San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca and Daniel Dullum: If Smith and Bumgarner go, so will any chance for a wild card go for SF

Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

On the Giants podcast with Michael and Daniel:

#1 The Giants are 5 1/2 games out from a wild card spot as the second half starts tonight. Critics says forget those odds, the team hasn’t had enough offense to get back. What does Michael say to those critics?

#2 If the Giants are sellers and unload starter Madison Bumgarner and closer Will Smith, that would pretty much crush any chance the team has at the postseason.

#3 Buster Posey has — like last season — been off limits for any trade deals and most likely that will be the case this July too. Posey has had several concussions and his hitting has been below where it normally is at this time of year. How much does Posey’s past injuries play even though he’s untouchable?

#4 If the Giants deal Bumgarner and Smith, how much will their departures impact the Giants for years to come?

#5 The Giants open up a three-game series in Milwaukee tonight and a six-game road trip. Milwaukee has always been a tough customer. The Giants will be starting Shaun Anderson (3-2, 4.23 ERA), and for the Brewers, Chase Anderson (4-2, 4.32 ERA).

Michael Duca and Daniel Dullum does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Brewers sweep the two-game series, A’s lose fifth in a row

by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: The Milwaukee Brewers Scooter Gennett connects for a single bringing in two runners in the fourth against the Oakland A’s at Miller Park on Wednesday

The Oakland A’s lost their fifth straight game Wednesday night as the Milwaukee Brewers, behind the strong effort of righty Chase Anderson, downed the Green and Gold 4-0. The A’s starter Jesse Hahn, looking to rebound after an absolute horrendous outing last Friday night in Houston, failed again. Hahn pitched just three and two-thirds innings and allowed four runs and seven hits. Hahn’s record for the season is now 2-4 and his spot in the rotation may be in jeopardy. The A’s are now nine games under .500 and have a season record of 25-34.

The story of the night was the pitching of Chase Anderson. For the second night in a row, the A’s were held hitless until deep in the game. The A’s finally got a hit in the sixth when Jake Smolinski beat the shift and reached on a single that barely made out of the infield.The A’s managed two more hits but the were shutout for the second time this year.

The Brewers took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Brewers’ shortstop, Jonathan Villar, led off the inning with a single.  With Scooter Gennett at bat, Villar stole second. It was Villar’s twenty-second steal of the year and he leads the Majors in that department. Gennett singled to left to drive in Villar who was running on the play. Hahn got Ryan Braun to hit into a double play and then retired Jonathan Lucroy to end the inning.

The Brewers added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.Kirk Nieuwenhuis led off the inning with a single. Hahn walked Ramon Flores to put men on at first and second with no out.The pitcher, Chase Anderson laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. The A’s walked Jonathan Villar to load the bases. Scooter Gennett singled to drive in two more runs for the Brewers.Gennett drove in three of the four runs scored by Milwaukee.  Brewers lead 4-0 after fours

There was no more scoring in the game for either team. The A’s bullpen did a great job keeping the Brewers scoreless. Anderson left the game in the seventh. He pitched six and two-thirds innings and allowed just two hits and no runs. He threw 93 pitches in his winning effort. His record improved to 4-6.

Time of game was two hours and forty-four minutes and the game was watched by 18,188 fans. The A’s have on off-day Thursday and resume play Friday evening in Cincinnati.