71st win

SF 5  MIL 4

The Giants delivered a stirring come-from-behind victory in Milwaukee today, taking two of three from the NL Central-leading Brewers. Brandon Belt hit another homer, this one a game-tying two-run blast in the 7th, and Tommy La Stella got another big hit, this one the game-winner in the 8th. Zack Littell starred out of the 'pen, getting the final six outs, with some help from a baserunning mistake. The Giants turned two when Eduardo Escobar failed to re-touch second base on a long fly out!

Johnny Cueto managed 5-1/3 and was charged with all four runs--one of them scored on a wild pitch by Jose Alvarez who finished the frame. Tony Watson worked the 7th, striking out two, before Littell's first-ever MLB save. Darin Ruf hit a homer in the 1st and also walked twice, Brandon Crawford had two hits and a run scored, and LaMonte Wade, Jr. had a hit, a walk, and a run scored.

Today was another huge win. The Giants continue to play great baseball, even on the road. The Brewers are a tough opponent and the games were tightly-contested. This team continues to feature its depth and show its tenacity. They are 30 games over .500 (71-41) and there are 50 games left in the season.

Off-day tomorrow and then a nine-game homestand starting Tuesday night at 6:45 against the Diamondbacks. Looks like it will be Alex Wood with Kevin Gausman getting an extra day.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Belt Bops Brewers

SF 9  MIL 6 (11)

Brandon Belt blasted two home runs, a solo shot in the 4th to tie the game, and a two-run bomb in the 11th that turned out to be the game-winner. The Giants struggled to score against Brandon Woodruff but a miracle triple from Tommy La Stella in the 9th tied it up and they forced it to extras. A big rally in the top of the 10th made it 5-2 Giants, but Jarlin Garcia gave up two homers in the bottom half and the Brewers tied it. Belt's homer and a two-out double by Kris Bryant made it 9-5 in the 11th so Jake McGee's run didn't matter. It's a huge win on the road against a very tough opponent. The Giants used their entire bullpen tonight.

Johnny Cueto tomorrow morning at 11:10 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Brewers edge Giants

MIL 2  SF 1 (10)

The Giants got a superb start from Logan Webb but couldn't get anything going against Brewers starter Corbin Burnes. Solo shots--one by Avisail Garcia in the 2nd and one by Brandon Belt in the 6th--were all the scoring in regulation. The Big Three of Dominic Leone, Tyler Rogers, and Jake McGee took care of the 7th, 8th, and 9th but Jarlin Garcia gave up a hit to the first batter in the 10th and the automatic runner scored the winner. If you like low-scoring pitchers' duels this one was for you as the teams managed only five hits apiece, combined for 21 strikeouts against only three walks, and were 1-for-11 with RISP leaving 12 men on base. The Brewers (66-44) are a good team and lead the NL Central by seven games. The Giants (69-41) stayed four ahead of LA who lost to the Angels. The Giants have nine walk-off losses this year.

Aaron Sanchez gets the start this afternoon at 4:10 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

6th inning: 10-8

1st inning: 11-7

2nd inning: 11-7

3rd inning: 12-6

4th inning: 12-6

5th inning:  12-6

6th inning: 10-8

The Giants got back in the win column last night behind a strong start from Kevin Gausman and homers by Donovan Solano and Alex Dickerson. The 7-1 victory featured the return of Tommy La Stella who had two hits and two walks and a nice bounceback by reliever Jay Jackson who struck out three of the four batters he faced in his inning of work.

Last night was also Game 108, the end of the sixth seasonal inning, which means we are two-thirds of the way through. Only 54 games remain. The Giants are in first place by 3-1/2 games over the Dodgers and their 68-40 (.630) record is tops in MLB.

The Giants have been remarkably consistent, as you can see above, with a winning record in each of the 18-game divisions. If you look at monthly results you see the same thing: April 16-10, May 18-10, June 16-9, and July 15-10. They are now 3-1 in August and 11-8 since the Break. If they want to finish with 100 wins (wouldn't that be something?) they need to go 32-22 (.593) the rest of the way. So, can they play .600 ball for two more months?

Anthony DeScalfani was placed on the 10-day IL but Kap says he only expects him to miss one start which will likely go to Aaron Sanchez. Conner Menez was DFA'd--he was at AAA but on the 40-man roster. Brandon Belt should be activated today or tomorrow with Kevin Gausman going on paternity leave. When he returns the roster crunch will hit. Someone will have to get sent down! It's a good thing when such decisions are painful, it means you have a deep ballclub.

Alex Wood this afternoon at 12:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

 

update: Giants win 5-4 in 10 innings. Down 4-0 the Giants rallied in the 9th to tie it and won it in the 10th. Arizona starter Merrill Kelly was dominant through the first eight frames but the Diamondbacks bullpen couldn't get it done. LaMonte Wade had the game-tying hit and Kris Bryant the game-winner. Logan Webb gets the start in Milwaukee tomorrow at 5:10 PT. GO GIANTS!

Bumgarner beats Giants

AZ 3  SF 1

Madison Bumgarner threw seven innings last night and allowed six hits, one a solo homer by Curt Casali, out-pitching Johnny Cueto and leading the D-Backs to a win. Casali was charged with a weird error in the 2nd that contributed to the scoring when he accidentally touched a loose ball with his mask. That advanced the baserunners and they both later scored. He pulled off his mask to find a pitch in the dirt and wound up using it to block the ball, which is illegal.The Giants hit some balls hard but had nothing to show for it, and Arizona got a few breaks on some dinkers, but that's baseball. Cueto walked four batters--including Bumgarner, who later scored--in his five frames and that's never good. Aaron Sanchez pitched the final three innings and he also walked four batters but did not allow any runs. Giants pitchers have been really good this year not allowing bases on balls and that needs to continue. The Astros blanked the Dodgers in LA so the lead stays at 3-1/2 games.

Kevin Gausman goes tonight, 6:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Wild win in Arizona

SF 11  AZ 8 (10)

The Giants were up 7-1 in the top of the 5th after a grand slam from Alex Dickerson, a man who needed a grand slam to break out of his season-long funk. Gabe Kapler then sent a shaky Anthony DeSclafani out for another half inning of work and he promptly gave up two two-run homers. In the 7th, protecting an 8-5 lead, Jay Jackson loaded the bases and gave up a run but was one strike from getting out of the jam when he gave up a game-tying double. It was that kind of game. The Giants broke the 8-8 tie in the top of the 10th with a nice sequence: Posey double to score BCraw (the magic runner), he moved to third on a lineout by Dickerson, Austin Slater was walked, Steven Duggar singled to drive in Posey and move Slater to third, and Donovan Solano squeeze-bunted him home. Jarlin Garcia pitched a scoreless 9th and 10th to get it done. Yaz got the scoring started with a two-run homer in the 3rd and Wilmer Flores, pinch-hitting for DeSclafani in the 6th, hit a solo shot.

LA and SD were idle so that's a half-game bump. Madison Bumgarner goes for the Diamondbacks tonight, he's matched up against Johnny Cueto at 6:40 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Another series win

SF 5  HOU 3

The Giants took two of three from the Astros and two of three from the Dodgers in successive series. Those two teams have the second- and third- best records in baseball, and the two best run differentials, too. They are good teams. They are loaded with talent. And the Giants played good baseball and beat them both!

Kris Bryant, batting second, struck out in his first plate appearance in San Francisco, but he hit a homer next time up. That got a three-run rally started which erased the 2-0 deficit. Bryant made a throwing error later, but it didn't hurt, and he handled three other chances without a problem. Logan Webb gave up a homer in the 1st, but followed that with five scoreless. He even picked off a runner! He's really emerging as a pitcher. Darin Ruf bopped the lead to 5-2 in the 5th--he had a three-hit, three RBI day. Webb was chased in the 7th but masterful relief work from Dominic Leone held the line. Tyler Rogers gave up a run in the 8th but Jake McGee had a 1-2-3 9th to seal the deal.

The team travels to Arizona for four games, the first tomorrow night at 6:40 Pacific. Anthony DeSclafani gets the start.

Go Giants!

--M.C.