Tag: texas rangers

Keaton Winn rocked for seven runs in return off IL as Giants unable to sweep Rangers; Texas salvages series with 7-2 win

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The Texas Rangers Adolis Garcia steals home on a slide ahead of the tag by San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey in the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sun Jun 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

Sunday, June 8, 2024

Globe Life Field

Arlington, Texas

San Francisco Giants 2 (32-34)

Texas Rangers 7 (31-34)

Win: Nathan Eovaldi (3-2)

Loss: Keaton Winn (3-7)

Time: 2:16

Attendance: 34,912

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants were unable to get the sweep, as Keaton Winn got rocked for seven runs in his return from the Injured List, and the Rangers beat the Giants in the finale of this three game series in Arlington, Texas 7-2.

The Giants’ fortunes have dramatically changed over the last few days. They salvaged a game in their series in Arizona on Wednesday to snap a six-game losing streak, and they started a three-game winning streak. Sunday, the Giants looked to sweep the Rangers and make it four in a row.

Sadly, many Giants fans would not be able to watch the game, because it was being exclusively broadcasted on Roku, which requires a subduction. Roku is one of a handful of subscription platforms that Major League Baseball and Commissioner Rob Manfred have made deals with over the last two and a half years to broadcast games. With many fans wisely not wanting to pay for a monthly subscription to watch one baseball game, they were out of luck.

Anyway, making the start Sunday for the Giants was Keaton Winn, who was coming off the 15-Day Injured List. Winn strained his right forearm in last start on May 14 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park.

Making the start for Texas was the longtime veteran right-hander, Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi was an instrumental part of the Boston Red Sox’ 108-win world championship season in 2018, as he was for the Rangers in their run to the title last season. He came into this game 2-2 over nine starts this season with a 2.70 ERA.

The Giants’ offense, which has thrived off hitting seven home runs in their last three games, but which has still wasted many opportunities, would have a hard rule against Eovaldi Sunday. The white-hot Heliot Ramos struck out looking to begin the game, and Eovaldi proceeded to throw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first.

Before going on the IL, Winn was off to a bad start. He was 3-6 with a 6.17 ERA in nine games, and the Rangers were ready to tee off him Sunday. Marcus Semien was hit in the hand by Winn’s first pitch back to start the bottom of the first. The trainers tended to Semien, who remained in the game, and then pulled a Rickey Henderson by immediately stealing second base.

Josh Smith walked, and Adolis Garcia lined a base-hit to left to load the bases with nobody out. Winn was in deep trouble, but he struck Nathaniel Lowe and Ezequiel Duran both out swinging, and he now had a chance to get out of the inning without any damage.

However, Wyatt Langford singled on a ground ball up the middle and into left-center to knock in a pair and give the Rangers an early 2-0 lead. Bruce Bochy then put on a crafty double steal. Langford stole second, and when catcher Patrick Bailey made the throw to second, Garcia stole him. That capped off a really tough inning for the Giants, and the Rangers had a 3-0 lead.

Eovaldi threw another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second, and the Rangers would be right back at it against Winn in the bottom of the second. Travis Jankowski lined a base-hit to lead off the inning and stole second. The Rangers had now already stolen four bases through the first inning-plus of this game. Leody Taveras struck out swinging, and then Semien hit a two-run home run to left to make it 5-0.

It was 5-0, but it was early. The Giants made a habit of coming back from big deficits during their last hot stretch two and a half weeks ago. However, the Giants were now home run happy, and if they wanted to come back Sunday, they would have to do what they did during their stretch two and a half weeks ago: string base-hits, keep the line moving and get the key hits with runners in scoring position.

The Giants actually did that in the top of the third. Casey Schmitt lined a base-hit to left with one out, and Trenton Brooks singled Schmitt over to second. Ramos flew out to center, and the Giants were preparing to waste another opportunity, but Bailey lined a base-hit the other way to left to score Schmitt and put the Giants on the board.

The Giants only got one run, but it was a start. Winn would now have to settle down on the mound, which he somewhat did when he escaped a two-out triple in the bottom of the third.

It was now 5-1 Texas going to the fourth. Michael Conforto and Thairo Estrada both grounded out for the first two outs in the top of the fourth, but Mike Yastrzemski then blasted his seventh home run of the season to right to make it 5-2.

The Giants were back in it, and Winn pitched his first 1-2-3 inning of the day in the bottom of the fourth. Eovaldi countered that with a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, but the Rangers would be ready to pounce on Winn again in the bottom of the fifth.

Josh Smith drew a leadoff walk, and Garcia lined out to left. Lowe then doubled to left to put runners at second and third with one out, and that ended Winn’s day. Bob Melvin went to Randy Rodriguez, who has been quite reliable as of late, but Rodriguez was welcomed to the game with a base-hit by Tovar to right to score two and make it 7-2.

Rodriguez got out of the inning without any further damage, but enough damage was already done. Winn really did struggle in his return, as the Rangers torched him for seven runs in just four and a third innings.

After the Giants wasted an opportunity against Eovaldi in the top of the sixth, the rest of the game would prove to be quite uneventful.

Rodeiguez pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the Dutch, and Eovaldi pitched one last 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh to cap off another strong performance.

Left-hander Taylor Rogers got an appearance and pitched through a base-hit and a walk in the bottom of the seventh, and Luke Jackson threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth. For the Rangers, Jose Leclerc pitched a 1-2-3 top of the eighth, and Kirby Yates did the same in the top of the ninth to end the game. Rangers’ pitching ended up retiring 10-straight Giants to end it.

Nathan Eovaldi got the win, and Keaton Winn took the loss. The Giants were unable to back up to .500, as they fall back to 32-34.

The Giants will return home to San Francisco for an all-interleague six-game homestand against the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels. The Astros will come to Oracle Park for a three-game series Monday night. Kyle Harrison (4-3, ERA 4.18) will return to the rotation after his start was pushed back two days, and he will be opposed by Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (3-5, ERA 5.79). First pitch will be at 6:45 p.m.

Giants News and Notes:

With Keaton Winn activated off the Injured List, utility man Tyler Fitzgerald was optioned back to Triple-A Sacramento.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Heliot does all the heavy lifting for Giants

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San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos gets back in the dugout after hitting a two run home run in the top of the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Field on Sat Jun 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Stephen, talk about the job that Heliot Ramos has done for San Francisco knocking in all the Giants runs for a 3-1 win over the Texas Ranges on Saturday at Globe Life Field.

#2 How shocking is it for you that the Giants have won the last two games against former Giants manager Bruce Bochy who having such a successful year himself.

#3 Austin Slater who was on mat in the hole 0-2 got up and walked and that brought up Ramos who belted a double to score Slater.

#4 In the third inning Slater singled and that brought up Ramos who hit a home run for his sixth home run of the season.

#5 The Giants concluded their three game series with the Texas Rangers which resulted in a 7-2 loss. The Rangers avoided getting swept at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sunday as the Giants took the first two games of the series.

Stephen Ruderman is a MLB podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ramos stays white-hot and Spencer Howard stays hot as Giants beat Rangers 3-1 for third-straight win

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Heliot Ramos salutes after hitting a two run home run against the Texas Rangers in the top of the third inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Sat Jun 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Globe Life Field

Arlington, Texas

San Francisco Giants 3 (32-33)

Texas Rangers 1 (30-34)

Win: Erik Miller (1-2)

Loss: Andrew Heaney (2-7)

Save: Camilo Doval (11)

Time: 2:33

Attendance: 34,843

By Stephen Ruderman

Heliot Ramos stayed on fire, as he went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run and knocked in all three runs for the Giants, while Spencer Howard was solid in four and two thirds innings, as they led the Giants to their third-straight win, 3-1 over the Rangers in Arlington, Texas.

The Giants snapped their six-game losing streak on Wednesday, and have since won two-straight. Saturday, they looked to make it three in a row against the Rangers and their left-hander, Andrew Heaney.

The Giants got things going right away against Heaney in the top of the first inning. Austin Slater walked to start the game, and that brought up the white-hot Heliot Ramos, who lined a double into the gap in left-center field to score Slater and put the Giants on the board early.

The Giants were looking to go big in the first inning, but in typical fashion with this frustrating Giants’ offense, the next three guys all went down, and Ramos was left hanging at second base.

Saturday was Kyle Harrison’s turn in the rotation, and it was assumed by this writer that he would make the start Saturday, but I was wrong. Bob Melvin decided to go with right-handler and former Ranger Spencer Howard instead. Howard gave up two runs but pitched well over four and two thirds innings in relief on Monday in Arizona, which gave his skipper the confidence to give him the start Saturday.

Howard got himself in trouble, however, in the bottom of the first. Marcus Semien and Josh Smith both walked to start the inning, and Semien got to third when Adolis Garcia flew out to right for the first out. Nathaniel Lowe then knocked in Semien with a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game. Howard gave up a run, pretty much for free, as he didn’t give up a hit.

Heaney threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second, and he settled down to retire six-straight following Ramos’ double. Howard gave up a one-out single to Travis Jankowski in the bottom of the second, but he pitched a scoreless inning regardless.

Tyler Fitzgerald popped out to start the top of the third, but Slater did his thing and lined an opposite-field base-hit to right. That brought up Ramos, who hit a two-run home run to left, his sixth of the year, to put the Giants back ahead.

The Giants gave Howard a 3-1 lead to work with, and it appeared he was going to need it. Smith singled with one out in the bottom of the third, and Garcia walked to put runners at first and second. Howard then got Lowe to ground into a 6-3 double play to end the inning without any damage.

The game then started to roll along a bit, as Heaney pitched 1-2-3 innings in both the top of the fourth and fifth, and Howard pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth. Leody Tavares originally reached on an infield hit to start on the bottom of the fifth, but upon review, Tavares was out on a putout to first. Semien flew out, and Melvin pulled Howard after four and two thirds for left-handed Erik Miller, who struck out Smith to end the inning.

Melvin’s confidence in Howard definitely paid off. While Howard struggled a bit early on with his control, he pitched more smoothly in the middle innings. All in all, he gave up two runs on three hits and three walks.

Ramos flew out to center to start the top of the sixth, but Wilmer Flores and Matt Chapman singled to put runners at first and second with one out. Michael Conforto struck out looking for the second, and Bruce Bochy then went to the veteran right-hander Jon Gray. Jorge Soler was at the plate, and his struggles in key RBI situations continued once again, as he struck out swinging to end the inning.

Miller and Ryan Walker combined to throw a scoreless bottom of the sixth. Fitzgerald singled, and Mike Yastrzemski walked with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Ramos struck out swinging to end the inning and another wasted opportunity for the Giants.

Walker pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, and Gray did the same in the top of the eighth. Tyler Rogers came in for the bottom of the eighth, and he, you guessed it, pitched a 1-2-3 inning.

Jesus Tinoco came in for Texas in the top of the ninth, and he retired the first two men he faced. Patrick Bailey pinch-hit and drew a two-out walk, as did Fitzgerald. It was another opportunity for the Giants to put some much-needed padding on their lead. Bochy pulled Tinoco for Jacob Latz, who struck Yastrzemski out to end the inning, and the Giants yet again wasted a golden opportunity.

Closer Camilo Doval came in for the bottom of the ninth. Doval pitched a much-needed 1-2-3 inning for his 10th save Friday night in what was his first appearance since his disastrous blown save against the Yankees on Sunday.

Saturday, Doval would struggle, and would once again make things tense for the Giants and their fans. Lowe walked to lead off the inning, and Ezequiel Duran flew out to right. Jonah Heim beat out an infield hit, and Jankowski grounded out to first for the second out to move the runners to second and third.

The Giants led 3-1 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but the Rangers had the tying runs at second and third for Leody Taveras. Taveras then engaged Doval in a long and grueling battle. On a 2-2 pitch, Taveras hit a bullet down the right field line that went just foul and allowed Giants fans to make a massive sigh of relief. Taveras then flew out to right to end the game, and the Giants held on to win it 3-1.

Erik Miller got the win, as he was the one who came in for Spencer Howard, who was one out away from the win, in the bottom of the fifth; Andrew Heaney took the loss; and Camilo Doval picked up his 11th save.

Ramos led the way with his 2-for-4 day, and he is on fire. However, while the Giants have hit seven home runs in their last three games, they are still struggling in key RBI situations, and if they get too home run happy, it’s going to get them in trouble. Still, it is undeniable that this has been a completely different team since Melvin aired them out after Tuesday night’s loss.

It is unfortunate that Howard didn’t get the win, because it would have capped off the most perfect week for him. He started the road trip by being able to sleep in his own bed in Arizona, and then he got his world series ring Friday. Howard pitched for the Rangers at the beginning of last season, which made him eligible for a ring. Still, it was quite an unforgettable week for Howard, who truly put himself on the map for the Giants with his two solid performances.

Keaton Winn (3-6, ERA 6.17) will come off the Injured List to make the start Sunday, as the Giants will try to complete the sweep over the Rangers at Globe Life Field. The Rangers will start RHP Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, ERA 2.70) First pitch will be at 12:05 p.m. in Arlington, and 10:05 a.m. for morning baseball in San Francisco.

Webb and home runs carry Giants to 5-2 over Rangers in series opener in Texas

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San Francisco Giants Michael Conforto circles the bases after connecting for a two run home run in the top of the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington on Fri Jun 7, 2024 (AP News photo)

Friday, June 7, 2024

Globe Life Field

Arlington, Texas

San Francisco Giants 5 (31-33)

Texas Rangers 2 (30-33)

Win: Logan Webb (5-5)

Loss: David Robertson (2-3)

Save: Camilo Doval (10)

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 35,868

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have won two-straight, as a strong start from Logan Webb, three home runs—two from Wilmer Flores—and a three-hit day from Heliot Ramos carried the Giants to a series-opening 5-2 win over old pal Bruce Brochy and the defending world champion Texas Rangers.

The Giants left the hot desert in Arizona for the hot and flat prairie lands of Arlington, Texas to start the second leg of this all-2023 World Series road trip. The Giants enjoyed a day off in Arlington yesterday after they snapped their unfortunate six-game losing streak on Wednesday in Arizona. Friday night, they looked to build on that against Bochy and the Rangers.

The Giants sent their ace, Logan Webb, to the hill, to open the series. The Rangers went with the veteran right-hander, Michael Lorenzen. Both pitchers pitched scoreless innings out of the gate, and Webb pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of first.

Wilmer Flores, who hit a grand slam in the third inning on Wednesday in Arizona, kept his power going, as he hit a home run to left-center field with one out in the top of the second. Webb then pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second.

Heliot Ramos led off the top of the third with a base-hit, and Matt Chapman walked with one out. However, Michael Conforto flew out to center, and Jorge Soler’s struggles in key RBI situations continued, as he grounded into a force play to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the third, Ezequiel Duran singled on a ground ball up the middle for the Rangers’ first hit of the game. However, Webb pitched another scoreless inning regardless.

Flores led off the top of the fourth with his second home run of the game, as he now had three home runs in two games.

“When Flo gets hot, he gets hot,” said Webb. “He hasn’t changed one bit since I’ve met him. Everyday, he does the same exact thing. I think when you’re pretty consistent in what you do, I think good things happen…I feel like the same thing’s happened since he’s been here. He maybe doesn’t play as much early on, then [as] he starts to play more, and the ‘Flo’ comes out. He’s just a professional hitter. I think pitchers that have faced him before will probably say the exact same thing. He lets me know about the one time I faced him, which I think he went 3-for-3 off me [in] my debut.”

Webb pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth.

Ramos led off the fifth by lining a base-hit the other way to right. Patrick Bailey flew out, but Matt Chapman singled on a ground ball to right, and Conforto walked to load the bases with one out.

Bochy pulled Lorenzen for Jonathan Hernandez. Soler and Flores both struck out swinging with the bases loaded, and the Giants wasted yet another opportunity.

Webb had kept the Rangers at bay over the first four innings, but the bottom of the fifth would be very different. Nathaniel Lowe led off the inning with a single to left, and Wyatt Langford hit a double to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Robbie Grossman put the Rangers on the board with a sacrifice fly to just shy of the warning track out to Mike Yastrzemski in right-center, which scored Lowe and moved Langford over to third.

Bob Melvin then did something very uncommon, and had the Giants’ infield play in to keep the tying run from scoring. It backfired, however, as Duran singled on a ground ball to left-center that very well could have been fielded by Brett Wisely at short had the infield been playing at normal depth.

The game was now tied 2-2. Leody Tavares to left, but Marcus Semien singled Duran over to third. With the Rangers 90 feet away from their first lead of the day, Webb was able to get Josh Smith to end the inning.

Yastrzemski drew a walk to start the top of the sixth, but Hernandez retired the side in order afterwards. Webb then settled back down to throw a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.

Right-hanger David Robertson, now one of the longest-tenured players in Baseball, came in to pitch for the Rangers in the top of the seventh. Bailey grounded out to third to start the inning, but Chapman walked, and Conforto hit a two-run home run out to right-center to put the Giants back ahead.

“Earlier in the at-bat, I think I just took a bad swing on a cutter…..I just had a feeling [Robertson] was going to go back to it, and I took a better swing late in the at-bat,” said Conforto. “[I] always have to try and remember less is more, especially with cutter guys.

Logan Webb ended his night with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh. Webb is an innings eater, which made it a bit surprising that he didn’t go out for one more inning, but he did appear to have a grimace on his face as he walked off the field.

“I think he [was] just kinda off balanced [when he threw his last pitch],” said Melvin. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. Hopefully, it’s just a little bit of a stinger.”

Webb gave up four runs in what was still a mostly-solid outing against the Yankees last Saturday. While the numbers didn’t reflect that in his last start, the numbers were undeniable in his start Friday night. Two runs and five hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and not a single walk, not bad.

“I thought to start the game, that was probably the best stuff I’ve had all year,” said Webb. “The days you get the mechanics and the feel, usually good things happen, and today was one of those days where I felt good. I thought my mechanics were better…..I kinda got away from it [in the fifth], and then I felt like I got to it towards the end.”

Grant Anderson, who finished the top of the seventh for Texas, was back out for the top of the eighth. Thairo Estrada lined a base-hit up the middle to start the inning, and Wisely walked. Ramos then came up and grounded a base-hit up the middle into center field for his third hit of the game to knock in Estrada and make it 5-2.

Bochy pulled Anderson for Jesus Tinoco, who retired the side in order to end the inning. Submariner Tyler Rogers followed that up with a shutdown 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth.

Gerson Garabito pitched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for the Rangers, and Melvin brought in his closer, Camilo Doval, for the first duke since the latter gave up four runs on a career-high four hits in what was a brutal blown save and loss on Sunday. It was a big outing for Doval, and responded nicely by shutting down the Rangers 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to close it out.

Logan Webb got the win; David Robertson took the loss; and Camilo Doval picked up his 10th save of the year.

The Giants improve to 31-33, and they’ll try and make it three in a row in a late-afternoon affair Saturday. Left-hander Kyle Harrison (4-3, ERA 4.18) will go for San Francisco for Texas Andrew Heaney (2-6, ERA 3.99). First pitch will be at 3:05 p.m. in Arlington, 1:05 p.m in San Francisco

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants open 3 game series in Texas Friday night

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Erik Miller (68) deals against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the sixth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Jun 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Michael Duca:

#1 Michael, the San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores was key in the Giants 8-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Wednesday afternoon. Flores helped out with a third inning grand slam.

#2 The Giants who snapped their six game losing streak got a rally going with six runs for a 9-3 win. The run production came through to conclude the three game series for the Giants.

#3 The Giants also got a home run from Heliot Ramos in the third inning off Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery.

#4 Ramos found six ways to get on base with two hits and four walks, Flores got his first home run in 50 games so needless to say Giants manager Bob Melvin had faith in Flores.

#5 The Giants are headed for Texas for a three game series starting Friday night. They’ll start RHP Logan Webb (4-5, ERA 2.95) for the Rangers Michael Lorenzen (3-3, ERA 2.96) 5:05pm PT first pitch.

Join Michael Duca for the San Francisco Giants podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Melvin motivates and six-run third inning leads Giants to much needed 9-3 win to snap six-game losing streak

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San Francisco Giants Wilmer Flores salutes after getting a single in the top of the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Jun 5, 2024 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Chase Field

Phoenix, Arizona

San Francisco Giants 9 (30-33)

Arizona Diamondbacks 3 (29-33)

Win: Sean Hjelle (3-1)

Loss: Jordan Montgomery (3-4)

Time: 3:30

Attendance: 24,178

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants finally snapped their six-game losing streak, and the offense finally came back to life, as a six-run third inning, capped off by a grand slam by Wilmer Flores carried the Giants to a 9-3 win over the Diamondbacks to salvage a game in Phoenix on Wednesday.

The Giants weathered some massive blows, and they won 10 of 12 to get to a season-high two games over .500 at 29-27. However, they have since taken a couple more blows, and have fallen back on hard times with a brutal six-game losing streak.

The Giants were three outs away from salvaging a game in their three-game series against the white-hot New York Yankees on Sunday, but the Yankees scored four runs off Camilo Doval in the top of the ninth inning to sweep them.

The Giants then lost the first two games of their three game series in the Sonoran Desert against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They lost on a walk-off home run by Pavin Smith on Monday, and then they lost again last night and just seemed lifeless and out of it.

Manager Bob Melvin aired out his frustrations with the team in the clubhouse following last night’s game, and today, the Giants desperately needed a win. There was no other way to say it.

The Giants would turn to Jordan Hicks, who President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi has successfully converted from a reliever to a starter. Hicks came into Wednesday’s game 4-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 12 starts, and the Giants would need another solid start from him Wednesday afternoon.

The veteran left-hander, Jordan Montgomery would make the start for Arizona, and the Giants had him on the ropes in the top of the first inning. Heliot Ramos walked with one out, and Thairo Estrada lined a base-hit to left field to put runners at first and second.

However, it would be another wasted opportunity for the Giants. Matt Chapman grounded out softly to first base, and Jorge Soler struck out swinging, as the Giants once again came up empty handed.

Hicks also ran into trouble in the bottom of the first. Corbin Carroll singled to right to get things started, and he advanced to second when Hicks used three disengagements with Blaze Alexander at the plate. Hicks then struck Alexander out swinging, and he also struck Joc Pederson out looking.

Hicks was looking to get out of it without any damage, but Lourdes Gurriel lined a single to left to knock in Carroll and put Arizona on the board first.

Both teams went down scoreless in the second, and the Giants looked to finally break through in the top of the third. Austin Slater, who was activated off the 10-Day Injured List prior to the game, led off the inning and did what he does best, and that’s line a base-hit the other way to right. Heliot Ramos then stayed hot and hit a towering two-run home run to left-center, his fifth home run of the season, to give the Giants their first lead of the series.

The Giants were just getting started off Montgomery. Estrada lined a base-hit to left, and Chapman walked. Soler singled on a soft ground ball to center, as Estrada was held at third, and that meant the bases would be loaded for Wilmer Flores. Flores hit a grand slam to left, and suddenly the Giants’ offense had woken up to score six runs in the top of the third, as they led it 6-1.

The Giants were looking to keep going. Mike Yastrzemski grounded a single up the middle, and Montgomery’s day was done after just two-plus innings.

Logan Allen was the new pitcher for Arizona, and he immediately walked Tyler Fitzgerald to put runners at first and second with still nobody out. Curt Casali, who got the start behind the plate Wednesday, flew out to left for the first out.

The Giants had now batted around, as Slater came back to plate after leading off the inning with a base-hit. With Slater up, Yastrzemski and Fitzgerald executed a double steal of second and third, but Slater struck out swinging for the second out. Ramos walked to load the bases, but Estrada grounded out to third to end the inning.

Hicks had to sit for awhile, and he ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the third. Alexander started off the inning with an infield hit, and Gurriel walked with one out. Hicks was then able to settle down, and he struck Pavin Smith and Eugenio Suarez out, both looking, to end the inning.

Allen pitched a scoreless top of the fourth, and Hicks ran into more trouble in the bottom of the fourth. Jake McCarthy walked to start the inning, and Kevin Newman singled him over to second.

Catcher Tucker Barnhart tried to lay down a bunt, but he popped it back to Hicks. Hicks then struck Carroll out swinging for the second out, but Alexander reached on an infield hit up the middle to load the bases.

Hicks thought he had struck out Joc Pederson to end the inning on a 3-2 slider that nicked the outside corner, but Home Plate Umpire Chris Guccione called it ball four, and McCarthy scored to make it 6-2. Hicks had been getting pinched by Guccione throughout the day, and that helped drive his pitch count up to 92 pitches.

As a result, Hicks was done after three and two thirds innings. Hicks had a bloated pitch count, but he still received praise from his manager, Bob Melvin, when he got back to the dugout. Sean Hjelle came in for Hicks and got Gurriel to ground out to end the inning.

Allen pitched a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, and Smith made it a 6-3 game with a home run to right to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Hjelle then retired the side to send the game to the sixth.

The Giants looked to add on against Allen in the top of the sixth. Ramos led off the inning with a base-hit to left for his second hit of the day. Estrada reached on an error, and Chapman walked to load the bases.

Yastrzemski thought he had walked to knock in a run with two outs, but Guccione called it a strike. After Yastrzemski flew out to left to end the inning, he had a few choice words for Guccione, and Melvin tore into Guccione, but the cool and collective veteran umpire kept both Yastrzemski and Melvin in the game.

“You know what, that’s a hard time to call for an umpire,” said Melvin. “I went and told [Guccione] that afterwards. It really is. It’s excruciating to have to call a game like that [with] so many really really close pitches at the bottom of the zone. I’m very understanding of that, but you know, you’re trying to stand up for your team. I appreciate him keeping me in the game. I’m shocked I was still in the game after that play, so I thanked him for that.”

Bryce Jarvis came in for Allen, and just as soon as the Giants’ offense had finally awakened, they just as quickly reverted back to their old ways. Jarvis retired the side in order, and the Giants wasted a bases-loaded, no-out golden opportunity.

Left-handed flame thrower Erik Miller pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth, and the Giants wasted another opportunity against Jarvis in the top of the seventh. Ryan Walker came in and pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh for the Giants. Jorge Soler hit an absolute bomb to left off Brandon Hughes with one out in the top of the eighth to make it 7-3.

Submariner Tyler Rogers pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth, and the Giants added on two more runs in the top of the ninth to open it up to 9-3. Thairo Estrada knocked in Michael Conforto with a double high off the wall in left-center with nobody out, and Wilmer Flores, who was up with the bases loaded for the third time today, knocked in Heliot Ramos with a sacrifice fly to right.

The Diamondbacks got two runners on against Randy Rodriguez in the bottom of the ninth, but Rodriguez closed it out to end it.

Sean Hjelle, who came in for Hicks in the bottom of the fourth, got the win, and Jordan Montgomery took the loss.

Bob Melvin’s message after Tuesday night’s game certainly worked, as the Giants looked like a completely different team. The Giants have finally snapped their six-game losing streak, and they improve to 30-33 on the year.

“It had nothing to do with me,” Melvin humbly said. “We just had good at-bats today.”

Now, the Giants will head to Arlington, Texas for a day off Thursday and the second leg of this all-2023 World Series road trip to take on former Giants Manager Bruce Bochy and the Defending World Champion Texas Rangers for a three-game series starting on Friday.

For Friday night Giants’ ace Logan Webb (4-5, ERA 2.95) will be on the mound. The Rangers will start Michael Lorenzen (3-3, ERA 2.96) First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. in Arlington, and 5:05 p.m. back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

Heliot Ramos had himself quite a day, as he went 2-for-2 with two runs and four walks. He also became the fifth San Francisco Giants’ number-two hitter to reach base six times in one game.

“I’m just staying with my pitch [and] trying to attack the right pitch and make the right decision,” said Ramos. “It was really tough [to take those four walks], because I like swinging the bat.”

“He’s just so balanced,” said Manager Bob Melvin. “Every take, every swing, he’s completely locked in. I mean who walks four times, especially when you’re hitting like he is? You want to swing…..It’s really cool to watch, because he’s such a good kid. It’s been kind of a hard road for him to get here, and he’s taking full advantage of it.”

Austin Slater was of course activated off the 10-Day IL prior to today’s game. Luis Matos, who has considerably cooled off since winning the National League Player of the Week Award with his historic 16-RBI performance from May 13-19, was sent back down to Triple-A Sacramento.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary : Comparing Ohtani to Babe Ruth; Padres Bogarts day to day with shoulder injury; plus more news

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Los Angeles Dodger Shohei Ohtani rounds third base on a Will Smith base hit on Fri May 17, 2024 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, Babe Ruth once said that he didn’t want to pitch every other day while playing a position in the outfield. Ruth had said this before 1920 before he was traded and converted to being an outfielder. Much the same can be said about Los Angeles Dodgers two way player Shohei Ohtani who is taking the year off from pitching. Ohtani the designated hitter is not throwing from the outfield like Ruth did but he did want to play everyday and not wear his arm out by being a pitcher.

#2 Xander Bogarts second baseman of the San Diego Padres suffered a left shoulder injury during Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Bogarts was going for a ground ball when he landed his left shoulder on a bases loaded grounder. Bogarts was not able to make the throw on Ronald Acuna’s infield hit that allowed a run to score. Bogarts signaled for the dugout and manager Mike Schildt and the trainer. Bogarts was given tests and they proved to be negative. Bogarts status is day to day.

#3 The Tampa Bay Rays placed starter Zach Eflin on the 15 day IL on Monday night in a game against the Boston Red Sox. Eflin is suffering from back inflammation. Eflin struggled this season at 3-4, ERA 4.12. Last season Eflin went 16-8. The Rays were counting on him signing him to a three year $68 million contract.

#4 It was mentioned it was a great time to be a Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Twins fan and a Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers fan. The Timberwolves and Mavericks of the NBA are headed for the third round of the NBA playoffs and the Twins are in third place only five games behind first place in the AL Central. The Rangers are just 1.5 games out of first place in the AL West.

#5 Amaury, the A’s are coming off an eight game losing streak. They went 1-9 on the last road trip in games played in Seattle, Kansas City and Houston and lost all but one of those games. They had to deal with the thunderstorms in Houston and now return to host the Colorado Rockies tonight here at the Coliseum. Can the A’s turn it around with home field advantage to open this six game homestand?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s hope to capture series against M’s in Seattle Friday night

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Oakland A’s Tyler Soderstrom (21) is congratulated by Max Scheumann (12) at the plate after Soderstrom’s two run homer against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum in the second game of a doubleheader on Wed May 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers has been lighting it up with his bat. In the doubleheader on Wednesday he slugged for a two run home run and knocked in five run for a career five RBIs. In game two he proceeded to hit for three more RBIs against the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum.

#2 The A’s lost game two of the doubleheader 12-11. The Rangers Jonah Heim and Nathaniel Lowe both hit for three RBIs. The Rangers wound up winning three out of four in the four game series.

#3 The A’s tried to make a come back but fell short in the night cap scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning before Rangers reliever Kirby Yates shut the door on the A’s for his seventh save of the season getting the A’s Tyler Nevin to fly out to right field with runners at first and second.

#4 Langeliers was just seeing the ball well hitting a two run home run and got another RBI while hitting into a ground out. Langeliers surpasses former Oakland A’s right fielder Reggie Jackson for the most RBIs Jackson had seven and Langeliers picked up eight on Wednesday.

#5 The A’s open a three game series in Seattle on Friday night at T Mobile Field. The A’s starter will be RHP Paul Blackburn (3-1 ERA 3.00) and for the M’s Bryan Woo (0-0 ERA 0.00) a 6:40pm PDT start.

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Oakland A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

#3

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: San Jose Sharks get No.1 draft pick; Celtics bury Cavs to take game 1; plus more news

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NHL overall top draft pick Macklin Celebrini is most likely a top choice for the San Jose Sharks. The NHL announced that the Sharks have the number one choice at the NHL Draft on Jun 28-29th, 2024 which will held at the Sphere in Las Vegas (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Jessica:

#1 NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly presented the flip card revealing the number one draft pick and the San Jose Sharks who had the league’s worst record at 19-54-9. The Sharks are looking at Macklin Celebrini the first overall draft pick in the NHL draft.

#2 The Boston Celtics went through the Cleveland Cavaliers like butter on Tuesday night in Boston with a 25 point 120-95 win to take game 1 of the NBA second round playoffs. The Celtics got top scoring from Jaylen Brown with 32 points and Derrick White hit seven three pointers.

#3 The WNBA has committed for the next two seasons to spend $58 million for charter for the league travel as opposed to commercial flying. This would be full time charter flight service. With the arrival of Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever as the face of the league the WNBA plans on stepping it up and taking care of it’s players with charter flights that means no more standing in lines at the ticket counter, at security and with other passengers to board a flight. They’ll be treated truly like a professional team.

#4 The frustration of the Denver Nuggets is starting show. The Nuggets who lost the first two games of this second round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Nuggets saw team leader Jamal Murray throw a towel and then a heat pack toward an official and ended up getting fined $100,000 and was lucky he didn’t get suspended for a game. The toss came while live action was taking place with 4:41 was remaining in the second quarter.

#5 On Tuesday the Texas Rangers didn’t hold back scoring ten runs in the top of the second inning against the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum. The Rangers 15-8 win gives them their fourth straight win and the A’s their third straight loss. The Rangers and A’s split both ends of a doubleheader with the A’s taking the front game and

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rangers just get by A’s in night cap 12-11 for split of doubleheader

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Oakland A’s runner Brett Harris (left) dives in safely at second base as the Texas Rangers Josh Smith (right) puts on the tag just a bit too late in the bottom of the sixth inning of the second game of a doubleheader at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed May 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

Texas (21-17). 014 200 032. 12. 16. 1

Athletics (18-21). 022 200 014. 11. 14. 1

Time: 3:33

Attendance: 8,230

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–After halting their losing streak at three in the first game of this lovely sunny day’s double header on Wedensday, the Athletics came up short in the nightcap, falling 12-11 in an action packed melodrama that lasted over three and a half hours,

Both starting pitchers were recently called up right handers. Oakland sent Osvaldo Bido, whose big league experience had consisted of 50-2/3 innings with Pittsburgh, where he went 2-5, 5.86 last year. He threw 57 pitches before he was relieved, leading 2-1, after hitting Josh Smith with a pitch in the top of the third.

That hit batter loaded the bases, and so the runs they eventually scored were charged to the starter, who wound up being the losing pitcher. He gave up a total of four runs, all earned, including the three posthumous ones and notched four strikeouts against two walks, giving him a record of 0-1, 13.50.

The reason for his departure was a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. Michael Kelly (1/3 of an inning, three runs, two earned), TJ McFarland (two innings, two hits), Kyle Muller (three innings, three runs, all earned, on five hits), and the newly promoted Easton Lucas, making his. season’s debut in the ninth (one inning, two runs, earned, on three hits) also pitched for the Athletics.

Jack Leiter, who started for Texas, didn’t have any big league experience before this year and probably regretted the little he had in 2024; his record at game time was 0-0, 17.18. He lasted four frames, in which he gave up six runs, four earned, on seven hits, two of them out of the park, and left with a no decision that improved his record to 0-1, 12.91).

The Rangers sent six more pitchers to the mound. The first of them, Jaob Latz, threw a one hit scoreless fifth, The second, Josh Sborz, gave up a walk to the first batter he faced in the bottom of the sixth, went 3-1 to the sixth, and then left with an undisclosed injury, replaced by David Robertson (two innings, a walk and five Ks).

He was followed by José Leclerc (one inning, one hit, one run–earned–one walk, two strikeouts), Owen White (no outs, three hits, three runs, all earned), and Kirby Yates (one inning, two hits, and a run, which was earned).

The Rangers jumped ahead early with a run in the top of the second on a two out walk to Johnah Heim,and back to back singles by Ezequiel Durán and Davis Wendzel.

In the bottom of the second, Shea Langliers picked up where he had left off in the afternoon’s opener and put the green and gold ahead with , 2-1, with a 454 foot home run to centerfield, his second of the afternoon and ninth of the season.

Seth Brown, who had led off the frame with a single, was on base, giving the A’s DH seven RBI for the day, which tied him with Reggie Jackson for the most runs batted in a double header by an Oakland Athletic, set in 1969. Maybe there should be an asterisk next to his name in the record book due to the toponym.

Michael Kelly replaced Bido after his removal in the top of the third. With Semien, who had singled, and Lowe, who had walked, on base and two away, Heim’s grounder to second just snuck past Toro and into center to drive in Lowe and Semien and send Smith to third. Travis Jankowski brought him home with a single to right, and Texas was on top, 5-2.

But the A’s fought back, scratching out a couple of runs in the bottom of the frame. Toro led off with a scratch single to second. With one out, Rooker lined a single to center that put Toro on second. Seth Brown forced Rooker out at second on a grounder to first.

Umpire Mike Estabrook called Brown safe at first, but Texas challenged that ruling, which stood on review. Langeliers then forced Brown out at second while Rooker scored, giving Langeliers another RBI and putting him ahead of Reggie for the most RBIs for the Athletics in a twin bill. (See above proviso)

The A’s coughed those two runs up in the next inning. TJ McFarland relieved Kelly with Tavares and Semien on base and nobody out. Each of them advanced a bag on Evan Carter’s ground out to first and scored on Nathaniel Lowe’s single to first. It now was 7-4, Texas.

But not for long. Max Schuemann led off the bottom of the fourth with single to center and Tyler Soderstrom, recalled from Las Vegas when the rosters were expanded to 27 for the double header, celebrated by sending an 88.7 mph cutter 421 feet deep into the left centerfield seats at 106.5 6mph. The A’s now trailed by a single run, 7-6.

The A’s came close to drawing even in the bottom of sixth. Robertson delivered a fourth ball to Toro and then retired Bleday and Rooker. He walked Thyler Nevin, who had replaced Brown, bringing up Langeliers, who was having the game of a lifetime. He worked a full count, taking close pitches, and then whiffed on a fastball.

Texas put the game on ice in the eighth with two walks, a double, a stolen base, a throwing error by Sodeerstrom, now catching, and a pair of singles, with an overturned safe call at home thrown in for good measure. All that netted Texas three runs and a lead of 10-6..

Still, the A’s inched closer, picking up a run on a leadoff walk to Harris, a double by Toro, and Bleday’s RBI ground out to first, and it was 10-7.

If Texas put the game on ice in the eighth, they locked it into the deep freezer in the ninth. Lucas allowed them two more runs on three singles and a walk.

Even that wasn’t enough to make it an easy win for the Texans. Singles by Langeliers, JD Davis, Schuemann, and Toro, Bleday’s double, a sac fly by Harris, and a balk combined to bring the A’s within a run of tying it up against Owen White and Kirby Yates. Later pitched to six batters, counting an intentional walk to Rooker, to earn his seventh save. Robertson, now 2-0, 0.87, was the winning pitcher.

The Athletes are off to Seattle, where Paul Blackburn (3-0, 3.00) will face a Seattle pitcher to be announced on Friday evening at 6:40. They return to the empty confines of the Coliseum on Tuesday, May 21 to do battle with the Colorado Rockies.