Tag: St Louis Cardinals

San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski arrives home after hitting a two-run home run as teammate Joc Pederson (23) watches during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium in St Louis on Wed Jun 14, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 San Francisco Giants (36-32) hitter Mike Yastrzemski slugged game tying home run in the ninth inning. Yastrzemski hitting .249, 42 hits, 7 home runs and 18 RBIs comes up with the clutch hit to save the Giants from a loss and forcing extra innings against the St Louis Cardinals (27-42).

#2 Thario Estrada belted a key single in the top of the tenth inning for RBI that put the Giants on top 6-5 and the eventual three 8-5 win for the sweep.

#3 Yastrzemski said after the game that he’s struck out many time and one more wouldn’t make that much of difference but he felt calm at the plate when he hit it out to tie the game.

#4 With the sweep the Cards now continue their five game loss streak and drop 15 games below .500 for their season worse.

#5 Michael talk about how important it is for the Giants to have called up outfielder Luis Matos and infielder David Villar.

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey, right, scores past St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium in St Louis on Mon Jun 12, 2023 (AP News photo)

Another Comeback Win For the Giants Beating St. Louis 4-3

By Barbara Mason

Sunday at Oracle Park in San Francisco the San Francisco Giants fans not only got a great win over the Cubs 13-3 but in the ninth inning they got to see SS Brandon Crawford take the mound allowing a single hit. Crawford pitched the final inning in the blowout win and became the only shortstop in MLB with a career 0.00 ERA.

Monday the Giants (34-32) traveled to St. Louis (27-40) and took the first game of the three game series 4-3 against the St Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Logan Webb took the mound for the Giants with a solid 3.09 ERA. Matthew Liberatore was on the hill for the Cardinals with a 6.00 ERA.

San Francisco took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Austin Slater scored when J.D. Davis grounded out to third. There would be one more run for the Giants when Mitch Haniger doubled and Thairo Estrada scored for the Giants second run.

The Cardinals scored a couple of home runs, one in the fifth inning and one in the sixth Paul De Jong had a solo shot in the sixth and St. Louis would follow that up in the seventh with a Paul Goldschmidt two run home run to take a 3-2 lead.

In the seventh inning the Giants tied up the game 3-3. Mitch Haniger singled in Wilmer Flores. San Francisco would follow that inning with another run in the eighth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Patrick Bailey scored on a Brandon Crawford single.

Going into the bottom of the ninth, the Giants were three outs away from the win. They got two quick outs on a double play. Tommy Edman walked and the Cardinals were hanging on looking for a walk off. Brendan Donovan was hit by a pitch and the Cardinals had two on and two out. It was a nervous finish for the Giants but San Francisco got the job done.

Logan Webb went seven innings allowing seven hits and three runs. He had six strikeouts.

Tuesday’s game two is scheduled to start at 4:45 PM. Alex Cobb will take the mound with an impressive 5-2 win/loss record and a 3.01 ERA. Jack Flaherty will be on the hill for the Cardinals with a 3-4 win/loss record and a 4.15 ERA.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Andrew Knizner, right, tags out San Francisco Giants’ David Villar at home during the fifth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Apr 27, 2023 (AP News photo)

St. Louis. 000 000 231. – 6. 12. 0

San Francisco. 000 000 000. – 0 6. 0

Time: 2:44

Attendance: 23,397

Thursday, April 27, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–I’ve seen a few different versions of this remark, sometimes attributed to Bill McCullough of the defunct Brooklyn Eagle, but I’ve never been able to confirm it. Still, the assertion , “Overconfidence may cost the Dodgers sixth place” kept coming to my mind as I settled into my seat to watch this afternoon’s concluding episode of the four game series between the reawakening San Francisco Giants (11-13 at game time) and the visiting St. Louis Cardinals (9-16). My skepticism was justified; the Cards shut the Giants out, 6-0.

Logan Webb, whose recently signed five year, $90,000,000 1-1contract stands in stark contrast to his game time record of 1-1-4.40, had only one outing to his credit in the still young season, but that was his most recent one. It came five ago, here at Oracle Park on the 22nd,a 7-4 win over the Mets. In it he held them Mets to a pair of runs, both earned, over seven innings, in which he allowed five hits and threw 98 pitches.

Webb’s opposite number for St. Louis, Miles Mikolas, was an All Star last season but had been a disappointment – to say the least – so far in 2023. When he took the mound, he was leading the National League in hits allowed, was tied for first in runs allowed, had the second highest ERA among qualifying (if that’s the word) pitchers, and was tied for fourth place in home runs surrendered. That explains his game time mark of 0-1, 7.46.

Webb pitched himself out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the third, and Mikolas extricated himself from the same situation in the bottom of the fifth. Indeed, both starters had reason to endorse Lefty Gomez’s formula for success, clean living and a fast outfield.

That wasn’t enough to keep St. Louis off the board in the top of the seventh Wuth one one, Alec Burleson jumped on a two and two four seamer and drove it over the right field wall, 385 feet deep. The pitch came in at 92.9 mph and left Burleson’s bat at 102.3 mph. It was his third round tripper of the year. Webb never recovered from the blast. Paul DeJong and Tyler singled to right and both moved up a base on AndrewKnzner’s fly to left.

Loogan and the Giants might have avoided further damage when umpire and crew chief Paul Emmel called Tommy Edman out at first after he’d hit a grounder to Estrada at second to end the inning. But the Cards appealed the decision, and the review crew in New York correctly overturned it. John Brebbia left the bullpen and climbed the mound to get the final out.

Webb had done a credible job. He threw 102 pitches, 70 for strikes, over 6-2/3 innings and allowed two runs, both earned, on seven hits, one of them Burleson’s fatidic blast, and a walk. He struck out seven Redbirds. John Brebbia, who closed out the seventh and, in conjunction with Tristan Beck, let the game get out of hand in the eighth.

With Norman Gorman on first and one out, Dylan Carlson hit an RBI double to left that sent Brebbia to the showers. His replacement, Tristan Beck, promptly surrendered a four bagger to left by Paul DeJong, his second of the year. It now was St. Louis on top, 5-0.

Meanwhile, Mikolas, after fanning Villar to open the home seventh, was replace by Génesis Cabrera. The Cards’ starter had thrown 6-1/3 frames of shutout ball and allowed four hits, surrendered two free passes, and hit a batter. He threw 95 pitches, 65 for strikes.

When it rains, it pours, or at least drizzles, even on a sunny day on the shores of McCovey Cove. With Beck still on the mound,, Edman led off the visitors’ ninth with a double to right, went to third on Nootbaars’s infield hit, and scored on Goldschmidt’s 5-4 RBI force out.

Drew Ver Hagen set San Francisco down in order in the bottom of the ninth to preserve preserve the Redbird win.

Mikolas, now 1-1, 5.97; Webb, now 1-5, 4.1o, the loss.

The Giants’ next game will be Saturday, the 29th, in Mexico City , where they’ll play a two game series with the San Diego Padres, starting at 3:05 PDT. The pitchers for the first game will be Sean Manaea (0-1,6.61) for the Giants and Joe Musgrove (1-0, 5.40) for the Friars.

San Francisco Giants’ Blake Sabol strikes out against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 26, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Troy Ewers

SAN FRANCISCO–As the sunset in San Francisco on Wednesday night, it was the Giants against the Cardinals in Oracle Park and Tuesday night’s heroics from Blake Sabol were fresh in fans’ minds as they walked in the ballpark. As the Giants picked up their fifth straight win over the Cards 7-3 on Wednesday night.

The starters were Anthony DeSclafani and Steven Matz and this game started with a bang and Giants fans thought maybe the clock had struck midnight on their luck as Paul Goldschmidt made a big statement with his first two at bats as he had two big solo home runs which put the Cards up 2-0 to early in the night, but the very next inning for San Francisco was where we would see a spark of light as Austin Slater’s RBI single made it 2-1 Cards.

That spark of light was all the Giants needed to get back to how they looked the first two games this series. A home run that same inning from Lamonte Wade Jr. would be the mighty equalizer and the G-Men wouldn’t look back the whole game.

A wild pitch in the fifth would bring in Haniger for the go ahead run, two run home run by Wilmer Flores electrified Oracle Park in the seventh, and finally the Giants would put the nail in the coffin as Conforto and Wade Jr. would secure huge RBIs that sealed the deal in front of 21,748 Oracle fans.

There were some scary moments as a run from the Cardinals in the ninth had the fans holding their breath, but once Camillo Doval saw the mound, SF could exhale as they walked away with a big win. Making it five in a row for SF.

The Giants look to close out the series against St, Louis tomorrow and then it’s off to Mexico City for a two game series against the Padres. Starting pitchers for Thursday afternoon St Louis Miles Mikolas (0-1 ERA 7.46) and for San Francisco Logan Webb (1-4, ERA 4.40) first pitch at Oracle Park in San Francisco 12:45pm PDT.

San Francisco Giants right hander Anthony DeSclafani shown here delivering in 2022 will get the start for Wed Apr 26, 2023 at Oracle Park against the St Louis Cardinals in game 3 of the four game series. (AP file photo)

On the Giants podcast with Troy Ewers and Vince Cestone:

#1 There was some worry that the Giants might falter, have a rough season, but they split with the New York Mets winning the last two games of that four game series and and winning the first two of this three game series against the St Louis Cardinals it seems the hitting has caught some fire.

#2 Wanted to ask you about catcher Blake Sabol who some had doubts about considering this is his rookie season Sabol had been making great contact of late and hit the game winning two run walk off home run on Tuesday night to defeat the St Louis Cardinals 5-4.

#3 Also Sabol can secure the back up position to Joey Bart if he keeps swinging the bat the way he has, Giants manager Gabe Kapler knows that Sacramento Rivercats catcher Gary Sanchez is chomping at the bit to get back up here too.

#4 Alex Cobb got some run support on Monday night and threw his second complete career shutout in a 4-0 six hit win against the St Louis Cardinals striking out four and walking one batter. Talk about Cobb’s command and keeping runners either in check or off the bases.

#5 Game three of this four game series tonight at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The Cards will be going with Steven Matz (0-3 ERA 6.55) he’ll be opposed by the Giants Anthony DeSclafani (1-1 ERA 2.63). The Cardinals are off to their worst 24 game start in 50 years with a 9-14 record. That goes back to the 1973 St Louis Cardinals.

Troy Ewers and Vince Cestone filled in for Michael Duca. Join Michael for the Giants podcasts heard Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants’ Blake Sabol celebrates after hitting a game-winning, two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 25, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

SAN FRANCISCO- San Francisco Giants (10-13) catcher Blake Sabol belted a two run walk off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to help defat the St Louis Cardinals 5-4 to give the Giants a 2-0 lead in the three game series at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Sabol said after the game that was one of the best moments of his life. Sabol said as soon as he hit the ball by the sound he knew and he bat flipped the bat. Sabol said he just remember screaming and rounding the bases and was jumping up and down with his teammates at home plate.

The Giants in the bottom of the ninth inning had a runner at second and the Cardinals had pitcher Ryan Helsley (0-2) in relief who gave up the home run ball to Sabol who hit it over the center field fence. Sabol said he didn’t come up there to hit a home run but to see what Helsley was offering and if he could see some of the ball out of Helsley’s hand.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that was a fight for your life situation for Sabol and he was down two strikes and for Sabol to connect on a pitch like that for a two run home run “it was pretty remarkable. Really cool moment, one of the cooler moments I’ve been part of since I’ve been here.” said Kapler.

The Giants were down 4-2 going into the ninth inning, Joc Pederson reached first on a fielding error by the Cards second baseman Tommy Edman. Then Mike Yastrzemski swung for an RBI double cutting the Cardinals lead to one run 4-3. So with Yastrzemski at second Sabol took Helsley to deep center for the two run walk off homer and one run win.

The Cardinals fell to 9-15 marking the Cards worst 24 game start in 50 years which had St Louis manager Oliver Marmol saying that this group has not given up yet, “This group’s not going to cave,” Marmol said. “I don’t care what people think. This will serve us extremely well when we get into September. I’ll tell you that.”

Kapler used an opener and the Giants ended up using eight pitchers, the Giants ended up surrendering three runs in the top of the eighth inning. The Giants sixth pitcher Scott Alexander gave up the three Cardinal runs, pitching 0.1 innings, three hits and three earned runs but the Giants persevered with Sabol’s two run homer to win it.

Starting pitchers for Wednesday night’s 6:45 pm tilt at Oracle Park for the Cardinals Miles Mikolas (0-1 ERA 7.46) for the Giants Logan Webb (1-4 ERA 4.40) for game 3 of the four game series.

San Francisco starter Alex Cobb goes the distance against the St Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Apr 24, 2023 (@SFGiants photo)

St. Louis. 000 000 000 – 0. 6. 1

San Francisco. 000 000 40x – 4. 8 0

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 22,2203

Monday, April 24, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–It was the Gateway City against the team from the Golden Gate tonight at Oracle park when your San Francisco Giants (9-13) duked it out with the (9-14) St. Louis Cardinals in the first of a four game match up.

Before the teams took the field, the Giants announced that Mitch Haniger and Austin Slater had been restored to the active roster after having competed their rehab assignments. Darin Ruf, newly returned from the Mets, was placed on the 10 day injured list with an inflamed wrist, and Brett Wisely was optioned to the River Cats. I assume he took the news philosophically.

The home team went with Alex Cobb and his 0-1,2.79 record to face the Cards. The Giants’ 35 year old righty began his stint on the mound needing only 11 strikeouts to notch his 1,000th K.

Southpaw Jordan Montgomery brought his 2-2, 4.84 mark to the mound for the Redbirds. According to Statcast, he has a repertory of five deliveries, none of which he throws more than 38% of the time. They are, in descending order of frequency, the slider, the curve, the four seamer, the change of pace, and the cutter.

It was was a magnificent pitchers’ duel that the Giants won, 4-0, scoring all of their runs – every single one of them unearned – on a four run outburst in the lucky seventh.

The home team blew a wonderful opportunity to grab an early lead, loading the bases with but one out in the first. But Montgomery rose to the occasion, getting Michael Conforto to pop out to the catcher, Wilson Contreras, and fanning Wilmer Flores.

Cobb didn’t allow a baserunner until Paul Goldschmidt sent a double into the right field corner with one out in the fourth. He died on third, the two batters who followed him grounding out to preserve the scoreless tie.

It took a beautiful grab and throw from the knees by St. Louis third saccker Brandan Donovan to rob Slater of hit on a smash down the line with David Villar and Mike Yastremski on base with two away in the bottom of the fourth to keep the Giants from breaking that impasse.

The Redbirds almost broke through in theier half of the fifth they loaded the bases on an infield single by Tyler O’Neill, Donovan’s clean single to left, and a walk to Tommy Edman. But a beautiful play by Villar on Lars Noobaar’s weak grounder to third put the fifth consecutive goose egg on the St. L. line.

After the Cards’ second baseman Edman bobbled Yastremski’s seventh inning lead off grounder, allowing him to reach first safely, manager Tony LaRussa yanked Montgomery and sent Drew ver Hagen into the fray. The resurgent Joey Bart sent a resounding double into left, sending Yaz to third.

The logical move was for the Cards waa to declare an intentional pass to Joc Peterson, pinch hitting for Slater, which is what they did. With the bases now loaded and nobody out, ver Hagen whiffed Estrada. Haniger broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to right. But you ain’t heard nothin’ yet! With the count 0-2 on him, JD Davis took a 90 mph cut fast ball 380 feet into the left field night, and San Francisco was ahead 4-0.

Montgomery was charged with one run, and it was unearned, in his six inning appearance. He allowed five hits, a walk, and a hit batter. He struck out six batter and threw 107 pitches, 65 for strikes. He deserved a better fate. Ver Hagen wasn’t around for the eighth. Jordan Hicks took care of the Giants that frame.

Cobb set the Cardinals down in order in the ninth, winning the second shut out of his career.

The two teams will meet again at 6:45 tomorrow, Tuesday, evening. St. Louis will send right hander Jake Woodford (1-2 ,6.05) to the hill. The Giants haven’t yet name who will toe the rubber for them.