
After historic shutout, Giants look to cash in vs. Blue Jays
The San Francisco Giants will try to convert more hits into runs on Saturday afternoon when they continue their series with the host Toronto Blue Jays.
San Francisco outhit Toronto 11-10 on Friday night but lost the opener of the three-game set 4-0 as the teams returned to action after the All-Star break.
The primary culprit? The Giants went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position while the Blue Jays, who scored all their runs in the second inning against Justin Verlander, were 3-for-9.
'They got three big hits, we didn't get any,' Giants manager Bob Melvin said. 'We've got to move on from it.'
It was the first time the Giants had 11 or more hits and scored zero runs in a game since Aug. 24, 1959, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Giants had two hits each from Heliot Ramos, Rafael Devers and Patrick Bailey. Toronto starter Chris Bassitt allowed two singles in the first and two more in the second, but he worked out of the jams with a double-play grounder in each inning.
The victory gave the Blue Jays a three-game lead in the American League East over the New York Yankees, who lost 7-3 to the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees visit the Blue Jays for a three-game series starting on Monday.
The Giants are scheduled to send out right-hander Logan Webb (9-6, 2.94 ERA) when they try to square the series on Saturday. They hope Webb reverses the results of his previous two career starts against the Blue Jays. He is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA against them.
Toronto is slated to go with left-hander Eric Lauer (4-2, 2.78), who was one of Toronto's pleasant surprises in the first half. Lauer is 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA against San Francisco in nine career outings (eight starts). He has not faced the Giants since 2022.
All but one of Toronto's hits on Friday came in 2 2/3 innings against Verlander, who dropped to 0-8 on the season -- and many were somewhat soft. The other hit came against Tristan Beck, who helped save the rest of the bullpen with 4 1/3 innings. Matt Gage, promoted from Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, pitched the final inning.
The Blue Jays continue to get contributions from a variety of sources. Will Wagner had a two-run double, his first RBIs since he was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on June 28.
'It's always good to help the team out,' Wagner said. 'It's been a long time coming.'
George Springer had three hits and a stolen base to end a 0-for-12 drought.
The Blue Jays did receive some bad news. Yimi Garica, who is on the injured list with a sprained ankle, is now dealing with an ulnar nerve issue in his right elbow, making his return date uncertain.
Getting some help before the trade deadline is a real possibility, of course, and Garcia's problems might be the impetus for a possible acquisition.
'We've got to continue to do our part the next couple of weeks to hopefully make that push,' Toronto manager John Schneider said. 'I don't want to say rely on it, but you can kind of factor that into the equation as long as we're continuing to play the way we're playing, that there will be some additions from outside.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Winnipeg Free Press
34 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ryan McMahon off to fast start with Yankees: `First impressions are usually pretty big'
NEW YORK (AP) — Two games into his New York Yankees career, Ryan McMahon has fans talking. And in this case, that's a positive. 'First impressions are usually pretty big,' he said Sunday after sparking a comeback with a tying, two-run double and some dazzling defense in a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies that stopped a three-game losing streak. Acquired on Friday from Colorado, the 2024 All-Star went 1 for 3 and made a nifty backhand stop in his pinstriped debut Saturday, a 9-4 defeat. After the Phillies went ahead 2-0 Sunday against Carlos Rodón on second-inning homers by Nick Castellanos and rookie Otto Kemp, McMahon grounded a Zack Wheeler curveball into the right-field corner in the bottom half. 'He looks great so far. Hopefully he continues it,' Yankees closer Devin Williams said. 'I've obviously played against him in the past and he was a good player and I'm happy to have him here.' McMahon also singled and was hit by a pitch. He's reached base five times in two games with the Yankees. His glove work has been even more impressive. McMahon easily fielded J.T. Realmuto's 104.3 mph grounder in the second, jumped to grab Bryce Harper's looper leading off the fourth, then ranged to his glove side for a fifth-inning grounder with two out, slid and spun and then threw out speedy Trea Turner at first. 'Three big plays that stood out to me,' Rodón said. 'It's a whirlwind for a guy that gets traded and has to figure things out. So it's a pleasure to have him.' McMahon made 129 errors over six minor league seasons. He credited his defense to former Rockies teammates Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and DJ LeMahieu, who have combined for 13 All-Star selections and 14 Gold Gloves. 'When you have those three guys and you're 20 years old and in your first big league camp, you're going to learn a lot if you just shut up and watch and pay attention,' McMahon said. McMahon arrived in the Bronx on Friday night following his trade from the Rockies, the team that drafted him in 2013. He took only one suitcase of clothing and his gear, and is staying in a hotel through the homestand. His wife Natalie and 1 1/2-year-old daughter Austyn Brooke remained behind. 'We'll figure that out, man,' he said. 'My wife, she's a rock star. She's awesome. She'll let me get settled a little bit and then they'll probably come out next homestand.' Yankees players, led by captain Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton, have been working at getting to know McMahon. 'Real easy to be around. I kind of sat with him a little bit today in the locker room, just kind of shooting it a little with him and he feels, to me, he feels comfortable,' said manager Aaron Boone, a third baseman obtained by the Yankees from Cincinnati at the 2003 trade deadline. 'It's allowing them space, allowing them to be themselves but also trying to really get to know them a little bit and making them immediately feel part of it,' Boone said. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Austin Wells hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly and Trent Grisham an RBI single against Wheeler (9-4), who tied his career high with three hit batters — including two in a row ahead of the double by McMahon, who himself was hit by a pitch in the sixth. A smile on his face, McMahon left the clubhouse to address some of the logistics of the trade. 'I've got a lot of calls to make today, that's for sure,' he said. ___ AP MLB:


Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Twins All-Star Byron Buxton is day-to-day with rib cartilage irritation
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins announced on Sunday that All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton is day-to-day with cartilage irritation in his rib cage. Buxton was pulled from Saturday's game against Washington after he experienced discomfort in his side while running. An MRI performed on Sunday confirmed the irritated cartilage.


Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rangers strike early, run winning streak to 6 with 8-1 victory over struggling Braves
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Josh Smith hit a two-run home run, Wyatt Langford had a bases-clearing double and the surging Texas Rangers piled up eight runs in the first three innings in an 8-1 victory over the struggling Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Josh Jung added a two-run single to help the Rangers sweep the three-game series. Rookie Jack Leiter (7-6) set a career high with 100 pitches and matched a career mark with seven strikeouts. He allowed a run on two hits and three walks over six innings. Texas (56-50) has won six straight games, going six games over .500 for the first time since April 6. The Rangers are four games out of first place in the AL West, gaining seven games since July 8, and are a half-game out of a wild-card spot. Atlanta starter Bryce Elder (4-7), who grew up about an hour's drive northwest of Arlington in Decatur, gave up all eight runs. The Braves (44-60) managed only four hits in dropping their fifth straight. Having played in the last seven postseasons, they're 12 games out of a wild-card position. Texas' Corey Seager singled and walked to extend his on-base streak to 27 games, the majors' longest current streak. Key moment Leiter pitched with a 3-1 lead but runners at second and third with one out in the second after Sean Murphy's RBI double, then retired Ozzie Albies and Nick Allen on weak contact. Key stat Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Rangers went 8-1 on their homestand following the All-Star break. Up next Both teams will play Monday nighton the road. Braves RHP Spencer Strider (4-8, 3.72 ERA) will face 45-year-old Kansas City LHP Rich Hill (0-1, 1.80). Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (10-2, 2.28) will go against the Los Angeles Angels. ___ AP MLB: