Giants bash up on the Phillies 11-2 in the rubber match, take series

San Francisco Giants slugger Wilmer Flores hits a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies it was one of two home runs for Flores in the contest on Sun Jun 20, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants belted four more homers and Sammy Long made the most of of his first career start as they crushed the Philadelphia Phillies 11-2 on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.

The Giants won the three-game series, finishing 6-1 on their seven-game homestand and have won five of its last six games. The Phillies have lost four of their past six games.

Sammy Long (1-0) made his first start of his professional career after his first two appearances came in after an opener had started the game.

“I thought in the second inning he made a great adjustment and started throwing more strikes,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler on Long. “As the game went on he started to feature his curve ball more. His stuff continued to stay strong throughout the outing and I felt good about letting him go a little deeper in the game today.”

Long was brilliant over six innings, giving up only four hits while striking out six with just one walk to earn his first major league win. Long had a strong cheering section of family and friends sitting in the lower box area. His only mistake was a fastball up in the zone that JT Realmuto hit for a two run homer in the third inning.

“Having them there adds a little bit more of emotion,” said Long on his strong family support in the stands. “I try to keep that under wraps but I feel them there. I feel the energy that they bring. It’s a special deal being so close to home and do it in front of them.”

The Giants (46-26) busted out the lumber as they have been all season long. Their four home runs of the day improved their total to a Nation League leading 107. They are tied for the major league lead with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Willmar Flores went 4-4 with two solo home runs and has six on the season. His 22 RBI on the season has him tied for fifth on the Giants along with Alex Dickerson. He extended huis hitting steak to nine games.

“I think he’s (Flores) a great offensive player. His process has been excellent. He’s always prepared whether he’s starting a game of coming off the bench. We’ll expect that from him going forward as well,” Kapler said.

Mike Yastrzemski gave the Giants an early lead in the first inning with his ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot into the arcade in right field off Phillies (34-35) starter Zach Eflin. He scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning.

Brandon Crawford continues his hitting terror and being the best hitter in the Giants lineup. He hit his team leading 16th home run of the season in the third inning, a two-run shot to centerfield, that gave the Giants a 5-2 lead at the time. He barley missed his second home run of the game in the eighth inning when he long drive to centerfield bounced off the top of the wall back into the field of play. His 2-4 afternoon with four RBI, gave him 47 on the season, which also leads the Giants.

“I’m trying to put a good swing on the ball every at bat to help out team win, not necessarily get All-Star votes,” said Crawford regarding if his recent success is helping him get more votes by the fans for the mid-summer classic.

Steven Duggar added an RBI double in the sixth inning.

Elfin (2-6) went five innings giving up seven runs (six earned) on nine hits, striking out six and walking none in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: Right handed pitcher John Brebbia was returned from his rehab assignment and reinstated from the 60-day injured list prior to today’s game. Left handed pitcher Connor Menez was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento following yesterday’s game and right handed pitcher Aaron Sanchez was transferred to the 60-day IL.

San Francisco have not lost consecutive days at Oracle Park since May 21-23 when they were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Giants are now 20-6 this season following a loss.

The announced attendance was 18,265. This was the last home game that had a limit of 50% capacity. The ballpark will be at 100% capacity when the Giants host the Oakland A’s for a three-game series starting on June 25th.

UP NEXT: The Giants travel down south to take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Tuesday at 6:35pm at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The pitching matchup with be Anthony DeSclafani vs Andrew Heaney.

Rhys Hoskins uses career-high six RBIs to bring home Phillies win 13-6

Philadelphia Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins, second from right, gets a three run home run in the seventh inning scoring ahead of Hoskins Ronald Torreyes, left, and Luke Williams, second from left at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Jun 19, 2021 (AP News photo)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ June 19, 2021

~ Philadelphia’s Hoskins, a native Californian, had two home runs in a 13-6 rout, halting what would have been the San Francisco Giants’ longest winning streak of the season. 

On the day of Juneteenth, now officially recognized as a federal holiday, the host team Giants paid homage by donning uniforms like the San Francisco Sea Lions wore, playing in the West Coast Negro Baseball Association. 

The scoring began right away with both teams trading off equal amounts of runs once San Francisco got on the board, until the bottom of the third.

Two was not Giants’ starting pitcher Alex Wood’s number to start off the game. After a strikeout took him to two outs, he intentionally walked Bryce Harper and a wild pitch moved runners to second and third. With two strike counts, Wood then unintentionally walked Andrew McCutchen to load the bases and hit rookie Alec Bohm to put a number on the scoreboard. The first marked an over 30 pitch count for Wood.  

San Francisco replied with run support as LaMonte Wade also led off with a single and Mike Yastrzemski followed with a home run to take the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first. 

To start the second, Wood got two outs but then Odubel Herrera reached base due to a throwing error by second baseman Donovan Solano. Teammate Hoskins took advantage as he sent the ball soaring for his first home run as the Phillies’ retook the lead. 

Both teams used two-run doubles and RBI singles to put together three-run innings in the bottom of the second and top of the third. 

The Giants’ Brandon Belt sent a baseball splashing into McCovey Cove to mark the game’s first tie. This inning also initiated the first of both starters’ exits and ensuing zeroes on the scoreboard. Ranger Suarez came in for Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola after he walked Solano on 10 pitches.  

Despite protests by Wood, Dominic Leone entered the game in relief to begin the fourth.

The multiple-inning tie remained until the Phillies’ Ronald Torreyes broke it in the sixth with a solo home run. Hoskins made it 8-6 with a RBI double. 

Philadelphia scored their most runs in an inning in the seventh with four. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. After a mound visit with pitcher Conner Menez, he was able to get two outs with one runner scoring on a sacrifice fly. Hoskins then fully cleared the bases with a three-run home run to double his teams’ lead over San Francisco to 12-6. 

In the top of the eighth, a 2-1 count marked Harper’s helmet being nicked by Menez’s throw, as it flew off Harper’s head. Harper remained at home plate.

The bottom of the eighth saw a delay due to the pitching mound being repacked for Phillies’ pitcher Archie Bradley. 

Against Philadelphia’s five relief pitchers, the Giants’ hitters struck out seven times and were held to two hits.

Up Next: San Francisco looks to rebound and decide the series on Father’s Day tomorrow Sunday at 1:05pm. 

Cueto’s strong start lead Giants past Phillies 5-3

San Francisco pitcher Johnny Cueto delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies line up in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Jun 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN FRANCISCO—Johnny Cuteo is starting look like his old self.

The veteran right handed pitcher made an impressive start, pitching six solid innings as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 in the opening game a three-game series on Friday evening at Oracle Park.

The Giants have five games in a row and have baseball’s best record at 45-25. They are 20 games over .500 for the first time this season. The Phillies dropped a game under .500 with the loss and sit four and half games behind the New York Mets in second place in the NL East.

It wasn’t exactly how Cuteto wanted to begin the game when he gave up a lead off home run to Phillies centerfielder Odubel Herrera on the fourth pitch of the ballgame. Bryce Harper thought he had the Phillies third consecutive hit of the first inning, only to have Brandon Crawford gobble up a hard shot up the middle that ended in a 6-4-3 double play.

Cueto settled down after the first inning. He only gave up four more hits the rest of the way as he finished with five strikeouts and no walks in just 94 pitches.

“He’s always a strike thrower,” said Giants manager Gabe Kapler of Cueto. “He pitched to contact. He’s not scared of that contact. He was able to go six innings (tonight) in large part because his defense played well behind him.”

The Giants rallied in the bottom of the second for three runs to take the lead. Two doubles, a single, a wild pitch and a pass ball were the recipe needed as Phillies starter Vince Velasquez was a bit wild during the long inning.

Andrew McCutchen tied the game in the top of the fourth when hit his 12th home run of the season in the fourth inning after a bloop single by Bryce Harper.

“I feel that with every outing I’m improving,” said Cueto. “I think with every outing, I feel better and that’s how I want to keep it going.”

That was all the Phillies offense was able to generate off Giants pitching the rest of the evening. Dominic Leone and Tyler Rogers pitched a perfect seventh and eight inning. Jake McGee put the nail in the coffin in the 9th inning to pick up his 14th save in 16 chances.

The Giants tacked on singles runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Lamont Wade Jr. had a good evening with the bat as he went 2-3 with 2 RBI, including a triple that scored Cueto, which was entertaining in itself as he threw off his helmet before second base and ran like his life depended on it, who walked right before Wade Jr’s deep shot to centerfield that just eluded the reach of Herrera.

“I just want to be productive right now. I’m going to keep working, keep grinding. I just want to stay consistent and help this team win ball games,” Wade Jr. said.

Brandon Belt, who is on a hot streak, hit his 10th home run in the fifth inning to complete the game’s scoring. He is the third Giant to have double-digit home runs this season.

GAME NOTES: Cueto has surrendered eight home runs on the season. He is now in a three-way tie with Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood for the team lead.

Cueto also slipped and fell after throwing a pitch in the third inning. He was more embarrassed than injured on the play as he smiled after getting up and dusting himself off.

All three games of the series are being broadcasted on the Peacock Network Streaming service. This is the first time the Giants have been on NBC Universal’s streaming service.

The announced attendance was 16,157.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Phillies battle it out again in game two on Saturday 6/19 at 1:05pm at Oracle Park. Alex Wood vs Aaron Nola is the pitching matchup.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Cueto gets the call, as Giants open series against Philadelphia tonight

San Francisco Giants starter Johnny Cueto gets the call on tonight against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Vince Velasquez at Oracle Park in San Francisco to open up a three game series (AP News file photo)

Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 The San Francisco Giants (43-25) swept a four game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks (20-49) which part of glass half full and half empty scenario do you look back at in the series, the Giants benefited by keeping ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the standings by 2.5 games or just taking advantaged of a bad team who set the all time road loss record?

#2 The Diamondbacks broke a decades old record that was held by the 1963 New York Mets and the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics which only could mean a lot of bad pitching, no hitting got them this far like the Mets and A’s teams of those eras.

#3 The Giants on the other hand looked like they were more like in the batting cage rather than playing a regulation game with an accumulated 54 hits for the four game series and no signs of showing the mercy rule.

#4 Talk about the three touted Diamondbacks who will most likely be part of the Arizona fire sale, Eduardo Escobar .241, Ketel Marte .341, and Madison Bumgarner 4-5 ERA 5.73.

#5 The Giants open up a three game series starting Friday night with the Philadelphia Phillies who will start Vince Velasquez (2-1 ERA 4.25) and for the Giants Johnny Cueto (4-3 ERA 4.00) break down this pitching match for tonight?

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

Phillies, Harper slip past Giants 6-5

The Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper takes his swings in the on deck circle as he prepares to face San Francisco Giants pitching at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tue Apr 20, 2021 (@Phillies photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper tied Wednesday’s game against San Francisco with a home run, then scored the game-winning run on Andrew Knapp’s ninth-inning single, as the Phillies edged the Giants 6-5 at Citizen’s Bank Park.

In the bottom of the ninth, Harper started the final rally by drawing a walk off Giants reliever Wandy Peralta (2-1). Harper moved to second on a one-out single by Brad Miller and scored the game-winner when Knapp singled to left-center.

Hector Neris (1-1) struck out two in the top of the ninth and picked up the win.

Harper tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to right-center off Camilo Doval. The Giants had taken a 5-4 lead in the top of the seventh on Alex Dickerson’s RBI single to center. Earlier in the inning, pinch-hitter Darin Ruf hit a three-run home run to center, measured at 415 feet.

Philadelphia led 4-1 in the sixth after Nick Maton’s run-scoring single to left. Buster Posey scored San Francisco’s first run when Mauricio Dubon hit into a fielder’s choice in the top of the fifth.

Mickey Moniak’s three-run home run to left-center put the Phils up 3-0 in the second inning.

Miller went 4-for-5 to lead the Phillies’ 12-hit attack, while Dickerson was 3-for-4 for San Francisco. Philadelphia starter Zach Eflin worked six innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits, and struck out three without a walk. Anthony DeSclafani, the Giants starter, struck out five and walked two while giving up three runs on five hits in four innings.

The Giants return home on Thursday to start a four-game series against Miami. Probables are Aaron Sanchez (0-1, 2.45) for San Francisco, while the Marlins will start Daniel Castano (0-0, 1.80).

Posey goes yard twice in Giants 10-7 win

San Francisco Giants hitter Wilmer Flores hits for a three run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Connor Brogdon on Tue Apr 20, 2021 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Buster Posey did something in the second game of the three-game series that was last accomplished nearly five years ago.

Posey picked up his first multi-home run for the first time since 2016, as the San Francisco Giants came back to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-7 at Citizens Bank Park.

Tommy La Stella hit a home run, but the big punches by the Giants came in the top of the eighth inning, as they scored six runs in the inning to take the lead for good.

Alex Dickerson slammed a three-run home run and then Wilmer Flores slammed a three-run pinch hit home run to secure the Giants third straight win.

All 10 runs came via the long ball, as the Giants have hit 25 home runs through 17 games during the 2021 season.

Dickersons three-run home run gave the Giants their first and only lead of the game, and then just four batters later, Flores picked up his first pinch-hit of the season that gave the Giants their final three runs of the game.

The six runs scored by the Giants were the first six runs allowed by Phillies reliever Connor Brogdon, who entered the game with a 0.00 earned run average and left with a 7.36 era.

It was the first multi-homer game for Posey since May 18, 2016 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Posey hit both of his home runs against former Giants farmhand Zack Wheeler, who was part of the Carlos Beltran trade with the New York Mets on July 11, 2011.

Logan Webb, who was activated off the injured list prior to the game after being placed on the list due to side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine went four innings, allowing four earned runs, seven hits, two walks and striking out four in just four innings of work.

To make room for Webb, Trevor Gott was designed for assignment, and closer Jake McGee was activated and pitched the ninth inning in the game. Sam Selman was sent to the alternate site after being called up to replace McGee.

Former Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarez pitched a perfect eighth inning to earn his first win of the season.

Brandon Belt was forced to leave the game with a right quad strain and will be re-evaluated by the team on Wednesday.

NOTES: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Curt Casali is the first Giants catcher to catch shutouts in four consecutive starts since Broadway Aleck Smith, May 6-24, 1901…the last Major Leaguer to catch shutouts in four consecutive starts was Pittsburgh’s Francisco Cervelli (five straight) in June 2015.

The last time that the Giants threw back-to-back shutouts was against the Colorado Rockies on September 14 and 15, 2018 at Oracle Park.

UP NEXT: Anthony DeSclafani closes out the road trip on Wednesday afternoon, as he takes the mound versus the Phillies, who will send Zach Eflin to the hill.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Buffalo offense just too much for SF; Colts take winning record into Vegas to face Raiders; plus more

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (19) scores a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore (33) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Ross D. Franklin/AP

That’s Amaury’s podcast for News and Commentary:

#1 The San Francisco 49ers were coming off a big win against the Los Angeles Rams from week 12 and last night they played host in Glendale at State Farm Stadium against the Buffalo Bills. One thing about the switch from Santa Clara to Glendale is the 49ers will be not be doing much traveling in three of four games.

#2 The Las Vegas Raiders narrowly beat the winless New York Jets last Sunday on a Hail Mary pass from quarterback Derek Carr to receiver Henry Ruggs for a 46 yard game winning touchdown and as a consequence that last play was Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams who was fired right after the game.

#3 The MLB winter meetings started on Monday and for the Oakland A’s they are expected to keep things on the down low due to the pandemic the A’s have taken a financial loss which included refusing to pay rent at the Oakland Coliseum just before the beginning of last season’s brief 60 game schedule.

#4 Like the Philadelphia Phillies who are also feeling the pinch and had a hard time trying to sign TJ Realmuto which they didn’t the report is out that Philadelphia lost $ 2 billion because of overall loses. The Oakland A’s may not have lost that much but they are behind the financial eight ball during these winter meetings.

#5 Also talk is that the A’s most likely will not offer A’s infielder Marcus Semien a deal because it will be relatively much lower than what other clubs are expected to offer him which has been in the neighborhood of $100 million. Who have you heard that is interested in obtaining Semien, Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, Yankees, Astros, Dodgers or maybe others?

Join Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday morning at http://www.sportsrasdioservice.com

MLB The Show 2019 Postseason podcast with Daniel Dullum: Angels employee supplied Skaggs with painkillers; Nats’ pitching shuts down Cards; plus more

photo from wsj.com: Tyler Skaggs in file photo was found to have used oxycodone, fentanyl and alcohol which led to his death, an Angels employee furnished Skaggs with opioids

On the MLB The Show 2019 Postseason podcast with Daniel Dullum:

1 Report: Angels PR employee was supplying Tyler Skaggs with opioids

2 Nationals pitching keeps Cardinals bats quiet in NLCS

3 Yankees pick up where they left off in first game of ALCS against the Astros

4 Giants reportedly talking to ex-Phils skipper Gabe Kapler about managerial opening

5 Nationals’ Sean Doolittle stands up for teammate Daniel Hudson’s paternity leave during playoff

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Harper, Phils call it a season, eliminated at Nats Park; Giants finish up their regular season; plus more

Photo credit: wtop.com

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 How ironic is it that last meeting between Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies in Washington against the Nationals turned out to be a loss that mathematically eliminated the Phillies in Washington DC? The Nats fans found that to be poetic justice.

#2 The San Francisco Giants end their 2019 homestand and regular season this week as they opened a three-game series with Colorado. The Giants have some young prospects and veteran players who are looking to come back next season so everyone will play hard to the final game on Sunday.

#3 The Giants’ Bruce Bochy set to retire, Pablo Sandoval out with an injury for the rest of the season and Madison Bumgarner may not be back all have been a direct force in the Giants’ more successful days.

#4 The Oakland A’s are holding a 1/2 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL wild card race. The A’s are finishing up their regular season on the road against the Angels and Mariners. Can they pull it off?

#5 The San Jose Earthquakes, who won two out of their last seven games, faceoff against Philadelphia on Wednesday night, and on Friday, they host the Seattle Sounders. This is their best chance to put together a couple wins at home.

London does Headline Sports each Wednesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Giants to hoist Clark’s retired #22; Raiders’ Brown agrees to wearing new helmet; plus more

photo from sfgate.com: Former San Francisco Giants player Will Clark gestures to fans during a ceremony honoring the 1989 World Series team prior to a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019, in San Francisco.

On Headline Sports with Barbara:

#1 From that 1989 San Francisco Giants reunion on Sunday night at Oracle Park in San Francisco, former Giants first baseman Will Clark’s number 22 is being retired, Clark hit .303, 2,176 hits, 284 home runs, with 1,205 RBIs in his MLB career.

#2 The Oakland Raiders’ Antonio Brown said he will wear the NFL issued helmet losing the grievance wanted to continue wearing the old helmet that he wore when he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL is insisting that all players wear the newly designed helmet that help prevent concussions. Brown said that if he is required to wear the new issued helmet he was going to retire. Brown has had limited play with his frostbite feet holding him back.

#3 Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said that the Raiders wide receiving depth is as good as it’s ever been with Hunter Renfrow, Tyrell Williams, JJ Nelson, and Antonio Brown. Raider quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman in preseason are impressed with the receiving core.

#4 The Oakland A’s keep on rolling. They are now 1.5 back of first place for the American League wild card. On Sunday, the A’s kept up their winning ways with a 2-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. A’s pitcher Chris Bassitt started the game and went seven innings, four hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.

#5 While the San Francisco Giants might be out a whopping 19.5 games in the NL West race, their wild card chance improved a whole lot on Sunday with their comeback win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park with a 9-6 win. The Giants are now 3.5 games back and had the day off on Monday night.

Join Barbara for Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com