39
SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Giants limping toward distant finish line Ann Killion The Giants limped back home Thursday with the most losses in the majors, following a 3-6 road trip that included the kind of futility that the team hadn’t witnessed in 95 years. Waiting to greet them at AT&T Park were the Cincinnati Reds, the same team that humiliated and embarrassed the Giants last weekend, beating them by a cumulative 26 runs, the Giants’ largest margin of defeat in a series since the 1922 Pirates beat them 37-10. “It was a rough trip,” manager Bruce Bochy said. How bad was the road trip for Bochy? In a Kentucky Derby pool, he drew Thunder Snow. The horse that bucked out of the gate and didn’t finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of the gate, too — they are off to a dreadful start, skittering around the track. However, unlike Thunder Snow, they don’t plan on abandoning the race. “We’ve got a lot of season left,” Hunter Pence said. “The results are not acceptable. They’re not what we want. “But we have a lot of time before the All-Star break to climb back to .500 and get things rolling. We’re looking for that slingshot.” The Giants hoped that the final game of the road trip — which rookie Christian Arroyo won in the ninth in New York with a bases-loaded double — would catapult them into winning mode. But the 2017 Giants are momentum repellent. On Thursday, the Giants lost to the Reds 3-2, coming up short in a ninth-inning rally. The only time the Giants have won consecutive games was in the second week of the season, April 9 and 10. “The mood is as you might expect with all the losses we’ve had,” Buster Posey said before the game. “But each day, there seems to be a sense of, ‘All right, this is the day we get on a roll.’ Unfortunately, we just haven’t been able to do that.”

SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    0

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017

San Francisco Chronicle Giants limping toward distant finish line Ann Killion The Giants limped back home Thursday with the most losses in the majors, following a 3-6 road trip that included the kind of futility that the team hadn’t witnessed in 95 years. Waiting to greet them at AT&T Park were the Cincinnati Reds, the same team that humiliated and embarrassed the Giants last weekend, beating them by a cumulative 26 runs, the Giants’ largest margin of defeat in a series since the 1922 Pirates beat them 37-10. “It was a rough trip,” manager Bruce Bochy said. How bad was the road trip for Bochy? In a Kentucky Derby pool, he drew Thunder Snow. The horse that bucked out of the gate and didn’t finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of the gate, too — they are off to a dreadful start, skittering around the track. However, unlike Thunder Snow, they don’t plan on abandoning the race. “We’ve got a lot of season left,” Hunter Pence said. “The results are not acceptable. They’re not what we want. “But we have a lot of time before the All-Star break to climb back to .500 and get things rolling. We’re looking for that slingshot.” The Giants hoped that the final game of the road trip — which rookie Christian Arroyo won in the ninth in New York with a bases-loaded double — would catapult them into winning mode. But the 2017 Giants are momentum repellent. On Thursday, the Giants lost to the Reds 3-2, coming up short in a ninth-inning rally. The only time the Giants have won consecutive games was in the second week of the season, April 9 and 10. “The mood is as you might expect with all the losses we’ve had,” Buster Posey said before the game. “But each day, there seems to be a sense of, ‘All right, this is the day we get on a roll.’ Unfortunately, we just haven’t been able to do that.”

Page 2: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

The Giants’ situation is strange. They look like a terrible team, yet we know that they have plenty of players who aren’t terrible. They haven’t figured out their outfield problems, but can the lack of a left fielder unravel an entire team? Critics are saying their window is shutting, but the core of the team is still in its prime. What is obvious is that the Giants have gone through a bunch of disturbing things early in the season, from losing Madison Bumgarner to a dirt-bike accident, to Posey’s beaning, to Brandon Crawford’s personal tragedy. Those are things that can cast a pall over a team, can take a mental toll. “You’ve got to stay away from that or you’re going to compound the problem,” Bochy said. “Hopefully, you’ve created enough depth to where you can overcome that, but we haven’t shown that. That’s what’s disappointed me. Maybe, mentally, we have let it affect us.” Over the years, the Giants have grown older and less quirky. Their youth and oddball quality — the “band of misfits” vibe — helped them to their first two World Series titles in 2010 and 2012. Bumgarner won them a World Series in 2014. Right now, they’re missing all of that. They are a buttoned-down, businesslike team that needs an infusion of something: youthful energy or weirdness. That’s not the kind of stuff you can manufacture. “I’ve heard people comment that we need to have fire,” Posey said. “The reality is it’s hard to have that fire if things aren’t going well. You can’t be fired up when stuff doesn’t go your way. But what Christian did (Wednesday), that’s a fired-up moment.” Posey provided some fired-up moments as well, homering in all three games in New York (he lined out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth Thursday). He said he has had no ill effects from being hit in the head in the home opener (and reached over to knock wood while saying that). Posey is concentrating not only on his game, but also on picking up his teammates. “Some of our pitchers are young,” he said. “For me, it’s important to keep those guys feeling good about the stuff they do well and not harp on the negative stuff.” But he admits the vibe in the clubhouse is different than in past years. “You’d be lying if you said it was the same,” Posey said. “We haven’t played well.” There’s a reason for baseball’s one-game-at-a-time cliche. Baseball is not for the emotionally susceptible. Players like Posey don’t betray too much joy when things are going well, because they know there can be stretches like this. “Baseball is a finicky game,” Pence said. “It can go in swings of terrible lows and terrible highs. “There’s a little bit of a suffocating feeling where nothing is going right and you feel like the hamster in the wheel is going as hard as you can. … We’ve got to remember this is a game we love, it’s our passion, it’s our creativity. Remember the joy.”

Page 3: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

So the Giants will plug along. They’re not abandoning the horse race. Not yet. “We’ll keep going,” Pence said, “and let the mystery of baseball reveal itself.” San Francisco Chronicle Giants fail to build on New York win, fall to Reds again Henry Schulman Bruce Bochy replayed Thursday night’s 3-2 loss in his mind and called it “hard to figure” after Denard Span came off the disabled list and had four hits from the leadoff spot, including a homer and double, and Ty Blach overcame Saturday’s 10-run embarrassment in Cincinnati to dominate the Reds for seven innings. Had Bochy scanned the box score a bit closer and seen his club’s typically awful number with runners in scoring position, this time 0-for-6, the Giants’ 24th loss in 36 games this season would have been a lot easier to comprehend. Playing at AT&T Park for the first time in 11 days, the Giants reminded the faithful that they can lose any style of game the opponent wants to play, particularly the Reds. Cincinnati pantsed the Giants 31-5 over three games last weekend, then won a tight one in the opener of a four-game series in San Francisco. The Giants got their runs on Span’s first homer of the season and Brandon Belt’s first at home, but the game ended fittingly when Belt flied out against Raisel Iglesias after Span’s fourth hit, a single, put runners on the corners with two outs. “It was such a big night for him,” Bochy said of Span. “That makes this game a little bit tougher. And it was such a great game for Blach against the club that beat him up pretty good. “You can lose a little bit of confidence with a game like that. He was probably a little bit embarrassed, really, and he came back to throw a game like this. I’m proud of him.” The Giants in a lost season cannot take pride in a feat as mundane as back-to-back wins. Thursday was their 12th opportunity to do it and the 11th time they failed. “It sucks for sure, but it’s not something we’re focused on,” losing pitcher Hunter Strickland said. “I didn’t even know that stat. I can’t sit here and feel sorry for myself. We’ve got to come out and play tomorrow.” Strickland lost because of two extra-base hits in the eighth inning on 0-2 pitches, a sin the entire staff has committed far too often this year. Scooter Gennett’s triple and Zack Cozart’s double were the 22nd and 23rd 0-2 hits the Giants have allowed, third most in the National League. That includes three doubles, two triples and two homers. “No question this has been an issue,” Bochy said. “Balls shouldn’t get hit that hard. We’re not executing 0-2 pitches. We’re giving up not just base hits, but balls hit really well.”

Page 4: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Strickland’s curveball to Gennett was not terrible. It had good break and met Gennett’s bat below his knees, but the right-hander needed to bury the pitch in the dirt to the low-ball hitter. Catcher Nick Hundley wanted a high fastball to Cozart. The ball was not nearly high enough, and Cozart crushed it for the winning RBI. The coaches have reminded pitchers they must make better 0-2 pitches. “We’re all aware of that,” Strickland said. “Obviously, we’ve been struggling. We’ve got to bear down and execute better.” Which is precisely what Blach did in a great bounceback against the Reds. Five nights after they banged 11 hits in three innings off the left-hander, he held them to five hits in seven innings. Two were singles by Billy Hamilton, who is hitting .529 in 15 at-bats against the Giants and .221 against everyone else. Hamilton scored both runs charged to Blach, who admitted his battering in Saturday’s 14-2 loss “definitely gives you a little motivation.” A little motivation from Blach plus one or two clutch hits might have allowed the Giants to build on Wednesday’s comeback win. In 2017, getting both is a lot to ask. San Francisco Chronicle Denard Span, Brandon Crawford return to Giants Henry Schulman Center fielder Denard Span was supposed to play three rehab games for Class A San Jose, but hey, after he broke up a Rancho Cucamonga no-hitter with a sixth-inning hit Wednesday night, what else did he have to prove? “Even though I wasn’t going to play nine innings, at least I could help us get a hit here,” Span said, smiling. “It was the least I could do.” Span felt no ill effects from the April 22 shoulder injury that landed him on the disabled list. The Giants activated him before Thursday night’s game against the Reds along with shortstop Brandon Crawford (groin strain). Span returned to his customary leadoff spot and Crawford batted fourth with catcher Buster Posey getting a planned night off. Neither Span nor Crawford was hitting before their injuries, but the Giants missed their defense, particularly Crawford’s, and understand they need all of their regulars — those coming off the DL and those who built the 12-23 record — to elevate their games for the club to start winning. Crawford and Span returned to a different team, with Christian Arroyo’s presence. Eduardo Nuñez will need to make the biggest adjustment. He will be the regular left fielder more or less. “I’d like to keep this lineup pretty consistent,” said manager Bruce Bochy, who had done anything but that over the first 35 games. However, Nuñez will get infield time too, starting Saturday, when Bochy

Page 5: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

plans to give Arroyo his first day off. Brandon Belt could go to left, but Bochy might start Justin Ruggiano or Michael Morse instead. Bochy was not reluctant to put Span back at leadoff after Joe Panik went 3-for-20 in five games atop the order. Bochy said he hoped the team would get a psychological boost from seeing Span and Crawford play. The two feel better now that they can help try to make 12-23 a distant memory. “The hardest thing about not being able to play was not being able to grind with these guys,” Span said. “Hopefully, I can bring some energy and help get this team on track.” The Giants cleared roster space by optioning pitcher Reyes Moronta back to Double-A Richmond, Va., and placing Conor Gillaspie on the disabled list with back spasms that Bochy said had worsened. Moronta is expected to be promoted to Tripe-A Sacramento soon. San Francisco Chronicle Giants expected to activate Span and Crawford on Thursday Henry Schulman It appears the Giants will be closer to “whole” than expected when they open a four-game home series against the Reds on Thursday night. The Giants already said they planned to activate shortstop Brandon Crawford (groin strain) from the 10-day disabled list after playing in two rehab games for Double-A Richmond, Va. Now, it sounds like center fielder Denard Span (sternoclavicular sprain) could be activated after two rehab games at Class A San Jose. Span was expected to play three games in San Jose. Span had two hits for the little Giants on Wednesday night, though after rehabbing Dodgers starter Rich Hill pitched five shutout innings for Rancho Cucamonga. It will be interesting to see whether manager Bruce Bochy maintains Joe Panik at leadoff or returns Span to his ordinary spot. The Giants have sent reliever Reyes Moronta back to Richmond after a one-day stint in the majors. They will have to make another 25-man move to clear a spot for Span. They would have to designate for assignment any of the extra outfielders (Justin Ruggiano, Gorkys Hernandez, Michael Morse) but could option infielder Kelby Tomlinson. Crawford has not played in the majors since he injured the groin in an April 25 home game against the Dodgers, the night before he started what was to be a three-day bereavement leave. Span injured his shoulder area while crashing into the wall at Coors Field as he caught a Charlie Blackmon drive April 22.

Page 6: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Ty Blach faces Bronson Arroyo in Thursday’s series opener, as the Giants again try to win consecutive games for the second time in 2017. Blach allowed 10 runs (eight earned) in three innings in his last start Saturday during the Giants’ lost weekend in Cincinnati. San Jose Mercury News Giants brutal slide continues against Reds at home Jerry McDonald SAN FRANCISCO — It was nothing like the Great American Ball Park massacre less than a week ago, but it was painful just the same. The unexpected return of center fielder Denard Span and a bounce back outing by starting pitcher Ty Blach made the Giants more competitive Thursday night, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at AT&T Park. The Reds broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth inning when reliever and losing pitcher Hunter Strickland (0-1) served up a pair of 0-2 pitches that caught too much of the plate. The first was a triple to center by pinch hitter Scooter Gennett, the second a run-scoring double by Zack Cosart one-out later that sent in the winning run. “That has been an issue,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “Balls shouldn’t be hit that hard. We’re not executing 0-2 pitches. We’re giving up not just base hits but balls that are hit really well. That came back to get us tonight.” So despite the return of Span, shortstop Brandon Crawford, and a strong performance by Blach, the Giants fell to 12-24, a .333 percentage that would be a heck of a batting average but as a winning percentage is the worst in baseball. Span, who vowed before the to provide some energy, had a double, a home run and two singles. Yet the only Giants runs came on solo home runs against soft-tossing starter Bronson Arroyo, the first by Brandon Belt in the bottom of the first inning and the second by Span in the fifth. “That’s what makes this game a little bit tougher,” Bochy said. “(Blach) did a great job of bouncing back against the same club that beat him up pretty good . .. we get the production from Denard and it was great having him back.” When the two clubs met May 5-7 in Cincinnati, the Reds outscored the Giants 31-5 in a three-game sweep and pummeled Blach for 11 hits and 10 runs (eight earned) in three innings. This time around, Blach had 1-2-3 innings give times in seven innings before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. In the fourth and sixth innings, Blach gave up a single run, one on a fielders choice and the other on Joey Votto’s RBI single. In both innings the Reds had runners on base and he limited the damage to a single run.

Page 7: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

“I think we were just able to execute a lot more quality pitches today,” Blach said. “I was able to work both sides of the plate today, that was big for us.” The Giants, meanwhile, wound up with 11 hits off Arroyo, Drew Storen, winning pitcher Wandy Peralta (2-0) and closer Riesel Iglesias, but no runs other than the two solo home runs. In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants got a one-out bloop single by Nick Hundley, and after pinch-hitter Buster Posey flied to right, Span delivered his fourth hit of the game with a single to put runners at first and third against Iglesias. Belt, who had homered in the first inning for the Giants, flied to left on the first pitch to end the game. Arroyo, 40, topped out at 83 miles per hour and opened the game with consecutive pitches of 70, 67 and 73 before Belt jumped on the first pitch for a home run. But the Giants could never mount a serious offense against the steady diet of slow, slower and slowest. “He throws the kitchen sink at you, that’s his style,” Bochy said. “But he’s not going to throw it by you so you have to hopefully stay quiet up there and don’t look at the delivery or the different arm angles. The plate’s 17 inches and you have to throw it in a box there and that is a strike.” Belt’s home run, his fifth, came when Arroyo came in with an 83 miles per hour fastball — not that he was looking for one. “I think you expect anything when he’s pitching,” Belt said. “Try not to anticipate too much because he’ll throw anything in any count, try to just see it as well as you can.” — Span was expected to play another game with AAA San Jose but told the Giants after going 2-for-6 in two games he was ready to go. “They asked how I felt after the game and I said, let’s go, let’s strap it on,” Span said. — Posey, who has homered in each of his last three games, was given a day off as scheduled, with Nick Hundley starting behind the plate. “He needs a day today,” Bochy said. “Yesterday, a day game, we put him at first and and then he ended catching a couple of innings. So he’s getting a much-needed day off.” — Utility infielder Conor Gillaspie was placed on the 10-day disabled list with back spasms and right-handed pitcher Reyes Moronta was optioned to Class AAA Richmond to make room for Span and Crawford on the roster. San Jose Mercury News Giants lineup hopes to get lift from Brandon Crawford and a surprise starter Jerry McDonald SAN FRANCISCO — Shortstop Brandon Crawford wasn’t the only Giants regular player to return to the lineup Thursday night.

Page 8: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Center fielder Denard Span, out 17 games with a shoulder injury, pronounced himself fit after two games for Class A San Jose and returned to his customary stop at the top of the lineup. Span was expected to play at least three games in San Jose before coming back to the Giants. “Yesterday after the game they asked me how I felt, I told them I felt good, let’s go, let’s strap it on,” Span said before the Giants opened a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at AT&T Park. Crawford, who missed 11 games with a groin injury, also returned as expected. “I think any time you get somebody back, one of you guys, much less two, I think it does a lot for the confidence of the ballclub,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s nothing against the guys that were replacing them, but they are your guys and it puts guys back in the role that was planned for them from the beginning of the year.” The hope is Span, hitting just .200 with two RBIs, can help jump-start the lineup. “I know it’s been a tough go for my teammates, and the hardest thing for me is not being able to go through the grind with the guys,” Span said. “I’m just happy to be back and hoping I can bring a little energy and get back on track.” — Catcher Buster Posey, who has homered in each of his last three games, was given a day off as scheduled, with Nick Hundley starting behind the plate. “He needs a day today,” Bochy said. “Yesterday, a day game, we put him at first and and then he ended catching a couple of innings. So he’s getting a much-needed day off.” — The hope is that Wednesday’s 6-5 win over the Mets, fueled by a three-run double by rookie Christian Arroyo, can help the Giants begin to turn the tide. “It was good for the boys, I ain’t going to lie,” Bochy said. “Arroyo got that hit, it was good to see the guys celebrate the way they did. On the ride home, if we don’t win that game, you’re looking at getting swept in two places. It’s a long flight (anyway) but it really would have been long. It would have felt like we were going around the world, probably. Hopefully that can charge them ’em up, get things going here.” — Utility infielder Conor Gillaspie was placed on the 10-day disabled list with back spasms and right-handed pitcher Reyes Moronta was optioned to Class AAA Richmond to make room for Span and Crawford on the roster. MLB.com Cueto eyes better results vs. former ballclub Mark Sheldon Friday's second game of the series between the Giants and Reds will mark a rematch between the two starting pitchers -- Johnny Cueto of the Giants and Scott Feldman from the Reds. It was Feldman who easily bested Cueto on Sunday at Great American Ball Park with a four-hit shutout and a 4-0 victory.

Page 9: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

In seven career games vs. San Francisco, Feldman is 2-4 with a 2.78 ERA. Cueto, the former ace for Cincinnati, has not fared well vs. Cincinnati. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts, with eight earned runs over 12 innings. Cueto has not benefitted from run support lately. He has received zero runs from his lineup in two of his past three starts. Three things to know about this game • In Feldman's shutout of the Giants on Sunday, he racked up 15 ground-ball outs -- one of them a double play -- his most in a game in the Statcast Era and tied with Mike Leake (May 6, 2015) for the most by a Reds pitcher during that time. Only Tyler Chatwood of the Rockies has gotten more in a game this season. • No active Giants batters have hit a home run vs. Feldman in their careers. Hunter Pence is 6-for-18 (.333) with three doubles. • Entering Thursday, the Giants' -68 run differential was the worst in the Majors. MLB.com Staked to early lead, Giants fall to Reds Michael Wagaman and Christopher Biderman SAN FRANCISCO -- Defensive replacement Scooter Gennett hit a leadoff triple in the eighth inning and scored on Zack Cozart's RBI double as the Reds bounced back after twice coming up short with runners in scoring position to beat the Giants, 3-2, on Thursday night. "I feel like the team in general, we've been coming through in spots like that," Cozart said. Billy Hamilton continued to pepper the Giants' pitching staff, singling twice and scoring a pair of runs while Joey Votto remained the Reds' hottest hitter with two RBIs to help Cincinnati win its fourth straight against San Francisco. The Reds played from behind most of the night after starter Bronson Arroyo gave up solo home runs to Brandon Belt and Denard Span, but they tied it on Votto's RBI single in the sixth before Cozart's game-winner in the eighth off reliever Hunter Strickland. "I feel like Bronson did what Bronson always does all the time, pitch really well, gave us a great chance to win," said Cozart. "Bullpen was lights out. And when you have the recipe, you don't have to score many runs, which was obvious tonight." Wandy Peralta (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win and Raisel Iglesias worked the ninth for his seventh save. Five days after giving up 10 runs in three innings to the Reds, Giants starter Ty Blach limited Cincinnati to two runs on five hits while matching his season high of seven innings.

Page 10: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

"That's what makes this game a little bit tougher, because we got such a great effort from Blach," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Great job of bouncing back against the same club that beat him up pretty good. It's a shame we didn't get him a win with that job he did." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Tightening the Belt: San Francisco's power-starved lineup got a big boost from the return of Span, but it was the solo blast from Belt in the first inning that was most significant. The Giants' first baseman had been in an 0-for-18 funk before crushing Arroyo's fourth pitch of the game over the wall in center field. It was Belt's fifth home run of the season but first since April 21. "It's always nice to do that," Belt said. "The main thing is to try and stay confident. Confidence is huge in this game. Just make little adjustments here and there. You're going to have some valleys, you've got to keep on pushing and hopefully get back on track." Finishing strong: Arroyo had an eventful six-inning outing. The right-hander had a pair of balls hit back at him, pitched with runners on base in every inning and gave up two solo home runs. Arroyo saved his best work for his last inning, when he retired the Giants' Nos. 4-5-6 hitters -- Brandon Crawford, Christian Arroyo and Joe Panik --on seven pitches. QUOTABLE "That has been an issue. Balls shouldn't get hit that hard. We're not executing the 0-2 pitches. We're giving up not just base hits, but balls that are hit really well." -- Bochy, after watching both of the Reds' hits in the decisive eighth inning come on 0-2 pitches WHAT'S NEXT Reds: Cincinnati will send righty Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76 ERA) to the hill Friday after throwing a complete-game shutout against Giants last week, allowing four hits and striking out five at Great American Ball Park. He'll be looking to log consecutive wins and quality starts for the first time this season. First pitch is slated for 10:15 p.m. ET. Giants: Right-hander Johnny Cueto (4-2) takes another shot at his former club at 7:15 p.m. PT after coming up empty in each of his previous two tries, including his most recent start. Cueto fanned a season-high 10 Reds this past Sunday, but he took the loss after allowing his first two unearned runs this season. MLB.com Melancon should be ready to return Tuesday Michael Wagaman SAN FRANCISCO -- While he continues to play mix-and-match with the back end of his bullpen, Giants manager Bruce Bochy is optimistic that injured closer Mark Melancon will be ready to rejoin the team next week. Melancon went on the 10-day disabled list this past Tuesday with a mild right pronator strain. The move was retroactive to Saturday, meaning the 32-year-old right-hander is eligible to come off next Tuesday when the Giants are in the midst of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bochy is hopeful Melancon will be ready to go.

Page 11: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

"I'm being optimistic here, but if this was last week in September, he wouldn't be on the DL," Bochy said before the Giants opened a four-game series at AT&T Park against the Cincinnati Reds. "He probably could throw. Sure, it would probably be a little risk. That's why we put him on the disabled list now. My hope is these seven days, 10 days total, this will help clear this up and we'll get this behind us for the rest of the year. "He's been pitching with it. It just gradually got a little worse, so it's time to try to get it cleared up." With his closer on the mend, Bochy said it would be an all-hands-on-deck approach in the bullpen. Right-hander Derek Law, who got the save Sunday against the Mets, seems the most likely candidate, but Bochy plans to keep his options open. "We'll use Law and mix in some left-handers and [Hunter] Strickland," Bochy said. "I think they all know that they should be ready to go -- Law, Strickland in particular. With the job [Steven] Okert's been doing, you can put him in that mix, too, depending on who's coming up." MLB.com Mark Melancon visited the site of the Polo Grounds to pay tribute to Giants history Gemma Kaneko Today, when you think of the Giants, you probably think of AT&T Park, a nice night on McCovey Cove or a massive flock of seagulls. But even though they've played in San Francisco since 1958, the team began its life in New York City. Founded by John B. Day, the Giants played their first game in 1883. From 1891 to the day they moved west, they played in some iteration of the Polo Grounds. That's where Bobby Thompson hit his "shot heard 'round the world" and where Willie Mays made his famous catch. On Monday, the Giants were back in town to play the Mets, and All-Star reliever Mark Melancon (who was recently placed on the 10-day DL) took some time to visit the site of the old Polo Grounds. The park is no longer standing (it's been replaced with housing projects), but you can still walk up the John T. Brush stairway, which once led to the ticket booths behind home plate. At the base of the steps, Melancon met with lifelong Giants fans, and spent time with them talking about the club's history. "This is a neat experience for me," he said. "The amount of people that came out, and are true to the fanbase from across the country, and who keep this group together, is different. So I like to come and see that." Another fan in attendance was David Lippman, who is a third-generation Giants fan. "My grandfather and father lived in this very neighborhood," said Lippman. "Grandpa, Joe Lippman, discovered the Giants in 1908 when his older brother, Sam Lippman, my great-uncle, took him to see Christy Mathewson fire a 3-0 shutout against the Cincinnati Reds." But that's not the only connection to baseball history Lippman has. "Sam Lippman worked for Giants manager John McGraw in the pool hall that McGraw co-owned with Arnold Rothstein," he told us. "Rothstein, as we all know, went on to fix the 1919 World Series. Sam Lippman went on to be an enforcer for Rothstein … and helped fixed the 1919 World Series, too."

Page 12: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Those are just the kinds of tales Melancon wanted to hear. "I've always had a desire to hear the background stories," he said. "From a player's standpoint, I'm very appreciative, because we can touch base with so many generations. We can have an ear on their story." To hear more about Melancon's interest in team history, how he convinced his kids to start rooting for his new team and which players from past and present would make up the greatest bullpen of all time, just click play below: MLB.com This 2-year-old Giants fan had an ambitious, but fulfilling, ballpark birthday Andrew Mearns A 2-year-old Giants fan named Hudson had just about as good a birthday as any toddler could imagine. He got to go to Thursday night's game at AT&T Park against the Reds, but he had so much more in mind than simply attending. Hudson and his family came with a "2nd Birthday Bucket List" that featured some bold goals beyond the ticket: High 5 Lou Seal Kruk & Kuip baseball Hug from Amy G Giants win Yet by the top of third inning, Hudson had already accomplished most of his list -- he got an autographed baseball from broadcasters Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper, as well as a hug from field reporter Amy Gutierrez. The Giants couldn't quite come up with the victory, as they fell to the Reds, 3-2, but still -- not a bad birthday for the young man! NBC Sports Bay Area Giants Waste Homers From Span And Belt, Fall To Reds In San Francisco Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO -- The way the Cincinnati Reds are going, comeback wins are no longer surprising. They're becoming the norm. "I think when you're playing really well over an extended period of time you anticipate ways of coming back," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Somebody's going to get the big hit, somebody's going to hit one out, somebody's going to come in and make a great defensive play or shut down a rally." Zack Cozart had two extra-base hits, including an RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that scored the game-winner, as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Thursday night. The Reds won for the ninth time in 11 games and have won 15 of their last 20 games at AT&T Park going back to the 2012 NLDS.

Page 13: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

"I know we're feeling good now," Price said. "It's a long season, we'll like most teams continue to have some ups and downs, but right now you want to ride this as long as you can. It's a nice place to be." The Giants, meanwhile, are in the dumps. The Giants lost despite a four-hit game from center fielder Denard Span in his first game since coming off the disabled list. The Giants, who have an MLB-worst 12-24 record, lost for the sixth time in seven games and for the 10th time in their last 12. Cozart doubled to left center off Giants reliever Hunter Strickland (0-1) scoring Scooter Gennett, who tripled to right leading off the eighth inning. "I feel like the team in general, we're coming through in situations like that," Cozart said. "Everyone's happy for each other no matter who comes through, you're winning in a different fashion night in and night out. "It's been fun." Wandy Peralta (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Reds closer Raisel Iglesias survived a white-knuckle ninth inning for his seventh save. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo allowed two runs, six hits and one walk in six innings. "It was the first time that I wanted to get back out after six innings, so I'm getting stronger," Arroyo said. "I'm just glad we pulled out the victory and the bullpen's been throwing fantastic." Span went 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles. The Giants scored their only runs off Arroyo on home runs from Belt and Span. Belt was hitless in 18 previous at-bats when he hit his fifth homer on the year, a shot to center off on an 84 mph cut fastball Arroyo left over the heart of the plate. Span homered to right in the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie. BLACH OUT Giants starter Ty Blach remains winless in four starts after allowing two runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. Blach had the worst outing of his career against the Reds on May 6, giving up 10 runs in three innings. "We had such great effort from Ty," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He did a great job bouncing back from that last outing against these guys who beat him up pretty good. I was proud of him. It's a shame we couldn't give him a win with that job he did." TRAINER'S ROOM

Page 14: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Reds: Recalled RHP Lisalverto Bonilla from Triple-A Louisville to take RHP Rookie Davis' spot in the rotation. Davis was sent to Louisville to work on his mechanics. Bonilla will start Saturday's game against the Giants. Giants: Crawford (right groin strain) and Span (shoulder joint sprain) were activated from the DL. . The Giants optioned RHP Reyes Moronta back to Double-A Richmond and placed IF Conor Gillaspie on the 10-day DL with back spasms. UP NEXT RHP Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.50 ERA) is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA for the Reds in two starts against his former team. He will be opposed by RHP Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76) in a rematch of Sunday's game in which he outdueled the two-time All-Star, tossing a four-hitter in a 4-0 Reds victory. Santa Rosa Press Democrat 9th-inning rally falls short as Giants lose to Reds 3-2 Gideon Rubin SAN FRANCISCO — Zack Cozart had two extra-base hits, including an RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that scored the game-winner, as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Thursday night. The Reds won for the ninth time in 11 games and have won 15 of their last 20 games at AT&T Park going back to the 2012 NLDS. The Giants lost despite a four-hit game from center fielder Denard Span in his first game since coming off the disabled list. The Giants, who have an MLB-worst 12-24 record, lost for the sixth time in seven games and for the 10th time in their past 12. Cozart doubled to left center off Giants reliever Hunter Strickland (0-1), scoring Scooter Gennett, who tripled to right field leading off the eighth inning. Wandy Peralta (2-0) pitched 1⅓ scoreless innings. He came into the game with two baserunners aboard and two outs in the bottom of the seventh and got Brandon Belt to fly out to left. Peralta pitched around Brandon Crawford’s one-out double in the top of the eighth. Reds closer Raisel Iglesias survived a white-knuckle ninth inning for his seventh save. Right fielder Scott Schebler made a running catch on a ball off the bat of pinch-hitter Buster Posey, who had homered in his three previous games. Posey represented the winning run after Nick Hundley’s one-out single off Iglesias.

Page 15: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

The Giants had runners at first and third after Span’s two-out single sent pinch-runner Gorkys Hernandez to third, but Iglesias got Belt to fly out to left. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo allowed two runs, six hits and one walk in six innings. Span went 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles. The Giants scored their only runs off Arroyo on home runs from Belt and Span. Belt was hitless in 18 previous at-bats when he hit his fifth homer on the year, a shot to center off on an 84 mph cut fastball Arroyo left over the heart of the plate. Span homered to right field in the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie. Giants starter Ty Blach remains winless in four starts after allowing two runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. He retired the first nine batters he faced in order, a streak that ended when Billy Hamilton singled leading off the top of the fourth inning. Hamilton took third on Cozart’s double and scored on Joey Votto’s infield grounder. TRAINER’S ROOM Reds: Recalled RHP Lisalverto Bonilla from Triple-A Louisville to take RHP Rookie Davis’ spot in the rotation. Davis was sent to Louisville to work on his mechanics. Bonilla will start Saturday’s game against the Giants. Giants: Crawford (right groin strain) and Span (shoulder joint sprain) were activated from the DL. The Giants optioned RHP Reyes Moronta back to Double-A Richmond and placed IF Conor Gillaspie on the 10-day DL with back spasms. UP NEXT RHP Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.50 ERA) is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA for the Giants in two starts against his former team. He will be opposed by RHP Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76) in a rematch of Sunday’s game in which he outdueled the two-time All-Star, tossing a four-hitter in a 4-0 Reds victory. Sacramento Bee Giants fans may see Darren Baker, Dusty’s son, cross home plate again Ailene Voisin Darren Baker was first introduced as an adorable 3-year-old Giants batboy, as Dusty’s son, the little guy who ambled toward the plate in Game 5 of the 2002 World Series, oblivious to two baserunners charging from third, and was safely scooped up at the last second by first baseman J.T. Snow. The video is priceless, enduring, inescapable. Unfortunately, Darren doesn’t remember a thing. Not his attempt to retrieve Kenny Lofton’s bat, not clinging tightly to Snow, not the collective gasp – followed by an immense sigh of relief – that resonated inside Pacific Bell Park.

Page 16: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

“It’s like it never happened,” he said this week. “Sadly, in my mind, it’s just not there.” But 15 years later, Jesuit High standout Darren Baker has plenty of his own thoughts about baseball, about his career aspirations, about how he wants to spend future Octobers. Ideally he will be a starting shortstop or center fielder who plays exceptional defense, hits for contact, steals bases, avoids collisions and frequently touches plates throughout the major leagues. The foremost question in his mind these days is this: How does he get there from here? Baker, a senior shortstop who bats leadoff and is hitting .396 as the Marauders prepare to play Del Oro in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I opener Monday, committed to Cal during his sophomore season, well before his physique started filling out and he emerged as a Top 100 prospect. At 5-foot-11 and 155 pounds, he is a raw bundle of arms and legs, and is growing about an inch per year. Quick and fast, with large feet and soft hands, he moves with the exuberance of an unbridled colt. He is an expressive, charismatic performer, not afraid to flex or flash a grin after turning a double play, or according to his father, display an example of an inherited temper. Mainly because of Darren’s length and athleticism, most major-league teams project him as a center fielder. And the pro scouts have been paying attention, apparently. Longtime Jesuit coach Joe Potulny has noticed a sharp increase in the number of visits in recent weeks. He says the scouts arrive in clusters and often discreetly stand several yards behind the backstop or near the trees on the nearby grassy slopes. He is aware of the presence, he says, partly because they work so hard to be invisible – dressed in polo shirts and khaki slacks instead of shorts, t-shirts and sneakers. A few have called ahead and asked Potulny to send Baker into the outfield to take fly balls. “I was not going to make Darren do that,” said the coach, “but for a while he was OK with it. Then later he decided he was going to just take balls at short. That has to be his choice.” Darren’s preference is all infield, all the time. Though his father was an excellent outfielder, best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he likes the action of the infield and admittedly has been influenced by some of his closest, uh, friends, among them Brandon Phillips, Bryce Harper, Chris Speier. Being a manager’s son certainly has its perks. Besides the five-star hotels and charter flights, Darren, who has spent his summers traveling with the Giants, Cubs, Reds and Nationals, receives individual tutorials from of the league’s premier players. Jay Bruce and Joey Votto stay in touch. Barry Bonds was expected to call Wednesday night. Dusty and Darren speak at least once, and often twice a day. “But I never put any pressure on him,” Dusty said from Washington, D.C. “He just loves to play. You give a kid a ball, and you can tell. He loves basketball, too. He was always the kid who was running and sliding. We’d be in airports, and he’d be running and sliding. I would keep telling him he was going to get hurt. But he really took to it and kept getting better. The only thing he’s lacking right now is strength, and that will come. I was built the same way at his age, and I was a late bloomer, too.” Dusty and his wife, Melissa, who consistently emphasized academics over athletics – and will watch their son graduate with a 3.7 GPA later this month – hope Darren attends three years at Cal before signing a pro contract. But the choice is his. The anxiety that comes with such a major decision? Darren senses a shared burden. His mother, he notes, seems bummed about becoming an empty nester. His

Page 17: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

father, he suggests, has drawn closer and uncharacteristically open about his emotions. “He sort of realizes this is the end of something. He knows I am going to be making my own way, that we won’t have as much time together.” With a soft smile, the younger Baker recalls the hours spent playing catch, the fishing trips to Canada, Montana, New Mexico, and virtually every stream or river within the vicinity. “My dad will still go hunting and fishing by himself, and he’ll bring everything home, like a caveman,” said Darren with a laugh. “He’ll put fish in bags of milk, put it in the fridge for a few days and try all these recipes. He’s something else, to say the least.” And the son? Darren said he is most often compared to Jemile Weeks and Dee Gordon. But this is Dusty’s boy. He is something else. He is warm and engaging, and a good-natured recipient of his teammates’ playful teasing. “I refer to Darren as ‘refreshing,’ ” Potulny added. “He is remarkably grounded. We are really going to miss him.” Sacramento Bee Cozart's clutch hit helps Reds top Giants, 3-2 Gideon Rubin SAN FRANCISCO--The way the Cincinnati Reds are going, comeback wins are no longer surprising. They're becoming the norm. "I think when you're playing really well over an extended period of time you anticipate ways of coming back," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Somebody's going to get the big hit, somebody's going to hit one out, somebody's going to come in and make a great defensive play or shut down a rally." Zack Cozart had two extra-base hits, including an RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that scored the game-winner, as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Thursday night. The Reds won for the ninth time in 11 games and have won 15 of their last 20 games at AT&T Park going back to the 2012 NLDS. "I know we're feeling good now," Price said. "It's a long season, we'll like most teams continue to have some ups and downs, but right now you want to ride this as long as you can. It's a nice place to be." The Giants, meanwhile, are in the dumps. The Giants lost despite a four-hit game from center fielder Denard Span in his first game since coming off the disabled list. The Giants, who have an MLB-worst 12-24 record, lost for the sixth time in seven games and for the 10th time in their last 12. Cozart doubled to left center off Giants reliever Hunter Strickland (0-1) scoring Scooter Gennett, who tripled to right leading off the eighth inning.

Page 18: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

"I feel like the team in general, we're coming through in situations like that," Cozart said. "Everyone's happy for each other no matter who comes through, you're winning in a different fashion night in and night out. "It's been fun." Wandy Peralta (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Reds closer Raisel Iglesias survived a white-knuckle ninth inning for his seventh save. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo allowed two runs, six hits and one walk in six innings. "It was the first time that I wanted to get back out after six innings, so I'm getting stronger," Arroyo said. "I'm just glad we pulled out the victory and the bullpen's been throwing fantastic." Span went 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles. The Giants scored their only runs off Arroyo on home runs from Belt and Span. Belt was hitless in 18 previous at-bats when he hit his fifth homer on the year, a shot to center off on an 84 mph cut fastball Arroyo left over the heart of the plate. Span homered to right in the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie. BLACH OUT Giants starter Ty Blach remains winless in four starts after allowing two runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. Blach had the worst outing of his career against the Reds on May 6, giving up 10 runs in three innings. "We had such great effort from Ty," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He did a great job bouncing back from that last outing against these guys who beat him up pretty good. I was proud of him. It's a shame we couldn't give him a win with that job he did." TRAINER'S ROOM Reds: Recalled RHP Lisalverto Bonilla from Triple-A Louisville to take RHP Rookie Davis' spot in the rotation. Davis was sent to Louisville to work on his mechanics. Bonilla will start Saturday's game against the Giants. Giants: Crawford (right groin strain) and Span (shoulder joint sprain) were activated from the DL. . The Giants optioned RHP Reyes Moronta back to Double-A Richmond and placed IF Conor Gillaspie on the 10-day DL with back spasms. UP NEXT RHP Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.50 ERA) is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA for the Reds in two starts against his former team. He will be opposed by RHP Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76) in a rematch of Sunday's game in which he outdueled the two-time All-Star, tossing a four-hitter in a 4-0 Reds victory.

Page 19: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

San Francisco Examiner Ty Blach redeems himself against Reds — but Giants lose due to lack of hitting, bullpen Jacob C. Palmer AT&T PARK — A week ago in Cincinnati, San Francisco Giants pitcher Ty Blach had the worst start of his young career by allowing 10 runs and lasting just three innings. Thursday’s return to The City offered an opportunity for redemption for the 26-year-old lefty. Blach delivered with a solid seven-inning outing, allowing a pair of runs on five hits and a walk. “It gives you a little motivation to know that, hey, you want to prove you can get those guys out,” Blach said after the game. But, as has been the case all season for the struggling Giants, the offense wasn’t able to provide its starter with enough support to give him a realistic shot at winning. Combine that with a reliever allowing a run in a high-leverage situation and you get a 3-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, who have won their last four games against the orange and black. It was Billy Hamilton who again did most of the damage, hitting a pair of singles that would lead to runs. Hunter Strickland entered the game in the eighth inning to protect a 2-2 tie. He allowed a leadoff triple to pinch hitter Scooter Gennett on an 0-2 count. A well-struck double by Zack Cozart two hitters later and the Giants were playing catch up. They were able to put men on the corners in the bottom of the ninth, but Brandon Belt — who hit his first home run at AT&T Park of the season in the first — flew out to left to end the game. Hamilton is the fastest player in the MLB — possibly, ever. When he gets on base, it forces pitchers to completely rethink their approach. One of the main reasons why the Giants made signing a top-flight closer like Mark Melancon a priority in the offseason was Bochy’s affinity for clear roles in the bullpen. Melancon’s forearm strain has put that back in flux. Bruce Bochy said it’s going to take some trial and error in figuring out who will take the ninth inning while his closer is absent, but that he’s not worried about it long term. “If this was last week of September, *Melancon+ probably wouldn’t be on the DL,” Bochy said. The Giants have had to endure a lot in the early going of this season. There’s been the on-field meltdowns, those will happen. But losing your ace to a preventable injury during one of those skids can add some mental pressure on a baseball team. Bochy hasn’t been happy with how his team has reacted to the odd events so far. “Every team goes through injuries — we have had our share, you lose your opening day starter and your closer and shortstop — but you have to deal with that. It’s part of the game,” Bochy said. “Hopefully

Page 20: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

you’ve created enough depth to overcome that, but right now, we haven’t shown that. That’s what disappointed me: Maybe mentally, we have let it affect us.” San Francisco Examiner Denard Span returns from DL to hit HR, double Jacob C. Palmer The Giants got two crucial hitters back on Thursday. Shortstop Brandon Crawford returned after being out since April 25. Denard Span, center fielder and leadoff hitter, had missed the team’s last 17 games after being placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. “It’s great to have two of our core guys back,” Bochy said pregame. Span marked his return with a double to the left-center gap in the bottom of the third and a blast to right field in the fifth, lifting the ball at a 30 degree angle to clear the arcade. It was the center fielder’s first homer of the season. He also knocked singles in the seventh and ninth. “We need him,” Bochy said about Span pregame. “We haven’t been getting a lot from our leadoff hitter and I think that’s been a part of our offensive woes.” Heading into the game, the top spot in the Giants’ lineup was hitting .190/.241/.252 with 11 runs scored, last place in Major League Baseball. To make room on the roster for Crawford and Span, the Giants optioned Reyes Moronta back to Double-A Richmond and placed Conor Gillaspie on the disabled list with back spasms. ESPN Cozart's clutch hit helps Reds top Giants, 3-2 Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO -- The way the Cincinnati Reds are going, comeback wins are no longer surprising. They're becoming the norm. "I think when you're playing really well over an extended period of time you anticipate ways of coming back," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Somebody's going to get the big hit, somebody's going to hit one out, somebody's going to come in and make a great defensive play or shut down a rally." Zack Cozart had two extra-base hits, including an RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that scored the game-winner, as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Thursday night. The Reds won for the ninth time in 11 games and have won 15 of their last 20 games at AT&T Park going back to the 2012 NLDS. "I know we're feeling good now," Price said. "It's a long season, we'll like most teams continue to have some ups and downs, but right now you want to ride this as long as you can. It's a nice place to be."

Page 21: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

The Giants, meanwhile, are in the dumps. The Giants lost despite a four-hit game from center fielder Denard Span in his first game since coming off the disabled list. The Giants, who have an MLB-worst 12-24 record, lost for the sixth time in seven games and for the 10th time in their last 12. Cozart doubled to left center off Giants reliever Hunter Strickland (0-1) scoring Scooter Gennett, who tripled to right leading off the eighth inning. "I feel like the team in general, we're coming through in situations like that," Cozart said. "Everyone's happy for each other no matter who comes through, you're winning in a different fashion night in and night out. "It's been fun." Wandy Peralta (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Reds closer Raisel Iglesias survived a white-knuckle ninth inning for his seventh save. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo allowed two runs, six hits and one walk in six innings. "It was the first time that I wanted to get back out after six innings, so I'm getting stronger," Arroyo said. "I'm just glad we pulled out the victory and the bullpen's been throwing fantastic." Span went 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles. The Giants scored their only runs off Arroyo on home runs from Belt and Span. Belt was hitless in 18 previous at-bats when he hit his fifth homer on the year, a shot to center off on an 84 mph cut fastball Arroyo left over the heart of the plate. Span homered to right in the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie. BLACH OUT Giants starter Ty Blach remains winless in four starts after allowing two runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. Blach had the worst outing of his career against the Reds on May 6, giving up 10 runs in three innings. "We had such great effort from Ty," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He did a great job bouncing back from that last outing against these guys who beat him up pretty good. I was proud of him. It's a shame we couldn't give him a win with that job he did." TRAINER'S ROOM

Page 22: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Reds: Recalled RHP Lisalverto Bonilla from Triple-A Louisville to take RHP Rookie Davis' spot in the rotation. Davis was sent to Louisville to work on his mechanics. Bonilla will start Saturday's game against the Giants. Giants: Crawford (right groin strain) and Span (shoulder joint sprain) were activated from the DL. . The Giants optioned RHP Reyes Moronta back to Double-A Richmond and placed IF Conor Gillaspie on the 10-day DL with back spasms. UP NEXT RHP Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.50 ERA) is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA for the Reds in two starts against his former team. He will be opposed by RHP Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76) in a rematch of Sunday's game in which he outdueled the two-time All-Star, tossing a four-hitter in a 4-0 Reds victory. Fox Sports Hot Reds try to keep rolling vs. Giants Stats SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto will attempt to add a 26th team to his list of career wins Friday night when he pitches against one of his former ballclubs, the Cincinnati Reds. Cueto, who recorded 92 of his 118 wins in eight seasons with the Reds, will be facing his former mates for the second time in six days. He was outpitched by right-hander Scott Feldman when the two hooked up Sunday in Cincinnati. The 31-year-old Dominican struck out 10 and limited the Reds to two earned runs (four total) in seven innings. However, the four runs were four too many against Feldman, who threw his third career shutout in a 4-0 win. Cueto will be starting against the Reds for just the third time in his career. Other than Sunday’s meeting, his only previous start against them came last May, when he was roughed up for six runs in five innings in a 9-6 win. He did not get a decision. The second-year Giant has made five of his first seven starts this season on the road. He hasn’t lost at home since last Aug. 30, a stretch of four starts during which he is 2-0. Feldman hasn’t lost at AT&T Park since 2012. That said, he has pitched in San Francisco only once since then; he held the Giants without a run in six innings of a 2-0 win for the Houston Astros in 2015. He has gone 2-4 with a 2.78 ERA in seven career games (five starts) against the Giants. The veteran will be attempting to run the Reds’ streak of wins over the Giants to five in the past eight days. After bombing the Giants to the tune of a cumulative 31-5 last week in Cincinnati, the Reds had to go the distance to secure a 3-2 win in the series opener in San Francisco on Thursday.

Page 23: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

It was no coincidence that the hot club (seven wins in the past eight games) beat the cold team (nine losses in the past 12 games) in the tight contest, according to Reds manager Bryan Price. “When you’re struggling, you almost sense an impending doom,” Price said. “When you’re playing well over an extended period of time, you feel good things are going to happen. You make the play you need. I know we’re feeling good now.” After both starting pitchers — the Reds’ Bronson Arroyo and Giants’ Ty Blach — left a late 2-2 tie, Cincinnati won a battle of the bullpens in the series opener. Reds shortstop Zack Cozart produced the difference-making run with an eighth-inning double off Giants reliever Hunter Strickland that plated Scooter Gennett. Giants manager Bruce Bochy was bothered by the fact that Cozart’s hit came on an 0-2 pitch. “It has been an issue,” he said. “Those balls shouldn’t get hit that hard.” Having ended a two-year run without a come-from-behind win in the ninth inning on Wednesday against the New York Mets, the Giants made a bid to duplicate the feat against Reds closer Raisel Iglesias. However, after hits by Nick Hundley and Denard Span put the potential tying run at third and go-ahead run at first with two outs, Iglesias got Brandon Belt to fly to left field to end it. The win was the Reds’ 40th in their past 64 games against the Giants dating back 10 seasons. The .625 winning percentage is the highest for a San Francisco opponent over that stretch. CBS Sports Giants' Denard Span: Collects four hits in return RotoWire Staff Span (shoulder) returned with a bang Thursday, going 4-for-5 with a double and a home run in a loss to the Reds. Not only did Span turn in one of his best performances of the season, but he returned to his usual spot atop the lineup. His .255/.293/.400 slash line is less than appealing to fantasy owners, but if he sticks in the leadoff role, he should provide deep-league value as a run-producer with a little pop and a little speed. CBS Sports Giants' Ty Blach: Bounces back Thursday RotoWire Staff Blach returned to form Thursday, holding the Reds to two runs on five hits over seven innings, walking one and striking out two in a 3-2 loss.

Page 24: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

The 26-year-old was hammered by these very same Reds in his last start, but a return to the pitcher-friendly confines of AT&T Park proved to be the solution to his woes against Cincinnati. Blach had been effective as a starter outside of his one rough outing, but a lackluster strikeout rate (2.3 K/9) keeps the southpaw's ceiling relatively low and limits his usefulness to very deep and NL-only formats. That said, his next start comes at home against the Dodgers, who he has held to a .159 batting average with no extra-base hits in two career starts, so there is some streaming potential there. CBS Sports Giants' Cueto and Reds' Feldman face off again Stats SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto will attempt to add a 26th team to his list of career wins Friday night when he pitches against one of his former ballclubs, the Cincinnati Reds. Cueto, who recorded 92 of his 118 wins in eight seasons with the Reds, will be facing his former mates for the second time in six days. He was outpitched by right-hander Scott Feldman when the two hooked up Sunday in Cincinnati. The 31-year-old Dominican struck out 10 and limited the Reds to two earned runs (four total) in seven innings. However, the four runs were four too many against Feldman, who threw his third career shutout in a 4-0 win. Cueto will be starting against the Reds for just the third time in his career. Other than Sunday's meeting, his only previous start against them came last May, when he was roughed up for six runs in five innings in a 9-6 win. He did not get a decision. The second-year Giant has made five of his first seven starts this season on the road. He hasn't lost at home since last Aug. 30, a stretch of four starts during which he is 2-0. Feldman hasn't lost at AT&T Park since 2012. That said, he has pitched in San Francisco only once since then; he held the Giants without a run in six innings of a 2-0 win for the Houston Astros in 2015. He has gone 2-4 with a 2.78 ERA in seven career games (five starts) against the Giants. The veteran will be attempting to run the Reds' streak of wins over the Giants to five in the past eight days. After bombing the Giants to the tune of a cumulative 31-5 last week in Cincinnati, the Reds had to go the distance to secure a 3-2 win in the series opener in San Francisco on Thursday. It was no coincidence that the hot club (seven wins in the past eight games) beat the cold team (nine losses in the past 12 games) in the tight contest, according to Reds manager Bryan Price. "When you're struggling, you almost sense an impending doom," Price said. "When you're playing well over an extended period of time, you feel good things are going to happen. You make the play you need. I know we're feeling good now."

Page 25: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

After both starting pitchers -- the Reds' Bronson Arroyo and Giants' Ty Blach -- left a late 2-2 tie, Cincinnati won a battle of the bullpens in the series opener. Reds shortstop Zack Cozart produced the difference-making run with an eighth-inning double off Giants reliever Hunter Strickland that plated Scooter Gennett. Giants manager Bruce Bochy was bothered by the fact that Cozart's hit came on an 0-2 pitch. "It has been an issue," he said. "Those balls shouldn't get hit that hard." Having ended a two-year run without a come-from-behind win in the ninth inning on Wednesday against the New York Mets, the Giants made a bid to duplicate the feat against Reds closer Raisel Iglesias. However, after hits by Nick Hundley and Denard Span put the potential tying run at third and go-ahead run at first with two outs, Iglesias got Brandon Belt to fly to left field to end it. The win was the Reds' 40th in their past 64 games against the Giants dating back 10 seasons. The .625 winning percentage is the highest for a San Francisco opponent over that stretch. CBS Sports Cozart's clutch hit helps Reds top Giants, 3-2 Stats SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The way the Cincinnati Reds are going, comeback wins are no longer surprising. They're becoming the norm. ''I think when you're playing really well over an extended period of time you anticipate ways of coming back,'' Reds manager Bryan Price said. ''Somebody's going to get the big hit, somebody's going to hit one out, somebody's going to come in and make a great defensive play or shut down a rally.'' Zack Cozart had two extra-base hits, including an RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that scored the game-winner, as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Thursday night. The Reds won for the ninth time in 11 games and have won 15 of their last 20 games at AT&T Park going back to the 2012 NLDS. ''I know we're feeling good now,'' Price said. ''It's a long season, we'll like most teams continue to have some ups and downs, but right now you want to ride this as long as you can. It's a nice place to be.'' The Giants, meanwhile, are in the dumps. The Giants lost despite a four-hit game from center fielder Denard Span in his first game since coming off the disabled list. The Giants, who have an MLB-worst 12-24 record, lost for the sixth time in seven games and for the 10th time in their last 12. Cozart doubled to left center off Giants reliever Hunter Strickland (0-1) scoring Scooter Gennett, who tripled to right leading off the eighth inning.

Page 26: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

''I feel like the team in general, we're coming through in situations like that,'' Cozart said. ''Everyone's happy for each other no matter who comes through, you're winning in a different fashion night in and night out. ''It's been fun.'' Wandy Peralta (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Reds closer Raisel Iglesias survived a white-knuckle ninth inning for his seventh save. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo allowed two runs, six hits and one walk in six innings. ''It was the first time that I wanted to get back out after six innings, so I'm getting stronger,'' Arroyo said. ''I'm just glad we pulled out the victory and the bullpen's been throwing fantastic.'' Span went 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles. The Giants scored their only runs off Arroyo on home runs from Belt and Span. Belt was hitless in 18 previous at-bats when he hit his fifth homer on the year, a shot to center off on an 84 mph cut fastball Arroyo left over the heart of the plate. Span homered to right in the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie. BLACH OUT Giants starter Ty Blach remains winless in four starts after allowing two runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. Blach had the worst outing of his career against the Reds on May 6, giving up 10 runs in three innings. ''We had such great effort from Ty,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ''He did a great job bouncing back from that last outing against these guys who beat him up pretty good. I was proud of him. It's a shame we couldn't give him a win with that job he did.'' TRAINER'S ROOM Reds: Recalled RHP Lisalverto Bonilla from Triple-A Louisville to take RHP Rookie Davis' spot in the rotation. Davis was sent to Louisville to work on his mechanics. Bonilla will start Saturday's game against the Giants. Giants: Crawford (right groin strain) and Span (shoulder joint sprain) were activated from the DL. . The Giants optioned RHP Reyes Moronta back to Double-A Richmond and placed IF Conor Gillaspie on the 10-day DL with back spasms. UP NEXT RHP Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.50 ERA) is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA for the Reds in two starts against his former team. He will be opposed by RHP Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76) in a rematch of Sunday's game in which he outdueled the two-time All-Star, tossing a four-hitter in a 4-0 Reds victory.

Page 27: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

USA Today Cozart's clutch hit helps Reds top Giants, 3-2 Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The way the Cincinnati Reds are going, comeback wins are no longer surprising. They're becoming the norm. "I think when you're playing really well over an extended period of time you anticipate ways of coming back," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Somebody's going to get the big hit, somebody's going to hit one out, somebody's going to come in and make a great defensive play or shut down a rally." Zack Cozart had two extra-base hits, including an RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that scored the game-winner, as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants 3-2 on Thursday night. The Reds won for the ninth time in 11 games and have won 15 of their last 20 games at AT&T Park going back to the 2012 NLDS. "I know we're feeling good now," Price said. "It's a long season, we'll like most teams continue to have some ups and downs, but right now you want to ride this as long as you can. It's a nice place to be." The Giants, meanwhile, are in the dumps. The Giants lost despite a four-hit game from center fielder Denard Span in his first game since coming off the disabled list. The Giants, who have an MLB-worst 12-24 record, lost for the sixth time in seven games and for the 10th time in their last 12. Cozart doubled to left center off Giants reliever Hunter Strickland (0-1) scoring Scooter Gennett, who tripled to right leading off the eighth inning. "I feel like the team in general, we're coming through in situations like that," Cozart said. "Everyone's happy for each other no matter who comes through, you're winning in a different fashion night in and night out. "It's been fun." Wandy Peralta (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Reds closer Raisel Iglesias survived a white-knuckle ninth inning for his seventh save. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo allowed two runs, six hits and one walk in six innings. "It was the first time that I wanted to get back out after six innings, so I'm getting stronger," Arroyo said. "I'm just glad we pulled out the victory and the bullpen's been throwing fantastic." Span went 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles. The Giants scored their only runs off Arroyo on home runs from Belt and Span.

Page 28: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Belt was hitless in 18 previous at-bats when he hit his fifth homer on the year, a shot to center off on an 84 mph cut fastball Arroyo left over the heart of the plate. Span homered to right in the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie. BLACH OUT Giants starter Ty Blach remains winless in four starts after allowing two runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. Blach had the worst outing of his career against the Reds on May 6, giving up 10 runs in three innings. "We had such great effort from Ty," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He did a great job bouncing back from that last outing against these guys who beat him up pretty good. I was proud of him. It's a shame we couldn't give him a win with that job he did." TRAINER'S ROOM Reds: Recalled RHP Lisalverto Bonilla from Triple-A Louisville to take RHP Rookie Davis' spot in the rotation. Davis was sent to Louisville to work on his mechanics. Bonilla will start Saturday's game against the Giants. Giants: Crawford (right groin strain) and Span (shoulder joint sprain) were activated from the DL. . The Giants optioned RHP Reyes Moronta back to Double-A Richmond and placed IF Conor Gillaspie on the 10-day DL with back spasms. UP NEXT RHP Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.50 ERA) is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA for the Reds in two starts against his former team. He will be opposed by RHP Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76) in a rematch of Sunday's game in which he outdueled the two-time All-Star, tossing a four-hitter in a 4-0 Reds victory. Fan Rag Sports Is this the season the Giants actually become sellers? Jack Magruder The San Francisco Giants have been this decade’s model National League franchise. Three World Series titles and a succession of smart, just-right player moves will do that for you. Not to mention the transactions that led to the current roll — the signing of Hall of Fame-to-be manager Bruce Bochy in 2007, the same year the Giants made Madison Bumgarner the 10th player taken in the June draft and the year before Buster Posey became the fifth overall draft pick. So what the heck is going on here? It is almost impossible to believe that the Giants find themselves in a what-do-we-do-now moment in the second week of May, at the bottom of the NL West.

Page 29: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

A lot of what could go wrong has, including the dirt bike accident that will keep perennial Cy Young candidate Bumgarner on the disabled list with a separated shoulder until perhaps the All-Star break. They were in a funk when he went out, and it has only gotten worse. The Giants have the worst winning percentage in the NL. They have scored the fewest runs in the league and have given up the second-most runs, one fewer than San Diego. Look at both starting rotations and see if that computes. They have endured injuries in center field and shortstop and have played with a season-long hole in left field. Posey is hitting, but few others are. New closer Mark Melancon is out with an elbow injury, although it is not believed to be serious. The question is, at 12-23 after beating the Mets on Wednesday, where to they go from here? They are built to compete now, but can they? The competition in the West always starts with the Dodgers, but both the Rockies and Diamondbacks have gotten out of the gate well. The Giants are getting a tad older. Their second-youngest starter, Joe Panik, is 26. Brandon Belt is 29, Posey and Brandon Crawford are 30. At 27, Bumgarner remains their youngest member of the rotation. Matt Moore is the only other starter under 31. Melancon is 32. Some teams might choose to sell, but that is not the Giants’ standard operating procedure. It is too early, anyway. Much too early. There is plenty of season left, but the Giants are trending the wrong way. The Giants were 29-42 after the All-Star break last season, a stretch that was camouflaged by the fact that they had the best record in the majors before the break and were one converted save opportunity from sending Johnny Cueto to the mound in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the NLDS against the Cubs in Wrigley Field. One veteran talent evaluator said the Giants should wait it out. “Manager and staff too good to continue to struggle,” the evaluator said. “Plus very good talent. Wait ’til everyone is healthy and see what it looks like.” Yet unless things dramatically change, the Giants will at least have to consider changes. Most of their money — the opening-day payroll is a franchise-high $180 million — is tied up in their stars. Cueto is in the second year of a six-year, $130 million deal. Posey has $100 million-plus due through 2021. Jeff Samardzija and Hunter Pence are on deals that average $18 million a year. On the other side, Bumgarner has options for 2018 and 2019, and it will require a lot to lock him up, a necessity.

Page 30: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Third and fourth starters Samardzija and Moore have struggled early, with a combined 1-9 record and an ERA of about 6 in 14 starts. As projectable as they are, it is very difficult to move players who are not in form. Cueto’s case is the most intriguing. He has an opt-out clause after this season that must be exercised within three days of the conclusion of the World Series. He is owed $21 million in each of the next three seasons and has a $22 million option with a $5 million buyout in 2022. He is one of the few true No. 1 starters in the majors, although he sits behind Bumgarner on this staff, and a case could be made that he could get a new deal with an annual average value of at least the $21 million a year he is getting now, with a longer term. There is always a market for Cueto, who turned 31 in February, regardless of his contract status. Kansas City bought him as a rental in 2015 and won a World Series with him. The Giants would have no trouble moving Cueto, but the only reason to do so was if they believed — or were led to believe — that he would use his opt out. In that case, the Giants could use Cueto as a way to get younger and deeper. Scouts consider their farm system adequate, but not a strength. Christian Arroyo has made an impression with his early power after being recalled two weeks ago, and former No. 1 draft pick right-hander Tyler Beede is considered a mid-rotation prospect. He could fit well behind Bumgarner and an effective Samardzija/Moore could be a fit. Ty Blach has pitched well in spots. At the same time, losing Cueto would put a severe crimp in a rotation that at its best is among the best in the game. It is not something that should be done lightly. Speaking to Bay Area reporters this week, general manager Bobby Evans said the team’s current situation “doesn’t necessarily negate the potential to make moves at the deadline that may weaken you in the current year,” he said. “But that’s not our mentality.” Never has been. Cincinnati.com Reds recap: Reds continue to own Giants C. Trent Rosecrans SAN FRANCISCO — The Reds’ mastery of the Giants continued on Thursday, as Cincinnati opened a four-game series at AT&T Park with a 3-2 victory. It was the Reds’ fourth win against the Giants in four games this season and 15 of their last 20 in San Francisco. Here are the main storylines from Thursday night’s game: • Scooter to the rescue: Reds manager Bryan Price once again pushed all the right buttons, bringing in Scooter Gennett on a double switch in the seventh inning with the game tied at 2.

Page 31: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Not only did his new pitcher, Wandy Peralta, retire Brandon Belt to end a Giants’ scoring threat, Gennett led off the eighth inning with a triple. After a Billy Hamilton groundout, Gennett scored on a Zack Cozart double to give the Reds the 3-2 lead. Peralta held the Giants scoreless in the eighth, handing the game over to Raisel Iglesias. • Reds Blached by Giants lefty: Saturday at Great American Ball Park, the Reds scored 10 runs in three innings against Giants left-hander Ty Blach. Thursday, Blach had a perfect game through three innings. Billy Hamilton led off the fourth with a single, breaking up the no-hit bid. Blach went seven innings, allowing just two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two. • Billy gets on, Billy scores: Billy Hamilton scored a run for the 11th straight game, the longest streak by a Red since Bip Roberts in 1992. Hamilton scored both of the team’s first two runs after leading off an inning with a single. In the fourth, he went to third on Cozart’s double and then scored on a Joey Votto groundout to tie the game at 1. After moving to second on a groundout, Hamilton scored from second on an opposite-field flare by Votto, tying the game at 2. • Quality start for Arroyo: Bronson Arroyo turned in his second quality start of the season for the Reds, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. Both runs came on solo home runs — Brandon Belt in the first and Denard Span in the fifth. Arroyo struck out three batters and walked one. He received a no-decision, leaving after the sixth inning having thrown 85 pitches. McCovey Chronicles SF Giants Minor Lines 5/11/17: Orlando Calixte 5 Hits, 2 HRs Roger The PCL, by the by, is celebrating it’s 115th season of existence this year. It’s record have the test of time behind them. So when you nearing a PCL record, you’re really doing something. Sacramento won at Colorado Springs SkySox (Brewers), 17-7 Sacramento Bats Player Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG* Orlando Calixte 2B 6 4 5 1 0 2 4 0 0 .282 Austin Slater RF 6 3 3 2 0 0 4 0 0 .283 Chris Marrero 1B 5 2 2 0 0 1 3 1 0 .233 Mac Williamson LF 5 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 .233 Tim Federowicz C 5 2 3 1 0 0 3 1 1 .400 Juan Ciriaco 3B 4 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 .231 Wynton Bernard CF 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .173 Juniel Querecuto SS 4 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .429

Page 32: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Sacramento Arms Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA* Dan Slania 5 2 5 5 4 3 0 8.79 Roberto Gomez (BS, 3)(W, 1-2) 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 9.00 Matt Reynolds 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 1.20 Tyler Rogers 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.59 Kraig Sitton 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 3.86 Dan Slania was so close to a clean outing. Following five straight games in which he’d surrendered at least 4 ER, he went to the mound in the bottom of the 6th protecting a 3-2 lead, having only allowed 2 hits on the afternoon. Good work Dan! But then he hit Brewers #1 prospect Lewis Brinson to open the 6th, and walked the next two batters to load the bases, and reliever Roberto Gomez cashed them all in when he surrendered a Grand Slam. Just like that the RiverCats were suddenly down 6-3, Slania’s line was ruined, and the road trip looked like it was headed for a downer of a beginning. And then a funny thing happened: Sacramento hitters stopped making outs. For a LONG time. Juan Ciriaco was the 8th batter for Sacramento in the top of the 7th and he made the first out. It was a Sac Fly that brought in 6th run of the inning. The experience was so distasteful that it would take six more RiverCat batters before the next out was recorded. The total list of accomplishments: 13 Runs 8 Hits 4 Walks 1 HBP 4 doubles 1 HR 3 Pitchers 6 batters reached base safely twice in the inning 2 batters (Calixte and Slater) had two hits 1 batter (sorry Juan Ciriaco) recorded two outs Yep. That was an inning. Austin Slater doubled twice in the inning and drove in four runs. Calixte, who hit two HRs in the game among his five hits, limited himself to just a single and double in the big frame. The one HR, which brought in the 11th, 12th, and 13th runs of the frame came off the bat of Chris Marrero, who is finding AAA much more agreeable than the NL was to him. Let’s take a moment to feel the pain of the lonely play by play man, carrying the reminders of every bat that laid him out or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame: “When will it end? My goodness!” But the star of the day was clearly Calixte, the surprise leader in most offensive categories for the RiverCats. Calixte ended the day with 12 Total Bases, 4 RBI, and 4 Runs scored. Both his HRs were hit to CF (or right of CF) showing off some serious power for the lithe MI. Calixte is up to 6 HRs and 9 SB and if he stays in Sacramento for some extended time could be looking at a 20/20 season or better. His career high in HRs is just 14, but he’s never got to spend a summer in the PCL before. Here’s to you, Orlando! Have a day:

Page 33: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Just maybe... he won’t stick around long enough to have a great PCL campaign though. Just maybe those skills will be displayed elsewhere. So a pretty productive start to the road trip. Let’s see if the Cats can get a little positive momentum built up here, or if they’ll go out tonight and lose 1-0. Richmond lost at Bowie BaySox (Orioles), 5-3 Richmond Bats Player Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG* C.J Hinojosa SS 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 .188 Hunter Cole RF 5 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 .214 Miguel Gomez 2B 5 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 .328 Chris Shaw LF 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .320 Dylan Davis DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 .149 Brandon Bednar 1B 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .289 Carlos Garcia CF 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .244 Ali Castillo 3B 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 .195 Eliezer Zambrano C 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .167 Richmond Arms Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA* Matt Lujan (L, 1-2) 6 10 5 5 1 4 1 5.93 Jose Flores 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 1.72 On a cold, rainy night in Maryland, the Flying Squirrels got off to a slightly less productive start on the road. Things looked good when Hunter Cole kick-started things with a solo HR in the top of the 1st, but starter Matt Lujan had his own mini-nightmare inning, allowing 7 hits and 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Lujan would pull it together and pitch well after that, allowing just three more hits over 5 scoreless innings, but the damage but was done. Richmond managed 9 hits in the game, including two-hit games from both the 8 and 9 hitters in the order, along with 6 walks. But they struggled to get all that traffic to find the off ramp to home plate, going just 1 for 9 with RISP. Several times they were in a position where a hit could put them right back in the game. But timing is everything. Hunter Cole, who has been so hot lately, came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the 6th inning, and K’d to leave the Squirrels last, best opportunity squandered. If only you could choose when to hit your home runs. On the Chris Shaw watch, he played his third consecutive game in LF (the first time he’s done that so far) and singled and walked. He did strike out though, keeping his K/BB ratio at a perfectly symmetrical 17: 17. Miguel Gomez picked up two more hits, his 7th multi-hit game in the last 12, taking the team lead in batting average back from Shaw. That included his 7th double of the year. San Jose beat Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers), 3-2 losing their four game series, 1-3

Page 34: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

San Jose Bats Player Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG Jalen Miller DH 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .250 Ryan Howard SS 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .313 Aramis Garcia 1B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .300 Dillon Dobson 2B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292 Daniel Carbonell RF 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 .250 Jonah Arenado 3B 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 .212 T.J. Bennett LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .059 Matt Winn C 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268 Johneshwy Fargas CF 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 .204 San Jose Arms Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Mike Connolly (W, 3-3) 8 3 2 0 2 5 0 1.78 Ryan Halstead (S, 6) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.50 The Giants staved off the 4 game sweep at the hands of the Quakes thanks to a terrific start from the mainstay of their rotation thus far, Michael Connolly. Connolly went 8 masterful innings and was rarely in trouble. His lone stumble came in the 4th when he walked two of the first three batters. His defense then betrayed him a bit as runs would score on a PB from Matt Winn and a two-error play from 2b Dillon Dobson which tied the game at 2-2. But when you’re a pitch to contact guy like Connolly your fate is tied to the defense behind you for good or bad. It’s been mostly good for Connolly in 2017. San Jose has slowed down a bit on its early season HR rate. They’ve dropped to second in the league (behind these Quakes) with 31 on the year. But it was two early solo shots that staked Connolly to the lead. The first came from Cal League vet Daniel Carbonell, who’s been heating up of late: The second came from a much more surprising source. Johneshwy Fargas gets most of his highlights on Minor Lines from his defensive exploits, but he muscled up here, hunting a 2-0 fastball and doing it some damage. But the game winning hit? It went slightly .... less far. Jalen Miller didn’t exactly put a jolt into this ball, but his speed put the pressure on and pressure leads to mistakes sometimes. So San Jose sneaks away with a 2-5 record on the year versus the Quakes and now host the Inland Empire 66ers. The 66ers’ record is just one game better than the Giants, which gives San Jose an opportunity to escape the worst record in the Cal League with a successful series. Goals! You can hear Joe Ritzo and Justin Alligheri’s thoughts on the season thus far (spoiler: it hasn’t gone well!) on the latest Inside the San Jose Giants podcast: Augusta lost to Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox), 4-3

Page 35: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Augusta Bats Player Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG Ashford Fulmer CF 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257 Sandro Fabian RF 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .261 Kelvin Beltre 2B 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .273 Skyler Ewing C 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 .160 Frandy De La Rosa 1B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 .243 Shawon Dunston Jr.DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .357 Jacob Heyward LF 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 .216 Cristian Paulino 3B 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 Brandon Van Horn SS 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .196 Augusta Arms Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Matt Solter (L, 2-1) 6 7 4 3 2 3 0 3.98 Sandro Cabrera 2 0 0 0 2 4 0 3.86 Cesar Yanez 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 7.20 The Greenjackets were the third team in the system to start their scoring off with a solo HR, as Jacob Heyward joined Kelvin Beltre at the team lead with his 4th. Heyward has been making a little better contact lately, but he still has almost a 50% Three True Outcome rate on the year as 49 of his 102 PA have resulted in HRs (4), Ks (33), or BBs (12). Unfortunately for Augusta, there wasn’t much punch in their offense to follow that opening shot as they managed just three more hits on the night (along with 4 walks). Back to back doubles from Beltre and Skyler Ewing would help them plate two more runs in the 4th, but they’d only manage one more hit the rest of the game (a Sandro Fabian single) while striking out 9 times (including four of their final five batters). Following a stretch of winning baseball, the Greenjackets have fallen into another sustained slide, going 1-9 over the last 10 games. At 11-22 they have the worst record in the 16-team Sally, joining their colleages in San Jose and San Francisco. Sacramento, with a .394 winning percentage is 1 game away from the worst record in the 16-team PCL. Richmond at 13-19 (.406 winning percentage) is the standard bearer for the system. They’re in last place in their six-team division, but there’s two teams with a worse record than them in the league, and the Squirrels are a ginormous 2.5 games above the EL’s worst record. Now I feel like the Colorado Springs announcer. My goodness! When will it end! Today’s Scheduled Starters: Sacramento: TBD vs. Paolo Espino Richmond: Corey Taylor vs. Tanner Scott San Jose: Heath Slatton vs. TBD Augusta: Melvin Adon vs. Chris Comito

Page 36: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

Melvin Adon looks to bounce back from his rough start, while Heath Slatton is hoping to build off of his brilliant one. And Sacramento’s rotation has entered what appears to be a prolonged stretch of TBD as they scratch for available arms. Finally, a reminder that baseballing is hard, and a gentle good humor will always stand you in good stead. Nicely done, Tyler Eppler! Around the Foghorn Timely Hitting Fails San Francisco Giants as They Drop Fourth Straight to Cincinnati Erin Erickson Zack Cozart broke open a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning with an RBI double off Hunter Strickland lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the San Francisco Giants in Thursday night’s series opener. After giving up 10 runs in only three innings last Saturday in Cincinnati, Ty Blach gave the Giants seven complete innings allowing only 5 hits and 2 earned runs on Thursday. The road to redemption was not meant to be. The San Francisco Giants are now 12-24 and struggle to execute in winnable ball games. Meanwhile, the Reds have won nine out of their last 11 games, and their is no sign of slowing them down. Timely hitting. Six out of the seven hits the Reds recorded were involved in scoring plays. Every run was earned with less than two outs and took no more than two batters following the hit to drive in the run. In every scoring inning the Reds managed to score with less than two outs, or score on the second out. Now compare that to the San Francisco Giants. Only two out the 11 hits were involved in scoring plays, both of course were solo home runs. The bottom of the seventh was the only moment in the game where the Giants had back-to-back productive at-bats. But unfortunately with two outs you’re options are limited to push the run across the board. Timely production is key, and until the Giants are able to produce quality at-bats with runners on base, maybe we should adopt a more patient approach at the plate (cough, cough Brandon Belt). If there is one positive takeaway from Thursday, it is definitely a sigh of relief to the normal lineup on the mend and begin to take shape again. The San Francisco Giants found Brandon Crawford and Denard Span back in their usual spots in the lineup. Both Crawford and Span were placed on the disabled list and have been out since late April. Crawford’s impact on the lineup goes beyond his production in the box. His defense is second to none, and he arguably is the best defensive shortstop in the league. The Giants are 12-24, which is the worst start after 36 games since 1991.

Page 37: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

After being an ice cold 0-for-18, Brandon Belt launched a solo shot to straight away center giving the Giants the lead in the first inning. The Giants found Brandon Crawford and Denard Span back in their usual spots in the lineup. Span went 4-5, recording a double and his first home run of the season. Thursday night’s loss marks the first game of a seven game home stand. Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.50) will face Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76) in the second game of four against Cincinnati. Cueto threw seven complete innings, striking out 10 and giving up 6 hits, in Sunday’s loss against Cincinnati. Minor League Ball MLB Prospect Profile: Sandro Fabian, OF, San Francisco Giants Clinton Riddle Sandro Fabian is doing rather well for himself as a 19-year-old in full-season A-ball. He's drawn a bit of attention since the San Francisco Giants signed him in 2014, but there's a good chance you could be hearing his name with some regularity, very soon. Signed out of the Dominican Republic at 16 years old for a cool half-mil, Fabian almost immediately settled into pro ball and started making an impression on the Giants. After a solid first year with the rookie-level Giants team in the Dominican Summer League, he moved on to the Arizona League, where he batted .340 with 20 extra-base hits and 35 RBI in only 42 games in 2016. The organization saw fit to move him up to full-season Class-A ball this season, starting him in the outfield for the Augusta GreenJackets in the South Atlantic League. Fabian is not setting the world on fire (.261 BA, 18 RBI in 29 games), but keep in mind that he's only 19 years old and in his first year in A-ball. It doesn't help that he plays his home games in a pitcher's park (Lake Olmstead Stadium), where he is batting 99 points lower than he is on the road (.303 road average in 66 AB). He does use a leg kick with a pronounced load at the plate, but seems to be working away from that habit. He generally takes a short path to the ball but will sweep the plate at times and is somewhat prone to chase outside off-speed pitches. While he seems allergic to walks (3 in 115 AB, so far), he also doesn't strike out quite as much as one would expect with such a young hitter. His numbers in 2016 were boosted by a ridiculous .388 BABIP, but his ability to put the ball in play frequently will lead to consistently higher batting averages as he matures as a player. Fabian has always been a dead-pull hitter, with over 50% of his career hits sent to the left side of the field. His lack of physical projection has been a negative for some scouts, but there is the potential for average power here, though in the form of doubles and triples as opposed to home runs. He is a fly-ball hitter, and this combined with continued development and maturity could lead to double-digit home run totals in the near future. Fabian does take a “grip and rip” approach at times, which will sooner lead to high K totals than it will to improved power numbers, but those strikeout totals should

Page 38: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

stabilize over the next couple of years without becoming unreasonably high. Fabian has hit in 21 of his 29 games, so far in 2017. Fabian has a wiry-strong build at 6'1”, 180. He has a strong arm and plus speed in the outfield, and fits naturally in right where his defense plays up even more. He takes consistent routes to fly balls and has a quick first step in the field. Strangely enough, he is not as good a base-runner as his speed might suggest, and is not projected to be more than average on the base-paths. There have been questions about just how far he can go with his skill set, but by current appearances it seems that Fabian will perform significantly better than early projections would have suggested. Expectations of 10-12 homers, 70 RBI and 30+ doubles per year, give or take, with consistently-sound defense in right field, seem reasonable. Depending on how his pitch selection comes along as he gains more experience vs. stiffer competition, he could easily top those numbers. However, he's got a long way to go before that happens, and a lot of games to play in the low-level minors. Deadspin The Giants Finally Broke A Very Sad Streak Lindsey Alder The Giants narrowly avoided a sweep by the Mets yesterday afternoon, which would have been the second consecutive series sweep for them. A win is a win (and this one doesn’t change the Giants’ standing as the worst team in baseball by record), but the victory was notable for one astonishing fact: During that game in 2015, the Marlins were up 2-1 on the Giants in the top of the ninth in San Francisco. Jeremy Affeldt and Santiago Casilla got through four batters without surrendering a run to send the game to the bottom of the ninth. Marlins reliever Steve Cishek gave up a single, a double, an intentional walk, and a walk to tie it up. Matt Duffy knocked in the winning run on a single with two outs. The Giants went home victorious in a way they wouldn’t replicate for two years. Yesterday afternoon the Giants took a 3-2 deficit into the ninth, then proceeded to score four runs on Mets closer Jeurys Familia, who was making his third appearance in as many games. The game-winning double was off the bat of Christian Arroyo, the Giants’ rookie who’s been blessed with the burden of energizing the lineup. But going up 6-3 wasn’t enough drama for the Giants, who nearly suffered one of their signature bullpen collapses. Reliever Derek Law gave up a single, a single, and a double to bring the score to 6-5 with two outs. The game ended on a soft groundout from Kevin Plawecki, with the Giants winning 6-5. In 2015, the Giants went into the ninth inning with the lead 80 times and lost four of those games. In 2016, they took a lead into the ninth 80 times and blew nine of those games. Over the course of those two seasons, they went 2-130 in games in which they trailed going into the ninth inning (stats via Baseball Reference).

Page 39: SF Giants Press Clips Friday, May 12, 2017miami.marlins.mlb.com/documents/4/0/8/229840408/05... · bucked out of the gate and didnt finish the race. The Giants have bucked out of

The season’s already over for the Giants, who are already 10 games back in the NL West, but at least they have achieved something of a moral victory yesterday. It’s no longer totally impossible to imagine them winning in dramatic fashion.