out of ball parks across the league.

San Francisco took the 10-5 lead into the top of the ninth inning. They were three outs away from another win and a series sweep. The Rockies made quite a bit of noise in the bottom of the ninth inning loading the bases and sacrificing a run home still trailing 10-6. They were not finished and the Giants were struggling with getting that final out. Two more runs would score before this game was all said and done; Colorado had not made it easy on the Giants. The final was 10-8. The Giants now have 24 home runs in their last 11 games showing no signs of letting down. They had done their damage at Coors Field as they head off to St. Louis after hitting 10 home runs in the series with the Rockies.

Game notes: After winning game two in their series with the Rockies Tuesday night 7-4 the Giants were primed for another sweep and swept the Rockies on Wednesday. It was a tough loss for the Rockies Tuesday night reaching a milestone no one ever wants to see registering their 100th loss of the season.

For San Francisco they were finally back over .500 by a game and playing some terrific baseball that has been obvious over their last four series. Their last losing series was against the San Diego Padres played back on August 18. The Giants after Wednesday’s game are now two games over .500 and with the win have closed the gap towards a shot at the last NL Wild Card position to just four games.

Thursday the Giants will have the day off before taking on the Cardinals in St. Louis. This will be a big series for both teams; the Giants with a 71-69 record and the Cardinals with a 70-71 record. Starters for Friday’s contest at Busch Stadium in St Louis, for the Giants Carson Seymour (0-2 ERA 4.74) for the Cardinals probable starter is Michael McGreevy. McGreevy has a 6-2 win/loss record and a 4.17 ERA. First pitch for this matchup is scheduled for 5:15 PM PT.

St Louis Cardinal starter Sonny Gray pitches to the San Francisco Giants in the top of the first inning at Busch Stadium in St Louis on Sun June 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko, St Louis starter Sonny Gray goes seven innings against the Giants and pitched a perfect game going into the sixth inning before giving up a hit. Gray just went through the Giants line up like butter.

#2 For Sonny Gray he pitched seven innings, giving up one hit and one run picking up the win. Gray had retired the first 20 hitters he faced.

#3 It was Patrick Bailey’s solo shot over the right field fence that ended Gray’s no hit bid in the sixth. The problem is the Giants struggled to get hits in this contest and it was another case of good pitching beating good hitting.

#4 Cardinal reliever Ryan Helsley who has a Major League leading 26 saves shut the door on the Giants in the top of the ninth pitching one inning and striking out two hitters.

#5 Giants try and regroup Monday night as they face the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs were in last place in the NL Central and have move up from fifth to fourth place after picking up a win over the New York Mets. The Cubs are three games under .500. The Cubs and Giants have not announced a starting pitcher as of Sunday night.

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