NLCS-Link:

Giants überflügeln Cardinals im 7. Spiel der NLCS und ziehen in die World Series ein: DJ Short, Hardball Talk

Schade, dass Spiel 7 in einem sintflutartigen Regenguss enden musste. Es waren die Baseballgötter, die über die Eliminierung der Cardinals schluchzten. Die Giants stehen jetzt bei 6:0 in Eliminierungsspielen. Die Serie endet in der World Series.

Spiel 7 der NLCS war kein besonders spannender Wettkampf, denn die Giants schlugen die Cardinals heute Abend im AT&T Park in San Francisco mit 9:0, holten sich die Meisterschaft der Nationalliga und zogen in die World Series gegen die Tigers ein.

Die Giants sind das siebte Team, das einen 1:3-Rückstand aufgeholt hat, seit die LCS 1985 von fünf auf sieben Spiele erweitert wurde. Bruce Bochys Team hat sich daran gewöhnt, in dieser Postseason mit dem Rücken zur Wand zu spielen und konnte auch während der NLDS einen 0:2-Serienrückstand aufholen und die Reds schlagen.

Detroit Tigers-Links:

Aufräumarbeiten: Grantland, Jonah Keri

Der De-facto-Closer der Tigers bekommt seine wohlverdienten 15 Minuten. Je mehr ich erfahre über Phil Cokedesto mehr mag ich ihn. Es hilft, dass er das lebende Klischee des exzentrischen, leicht aus dem Gleichgewicht geratenen linkshändigen Relievers ist.

Doch als seine Aussichten besser wurden, wurde das Geld noch knapper. Die Yankees hatten eine Regel, die es Spielern untersagte, während der Saison zu arbeiten, und wollten, dass sie sich im Frühjahr und Sommer auf Baseball konzentrierten. Eines Tages ging ein Mitarbeiter des Teams durch den Parkplatz des Hotels, in dem die Trainer während der Saison wohnten, um etwas Müll in den Müllcontainer zu werfen. Er blieb stehen, als er jemanden sah, den er erkannte. Es war einer seiner Pitcher, der sich von Ellbogenproblemen erholte und alles tat, um seine Rechnungen zu bezahlen, während er versuchte, wieder in Form zu kommen, um in der High-A Tampa zu pitchen. Er arbeitete als Hausmeister und trug einen Overall mit dem Namen des Hotels darauf. Es war Phil Coke.

Scherzer, Anibal, Coke werfen im zweiten Trainingsspiel: Jason Beck, DetroitTigers.com

Apropos Cola …

Phil Coke, der die letzten drei Spiele der American League Championship Series mit einem Sieg über die Yankees beendete, war ebenfalls in einem Inning dabei und sorgte auch für komische Momente. Sogar in einem simulierten Spiel stürmte er wie verrückt aus dem Bullpen. Dann, nachdem er drei schnelle Outs geschafft hatte, verlangte er den Ball zurück, damit er noch ein paar Würfe für ein weiteres Out bekommen konnte.

Nach einem weiteren Groundout versuchte Coke es erneut, doch sein Antrag auf ein Inning mit fünf Outs wurde abgelehnt.

Tigers-Pitcher konzentrieren sich beim heutigen Training aufs Bunting: Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

Falls Sie sich gefragt haben, wann ein Artikel über das Schlagen der Pitcher der Tigers erscheinen würde, können Sie Ihre Fragen jetzt beantworten.

Die Detroit Tigers haben heute ihr Training im Comerica Park mit Bunts begonnen.

Viele von ihnen.

Mit … anfangen Rick Porcelloübten die Pitcher der Tigers heute vor dem Schlagtraining das Bunting mit einer Pitching-Maschine und bereiteten sich darauf vor, am Mittwochabend in die Batter’s Box zu treten.

Gedanken vor der World Series: Es ist dumm, Pitchern beim Schlagen zuzuschauen: Matt Snyder, Motor City Bengals

Wort. Verdammtes Wort.

Hier ist mein Gedankengang während des zweiten Innings von Spiel fünf der NLCS:

„Wow, die Cardinals haben Läufer auf der zweiten und dritten Base und nur ein Aus. Wenn sie diese Runs erzielen, könnte die Serie vorbei sein.“

„Moment mal, die Giants lassen Pete Kozma absichtlich laufen, um die Bases im ZWEITEN INNING zu füllen? Ach ja, Lance Lynn ist an der Reihe. Er hatte was… oh DREI HITS die ganze Saison über?”

„… und ja. Er schaffte es durch einen Groundball in ein Double Play. Das muss man sich mal vorstellen. Der Typ mit dem Schlagdurchschnitt von .060 konnte keine Runs erzielen.“

WS-VORSCHAU-KOLUMNE: Ich habe meinen Platz verloren. Machen wir immer noch das „Fire Leyland“-Ding? Out of Left Field, Matthew B. Mowery – The Oakland Press

Mowery ist auf Twitter sehr aktiv und hatte an der Social-Media-Front schon mit der lächerlichen „FIRE LEYLAND!“-Brigade zu tun, er weiß also, worüber er schreibt.

Hmm. Nun, er kann vor der World Series gefeuert werden, oder? Ich meine, es ist noch Zeit. Er führt im Alleingang ein Team auf World-Series-Niveau in den Ruin (das wurde mir zumindest gesagt). Man kann ihm unmöglich erlauben, IN der World Series als Manager aufzutreten. Ich meine, das wäre heuchlerisch.

Jim Leyland-Kostüme sind der letzte Schrei in Detroit: Kevin Kaduk, Big League Stew

Trotz seiner derzeitigen Popularität wird es, wenn die Tigers das erste Spiel der World Series verlieren, Sport-Talkshow-Radio-Anrufer geben, die Leylands Entlassung fordern werden. Sie wissen es, ich weiß es. Das ist es, was die Leyland-Hasser tun: Sie lauern und sind bereit anzurufen, sobald Leyland etwas tut, was sie für falsch halten. Dafür leben sie anscheinend.

Während die Tigers auf ihren Termin für die World Series warten, ist es interessant zu sehen, wie sich Leylands Meinungsumfragen komplett geändert haben. Schließlich ist es noch nicht lange her, dass Leyland ein leistungsschwaches Team trainierte, das Gefahr lief, die Nachsaison zu verpassen, weil er negative Zeichen setzte, die sein bester Feldspieler nicht mehr anwenden konnte.

Tiger Stadium lebt weiter und weckt alte Erinnerungen: The Detroit News, Neal Rubin

Dies ist nur der erste von voraussichtlich einer metrischen Unmenge an Kommentaren über das alte Tiger-Stadion-Gelände in Corktown, während sich die Medien auf die Ankunft der World Series in Detroit vorbereiten.

Da Baseball in so vielen Köpfen ist und eines der Tore des Stadions auf der Michigan Avenue-Seite offen steht, war das Feld in den letzten Wochen so etwas wie ein Ziel für Besucher. Stunden zuvor standen im Regen ein junger Mann und ein älterer Mann auf der Shortstop-Position und imitierten den langen Wurf zur ersten Base.

Werden die Tigers-Fans Delmon Young jemals lieben? Dan Holmes, Detroit Athletic Co.

Nein. Nächste Frage.

Es war schon immer die Art und Weise, wie Young Dinge tut, die viele Tiger-Fans frustriert. Young hat einen fast zwanghaften Zwang, beim ersten Pitch zu schwingen. Nichts ärgert die Tiger Nation mehr. Sie vergessen die Tatsache, dass DY 2012 mit 97 First-Pitch-Schwüngen einen Schlagdurchschnitt von .362 mit 10 Extra-Base-Hits erreichte, sie erinnern einen lieber an die sechs Male, als er beim ersten Pitch einen Groundball in ein Double Play trieb. Young hat einen Bauch, der den Spott einiger Tiger-Fans auf sich zieht, die sich gerne über die Art und Weise lustig machen, wie er die Linie entlang rennt. Brandon Inge hüpfte wie ein Kreisel über das Feld und hatte Ohren, die ihn aussehen ließen, als wäre er ein 7-Jähriger in der Little League, aber die Tigers-Fans liebten ihn. Nicht so bei DY, der ein viel besserer Schlagmann ist, als Inge es je war.

Anderswo im Baseball:

Hochgeschwindigkeits-Videoclips der NLCS 2012: Die Physik des Baseball, Alan M. Nathan – University of Illinois

Ein Wort der Warnung: Das vollständige Laden dieser Seite dauert eine Weile und bringt einen langsamen PC in die Knie. Aber das Warten lohnt sich.

Diese Seite enthält Clips mit Hochgeschwindigkeitsvideos der NLCS 2012. Fox Sports verwendet eine Kamera mit 5000 Bildern/Sekunde. Die Super-Zeitlupen-Natur der Bilder enthüllt oft interessante physikalische Phänomene, die mit bloßem Auge nicht zu erkennen sind. Sehen Sie sich einige der interessanten Clips an, die ich gefunden habe, zusammen mit meiner physikalischen Erklärung dessen, was vor sich geht.

Drei Statistiken und du bist raus: Sports on Earth, Will Leitch

Eine nette Abfuhr für die Rundfunksprecher, die glauben, Sabermetrics sei das Stiefkind des Baseballs. Oder genauer gesagt: das Stiefkind eines Stiefkinds.

Es ging ungefähr so: „Also … [audible snort] … da sind all diese Leute mit ihren … [choked-off inhale, as if he had entered the Cardinals clubhouse bathroom right after Lance Lynn had left it] … Mathematik, versuchen zu verstehen … [grasping of the microphone as if it is the neck of Bill James] … das Spiel. Es ist … es ist nur …“ Ich habe das genaue Zitat nicht richtig, vor allem, weil es schwer war, Smoltz durch die platzenden Blutgefäße und das Zähneknirschen zu hören. Wie der unsterbliche Twitter-Account @oldhossradbourn es prägnant zusammenfasste: „,Sabermetrics? Was kommt als Nächstes? Ein Tier heiraten?‘ – J. Smoltz.“

Padres stellen Mauern im Petco Park auf: Baseball Nation, Al Yellon

Lynn Henning nickt zustimmend, während er auf Comericas Power Alley im rechten Feld blickt.

Insgesamt schlugen die Padres 2012 121 Homeruns und belegten damit den 14. Platz in der Nationalliga; sie schlugen 74 Homeruns auswärts und 47 zu Hause. Diese Änderungen werden den Schlagmännern von San Diego helfen.

Die Pitcher der Padres könnten jedoch anderer Meinung sein …

Dick Bosman spricht über Strasburg, Innings Limit und mehr: Seamheads, Ted Leavengood

Interessante Meinung von Bosman, einem ehemaligen MLB-Pitcher und aktuellen Mitglied des Front Office der Rays, der seine Karriere in den vom Pitching dominierten 60er Jahren begann. Bosman spricht über die Entwicklung von Pitchern und Pitch Counts, Stephen Strasburg und wie die Rays mit ihrem jungen Personal umgegangen sind.

Er behauptete, dass die maximale Wurfzahl für einen Pitcher in der Entwicklung 110 bis 115 Würfe in einem Spiel betragen würde, „ab und zu wahrscheinlich auf AAA-Niveau“, damit sie bereit sind, auf Major-League-Niveau zu werfen, wenn sie von der Mutterorganisation dazu aufgefordert werden. Über die Wurfzahl und die Anzahl der Innings sagte Bosman: „Wir sind da ziemlich streng und haben gegen Ende des Jahres schon Leute vom Feld genommen“, sagte Bosman. „Wir haben das mit Leuten wie Shields gemacht, Matt Moore und verschiedene andere Jungs, wenn die Inning-Gesamtzahl etwas hoch wird. Manchmal gerät man dabei etwas unter die Lupe.“

Eine Sache noch:

Zum Abschluss möchte ich noch dieses Gedicht hinzufügen, das ich von einem langjährigen Tigers-Fan und Bless You Boys-Leser erhalten habe. Dies hatte „Bob L in Arizona“ zu sagen:

Ich bin Tiger-Fan, seit ich denken kann. Als Zwölfjähriger war ich 1967 am Boden zerstört, als die Tigers am letzten Wochenende der Saison aus dem Rennen waren und Boston die Meisterschaft gewann. Aber das nächste Jahr war das beste. Ich erinnere mich noch, wie der Lehrer 1968 die alten schwarz-weißen Trikots ins Klassenzimmer brachte und uns die Spiele anschauen ließ. 1981 zog ich nach Arizona und sah zu, wie die Tigers 1984 wieder gewannen, aber seitdem war es ein harter Weg. Ich glaube, das ist unser Jahr.

Mit meiner Entschuldigung an Clement Clarke Moore habe ich einige Änderungen an seinem Gedicht vorgenommen, um es diesem bevorstehenden besonderen Ereignis anzupassen.

Nur Nächte vor der Serie

Es war nur Nächte vor der Serie, als alle durch den Staat
Die Idee war, die Amis zu schlagen, das Team, das wir so gerne hassen.
Die Rotation wurde von Leyland mit Sorgfalt eingestellt
In der Hoffnung, dass die Starter einen Lauf haben würden

Die Fans lagen gemütlich in ihren Betten
Während Träume von einer Meisterschaft in ihren Köpfen tanzten
Mit der Frau in ihrem Tiger-Trikot und mir in meiner Mütze
Wir träumten von Homeruns und Hits in der Lücke

Als unten in Comerica ein solcher Lärm entstand
Wir machten uns auf den Weg zum Baseballstadion, um zu sehen, was los war
Wir fuhren ziemlich schnell die Woodward hinunter
Und kam gerade rechtzeitig, um die Geister der Vergangenheit zu sehen

Der Mond hatte Schatten in den großen Park geworfen
Aber wir wussten, wem sie gehörten, sogar im Dunkeln
Was sahen wir dann mit unseren staunenden Augen?
Ein Typ namens Sparky und einige Größen aus dem “D”

Als der alte Tiger-Manager uns einen Blick zuwarf
Wir wussten, dass er es war, der große Captain Hook
Mit ihm waren die Größten, die das Spiel gespielt haben
Und er pfiff und schrie und rief sie beim Namen:

Hey Cobb, hey Crawford, yo Greenberg und Kell
Und mit ihnen kamen Gehringer, Newhouser und Harwell
In die Batter's Box, lasst uns alle herumschlagen
Da haben wir ihn gesehen, es war der Vogel auf dem Hügel

Dann waren sie plötzlich blitzschnell verschwunden
Keine Cochrane, Schoolboy Rowe oder Stormin Norman Cash mehr
Wir dachten an Al Kaline, Horton, Tram und Sweet Lou
Von Freehan und Lolich und der ganzen “68”-Crew

Die letzten Worte, die sie sprachen, bevor wir aus diesem Traum erwachten
War “Hol sie dir, junge Jungs, ihr seid ein Meisterschaftsteam.”
Sie werden von Leyland, Dombrowski und Mike Ilitch geführt
Sie bekommen den Wimpel, und dann geht es weiter mit dem ersten Pitch der Serie.”

Die O's und A's hatten beide ein tolles Jahr
Aber jetzt waren sie weg, und man musste nur noch die Amis fürchten
Also ging es nach New York, weiter an die Ostküste
Ein weiterer Wimpel für die Yankees, die Medien würden prahlen

Miggys Augen funkelten und Prince war ganz fröhlich
Wir hatten gerade die A's mit Garcia und Berry geschlagen
Ja, sie hatten CC, ARod, Cano und Derek Jeter
Aber wir hatten die Big Boys und Justins Heizung

Die Yankees wurden vernichtet, weggefegt in vier
Sie jammerten und weinten, als man ihnen die Tür zeigte
Zu viel von unseren Vorspeisen und einem Mann namens Coke Zero
Zu viel von Peralta und Young, dem ALCS-Helden

Er könnte im Schlagkäfig pummelig oder mollig aussehen
Aber er ist auf dem Weg zur Series, der größten Bühne des Baseballs
Mit einem Glanz in den Augen und einer Krone auf dem Kopf
Er ist der beste Schlagmann der Welt, Tiger-Fans haben nichts zu befürchten

Nein, es sind keine Lances, Blackjacks, Willys oder Kirks
Aber Ramon, Worth und Kelly werden bereit sein, zusammen mit Max und Dirks
Benoit und Valverde, sie werden nicht besonders hoch geschätzt
Aber auch im Stall sind Ricky P, Dotel, Al Al und ein Kind namens Smyly

Bald werden Fister, Sanchez und Omar gegen die NL-Champions antreten
Avila, Laird und Jackson werden unter einem Vollmond harken
Dann geht es zurück nach Motown, um den Kampf zu beenden
Wir machen es in fünf Minuten und wünschen der A-Nationalmannschaft eine gute Nacht.

The post Detroit Tigers hyperlinks: It is the Giants, Phil Coke was a chimney sweep and we’ll by no means love Delmon Younger appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

DAN GELSTON, Associated Press

6 days ago

Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out 11 in seven innings, Bryce Harper hit a three-run home run and Kyle Schwarber added a solo shot to help the Philadelphia Phillies earn a four-game win over the San Francisco Giants by 6 :1 to complete victory on Monday.

Harper singled deep against Giants rookie Mason Black, spoiling the major league debut of the Giants right-hander, who pitched in the fifth inning against the team he rooted for as a kid.

“I hope he enjoyed it with his family, his teammates and everything else because there is only one debut,” Harper said.

This season's Phillies are winning as many as the ones Black cheered for as a child.

The major league-leading Phillies (25-11) won their sixth straight and have won 10 of 11 and 17 of 20 to open a three-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East.

The Phillies have also won 10 straight games at Citizens Bank Park, just two wins shy of matching the team record set in 2012. Philadelphia also set a franchise record with 11 consecutive wins against NL West opponents.

“I feel like we win in different ways every night. And it's a completely different player who makes it big, be it a hitter or a pitcher. It’s never the same guy, which is nice,” catcher JT Realmuto said. “There is not too much pressure on a player. We all feel like we play really well together and have a lot of fun, and the guys contribute every night.”

Harper hit a home run for the second straight game and his eighth hit of the season made it 4-0 against Black (0-1). Black made his major league debut in front of his parents, younger brother, girlfriend and numerous friends and family who came to watch him play against his favorite childhood team.

The 24-year-old Black – rated the seventh-best prospect in baseball according to MLB.com – was the Giants' third-round pick in the 2021 draft out of Lehigh University. Black recorded a 1-2-3 first inning that included strikeouts by JT Realmuto and Harper, the latter of which was caught in the 88 mph changeup.

Black allowed eight hits, five runs and three walks. He struck out four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Wheeler (4-3) showed the rookie how it's done. He rebounded from an 0-3 start – he allowed a total of six runs in his first three starts – to win his fourth straight start. Wheeler allowed one run, walked one and lowered his ERA to 1.64.

“Today Wheels did what Zack does every time he goes out there. It was fun to watch and keep us in the game,” Harper said.

Matt Strahm pitched a scoreless eighth and Orion Kerkering pitched the ninth to complete the five.

With shortstop Trea Turner out for at least six weeks with a left hamstring strain, his replacements are starting to fill the void. Bryson Stott moved from second base to shortstop and snagged a great grounder from Wilmer Flores in the first to set up an inning-ending double play. Whit Merrifield started second and gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the fourth.

Harper had a three-run toss in the fifth and Nick Castellanos, who hit 37 doubles last season, got his first hit of the year later in the inning for a 5-0 lead.

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 18 games.

HUGE BREAK

The Giants lost for the sixth time in seven games, falling 6-14 on the road. They lost two of three games in Boston and ended their 10-game trip with three games at Colorado, the only team behind San Francisco in the NL West. Maybe there will be a Mile High fortune change for the Giants — they are 18-8 at Coors Field with a plus-51 run differential since 2021.

“We need to clean up,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We have to play better. We left home one game under .500 and not playing very well. I thought (the road) could be a pretty good spot for us since we hadn't been playing well. And now we’re playing terribly.”

NEXT

The Giants send LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, 3.79 ERA) to the mound against Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-5, 5.93) on Tuesday.

The Phillies stay at home and open a two-game set against Toronto on Tuesday. They will send LHP Cristopher Sánchez (1-3, 3.68) to the mound against Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (4-2, 1.44).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The post Harper homers, Wheeler strikes out 11 as Phillies full 4-game sweep of Giants with 6-1 win – WWLP appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

DAN GELSTON, Associated Press

4 days ago

Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out 11 in seven innings, Bryce Harper hit a three-run home run and Kyle Schwarber added a solo shot to help the Philadelphia Phillies earn a four-game win over the San Francisco Giants by 6 :1 to complete victory on Monday.

Harper singled deep against Giants rookie Mason Black, spoiling the major league debut of the Giants right-hander, who pitched in the fifth inning against the team he rooted for as a kid.

“I hope he enjoyed it with his family, his teammates and everything else because there is only one debut,” Harper said.

This season's Phillies are winning as many as the ones Black cheered for as a child.

The major league-leading Phillies (25-11) won their sixth straight and have won 10 of 11 and 17 of 20, gaining a three-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East.

The Phillies have also won 10 straight games at Citizens Bank Park, just two wins shy of matching the team record set in 2012. Philadelphia also set a franchise record with 11 consecutive wins against NL West opponents.

“I feel like we win in different ways every night. And it's a completely different player who makes it big, be it a hitter or a pitcher. It’s never the same guy, which is nice,” catcher JT Realmuto said. “There is not too much pressure on a player. We all feel like we play really well together and have a lot of fun, and the guys contribute every night.”

Harper hit a home run for the second straight game and his eighth hit of the season made it 4-0 against Black (0-1). Black made his major league debut in front of his parents, younger brother, girlfriend and numerous friends and family who came to watch him play against his favorite childhood team.

The 24-year-old Black – rated the seventh-best prospect in baseball according to MLB.com – was the Giants' third-round pick in the 2021 draft out of Lehigh University. Black recorded a 1-2-3 first inning that included strikeouts by JT Realmuto and Harper, the latter of which was caught in the 88 mph changeup.

Black allowed eight hits, five runs and three walks. He struck out four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Wheeler (4-3) showed the rookie how it's done. He rebounded from an 0-3 start – he allowed a total of six runs in his first three starts – to win his fourth straight start. Wheeler allowed one run, walked one and lowered his ERA to 1.64.

“Today Wheels did what Zack does every time he goes out there. It was fun to watch and keep us in the game,” Harper said.

Matt Strahm pitched a scoreless eighth and Orion Kerkering pitched the ninth to complete the five.

With shortstop Trea Turner out for at least six weeks with a left hamstring strain, his replacements are starting to fill the void. Bryson Stott moved from second base to shortstop and snagged a great grounder from Wilmer Flores in the first to set up an inning-ending double play. Whit Merrifield started second and gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the fourth.

Harper had a three-run toss in the fifth and Nick Castellanos, who hit 37 doubles last season, got his first hit of the year later in the inning for a 5-0 lead.

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm went 0-for-4, ending his 18-game hitting streak.

HUGE BREAK

The Giants lost for the sixth time in seven games, falling 6-14 on the road. They lost two of three games in Boston and ended their 10-game trip with three games at Colorado, the only team behind San Francisco in the NL West. Maybe there will be a Mile High fortune change for the Giants — they are 18-8 at Coors Field with a plus-51 run differential since 2021.

“We need to clean up,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We have to play better. We left home one game under .500 and not playing very well. I thought (the road) might be a pretty good place for us since we hadn't played well. And now we’re playing terribly.”

NEXT

The Giants send LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, 3.79 ERA) to the mound against Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-5, 5.93) on Tuesday.

The Phillies stay at home and open a two-game set against Toronto on Tuesday. They will send LHP Cristopher Sánchez (1-3, 3.68) to the mound against Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (4-2, 1.44).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The post Harper homers, Wheeler strikes out 11 as Phillies full 4-game sweep of Giants with 6-1 win – NewsNation appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

DAN GELSTON, Associated Press

19 hours ago

Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 6, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out 11 in seven innings, Bryce Harper hit a three-run home run and Kyle Schwarber added a solo shot to help the Philadelphia Phillies earn a four-game win over the San Francisco Giants by 6 :1 to complete victory on Monday.

Harper singled deep against Giants rookie Mason Black, spoiling the major league debut of the Giants right-hander, who pitched in the fifth inning against the team he rooted for as a kid.

“I hope he enjoyed it with his family, his teammates and everything else because there is only one debut,” Harper said.

This season's Phillies are winning as many as the ones Black cheered for as a child.

The major league-leading Phillies (25-11) won their sixth straight and have won 10 of 11 and 17 of 20 to open a three-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East.

The Phillies have also won 10 straight games at Citizens Bank Park, just two wins shy of matching the team record set in 2012. Philadelphia also set a franchise record with 11 consecutive wins against NL West opponents.

“I feel like we win in different ways every night. And it's a completely different player who makes it big, be it a hitter or a pitcher. It’s never the same guy, which is nice,” catcher JT Realmuto said. “There is not too much pressure on a player. We all feel like we play really well together and have a lot of fun, and the guys contribute every night.”

Harper hit a home run for the second straight game and his eighth hit of the season made it 4-0 against Black (0-1). Black made his major league debut in front of his parents, younger brother, girlfriend and numerous friends and family who came to watch him play against his favorite childhood team.

The 24-year-old Black – rated the seventh-best prospect in baseball according to MLB.com – was the Giants' third-round pick in the 2021 draft out of Lehigh University. Black recorded a 1-2-3 first inning that included strikeouts by JT Realmuto and Harper, the latter of which was caught in the 88 mph changeup.

Black allowed eight hits, five runs and three walks. He struck out four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Wheeler (4-3) showed the rookie how it's done. He rebounded from an 0-3 start – he allowed a total of six runs in his first three starts – to win his fourth straight start. Wheeler allowed one run, walked one and lowered his ERA to 1.64.

“Today Wheels did what Zack does every time he goes out there. It was fun to watch and keep us in the game,” Harper said.

Matt Strahm pitched a scoreless eighth and Orion Kerkering pitched the ninth to complete the five.

With shortstop Trea Turner out for at least six weeks with a left hamstring strain, his replacements are starting to fill the void. Bryson Stott moved from second base to shortstop and snagged a great grounder from Wilmer Flores in the first to set up an inning-ending double play. Whit Merrifield started second and gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the fourth.

Harper had a three-run toss in the fifth and Nick Castellanos, who hit 37 doubles last season, got his first hit of the year later in the inning for a 5-0 lead.

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 18 games.

HUGE BREAK

The Giants lost for the sixth time in seven games, falling 6-14 on the road. They lost two of three games in Boston and ended their 10-game trip with three games at Colorado, the only team behind San Francisco in the NL West. Maybe there will be a Mile High fortune change for the Giants — they are 18-8 at Coors Field with a plus-51 run differential since 2021.

“We need to clean up,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We have to play better. We left home one game under .500 and not playing particularly well. I thought (the road) could be a pretty good spot for us since we hadn't been playing well. And now we’re playing terribly.”

NEXT

The Giants send LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, 3.79 ERA) to the mound against Rockies RHP Dakota Hudson (0-5, 5.93) on Tuesday.

The Phillies stay at home and open a two-game set against Toronto on Tuesday. They will send LHP Cristopher Sánchez (1-3, 3.68) to the mound against Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (4-2, 1.44).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The post Harper homers, Wheeler strikes out 11 as Phillies full 4-game sweep of Giants with 6-1 win appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Joe Rosswho began the Washington Nationals' road trip with a 9.85 ERA in 19 games, one start and 24 2⁄3 innings pitched this season, was scoreless through 11 1⁄3 after going six innings on the mound in the series finale with San Francisco's Giants at Oracle Park.

Ross held the Giants to two walks and three hits in the scoreless appearance and threw 99 pitches, including 59 strikes, which ultimately led to a 4-1 victory that gave the Nationals a sweep of the three-game set in the City blessed bay.

Horse against the Giants: Joe Ross He walked five batters last time out but held the Arizona D-Backs from the field for over 5 1⁄3 IP and allowed just one hit in a 3-0 win at Chase Field.

In two starts prior to today in 2019, the 26-year-old right-hander was (1-1) batting .237/.356/.316 with a 2.53 ERA, seven walks, nine strikeouts and a line in 10 1⁄3 IP , after struggling in a backup role earlier in the season and being sent to the ground and stretched out.

To build on his performance against the Diamondbacks, Ross appeared today against the Giants in the series finale in San Francisco, throwing four scoreless throws on 61 pitches, working to a 4-0 lead and limiting the home team to one hit and a walk.

Kevin Pillar And Brandon Crawford hit back-to-back singles against Ross in the first two pitches of the fifth. Pillar went to third on a one-out fly ball up the middle Brandon Beltand a two-out walk to Austin Slater preloaded the bases Mike Yastrzemskiwhich popped out just to the right and secured third in Ross' fifth scoreless frame.

A 13-pitch, 1-2-3 sixth capped Ross' outing, leaving him with 99 total pitches and a total of 11 1⁄3 scoreless innings on the mound in two starts on the Nationals' road trip…

Joe Ross's line: 6.0 IP, 3H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 5KS, 99P, 59S, 5/5GO/FO.

Anderson vs. the Nats: Shaun AndersonThe 24-year-old was actually drafted in the 40th round in 2013 by the Nats but didn't sign, and he was eventually drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2016, signed, and then traded to the Giants in July 2017 in a deal for Eduardo Nunez.

Anderson was called up to make his MLB debut in mid-May, and heading into today's series finale against the Nationals at Oracle Park, the right-hander (3-3) had made 15 starts, posting a 5.08 ERA, 28 walks, 53 Ks, 11 HRs allowed and a .293/.353/.467 line against it in 79 2⁄3 IP.

Two hits in a row Trea Turner And Adam Eaton started Anderson's first career game against the Nationals, and both runners moved up by one Anthony Rendon Groundout to second before Turner hit an RBI groundout from Juan Soto1-0.

Eaton hit a single to start the top of the third inning and Juan Soto went down with one before Gerardo Parra hit an 0-1 fastball the other way for a three-run home run that made the Nationals 4-0. Parras 7th, doo doo doo doo doo doo doo.

Shaun Anderson's line: 3.0 IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 2KS, 1HR, 66P, 39S, 4/1 GO/FO.

Power on + JuOn SotOBP: Before today's game, the leader of the Nationals Trea Turner had a 15-game on-base streak in which he was 20 for 62 (.323/.400/.548) with three doubles, one triple, three home runs, six RBIs, eight walks and 12 runs scored 15 games.

Turner extended his streak to 16 in a row with a runaway single in the first at-bat of the game and scored the Nationals' only run in the first inning.

Juan Soto came into the finale at Oracle Park with a 13-game on-base streak in which he was 12 for 46 (.261/.417/.565) with two doubles, four home runs and 13 walks.

Soto successfully singled out Giants right winger Shaun Anderson the first time around and managed a 14-game streak on base the second time around.

BULLPEN ACTION: Andrew Suarezan unsigned 2014 second-round pick of the Nationals took the mound for the Giants in the fourth round and allowed back-to-back 2-out hits Turner and Eaton, who were 5-6 overall at the time. Suarez scored Anthony Rendon to load the bases with two outs*, but got out of the jam when Steven Duggar made a diving catch in the gap in right-center to rob Juan Soto of additional bases. Still 4-0 Nats.

Suarez was eliminated from the Nationals in the fifth game of the series.

Sam Coonrod came into the game at the start of the sixth for the Giants, with the score still 4-0 in favor of the Nats, and eliminated the Nationals in order.

[ed. note: * = Anthony Rendon left the game with a sore toe a couple innings after he was hit by a pitch in the fourth. He stayed in through the top of the fifth before leaving.”]

Tanner Rainey took over for Joe Ross in the bottom of the seventh and moved the side back in order in a 16-pitch frame.

Williams Jerez worked around a single by Asdrúbal Cabrera to secure a scoreless eighth-quarter lead.

Hiking serum reached the round of 16 for the Nationals and earned a two-out single by Buster Posey and a double by Evan Longoria in a scoreless 26-pitch frame.

Reyes Moronta gave up a one-out double to center off a pinch hitter Andrew Stevenson in the bottom of the ninth, but failed as the only runner to reach base.

Daniel Hudson Scored the ninth for the Nationals, 4-0, hitting Kevin Pillar with one out before getting an RBI double to right-center from Brandon Crawford, 4-1.

That's all the Giants have. Ball game.

Final result: 4-1 Nats.

Nationals now 61-53

The post Washington Nationals sweep three-game set with San Francisco Giants with 4-1 win in finale… appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

Sports // San Francisco Giants

Nov 21, 2022Updated: Nov 21, 2022 6:54 pm

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees smiles after a solo home run by Harrison Bader in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022.

Elsa/Getty Images

The Aaron Judge stove is officially too hot to touch.

The 2022 AL MVP was seen in a San Francisco hotel in a video posted by MLB Network Monday night. Shortly after the video was posted, it was reported that Judge is in the Bay Area to meet with the Giants, one of his top suitors this offseason. Judge will meet with the team Tuesday, according to an MLB.com report, which called the Giants “one of the biggest threats to the Yankees in the Judge sweepstakes.”

Twitter

— jonmorosi Twitter

In the clip, Judge is asked what he’s doing in the city. He tells the person behind the camera that he’s “visiting some friends and family. That’s about it, that’s about it,” before winking. Judge is from Linden, a small town about 100 miles east of San Francisco. His parents still live there.

Of course, the real major breaking news from this clip is what’s happening under Judge’s chin. The 30-year-old appears to be rocking a bit of stubble as he’s prepared to explore his options during the most captivating free agency saga this winter.

The Yankees famously have a rule against facial hair on their players. Could this be a sign that Judge is preparing for a life where he no longer has to abide by such tyranny? The money might ultimately matter more, but such a change probably couldn’t hurt.

Gabe Fernandez is a sports reporter for SFGATE. You can reach him at gabe.fernandez@sfgate.com.

The post Aaron Decide noticed in San Francisco for SF Giants assembly appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

SAN FRANCISCO — The rain came, the Giants rallied, but nothing could delay the inevitable.

A collection of empty seats, rain coats and umbrellas braved the brisk and blustery conditions at Oracle Park on Sunday to watch the Giants set a regrettable franchise record, losing to the Dodgers, 4-3 in 10 innings, for the 15th time this season.

After winning 10 of their 19 meetings in 2021 and outlasting Los Angeles by one game to claim the NL West, the Giants finished this season with a worse record against their rivals than any of their 63 previous seasons in San Francisco.

In the 139-year history of the Giants, dating back to the club’s inception in New York, they have finished only one other season — 1899, when they went 2-10 — with a worse winning percentage against the Dodgers than their 4-15 (.211) record this year. Their 15 losses to LA also set a San Francisco-era record, and the 32.5 games separating the two clubs would represent the Giants’ third-furthest finish from first place since moving here in 1958.

With the exception of San Francisco’s three-game sweep here in June, there has been no debate about the better ballclub. The Dodgers won 15 of their other 16 meetings, including 13 of their final 14 to close the season. The final tally on the scoreboard: Dodgers 99, Giants 55.

Limited to five runs on 13 hits over the course of the three-game series, the Giants at least showed life in the eighth, tying the game on a ground-rule double by JD Davis but left the bases loaded for the second time of the night. Davis’ ball bouncing over the wall prevented Thairo Estrada from scoring the go-ahead run from first base, the same fate that happened on Wilmer Flores’ ground-rule double in the fourth, when the Giants also left ’em loaded.

The wind was blowing in so strongly from right-center field that a would-be game-winning home run off the bat of Joc Pederson with two on in the 10th was turned in to a 396-foot flyout, blown in by 21 feet, according to Weather Applied, which tracks the impact of wind conditions at ballparks.

When the wind was blowing more and the rain coming down harder as the game started, Los Angeles leadoff man Trea Trea Turner’s fly ball on the first pitch of the game was blown in 58 feet.

Neither the miserable conditions nor the 20-minute delay caused by them fazed Giants starter Alex Cobb, who has a 1.57 ERA over his past five starts and kept up his strong stretch of pitching Sunday. Cobb limited the dangerous Dodgers lineup to two runs — a leadoff walk and a leadoff double that came around to score — over 5⅓ innings.

San Francisco’s bullpen blanked the Dodgers for the rest of regulation, but Mookie Betts doubled home the automatic runner in the top of the 10th and Thomas Szapucki forced home an insurance run with a bases-loaded walk. The two-run cushion proved too much in the bottom half for the Giants, who got an RBI single from Flores, a couple walks and a couple close-call fly balls but nothing else.

Some three hours earlier, at about 5:10 pm, Justin Turner doubled home Freddie Freeman for the Dodgers’ first run. At 5:40, Cobb retired the final out of the fourth inning. It wasn’t particularly strenuous, as you might expect from a 30-minute inning, but rather interrupted by one of the intermittent downpours over Oracle Park on Sunday.

The delay came with two outs in the top of the fourth and lasted 20 minutes.

Rookie outfielder Heliot Ramos, manning right field in his second game since being called up from Triple-A, had maybe the most intimate interactions with the conditions Sunday afternoon.

Turner hit a fly ball to right field on the first pitch of the game that appeared to be on a trajectory for McCovey Cove, or at least Levi’s Landing. But it ran into a wall of wind that knocked it down, turning it into a single one that fell in front of Ramos, who had taken his first few steps toward the wall.

Turner’s single ultimately traveled 327 feet, according to Statcast. But it was blown in by 58 feet, more than any other fly ball in the history of Oracle Park, according to Weather Applied, which tracks the impact of wind conditions at ballparks.

Recording the second out of the fourth — the final play before the game went into delay — Ramos tracked down another fly ball from Trayce Thompson but lost his footing on the wet grass while trying to throw back to the infield.

The slick ground, however, didn’t prevent Ramos from robbing Turner of extra bases and an RBI to end the third inning.

For a change, Cobb benefitted from the defense behind him. At one point this season, the difference between his actual ERA and his expected ERA was the largest in the majors, and the figures are still separated by almost half a run.

With Betts getting a running start at first base, after Cobb issued a two-out walk, Ramos sprinted from his spot in shallow right field and made a leaping grab to chase down a line drive from Turner that appeared destined for Triples Alley.

It didn’t take long for Turner to get his revenge, though, doubling to lead off the sixth and coming home to score the Dodgers’ second run on a single by Freeman.

©#YR@ MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The post On moist, windy day at Oracle Park, Giants wrap equally dreary season sequence with fifteenth loss to Dodgers appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

MILWAUKEE — Garrett Mitchell hit an RBI double and the Milwaukee Brewers withstood Freddy Peralta’s early exit to beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 and complete a doubleheader sweep Thursday night.

In the opening game, Corbin Burnes struck out 14 and allowed three hits in eight shutout innings in a 2-1 victory.

Peralta left the second game due to fatigue in his right shoulder after walking Tommy La Stella to lead off the third inning. The Brewers led 3-0 at the time.

The Brewers are at home for 20 of their last 26 games, a stretch that started with this double header. They’re hoping that schedule helps them go on a late surge as they attempt to chase down the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres for the NL’s final wild-card spots.

“Having all these home games at the end is definitely going to help us with this playoff push, but it takes some good baseball for us to get in there,” Burnes said.

Burnes entered this doubleheader having allowed 17 earned runs in 21 innings over his last four starts. But he dominated the Giants and showcased the form that enabled him to win the NL Cy Young Award last season.

He struck out 10 or more batters for the ninth time this season to tie the Brewers’ single-season record set by Ben Sheets in 2004. Burnes (10-6) also holds the franchise record for double-digit strikeout games with 21.

The 14 strikeouts were one off Burnes’ career high. He had 15 in a 10-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 11, 2021.

“Nothing new,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “That’s Corbin Burnes. That was as good as we’ve seen him. His stuff was carrying through the zone. He was hitting the top of the zone. His cutter was working well. The ball was moving all over the place. It’s tough to name five better starters in baseball.”

Burnes needed to be at his best to outduel San Francisco’s Jakob Junis (4-5), who struck out four and allowed three hits, two runs and two walks in six innings. Junis entered in the second inning, relieving opener Scott Alexander.

The Giants opened the scoring in the third inning as LaMonte Ward hit a two-out single and came home on Mike Yastrzemski’s double. Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich and Hunter Renfroe hit consecutive RBI doubles in the fourth.

Milwaukee took the lead for good in the second game by scoring three runs in the first inning off Alex Young (0-1). Only one of the runs was earned.

Joc Pederson homered for the Giants in the second game.

Milwaukee’s Peter Strzelecki (2-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief to get the win in the second game.

Devin Williams got his 11th save in 12 opportunities in the first game. Taylor Rogers finished the second game for his 31st save in 39 opportunities.

The two teams combined for just 16 hits in the double header. The Brewers had nine and the Giants had seven.

SIBLING RIVALRIES

This doubleheader had two sets of brothers facing off.

Taylor Rogers and Giants reliever Tyler Rogers are identical twins. San Francisco’s Scott Alexander is the older brother of Brewers right-hander Jason Alexander.

Jason Alexander is the Brewers’ scheduled starter Friday, so he was unlikely to pitch in Thursday’s doubleheader.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the last time two sets of brothers played against each other in the same game was Aug. 6, 1977, when St. Louis’ Hector Cruz and Bob Forsch and Houston’s Jose Cruz and Ken Forsch all played in a game the Cardinals won 3-1. Elias’ records only accounted for instances in which all four siblings saw action in the game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers IF Luis Urías was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Sean Hjelle in the sixth inning of the second game. Urías remained in the game after a brief delay.

RHP Justin Topa was designated as the Brewers’ 29th man for the doubleheader. Topa hadn’t pitched in the majors since Sept. 3, 2021, as he recovered from a third elbow surgery. … The Brewers also reinstated INF Mike Brosseau (right oblique) from the injured list and optioned OF Esteury Ruiz to Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

Giants: Stay on the road to begin a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. Scheduled starters Friday are LHP Carlos Rodón (12-7, 2.92 ERA) for the Giants and LHP Drew Smyly (5-8, 3.84) for the Cubs.

Brewers: Stay home to start a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds. Jason Alexander (2-2, 5.03) starts for the Brewers on Friday with LHP Nick Lodolo (3-5, 3.95) pitching for the Reds.

The post Brewers full doubleheader sweep of Giants; Peralta exits early | Milwaukee Brewers appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

On Saturday, the San Francisco Giants retired the number of Mississippi State legend Will Clark, who is most famous in the Magnolia State for his role in the “Thunder and Lightning” tandem.

During a pregame ceremony at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Clark became the 11th San Francisco Giant to have his number retired. The Giants placed Clark’s number 22 between Major League Baseball phenoms in Monte Irvin and Willie Mays, who wore numbers 20 and 24, respectively.

Although the Giants typically retire the numbers of players who are members of the MLB Hall of Fame, the team changed its protocol in 2018 when they retired Barry Bonds’ number and essentially decided to place the same honor on Clark.

“This right here is my Hall of Fame. To be recognized with the incredible names of this historical franchise is beyond belief,” Clark said during his number retirement speech. “I always wanted to win and have others around me be winners. We all did that together here. I am Will ‘the Thrill’ Clark, I am part of San Francisco and I am forever a Giant.”

The Giants had initially planned to hold Clark’s number retirement ceremony in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused the event to be postponed for two years. The delay seemed a bit serendipitous given the retirement was held in 2022, 22 years after Clark’s last game as a Giant and one in which the number 22 was honored.

Over his 15-year MLB career, Clark appeared in six All-Star games, won two Silver Slugger Awards, won a Golden Glove award, and hit 284 home runs.

The post San Francisco Giants retire variety of MSU legend Will Clark appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.