Giants Win Four-Game Series Over NY Mets
Yastrzemski Homers in 12th – Giants over NY Mets 3-2
San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski, right, is congratulated by third base coach Ron Wotus (23) after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the 12th inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2019.07.21 – Mike Yastrzemski homer a walk-off blast to give the San Francisco Giants a four-game series win over the New York Mets as they improved their record to 50-50 for the season.
It was the sixth walk-off win of the season for the Giants, who have now captured five consecutive series to improve to .500 overall.
The rookie homered with one out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Giants a 3-2 victory over the NY Mets on Sunday. the Giants remain 2½ games back of the second wild-card spot in the National League.
Buster Posey had two hits and scored twice to help San Francisco take three of four for its first series win over the Mets since 2014. All three wins came in extra innings.
The Giants hadn’t had a hit since the fourth when Yastrzemski lofted a full-count pitch from Robert Gsellman (1-2) the other way into the left-center stands. Yastrzemski is the grandson of Hall of Fame slugger Carl Yastrzemski.
2019.07.21 (San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets) See video
2019.07.21 (San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets) See video
“We’re a bunch of grinders right now,” Yastrzemski said. “It’s fun being a part of something like this. For most of us, we just want to win today. It doesn’t matter what happens, we’re going to try to win ballgames regardless of who’s in the clubhouse.”
Zach Green added two hits in his major league debut for the Giants.
The Giants have some banged-up players right now. Alex Dickerson’s back is bothering him. Brandon Belt’s knee isn’t fully healthy. Others have the type of aches and pains usually associated with suiting up nearly every day for close to four months.
“It’s fun to watch how the different guys have done something different to help us win,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. “To win these close games, it does a lot for a club. The three we won could have gone either way.”
Giants general manager Farhan Zaidi acknowledged early Sunday he’s keeping an open mind as the July 31 trade deadline approaches and has yet to decide whether his team will be buyers or sellers.
A month ago, Zaidi seemed to have an easy choice. But with the surging Giants (50-50) having won 15 of 18 to get back to .500, San Francisco’s front office has had to rethink about putting Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith on the trading block.
“If we continue to play well, that will obviously color things in a certain way,” Zaidi said before the game, adding he continues to field calls from other clubs inquiring about potential trades. “We’re excited about how we’re playing.”
Michael Conforto homered into McCovey Cove for the Mets. Amed Rosario also went deep, but New York managed only two hits over the final 10 innings. Todd Frazier struck out swinging four times before reaching on an infield single in the 12th.
“Three extra-inning games and we can’t get it done,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “I was surprised (Yastrzemski’s home run) got out, especially who hit it. It just kept on going.”
Trevor Gott (6-0) retired three batters for the win.
Both teams were frustrated with the strike zone of plate umpire Mark Ripperger.
Mets rookie slugger Pete Alonso snapped a bat over his leg after striking out swinging. Giants center fielder Kevin Pillar had to be restrained by teammates and was ejected for chirping at Ripperger after grounding out to end the eighth.
Mets starter Steven Matz allowed six hits and two runs in six innings with six strikeouts and one walk. Winless since June 8, Matz retired the last six batters he faced — including the final three by strikeout.
FIRST TIME
Giants starter Conner Menez had six strikeouts and allowed three hits and two runs in five innings of his major league debut. The 24-year-old lefty struck out the side in the third.
Menez is a native of Northern California and had about 60 family members and friends in attendance.
“I feel like I’m still on cloud 9,” Menez said.
SUPERMAN STYLE
Before he was ejected, Pillar made another in a long line of defensive gems when he raced in and made a sliding catch on Alonso’s short fly ball in the first inning, then jumped to his feet and threw out J.D. Davis attempting to take third. Davis had doubled one batter earlier.
DEFENSIVE DOINGS
New York right fielder Jeff McNeil was shaken up when he crashed into the padded right field wall in foul territory after making a running catch on Donovan Solano’s deep fly to end the seventh. McNeil slammed into the wall and immediately fell to the dirt before getting up and jogging slowly to the dugout.
ROSTER MOVES
In a series of transactions, the Giants brought up Menez and Green from Triple-A Sacramento, while reliever Derek Holland and infielder Ryder Jones were designated for assignment. Menez takes the place of Drew Pomeranz in San Francisco’s rotation. LHP Ty Blach was optioned to Sacramento.
Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler (right shoulder fatigue) threw a bullpen before the game and came out of it fine. Wheeler is eligible to come off the injured list Monday, and Callaway indicated the team will wait to see how he responds before making a decision.
UP NEXT
Mets: LHP Jason Vargas (4-5, 4.25 ERA) will start Tuesday night against San Diego when New York returns to Citi Field to begin a six-game homestand.
Giants: RHP Shaun Anderson (3-2, 4.87) faces the Chicago Cubs. The Giants host the Cubs for three games, starting tonight, before they finally get their first day off since the end of the MLB All-Star break.
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
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For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Alonso Hits 33rd Homer – Mets beat the Giants 11-4
New York Mets’ Pete Alonso, right, celebrates with Jeff McNeil (6) after hitting a three-run home run off San Francisco Giants’ Derek Holland in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 20, 2019, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2019.07.20 – Pete Alonso came off the bench and hit his 33rd home run, setting the New York Mets rookie record for RBIs as New York beat the San Francisco Giants 11-4 to end the Giants’ seven-game winning streak.
“Results, positive results,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “We went through a two-day lull, it was tough, but we got back on track today.”
Dominic Smith, Jeff McNeil and Todd Frazier all went deep as the Mets powered up with four home runs, one day after losing 1-0 in 10 innings. Walker Lockett (1-1) pitched five mostly sharp innings to earn his first major league victory.
Alonso set another record after making a small tweak to his swing. Smith quickly got redemption. And the Mets bounced back from a pair of frustrating extra-inning losses.
Before the game Callaway said that he felt Alonso needed a break with his young first baseman in a 3-for-30 slump coming out of the All-Star break after winning the Home Run Derby.
2019.07.20 (San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets) See video
2019.07.20 (San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets) See video
Alonso wasn’t happy — “I don’t feel worn down,” he said — but used the time to work on his swing, then took a spot on the bench until Callaway called for him to pinch-hit in the pitcher’s spot in the sixth.
Alonso’s three-run homer off Derek Holland gave him 75 RBIs, one more than Darryl Strawberry had as a Mets rookie in 1983. Alonso already holds the franchise rookie records for home runs and extra-base hits.
“It was a great mental health day,” Alonso said. “I went down in the third inning and worked on some stuff in the cage. I was looking in too big of an area. The ball needs to start in a smaller window, and the pitch that I hit the home run started in that small, tight window where I wanted it.”
Callaway beamed afterward.
“That’s what you want,” Callaway said. “One at-bat, three RBIs, a homer and go rest some more.”
New York is 5-3 on its nine-game road trip. The Mets’ only other winning road trip came when they started the year 5-1 away from Citi Field.
Pablo Sandoval singled four times for the Giants. San Francisco (49-50) had won 14 of 16 and was attempting to get above .500 for the first time this season.
“We didn’t swing the bats like we have been,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Just a little off. One of those days where they had their day and it’s a rough day for us.”
Lockett gave up five hits and one run after being called up from Triple-A Syracuse before the game. He struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Smith, whose error in left field in the 10th inning allowed the winning run to score Friday night, hit a solo home run in the second, had an RBI single in the fourth then added a two-run single in the ninth.
“I just wanted to turn the page from last night,” Smith said. “That’s something that none of us wants to do. To come back today and play well and the team play well, it was fun.”
McNeil homered in the fifth off the foul pole in right. Frazier hit his 13th home run in the sixth, four batters before Alonso went deep.
Jeff Samardzija (7-8) allowed four runs and six hits in five innings. He has lost all six career starts against the Mets.
MESSY MOP-UP
New York reliever Stephen Nogosek entered with a 10-run lead in the ninth but struggled for the final three outs. Nogosek gave up a two-run home run to Alex Dickerson and a one-out solo shot by Mike Yastrzemski before getting a flyout and strikeout to end it.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
The Mets optioned right-hander Jacob Rhame to Syracuse to make room for Lockett. Rhame was the losing pitcher Friday.
HONORING WILLIE MAC
The Junior Giants Stretch Drive that honors the legacy of Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey ends Sunday. Proceeds from the three-day event will help fund the program which supports 24,000 children in underserved communities. McCovey passed away last October.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: 3B Evan Longoria (plantar fasciitis) is still wearing a walking boot on his left foot but has resumed baseball activities. Longoria played catch and did some light throwing before the game.
UP NEXT
Mets LHP Steven Matz (5-6, 4.87 ERA) is winless in his previous five starts heading into Sunday’s series finale. The Giants plan to call up LHP Connor Menez to make his major league debut Sunday. Menez was 2-0 with a 3.82 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Sacramento.
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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Dickerson Walk Off in 10th – Giants past Mets 1-0
San Francisco Giants Brandon Crawford works against the New York Mets in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2019.07.19 – Alex Dickerson raced home from first on a botched fly ball to shallow left field with two outs to score in the 10th inning and the San Francisco Giants won their season-high seventh straight game, 1-0 over the New York Mets.
The way the pitchers on both teams were dealing, it figured that it might take a miscue in the field for either team to score.
A botched fly ball between Mets left fielder Dominic Smith and shortstop Amed Rosario did the trick for the Giants for a second straight season.
2019.07.19 (San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets) See video
2019.07.19 (San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets) See video
“We got a break,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “You take it. You saw some great pitching tonight, that’s what the story of that game was. Just terrific pitching on both sides. … You take it any way you can and we got a break there, which we needed.”
The misplay in the field ended a night dominated by starting pitchers Jacob deGrom of New York and Tyler Beede of San Francisco, and was eerily reminiscent of a game last August between these same two teams in New York. In the 13th inning of that game, Smith collided with Rosario on a shallow fly ball by Brandon Crawford, allowing Andrew McCutchen to score the winning run in a 2-1 game.
That play was on Smith’s mind when Pablo Sandoval hit a fly ball off Jacob Rhame (0-1) that looked like it would be a routine out to end the inning. Smith didn’t aggressively approach the ball this time to avoid Rosario and the ball fell safely.
“I had a good read on it and at the last second got a little scared because last year we collided,” Smith said. “I just took my eye off the ball because what had happened and ended up dropping it.”
Dickerson never stopped running and scored when cutoff man Todd Frazier’s throw home was off target, sending the Giants pouring out of the dugout in celebration.
“I was just going as hard as I could,” Dickerson said. “Once it dropped, I was going to do everything I could to get home.”
Sam Dyson (4-1) pitched a perfect 10th for the win
The victory lifted the Giants’ record to 49-49, the first time they have been at .500 since the start of the season.
Both starting pitchers were sharp, with Beede retiring 11 straight batters following a leadoff single by Jeff McNeil and allowing only one runner to get into scoring position. He was extremely efficient, needing just 89 pitches to get through a career-high eight innings. He allowed just three hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Reigning NL Cy Young winner deGrom was far more overpowering with 10 strikeouts in seven innings, inducing 25 swings and misses. The Giants had only three hits and were unable to convert after putting runners in scoring position in the final three innings against deGrom.
The Mets lost the first two games of this series despite two sparkling starts from deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, who combined to allow one run in 14 innings.
“Two fantastic outings by our starters going seven. You have to win those,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “All losses are hard to swallow.”
TRAINERS ROOM
Mets: Zack Wheeler (right shoulder) threw 13 pitches off the mound and played catch before the game. If he comes out of that feeling well he could be ready for a bullpen session. … RHP Tyler Bashlor and RHP Stephen Nogosek were recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to add fresh arms to the bullpen. RHP Chris Mazza and INF Luis Guillorme were optioned to Syracuse.
Giants: LHP Ty Blach was called up from Triple-A Sacramento to take the place of LHP Williams Jerez, who was optioned after getting the win Thursday night.
MOVING UP
With five strikeouts in the first three innings, deGrom moved past Ron Darling for sixth in Mets history with 1,149. He added five more and is 18 behind David Cone for fifth.
UP NEXT
Jeff Samardzija (7-7) looks to win his fourth straight start when he takes the mound for the Giants against rookie Walker Lockett (0-1) and the Mets.
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
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Bumgarner Throws a Gem – Giants past NY Mets 3-2 on 16th
San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) pitches against the New York Mets in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, July 18, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
2019.07.18 – Madison Bumgarner pitched nine superb innings to an ovation of sheer appreciation, and the San Francisco Giants rallied past the New York Mets on Donovan Solano’s 16th-inning RBI single for a 3-2 win at Oracle Park.
You bet Bumgarner pleaded to Bruce Bochy to start the 10th inning. And of course the big left-hander remained a little irked afterward considering he didn’t get the chance.
“I didn’t try to make it much of a conversation but he wasn’t having it. Usually if I really want to I can get my way with him, but he wasn’t having it today,” Bumgarner said, then chuckled adding, “How many times do you get to go out for the 10th?”
If this happened to be Bumgarner’s final start for San Francisco, he left another lasting memory — even if everybody wound up groggy by the time this game finally ended in 4 hours, 47 minutes.
“He lobbied, trust me, he did, in fact I came in after the game he’s still mad at me for not letting him go out there in the 10th,” Bochy said. “He did his job.”
The Giants finished their season-best sixth straight victory hours after Bumgarner wrapped up his longest start since a nine-inning shutout against Arizona on July 10, 2016. He threw just 94 pitches.
2019.07.18 (San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets) See video
2019.07.18 (San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets) See video
The Mets went ahead on rookie Pete Alonso’s 32nd home run leading off the 16th before San Francisco made it 2-2 on Brandon Crawford’s double in the bottom half. Solano delivered against Chris Mazza (0-1) for his second career walkoff hit and RBI — the other also came against the Mets for the Marlins on Oct. 2, 2012.
Williams Jerez (1-0) worked two innings for his first career win.
The Mets followed a season-best 14 runs and 17 hits in Wednesday’s 14-4 road victory against the Twins by having their four-game winning streak snapped.
Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard dueled to no-decisions, neither willing to give this one away.
The Giants relievers did their part, too, as Bumgarner paced around the clubhouse for all those extra innings.
Tony Watson worked a 1-2-3 12th after Reyes Moronta’s perfect 11th. Will Smith escaped a bases-loaded jam in the 10th with a strikeout of Jeff McNeil.
Bumgarner allowed five hits and walked one in what could be the countdown on his decorated tenure for the Giants if they decide to trade him before this month’s deadline.
“I’m here to win games for this team, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.
The lefty ace allowed McNeil’s leadoff single in the ninth then was initially credited with getting J.D. Davis to ground into a double play, but the Mets challenged the call and it was overturned on replay after 48 seconds.
MadBum still got out of it and received a rousing ovation as he walked off the mound.
“It means a lot. I’ve been through a lot here and I’ve been here for a long time,” Bumgarner said. “That’s special, it is.”
Alonso’s groundout in the first put the Mets ahead. San Francisco tied it on Kevin Pillar’s sacrifice fly in the fourth. Both teams had other chances, but each starter consistently worked out of jams.
Syndergaard and Bumgarner had previously matched up June 4 at Citi Field with neither earning a decision but also in the 2016 NL wild card game during which Bumgarner tossed a four-hitter in the 3-0 win and Syndergaard pitched seven shutout innings.
Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, owns a 7-0 record with a 1.63 ERA lifetime against the Mets including that wild-card gem.
Bumgarner’s 21st start of the season matched his total from an injury-shortened 2018 season after he only made 17 starts in 2017 when he also was hurt.
“The guy’s a competitor, he knows how to pitch. He knows what our hitters are trying to do and he knows how to get them out,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “He threw a hell of a game.”
Shortstop Brandon Crawford’s reliable, sparkling defense backed Bumgarner and the bullpen all night.
Syndergaard, who has won his last four decisions, allowed one run on six hits over seven innings, struck out eight and walked one.
The Giants returned home from a four-game sweep at Colorado and won for the ninth time in 10 games and 13th in 15.
POSEY’S KS
Buster Posey recorded his first career four-strikeout game, going 1 for 7 with a single in the 15th.
STRETCH AGAIN
Fans took to heart the request for a “14th-inning stretch” requested by public address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon.
PIGEON PARTY
Close to two dozen pigeons gathered in left field during the first inning unfazed by any balls off the bat. Members of the grounds crew believe the birds — who flew away after about 10 minutes — overate some fresh, high-quality grass seed.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: RHP Zack Wheeler, sidelined by shoulder fatigue, was scheduled to play catch for a second straight day. “Playing catch and continuing to play catch will dictate a lot what goes on next, so we’ll just kind of feel him out day to day and see where we’re at,” Callaway said. He named RHP Walker Lockett his Saturday starter in Wheeler’s place.
Giants: Bochy checked with Pablo Sandoval and was prepared to give him a break but the third baseman reported he was fine to play after seven straight games. Sandoval received the Heart & Hustle award in a pregame ceremony on the field.
UP NEXT
RHP Jacob deGrom (5-7, 3.21 ERA) pitches Friday night for New York opposite Giants RHP Tyler Beede (3-3, 5.44) in his 14th career appearance and with San Francisco having gone 7-2 in his outings and winning five of his last six. Beede pinch hit in the 14th Thursday.
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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