Giants end 2022 home season with 10 inning win over Diamondbacks 4-3

Arizona (73-86) 3 13 0

San Francisco (80-79) 4 6 1 10 innings

Sunday, October 2, 2022

San Francisco Giants David Villar (middle) gets congratulated by teammates JD Davis (7) and Mike Yastrzemski (5) after getting a tenth inning walk off two RBI single against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Oct 2, 2022 (@SFGiants photo)

By Lewis Rubman

At first, it was a novelty. Then it was a rarity. Now, for the second day in a row, the Giants played a bullpen game. Yesterday’s wasn’t successful, although opener Scott Alexander handled his five man chore perfectly. It was nominal reliever Jakob Junis and bullpen denizen Jarlín García who opened the floodgates to enable the Diamondbacks deathly offense.

For today, the Giants again chose Alexander to open. Being eliminated from the playoffs means you play spring training games in the fall, so there was nothing to do but relax and enjoy the show.

And what a show it was! The Giants ended up on top of a 4-3 thriller in which they were they got less than half the amount of hit as the visiting snakes. Alexander got through his inning scorelessly but not before giving up a pair of singles. Thomas Szapucki ran into a spot of trouble in the third, but he kept Arizona off the board in his two frames on the mound.

Alex Young followed him in the fourth with another shutout frame in the fourth but faltered in the fifth, yielding a pair of two out doubles to Carston Kelly and Jake McCarthy that allowed the Diamondbacks to score their first run. The always exciting and recently more effective submariner Tyler Rogers came in at that point and got Christian Walker to fly out to end the threat.

Rogers allowed a leadoff double to Josh Rojas in the sixth, but The Curse of the Leadoff Double and a pitcher’s best friend allowed him to escape the consequences of that blow and Corbin Carroll’s infield single. Shelby Miller pitched a perfect seventh in his third big league appearance.

Arizona sent Zach Davies (2-5, 4.18 at game time) to the mound as their starter. The Giants jumped on him for a quick lead in the top of the first. With one out, Wilmer Flores and JD Davis walked, and Joc Pederson’s sharp line drive single to center loaded the bases.

Evan Longoria’s sac fly to left brought Flores home. Brandon Crawford drew a base on balls to clog the base paths with Giants. Then, for some reason, maybe because he’s pretty speedy, Thairo Estrada bunted for a base hit. His speed turned out to be irrelevant; Estrada popped out to the mound.

Davis left the game, trailing 1-0 after five, but escaped with a no decision. He threw 91 pitches, 40 of which were balls. The run he allowed was earned, and he also yielded two hits and five walks. He struck out three and brought his ERA down to 4.09.

Lefty Caleb Smith took over for Davis and pitched a perfect sixth, but Austin Slater, pinch hitting for LaMonte Wade, Jr., led off the seventh, leaning into a 90mph four seamer to send it flying 395 feet into the left center field seats and put San Francisco ahead 2-1.

That advantage was short lived. The oft used John Brebbia started the eighth episode for the hosts, and the visitors put good wood on his offerings. Their most telling blows were McCarthy’s lead off single to right and Rojas’s one out line drive double to right that drove him in with the tying tally. Brebbia escaped unscathed after that, and Camilo Doval threw a perfect ninth.

Kevin Ginkel took care of the Giants with no trouble in the eighth, and Marc Melançon did the same to his erstwhile teammates in the ninth.

The teams went into extras with Jharel Cotton on the mound for San Francisco and Daulton Varsho on second base for the club from Phoenix. Carlson Kelly made an inexplicable bunt attempt that didn’t even advance Varsho, who scored when the next batter, McCarthy singled him home with a line drive to right.

Christian Walker hit a single to third that hit Longoria’s hand, but the veteran third sacker stayed in the game. Things looked bleak for the orange and black when the D’back runners pulled off a double steal. But Cotton buckled down and struck out Rojas and retired Pavin Smith on a fly to center. The inning was over, but Arizona now led 3-2.

They sent Taylor Widener to the mound in the Giants’ half of the tenth. Yaz was the zombie runner. Flores walked. JD Davis filled the bases with an infield single. David Villar ended the suspense (and the Giants’ home season) with a first pitch ground ball single to left.

Cotton got the win. He’s now 4-2, 2.76. Widener took the loss. His record now stands at 0-1, 5.11.

The Giants will play out the string in San Diego. Tomorrow’s game will start at 6:40. Joe Musgrove (10-7, 3.03) will be on the hump for the Padres. The San Francisco brain trust hasn’t yet announced their starter (or opener, as the case may be)

Loss to Arizona eliminates Giants from post season in 8-4 final

San Francisco Giants Mike Yastrzemski heads home after getting congratulations from third base coach Mark Wallberg after hitting home run in the bottom of the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Oct 1, 2022 (AP News photo)

Arizona (73-85). 8. 12. 0

San Francisco (79-79). 4. 8. 1

Saturday, October 1, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–It’s October, but today’s 8-4 Giants’ loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks wasn’t an October Classic. On the contrary, it was an exercise in futility.

The Rattlers sent 5’11”, 170 lb. right handed rookie Drey Jameson to face the Giants in his fourth major league start. He was 2-0, 0.98 in those games, and the deepest he’d gone was the seven innings he hurled in his September 15 debut, and the most pitches he’d thrown was 95 five days later when he beat the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine.

This afternoon showed he’s the real thing. He pitched six innings, yielding two runs, both earned, on six hits, one of which went out of the park, and two walks. He struck out seven, throwing 98 pitche, 65 for strikes, on the way to his third win. His ERA rose to a still better than respectable 1.48.

For the Giants, it was a bullpen game, with 0-0, 1.20 southpaw Scott Alexander as opener for the third time this season. He hung around for an inning and a third, not allowing a hit but having to face four batters because of an error behind him by Thairo Estrada at short.

Jakob Junis took over with no one on and one down in the top of the second and pitched decently but not much better than that.

San Francisco opened the scoring in the bottom of the third. Joey Bart drew a one out, full count walk and moved on to second on what sounded like a broken bat single to center by Joc Pederson. LaMonte Wade, Jr., hard grounder to first took a bad bounce and went for an infield single to fill the bases with Giants.

Estrada grounded to Buddy Kennedy at third, who threw to Josh Rojas at second for the force on Wade, but Estrada beat out the relay to first, driving in Bart with the first run of the game.

They don’t call it Triples Alley for nothing. Christian Walker demonstrated that by walloping Junis’s first offering against the State Farm advertisement in right center field wall and coasting into third with a three bagger.

Josh Rojas plated him with the tying tally on a sac fly to deep center. After Kennedy went down swinging, Arizona resumed its battering of Junis. Corbin Carroll socked a double to right.

Cooper Hummel got the benefit of a semi-intentional walk, and number nine batter Sergio Alcántara sent a sinking liner to left that a diving Jason Vosler couldn’t corral. That brought Carroll and Hummel in with the runs that put the Diamondbacks ahead 3-1.

It was Junis’s fielding rather than his pitching that kept Arizona off the board in the fifth. With runners on the corners and one away, he grabbed Jake McCarthy’s bouncer to the mound and chased Jordan Luplow back to third, tagging him out before closing the frame.

Carroll opened the sixth with a reprise of Alcántara’s double in fourth. But, between Junis’s skill and The Curse of the Leadoff Double, the score remained 3-1.

JD Davis narrowed the gap with two down and the bases empty in the sixth by sending Jameson’s first pitch to him, a 96mph four seamer, into the netting under the batter’s eye, 436 feet deep into centerfield. It was his 12th home run of the year.

The Giants still trailed 3-2 when, after Luplow led off the top of the seventh with a nubber to third that went for a single, Jarlín García relieved Junis, who had gone 4-2/3 innings and allowed three runs and soon would be charged with a posthumous fourth tally, all earned, on eight hits and two walks He threw 83 pitches, 55 for strikes and two walks. He would be charged with his seventh loss of the year against five wins while his ERA rose to 4.42.

The bottom fell out for the Giants with García on the mound. Luplow scored on McCarthy’s single to left. A double by Walker, a single by Rojas, a walk to Kennedy, a sac fly by Hummel, and Alcántara’s double made the score 8-2 in favor of the visitors, who had batted around as they battered their hosts.

Kevin Ginkel took over for Jameson after his long rest on the bench while his teammates took care of business.

Needless to say, García didn’t come out to pitch the eighth. That task fell to Junior Marte, who set the side down in order. Except for a leadoff walk, he did the same in the top of the ninth.

One time Giant Mark Melançon got his first two men out in the eighth, but the 90mph cut fastball he threw to Yaz touched down in McCovey Cove to cut the Rattlers’ lead to five runs. That made 17 homers and. 55 RBIs for Yastrzemski’s disappointing season.

Reyes Moronta pitched a sloppy bottom of the ninth, in which he allowed a run on a single to Austin Slater, who advanced to second on defensive indifference and to third on a wild pitch before Ford Proctor drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left, giving the Giants a small fig leaf as they scored their fourth run against Arizona’s eight.

With this loss, the orange and black were mathematically eliminated from postseason competition.

The Giants close their home season tomorrow afternoon at 1:05. Arizona will send Zach Davies (2-5, 4.18) to the mound. San Francisco’s starter is yet to be named

Big first inning sparks Giants to 10-4 win over Snakes

San Francisco Giants Evan Longoria (10) gets a warm welcome from teammate Mike Yastrzemski after slugging an two run homer in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Fri Sep 30, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Friday, September 30, 2022

San Francisco batted around in the first inning and didn’t let up in the Giants’ 10-4 win over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks Friday at Oracle Park.

The fifth straight win for the Giants kept their slim playoff hopes alive for at least one more day. A win by either Milwaukee or Philadelphia in the next two days will eliminate San Francisco from contention for a National League Wild Card berth.

The Giants hit four home runs in the contest, along with a Little League homer by Joc Pederson in the second inning. Evan Longoria hit a three-run home run in the first inning and added a two-run shot in the second. It was Longoria’s 21st multi-home run game of his career.

Christian Walker’s RBI single in the top of the first put the Diamondbacks up 1-0, but the Giants sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs. The rally started when Pederson led off with a walk and scored on Mike Yastrzemski’s double to right.

In the Giants’ second, Pederson hit a high fly ball to right, where it caromed off the wall and rolled toward centerfield. Arizona second baseman Josh Rojas chased the ball down, but his throw eluded shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and Pederson kept running and scored on what was ruled a triple and an error.

Arizona cut the Giants lead to 7-3 in the top of the fourth on a run-scoring single by Emmanuel Rivera and Perdomo’s sacrifice fly to left. Yastrzemski hit a two-out home run to right in the bottom of the fourth, extending San Francisco’s lead to 8-3.

Rojas’ two-out RBI single in the fifth pulled the Diamondbacks to within 8-4. San Francisco scored two more runs in the sixth on a solo home run by Austin Wynns and a sacrifice fly by Wilmer Flores.

Yastrzemski, Longoria, Pederson and Wynns each had two hits in the Giants’ 12-hit attack.

Giants starter Alex Cobb (7-7) struck out five and issued one walk in five innings. He also lowered his ERA to 3.79.

Longtime Giants nemesis Merrill Kelly (13-8) took the loss.

The Giants and D-Backs meet Saturday afternoon. Probable starters were yet to be announced.

Longoria pinch-single sparks Giants to 3-2 win over Diamondbacks

San Francisco Giants third base coach Mark Hallberg, left, congratulates Ford Proctor, right, after Proctor picked up his first Major League hit at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the seventh inning on Sun Sep 25, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Sunday, September 25, 2022

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Even with their postseason hopes all but fading, the San Francisco Giants put together a solid weekend in the Valley of the Sun, taking two of three games from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Evan Longoria’s pinch-hit single in the top of the eighth inning provided the go-ahead runs in the Giants’ 3-2 win Sunday.

The Giants have won six of their last seven games, and need to go 6-3 over their final nine games to reach .500.

“’I’m proud of the way the guys have prepared throughout this road trip,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “When you get towards the end of the year, it’s been a long season, and a lot of the guys are tired. But the preparation has been excellent, These guys are getting ready for games in the right way with a lot of good game-planning going on.

“We just want to see improvement through these stretches. It’s been a positive road trip in that regard.”

Longoria added, “Obviously, we need a miracle to make the playoffs, but our message has been pretty consistent throughout this month – we need to play hard and for a lot of guys in this room, there’s a lot to play for in terms of a job next year, contract money, whatever it is.

“We preach to go out there and find something every night, and that usually translates into good games and winning.”

Winning pitcher Jakob Junis (5-6) threw 83 pitches in 5 1/3 innings of a bullpen game for the Giants, giving up one run on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Camilo Doval gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth, but struck out Corbin Carroll for the final out, earning his 26th save.

In the Giants’ eighth, Brandon Crawford singled and Jason Vosler drew a one-out walk; both runners moved up on a passed ball charged to Arizona catcher Cooper Hummel before Austin Wynns walked to load the bases.

After Evan Longoria was announced as a pinch-hitter, D-Backs reliever Reyes Moronta replaced Luis Frias (1-1). Longoria delivered a single to left, driving in Crawford and Vosler with the go-ahead runs.

“We depend on (Longoria) in those big moments,” Kapler said. “He had good swings, he’s got plenty of bat speed left, and he knows what to do in those situations.”

J.D. Davis, who went 4-for-5, added a solo home run into the right-center field swimming pool off Diamondbacks reliever Mark Melancon in the top of the ninth, his 10th of the season, extending the San Francisco lead to 3-1.

“If J.D. doesn’t have the most power on the team, he’s right there with everybody,” Kapler said. “He’s locked in right now. We don’t make too much of the hot-hitter thing, but he came through against a pitcher that was throwing really hard.”

The Diamondbacks cut the San Francisco lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly to right by Pavin Smith, driving in Christian Walker, who led off the inning with a double.

Arizona threatened in the eighth when, with two out, Ketel Marte singled and Daulton Varsho walked. After Marte and Varsho advanced on a double-steal, Stone Garrett grounded out to second.

The Diamondbacks pushed a run across in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. Sergio Alcantara hit into a fielder’s choice and scored from first on Smith’s double to right.

San Francisco loaded the bases with two out in the top of the seventh, but came up empty. Ford Proctor and Thairo Estrada singled and Mike Yastrzemski drew a walk, prompting the Diamondbacks to replace Kevin Ginkel on the mound with Frias. Davis lined out to Alcantara at shortstop to end the threat.

Proctor’s single was his first major league hit.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Proctor said. “That’s a moment you always dream of. I just wanted to see a bunch of pitches to help me settle in, and just remember that it’s the same game, to step back and breathe a little bit.

“I had my family there, I’m very thankful for them, and so blessed that they could make it out.”

“One of the tougher decisions of the day is whether to start Proctor or Longoria,” Kapler said. “You want to give Proctor a chance to get his first major league hit and contribute like he did today.”

San Francisco opener Scott Alexander gave up one hit in a scoreless first inning. Jarlin Garcia worked 1 2/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts, followed by Junis and Doval.

Arizona starter Drey Jameson scattered five hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and three walks and a hit batter.

The Giants won despite stranding 12 baserunners.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: After taking Monday off, the Giants return home for a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies starting on Tuesday. RHP Logan Webb (14-9, 2.93) will start the first game and Carlos Rodón (13-8, 2.98) is slated to start the third game. Wednesday’s starter has yet to be determined. … Announced attendance for the D-Backs’ final home game of the season was 25,389.

Big fourth inning sparks Diamondbacks to 5-3 win over Giants

The Arizona Diamondbacks Daulton Varsho (12) signals safe and San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart (right) holds the ball up to show umpire in the bottom of the fourth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Sat Sep 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, September 24, 2022

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Arizona batted around in the fourth inning, an outburst that provided the Diamondbacks and starting pitcher Merrill Kelly with all the offense they needed to defeat San Francisco 5-3 Saturday.

The loss snapped a five-game Giants winning streak.

Kelly (13-7) continued his mastery over the Giants, giving up two earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six. Reyes Moronta struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to get his second save.

The Diamondbacks tallied five times while sending nine hitters to the plate in the fourth. Pavin Smith and Daulton Varsho led off the inning with back-to-back singles off Alex Cobb (6-7), and Christian Walker followed with an RBI single, driving in Smith.

A one-out walk to Josh Rojas loaded the bases, then Alek Thomas hit into a fielder’s choice to first. Wilmer Flores threw home, but his throw pulled the catcher, Joey Bart, off the plate, allowing Varsho to score, and the bases remained loaded. Carson Kelly’s sacrifice fly to center drove in Walker, and Geraldo Perdomo singled to right, driving in Rojas and Thomas.

“Two things – did Wilmer actually get the bag with his foot, and unless you get that close-up angle, it was pretty difficult to tell,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “The second thing – I think Joey thought he still had his foot on the plate. Then he had to reach for the ball and that pulled him off the plate. I think all of that happened really fast.

“Maybe Wilmer thought he grazed the bag and thought he could get two outs. I don’t think anybody is at fault. I think it was a very tricky play that didn’t turn out in our favor.”

Mike Yastrzemski led off the Giants sixth with a 413-foot home run to right, his 15th of the season, cutting the San Francisco deficit to 5-2. Yastrzemski, who was 2-for-3, also had a double in the first inning.

The Giants scored first on an RBI single by Jason Vosler in the fourth, driving in Brandon Crawford, who reached on a two-out single.

Cobb threw 93 pitches in five innings, giving up all five Diamondback runs on five hits. He struck out three and walked two.

The weekend series concludes on Sunday afternoon. Drew Jameson (2-1, 1.38) starts for the Diamondbacks, while San Francisco has yet to announce a starter, and could opt for a bullpen game.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: LHP Thomas Szapucki left Saturday’s game with left hip tightness. Kapler said the decision to pull Szapucki was a precautionary measure. … San Francisco made a number of roster moves prior to Saturday’s game – OF Luis Gonzalez was placed on the 10-day injured list (lower back strain), INF-C Ford Proctor was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, and OF Lewis Brinson cleared waivers and was outrighted to the River Cats. … Proctor became the 65th player used by the Giants this season, setting a franchise record in that category. … Announced attendance on Saturday at Chase Field was 24,504. The outside temperature at game time was 102 degrees. Time of the game was 2:37.

Miller shines in return to the majors, helps Giants to 6-5 win over Snakes

The San Francisco Giants David Villar (right) gets a forearm bash from teammate Austin Wynns (left) after hitting a two run homer against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Fri Sep 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Friday, September 23, 2022

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Because of the way scoring works in baseball, Shelby Miller didn’t get the win on Friday night in San Francisco’s 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The well-traveled, 31-year-old Miller was just happy for another shot at the major leagues after the Giants selected his contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

“It’s crazy to be back,” Miller said. “And it’s good that it was here in Arizona, where I live, so it’s nice to be back, for sure.”

Miller struck out seven of the 12 Arizona batters he faced in 2 2/3 scoreless innings before he was pulled after giving up a two-out double to Ketel Marte in the eighth. Alex Young (1-1) retired pinch-hitter Daulton Varsho to end the threat. Young was the pitcher of record when the Giants took the lead for good.

“Things went better than I hoped they would,” Miller said. “I felt like I commanded my fastball really well and got ahead of guys. My slider was working; just commanding everything and having the hitters on their heels a little bit.

“That was the plan, to get ahead of these guys and have some success.”

I know the season’s coming to an end, and however I can contribute to this team, I’ll try to help. I don’t know if this will benefit me for next year, but I’ll do the best I can and we’ll see what happens.”

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Miller’s stuff “looked great,” adding, “I’ve seen Shelby have success in the past and it was nice to see him come through like that. He’s been waiting a long time for this opportunity. He came into this game and gave us exactly what we were looking for – he delivered strikes, he worked fast and forced the action.”

The Giants have won five straight games and nine of their last 13. San Francisco manufactured the eventual winning run in the top of the ninth inning.

After Mike Yastrzemski rapped a two-out single, Evan Longoria reached on a fielder’s choice, moving Yastrzemski to third on an error by Diamondbacks third baseman Sergio Alcantara. J.D. Davis followed with a double to left off Caleb Smith (1-3), driving in Yastrzemski with Longoria thrown out at the plate.

In the D-Backs ninth, San Francisco closer Camilo Doval retired Pavin Smith on a groundout and struck out Christian Walker before pinch-hitter Juan Rojas singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Pinch-hitter Alex Thomas grounded out to first baseman Davis to wrap up his 25th save.

“Camilo threw a slider at 101, and a sinker at 95 or 96. That’s quite a fluctuation,” Kapler said. “When Camilo introduced the sinker, it changed his arsenal entirely. At one point, the league was sitting on his four-seamer and slider combo. Lefties were giving him a hard time. Since the sinker came out, it’s been a whole different ballgame.”

San Francisco threatened in the seventh against Diamondbacks reliever

Luis Frias when pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. walked, Longoria reached on a two-out single and Davis walked to load the bases. But Frias struck out Brandon Crawford to end the rally.

Giants’ starter Carlos Rodón, pitching on eight days rest to allow a blister on his left hand to heal, left after throwing 93 pitches in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three while giving up four earned runs on four hits.

Kapler said it was “very difficult” to pull Rodón in the fifth inning. “It was difficult because we’ve seen him work out of jams like that in the past. So this was very much a what’s better for Carlos and his future decision. Unfortunately, as difficult as that was, it maybe wasn’t an ideal decision for us as a club.

“If it was the middle of the season, we might have let Carlos throw another 10 or 15 pitches. We felt pretty good about bringing in (Yunior) Marte in that situation. That was a decision, right or wrong, that I felt was best for his future.”

A two-out solo home run by Crawford, his ninth of the season, put San Francisco up 1-0 in the second inning. Austin Wynns hit the first pitch he saw from Diamondbacks starter Tommy Henry and parked it in the left field seats to lead off the third, giving the Giants a 2-0 lead.

Arizona tied the game at 2-2 on Stone Garrett’s fourth home run, a two-run shot with two out in the bottom of the third. After Rodón walked Ketel Marte, Garrett drove a fastball up in the zone to left-center and out of the reach of leftfielder Luis Gonzalez.

San Francisco regained the lead at 4-2 on two-run home run by Austin Wynns in the top of the fourth. Longoria led off the inning with a base hit and was thrown out at second after a shallow fly ball to right, allowing Davis to reach on a fielder’s choice. After Crawford struck out, Wynns homered to left, his second of the season.

The Giants extended their lead to 5-2 on Evan Longoria’s RBI single to left. With two out, Wilmer Flores, who walked and was sacrificed to second by Yastrzemski, scored on Longoria’s sharp grounder down the left field line.

That was the end of the night for Henry, who gave up five earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.

On Saturday, the Giants’ Alex Cobb (6-6, 3.48) faces Arizona’s Merrill Kelly (12-7, 3.15) in a battle of right-handers. Game time is 5:10 p.m.

GIANTS JOTTINGS: LHP Carlos Rodón has a chance to be the sixth Giants pitcher to lead the National League in strikeouts. Rodón is second in the NL with 227 strikeouts, trailing Milwaukee’s Corbin Burns, who has 228 after Friday’s games. Tim Lincecum is the only San Francisco Giant to lead the NL in strikeouts (2006, 2009, 2010). … When RHP Shelby Miller appeared in the sixth inning, he became the 64th player used by the Giants this season. That matches a team record set in 2019. The Cubs, Angels and Pirates have also used 64 players this season; the leader is Cincinnati with 66. … Attendance at Chase Field for the 3-hour, 37-minute game was 25,949.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Daniel Dullum: Webb suffers sixth loss for Giants; SF drops to .500 at 59-59

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb gets lifted by Giants manager Gabe Kapler in the top of the fifth at Oracle Park in San Francisco while pitching against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thu Aug 18, 2022 (AP news photo)

On the Giants podcast with Daniel:

#1 There was little doubt that Arizona Diamondbacks (55-63) pitcher Zac Gallen had good control of the San Francisco Giants (59-59) line up on Thursday afternoon at Oracle Park.

#2 Gallen who shut the Giants out 5-0 pitched 7.1 innings striking out 12 batters, didn’t walk a batter and gave up just four hits.

#3 Gallen’s numbers are impressive he improved his record to 9-2. He’s on a Sandy Koufax type track throwing 21.1 innings of shutout ball. 

#4 The Giants signed a free agent pitcher Andrew Vasquez on Thursday how effective will he be in helping the rotation?

#5 The Giants open up a three game series in Colorado at Coors Field on Friday night at 5:40 pm PDT. Starting pitcher for the Giants Alex Wood (8-9, 4.18) he’ll be opposed by the Rockies Jose Urena (1-4, 4.80).

Catch Daniel for the Giants podcasts Thursday nights at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Crawford belts two run blast in ninth for Giants 2-1 walk off over D-Backs at Oracle

San Francisco Giants Brandon Crawford (35) blasts a two run home run in the bottom of the ninth to walk off a Giant win at Oracle Park in San Francisco against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tue Aug 16, 2022 (AP News photo)

Arizona (53-63). 1. 5. 0

San Francisco (59-57). 2. 7. 0

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

SAN FRANCISCO–It’s encouraging that the Giants came to work this evening on a roll. Since being swept by the Dodgers a dozen games ago, San Francisco has gone 7-2 and were on the verge of a five game winning streak and had, at long last, clawed their way over .500, at 58-57.

Of course, those seven wins were against the A’s, Pirates, and Diamondbacks, none of which is an awe inspiring opponent. Tonight’s starting pitcher for Arizona, however, was a prophylactic against over confidence. The Giants Brandon Crawford hit a walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to help get the Giants a one run win at Oracle Park on Tuesday night.

Merrill Kelly, the Rattlers’ 33 year old righty who honed his skills in the Korean Baseball Organization, showed up with a 10-5, 2.93 mark for the MLB season. More pertinent to his start against the Giants tonight was his 2-0, 1.69 record against the orange and black, whom he had held to a batting average of .139.

On July 25, in his last start against San Francisco, he shut them out over eight innings, allowing only 3 hits and no walks, striking out seven. Like the Giants, Kelly was going for a five game winning streak.

The Giants’ answer to Kelly was Jakob Junis, whose unprepossessing record of 4-3, 3.78 when he toed the rubber at 6:45 inspired neither great expectations nor fear and trembling. His career record against the Diamondbacks also was ambiguous 2-2, 2.61 in a scant 10-1/3 innings of work.

In his only appearance against Arizona this year, he lasted 4-1/3 innings, giving up a run, earned, on three hits and a walk, while striking out a pair of Diamondbacks. That was the game in which Kelly stymied the San Francisco bats over eight frames.

It was a battle between these two hurlers that we witnessed, at least until Alex Young relieved Junis after the starter had treated the 20,897 fans in attendance to a splendid performance.

The Giants eventually won 2-1 in a contest that featured superb pitching by both starters and, with one notable exception, both bullpens.

For San Francisco, Junis went seven innings of excellent ball. His 101 pitches, 72 of them strikes, limited the visitors to a single run, on four hits, one of which left the park. He didn’t walk anyone but did hit one batter. He notched seven strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 3.53. He got a no decision.

Kelly also went seven frames. He held the Giants scoreless on four hits, two of them doubles, and two free passes.He struck out seven Giants and threw 93 pitches, 61 of which were strikes. He, too, got. a no decision, lowering his ERA to 2,81.

Joc Pederson banged a two bagger off the Bank of America sign just to the left of the 399 marker in center field to open the Giants’ half of the first. Brandon Belt was up next, and he drew a walk. Wilmer Flores followed him by flying out to center, bringing the cleanup hitter, Evan Longoria, to the plate. He hit into a tailor made 6-4-3 twin killing. The Curse of the Leadoff Double strikes again!

Neither team crossed the plate in the first three innings. That changed in the top of the fourth when Chrilstian Walker led off by lifting a 2-1 slider 397 feet into the left field bleachers, over the spot where the GAME UP sign meets the one for National Car Rental to the right of the 354 foot marker. It was the 29th round tripper and 69th run batted in of the year for the Diamondbacks’ first sacker.

The Giants responded with a one out double to the right field corner by Belt. Once more Longoria had a man on second with one out, only this time there was no one else on board. Kelly struck him out swinging on a lovely change of pace. After Kelly and Yastrzemski battled each other to a 3-2, Kelly fanned Yaz on another changeup, stranding Belt and leaving the home team behind 1-0 after four.

With the score still 1-0 Longoria led off the seventh with a double to left that fell safely to the ground in spite of a diving effort by McCarthy. Longoria stayed on second when Mike Yastrzemski flew out to medium deep right center for the first out.

Estrada dropped a bunt that moved Longoria to third. The rule book instructs scorers to assume that a bunt that advances a runner is a sacrifice, but common sense (which often is in conflict with the rules of major league baseball) says that he had to be bunting for a hit.

Crawford drew a walk. Now there were runners on the corners with two down and Joey Bart, hitting .314 since his return from Sacramento, at bat. The count reached 2-2 before he skyed out to right.

Alex Young took over on the mound and pitched a perfect eighth for the Giants. Another southpaw, Joe Mantiply, relieved Kelly in the bottom of the frame. He struck out pinch hitters Austin Slater and JD Davis, but yielded a two out double to Flores. Then he fanned Belt when the Giants’ first baseman couldn’t check his swing on a 1-2 change up.

It was John Brebbia on the hill for San Francisco, trying to keep the Giants in striking range of the Diamondbacks. To do that, he had to get through the heart of the Arizona order, Rojas, Walker, and McCarthy.

The first of the trio singled to left. Brebbia fanned the second. McCarthy forced Rojas at second but beat out Crawford’s throw to first. Alek Thomas went down swinging, and the Giants had one last chance at bat.

They faced Ian Kennedy, who had converted eight of his 11 save opportunities. Longoria popped out to short. Yastrzemski sent Thomas to the 399 foot sign in center field. Thomas leaped. And came down with the ball in his glove for the second out.

Now Thairo Estrada, the hero of Sunday’s come from behind walk off victory, had a chance for an encore. He sent a 2-2 93 mph four seamer deep into right and legged out a triple. That put Crawford in the batter’s box. He swung and missed on Kennedy’s first pitch. He swung and connected on Kennedy’s second offering. The ball cleared the center field fence, it having travelled 406 feet.

The Giants won, 2-1.

Brebbia (6-1) got the win; Kennedy (4-6), the loss.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Tomorrow’s 6:45 matchup between Zach Davies (2-4, 4.11) and Carlos Rodón (11-6, 2.95) promises more thrills and chills.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Will Rodon be on the trade deadline list?; Teams rumored to be interested

San Francisco Giants starter Carlos Rodon says he would like to remain in San Francisco but other teams more than likely will come calling before the trade deadline (AP News file photo)

On the SF Giants podcast with Marko:

#1 The San Francisco are coming off a seven game losing streak an ugly road trip that saw them lose the entire trip something they haven’t done since 1985.

#2 Amongst the trouble on the trip pitcher Carlos Rodin became the talk of town after giving up the homers, kicking a bat into Thairo Estrada leg on Tuesday night.

#3 Rodin could be a rental and some say after Tuesday’s temper tantrum he could be out at the deadline.

#4 Manager Gabe Kapler said there’s a lot to deal with including the lack of Giant offense the Giants who have scored only six runs during the three game visit in Arizona.

#5 Cubs and Giants do battle for the Cubs Justin Steele (4-6, ERA 4.02) and for the Giants Alex Wood (6-8, ERA 4.21) how do you see this match up?

Marko Ukalovic filled in for Daniel Dullum for the San Francisco Giants podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Snakes beat San Francisco 5-3, Giants losing streak extended to seven

All the San Francisco Giants catcher Austin Wynns can do is watch the Arizona Diamondbacks Jake McCarthy slide as the throw never arrives on a costly error in the bottom of the seventh inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Jul 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

PHOENIX, Ariz. – A three-run rally in the seventh inning sparked Arizona to a 5-3 win over San Francisco, completing a sweep of the three-game series at Chase Field.

The loss was the seventh in a row for the Giants, winless since the All-Star break. It’s the first time San Francisco had an 0-7 road trip since 1985. The Giants fell to 48-50, three games behind in the NL Wild Card race.

The Diamondbacks broke a 2-2 deadlock in the bottom of the seventh. After Jake McCarthy reached on an infield single and Sergio Alcantara singled, Jose Herrera hit into a fielder’s choice to first, driving in McCarthy. Alcantara took third on the play and scored on Brandon Belt’s throwing error.

Sam Long replaced Giants starter Logan Webb (9-4), then surrendered a 410-foot home run to Josh Rojas, his sixth of the season.

San Francisco cut its deficit to 5-3 on an RBI single by Belt in the eighth. The Giants threatened in the top of the ninth when Thairo Estrada singled and Yermin Mercedes drew a walk with one out, but Diamondbacks closer Mark Melancon retired Austin Wynns on a fly to right and struck out Tommy La Stella to earn his 14th save.

Noe Ramirez (3-3), the third of five Arizona pitchers, got the win. Rojas, Ketel Marte and David Peralta each collected two hits.

Webb gave up four of Arizona’s five runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings, with one walk and five strikeouts. Estrada was 3-for-4 with a run batted in.

Marte opened the scoring for Arizona in the bottom of the first with a two-out solo home run to right, his 10th of the season.

The Giants took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. Wilmer Flores hit a ground-rule double to right, moved to third on a wild pitch by Arizona starter Zac Gallen, who issued a two-out walk to Luis Gonzalez. Estrada drove in Flores with a base hit, and Gonzalez scored when Diamondbacks shortstop Alcantara committed a throwing error on the play.

The Giants return home for a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs. Thursday’s pitching matchup is a pair of lefthanders – Alex Wood (6-8, 4.21) for San Francisco against the Cubs’ Justin Steele (4-6, 4.02). San Francisco’s probables for the rest of the series are Alex Cobb, Jakob Junis and Carlos Rodon.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Giants P Carlos Rodon apologized for his bat-kicking incident during Tuesday’s 7-3 loss to Arizona. A frustrated Rodon kicked the bat and it hit teammate Thairo Estrada on his right knee during the fifth inning. … Druw Jones, the Diamondbacks’ 18-year-old No. 2-overall selection in this year’s draft, sustained a shoulder injury during a practice session. The extent of Jones’ injury was not disclosed, but the team said what’s left of his season is over. The Diamondbacks’ medical staff did not disclose the results of an MRI, but didn’t rule out possible surgery. Jones had reportedly agreed to an $8.19 million signing bonus. … Wednesday’s getaway day attendance was 17,043.