Giants make magic

SF 3  TEX 2

The Giants conjured up another walk-off win to take the series. The Rangers tossed two balls away in the bottom of the 9th and Heliot Ramos scored a Little League run to end it. Ramos's dribbler on the inning's first pitch pulled P Luke Jackson off the mound toward the third base side. Jackson made a running scoop-and-throw that got past 1B Jake Burger and into foul ground towards right field. Ramos, jogging for second, turned on the jets for third as Burger corralled the ball. Burger then made a bad throw that got past diving 3B Josh Smith. Ramos broke for the plate as Jackson raced back to get the loose ball but he couldn't get a handle on it and Ramos scored easily.

It was crazy. Watch the video if you haven't seen it. Jordan Hicks struggled early but settled in to deliver five frames with two runs allowed. The Giants fought back to tie it and a superb relief effort from Hayden Birdsong (3 IP, 5 K) really saved the day. After a 1-2-3 top of the 9th from Camilo Doval the Giants got their miracle in the bottom half.

They scored six runs in the three games. They allowed six runs. They got a 6 IP, 2 R  start from Justin Verlander on Friday (but were blanked on four hits), a 7 IP, 2 R start from Robbie Ray in yesterday's win, and a 5 IP, 2 R start from Hicks in today's win. They got eleven hits yesterday but only five today. Like I said I'm not sure how this team wins games! I'm willing to accept "divine intervention" as one of the leading contributors.

The Giants finally get an off-day, then they go to San Diego for two starting Tuesday (Logan Webb, 6:40 PT).

--M.C.

Giants win for BCraw Day*

SF 3  TEX 2

I keep wondering how this team wins games. Then I watch them this afternoon on Fox Saturday. What do the Giants do? They get clutch hits. Patrick Bailey supplied today's happiness by poking it just past the drawn-in first baseman for a walk-off winner. Today the formula was a little different as Robbie Ray pitched his best game yet (7 IP  5 H  2 R  1 W  8 K) and the bullpen only had to cover six outs. The 2025 Giants have a strong relief corps. They keep the games close and that allows the lineup more chances in the late innings.

The Rangers got a couple of early runs off Ray but didn't hit anything hard. Mostly they ran the bases well! After that he shut them down. Willy Adames tied the game with a two-out, two-run single in the 5th. It stayed 2-2 until the 9th. Heliot Ramos smacked a liner for a single, LaMonte Wade, Jr. walked, and Christian Koss (who is looking better) laid down a sacrifice bunt. After the pitching change, Bailey's hit ended it.

This team is thriving on high-leverage magic. It's a lot of fun. Overall they don't hit all that well compared to the league but they seem to have a great sense of timing! Speaking of timing, tomorrow's game is at 1:05 PT. Jordan Hicks faces Jack Leiter.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

 

* Brandon Crawford was feted at the ballpark before the game and threw out the first pitch.

Bullpen gets it done

SF 6  MIL 5

The Giants took the final game of the series this afternoon despite a rough start from Landen Roupp (3-2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R). Spencer Bivens, Erik Miller, Tyler Rogers, and Camilo Doval threw a combined 5-1/3 scoreless frames to give the home team a chance at a comeback. Sure enough they got two runs in the 8th with some help from the Brewers and that turned the 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 lead. Doval put two on in the 9th but wriggled out of it and sealed the win.

Mike Yastrzemski continues to rake, he had two hits including a homer. Matt Chapman added a two-run homer. Jung Hoo Lee had a double and two walks and Willy Adames had a hit, a walk, and a key RBI. The Giants were 1-for-13 with RISP and left 10 men on base but some poor execution from Milwaukee's fielders and seven walks from their pitchers kept the outcome in doubt until the end.

The Brewers are a tough team and this series win is pretty impressive. The 14-10 Rangers come to town for three starting tomorrow night (7:15 PT), Justin Verlander and the always-tough Nathan Eovaldi will be the starting pitchers.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Webb leads Giants

SF 4  MIL 2

After an ugly loss on Tuesday the Giants bounced back behind a great effort from Logan Webb. He threw six scoreless and got an out in the 7th before being relieved. Erik Miller finished the frame. Tyler Rogers threw another impeccable 8th. He's faced 44 batters over 12-1/3 IP and allowed only one run. Unfortunately Ryan Walker had another rough outing and gave up two runs in the 9th before Camilo Doval rescued the evening.

Giants scored all four runs in the 6th. Wilmer Flores drove in two and the Brewers made two errors. Flo's 27 RBI are tops in MLB.

12:45 start today, Landen Roupp gets the ball.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Back home for a win

SF 5  MIL 2

An excellent relief appearance from Hayden Birdsong—three scoreless with four whiffs—led the way last night in San Francisco. Robbie Ray threw the first five but took 92 pitches to do it. The Giants scored a run in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 win. Wilmer Flores hit his seventh homer—he's tied with Aaron Judge.

Jordan Hicks starts tonight at 6:45 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Weekend woes

The Giants got blanked by Tyler Anderson and three relievers on Friday night, losing 2-0 to the Angels and wasting an excellent start from Logan Webb (career-high 12 K).  Landed Roupp followed on Saturday with his best start ever, going seven innings, allowing a mere two runs, and whiffing nine. Tyler Rogers and Ryan Walker preserved the 3-2 win. Yesterday the Giants got gut-punched in the 9th, with Walker giving up four runs in the final frame for a 5-4 loss. Justin Verlander went six and allowed just one run. Camilo Doval and Rogers got the next six outs before the Angels spoiled things.

Giants allowed only nine runs in the three games but managed to score just seven. They are finally home after a ten-game (5-5) road trip. They've got seven more to play (four against the Brewers and three against the Rangers) before an off day on the 28th. Tonight it is Robbie Ray at 6:45 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

1st inning: 13-5

1st inning: 13-5

With one-ninth of the 2025 season in the books the .722 Giants find themselves a game-and-a-half behind the Padres (15-4, .789) in the NL West. It's been a spectacular opening to the year.

After a tough loss last night the Giants bounced back in a big way tonight with an emphatic 11-4 drubbing of the Phillies. Everyone in the lineup had a hit except for Wade but he had two walks. Everyone in the lineup scored a run except for Yaz but he had two RBI. Fitz had three hits and is now slashing .314/.352/.842 after a very rough start. Shout-out once again to the bullpen for a stalwart effort. Spencer Bivens and Lou Trivino each tossed two scoreless and they sandwiched a three-up, three-down 6th from Doval. The Giants pounced on Aaron Nola in the 1st for a four-spot but sealed the win with one in the 5th, two in the 6th, and another four-spot in the 7th.

My theme for the first inning of the 2025 season: who are these guys?

At least we can say that Jung Hoo Lee is making a name for himself. Serving notice and all that. Wow! He's been spectacular. Seriously, we knew it would take a lot of good things to happen for the Giants to compete with LA and SD. So far, things are working. They are getting contributions from everyone. They are scoring a lot of runs. They are keeping runs off the board. They are catching the fucking ball. I like it.

Tomorrow's game is at 1:05. Jordan Hicks gets the ball.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Ten-spot

SF 10  PHI 4

The Giants put up TEN RUNS in Philly tonight and kicked some serious ass. Landen Roupp struggled at the opening and gave up three runs in the 1st. But the Giants responded with six in the 2nd and never looked back. Roupp managed to go five, giving up another run, but the lineup tacked on two more in the 7th and two more in the 9th to seal the deal. Randy Rodriguez, Erik Miller, Tyler Rogers, and Camilo Doval racked up four scoreless, allowing only two hits and one walk alongside four whiffs.

Who are these guys? This has been an amazing start to the season. I did not expect to see this club confidently swagger around in East Coast bandboxes and whip the locals. But so far, so good!

Tyler Fitzgerald was tonight's hitting star and he certainly needed a breakout game. He doubled, tripled, and homered in four trips to the plate, scoring three and driving in three. Mike Yastrzemski added a double and homer as well, scoring two and driving in three.

The 12-4 Giants send Justin Verlander out tomorrow night to face Jesús Lazardo (3:45 PT). There are six more road games before they come home on the 21st, and then they play seven more games before an off-day on the 28th.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Lee leads Giants

SF 5  NYY 4

The Giants took the series in New York behind an explosive performance from center fielder Jung Hoo Lee. Carlos Rodón retired ten of the first eleven hitters, but with one out in the 4th Lee took him deep. In the 6th he hit a three-run homer to turn the 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. He even added a walk later. For the series Lee was 6-for-9 with two homers, a double, four walks, and four runs scored with only one strikeout. He's slashing .352/.426/.704 in 61 plate appearances over 14 games.

Logan Webb had a hard time throwing strikes early in the game. He walked people and gave up extra base hits but only got hurt on a couple of broken bat dinkers. After a run in the 1st and two in the 2nd he looked more like himself for the next three scoreless frames. He was done after five (97 pitches). Hayden Birdsong delivered an impressive two-inning, no-runs stint after that. The Giants added a run in the 7th. Tyler Rogers gave that run back on a solo shot in the bottom of the 8th. Otherwise he got three ground balls! Ryan Walker closed it out in the 9th, striking out Aaron Judge to end it.

A very satisfying win on the road today especially after a deflating loss yesterday. Obviously Jung Hoo was the hero but a shout-out to Birdsong for a clutch relief job. Rogers finally got knicked for a run after seven scoreless appearances (7 IP, 26 TBF). Walker is 4-for-4 in save chances. He hadn't pitched since Wednesday yet came in today in a tight contest and got the job done.

It doesn't get easier as the Giants travel to Philadelphia for four against the NL East powerhouse. Landen Roupp goes tomorrow against Tijuan Walker at 3:45 Pacific. It's Justin Verlander and Jesus Lazardo on Tuesday, Robbie Ray and Aaron Nola on Wednesday (both also at 3:45), and Jordan Hicks and Cristopher Sánchez on Thursday (1:05). At least they miss Zack Wheeler this time.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants pour it on

SF 9  NYY 1 (6)

It rained in the Bronx and delayed the contest by half an hour. Then it rained for the entire game before the umpires finally called it in the top of the 6th. The Giants jumped all over Marcus Stroman and led 5-0 after the 1st. The highlight was a 3-run homer from Jung Hoo Lee. He (.340) and Mike Yastrzemski (.343) are the best hitters on the club in the early going. Robbie Ray labored in the sloppy conditions but got through four frames with seven whiffs, allowing only two hits (but four walks) and one run. The Giants added three in the 5th, one more in the 6th, and the game was called with the bases loaded. Yankees pitchers issued eleven walks. It was ugly. Unless of course you're a Giants fan!

That's ten wins in the first thirteen games (.769). The last time the Giants started this well was in 2003 when they were 12-1 in the same stretch. That was a good team—they were in first place for the entire season and finished with 100 wins.

Tomorrow's game is listed for 12:05 Pacific. We'll see if the weather cooperates. Jordan Hicks gets the start.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Flo and Yaz save the day

 SF 8  CIN 6 (10)

The Giants avoid a sweep with a dramatic walk-off win. Falling behind early by five runs they battled back and tied it in the 8th on Wilmer's homer. They won it in the 10th with a Mike Yastrzemski Splash Hit.

I was on Mount Shasta having my final skiing day of the season. It was a beautiful day and I missed the game entirely. I followed all of last night's disappointing 1-0 loss. Fortunately the bats awakened today.

Tomorrow is a travel day and they open a three-game set in Yankee Stadium Friday at 4:05 Pacific. Robbie Ray goes up against Marcus Stroman.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Webb gets Cained

CIN 2  SF 0

I like to say it's not whether your guy pitched well, it's whether he pitched better than the other guy! In tonight's case—well, not quite. Logan Webb was awesome, throwing seven shutout innings (97 pitches) with TEN strikeouts, eight groundouts, four hits, and no walks. Unfortunately Hunter Greene matched him for seven and continued on until the ninth. The Giants finally forced him out after 104 pitches when Jung Hoo Lee singled and Matt Chapman walked with two outs. Heliot Ramos smoked a liner to left off reliever Tony Santillan but it was caught and that was that. Greene allowed four hits in his 8-2/3 IP, walked one (Chapman in the 9th), and whiffed seven. The Giants made thirteen flyball outs. Greene was still showing 99 mph at the end of the game.

Camilo Doval put two on in the 8th and both scored after Erik Miller came in. With Greene dealing the Giants didn't have much of a chance after that. Lou Trivino got the last four outs. It's too bad they wasted a great start and lost the winning streak. But winning seven in a row is a fine way to start the season. Let's see some more of that.

Landen Roupp gets his second start tomorrow night at 6:45 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Wilmer walk-off

SF 5  SEA 4

Wilmer Flores continues to be Mr. Clutch, driving in the winning run pinch-hitting in the bottom of the 9th to give the Giants a sweep of the Mariners. He tagged Gregory Santos' first pitch for a single to right to plate Luis Matos. That's seven in a row and their 8-1 record (.889) is the best in the NL West, edging LA (9-2, .818) and SD (8-2, .800).

Jordan Hicks was not as effective this afternoon after his great effort in Houston. He struggled with close pitches, Seattle hitters laid off and made him work. He allowed solo homers to Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh. He got one out in the 6th before putting two on and getting pulled. Overall he threw 90 pitches but only 56 strikes. The Giants got a big lift in the 5th with a four-run rally, Mike Yastrzemski hitting a three-run homer. Randy Rodriguez finished the 6th giving up Hicks' third run but closing the door. It was 4-3 Giants and Tyler Rogers and Erik Miller kept the M's off the board until the 9th. Camilo Doval couldn't close it out, giving up the tying run, but a nice play in LF by Luis Matos saved the go-ahead run from scoring.

Yaz walked to open the 9th, Matos forced him at second. A foul fly ball to the right field corner from Patrick Bailey was caught spectacularly by Victor Robles. He got tangled in the netting and fell hard, and couldn't make a throw. Matos scooted around to third base. Robles was taken out of the game. Then Wilmer got his winner.

Logan Webb gets the start tomorrow night at 6:45 PT.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Giants keep it rolling

SF 4  SEA 1

Robbie Ray was a little wild (5 walks) but managed to keep things under control for six innings, allowing just one run on a solo homer by Dylan Moore. A strong relief effort from Hayden Birdsong, who threw a scoreless 7th and 8th, set up the win. Ryan Walker got the save. Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman did the heavy lifting with five hits and four runs between them.

The win vaunts the team into second place in the NL West as the Padres fall to 7-2. Jordan Hicks gets the ball tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 Pacific.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Wild win in extras

SF 10  SEA 9  (11)

It was fitting that Willy Adames would play the hero this afternoon in San Francisco. FNGs always have to prove themselves even when they are already stars. Matt Chapman earned his pay last season and fans are hoping Adames will do the same. Today he had three hits and drove in the tying and winning runs. Not a bad way to say 'hello' to a new audience!

The Giants could have scored 20 runs today. And they could have just as easily booted the whole mess. It was one of those crazy, up-and-down contests that really could have gone either way. Thank goodness for home field advantage. Tyler Fitzgerald had a rough day at the plate and a rough day in the field but his speed in the bottom of the 11th provided the winning margin. Most guys would have been thrown out on that play.

Randy Rodriguez was brilliant in relief of Justin Verlander. He's another highlight. Heliot Ramos had three hits but all were singles and so his consecutive game XBH streak ended at six. LaMonte Wade, Jr. had three hits (two doubles) and that's good to see. Overall the Giants got 17 hits, plus six walks and a Mariners error, but were 6-for-28 (.214) with RISP. They left 16 guys on base!

It was quite a game—over four hours. The Giants used eight pitchers and 12 position players. The start to this season has been really fun. Let's hope they can keep the momentum going. Tomorrow's game is at 6:05 Pacific and Robbie Ray takes the hill.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Four in a row

SF 6  HOU 3

The Giants keep their win streak alive with a sweep of the Astros in Houston. They tagged Framber Valdez with a couple of homers early in the game and held on to win. Valdez is an extreme ground ball pitcher and does not give up many dingers but Wilmer Flores took him deep in the 1st and Luis Matos launched one in the 2nd. That's the fourth for Flo and the first for Matos who started in place of Jung Hoo Lee. Heliot Ramos' two-run double made it 5-0 after two. Valdez lasted five frames, walking four and whiffing nine. The Giants would strike out 16 times today and the Astros would add 14 of their own.

Landen Roupp had the strikeout stuff going (8 in 4+ IP) but like Alvarez he also had four bases on balls. Those ultimately hurt him and he left the game in the 5th. Randy Rodriguez gave up a hit that probably should have been caught (the Giants blew a pop up play, too) to make it 5-3 but then shut it down. His performance probably saved the day. Hayden Birdsong followed with two scoreless despite two hits and a walk. Tyler Rogers dominated the 8th and Camilo Doval closed out the 9th. LaMonte Wade, Jr., hitless in his first five games, pinch-hit in the 8th and smacked a homer to make it 6-3, giving the team a little breathing room.

It's an impressive start to 2025. Last year the team won ONE road series (the last one of the season in KC). The home opener is Friday afternoon at 1:35 with Justin Verlander taking the hill.

Go Giants!

--M.C.

Webb goes seven

SF 3  HOU 1

His only blemish was a solo shot from Jose Altuve on a 3-2 count. Logan Webb threw 100 pitches and got six whiffs and nine ground outs with no walks and five hits allowed. Three double plays really helped but of course that's Webb's game. Willy Adames got the big hit, a two-run double in the 3rd, and Heliot Ramos hit a homer in the 4th. That's five straight games with an XBH for Ramos!

Tyler Rogers put two on with two out in the 8th but held on to the 3-1 lead. Ryan Walker closed out the 9th. The Giants struck out 13 times and had a mere four hits and four walks but made the most of them. Of the four there were two doubles and a home run. The Astros had seven hits including a homer but six were singles and no bases on balls. Tough pitching by both clubs tonight so that's a nice win for the good guys.

Landen Roupp goes tomorrow at 1:10 Pacific. Thursday is a travel day and they open at home on Friday.

Go Giants!

--M.C.