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.