Saturday, August 29, 2026

Down on the Farm: 8/282026

 AAA:  Reno Aces beat the Sacramento River Cats 6-1.

Darien Smith RHP- 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 3/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 0.00.
Wilkin Ramos RHP- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.39.
Alex Carrillo RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 12.79.

River Cats managed just 4 hits in the game.  Aeverson Arteaga SS and Charlie Szykowny 1B each had a double.

AA:  Portland Sea Dogs downed the Richmond Flying Squirrels 9-3.

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 4, SB(15).  BA= .290.
Dayson Croes 2B- 2 for 4.  BA= .266.

Dayson Croes is batting .395 over his last 9 games.  

A+:  Everett Aquasox outlasted the Eugene Emeralds 4-3(10 innings).

Cade Vernon RHP- 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 9/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.52.

A:  Visalia Rawhide outscored the San Jose Giants 9-6.

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 1 for 4, 3B, BB, SB(10).  BA= .354.
Dario Reynoso 3B- 2 for 3, BB, SB(19).  BA= .279.
Tanner Mally CF- 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SB(6).  BA= .403.
Jordan Gottesman LHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.96.

Game Wrap 8/28/2026: D'Backs 10 Giants 6

A few bright spots in the lineup were not enough to overcome terrible pitching as the D'Backs as the bullpen once again failed to keep a winnable game within reach.  Key Lines:

Bryce Eldridge DH- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(15), R. 2 RBI.  BA= .254.  The most significant part of this line is Eldridge did his damage against a LHP.  More than that, Eldridge and Devers batting 2, 3 in the lineup against a LHP and accounted for 3 of the Giants 6 runs.  

Christian Koss SS- 1 for 3, HR(1), R, 2 RBI.  BA= .211.  Koss is batting .238 over his last 7 games and .271 over his last 15.  In a small sample he has far better defensive metrics at SS than Willy Adames.  BTW, Adames got a PRP injection in his elbow so is likely done for the season giving Christian a chance to impress the rest of the way.

Blade Tidwell RHP- 5 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 4 K's, 2/6 GO/AO, 3 HR.  ERA= 4.54.  There was a light breeze out to CF at game time.  How much that contributed to Tidwell's downfall is not clear.  The D'Backs were able to hit the ball in the air and he couldn't keep them in the park.  Although there are exceptions to the rule, if a pitcher gives up a lot of flyballs, some of them are going to find their way over the wall.  A ground ball has essentially zero chance of being a home run.

Spencer Bivens RHP- 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 14.40.  Bivens pitched fairly well in a variable role for AAA Sacramento but giving up 8 runs in 3 IP over his last to games at the MLB level is not going to cut it, even in audition time.

The Giants play a day/night doubleheader today with TBD starting both games.  Matt Williamson LHP will likely be activated for one of the games.  Merrill Kelly RHP(5.35) and Mitch Bratt LHP(4.54) are the named starters for the D'Backs.

Friday, August 28, 2026

Down on the Farm: 8/27/2026

AAA:  Reno Aces shut out the Sacramento River Cats 5-0.

 Joe Whitman LHP- 6 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 4.66.

Quality Start for WhitmanWill Brennan(.318), Diego Velasquez(.254) and Eddys Leonard(.229) had 2 hits each with a double for Velasquez.  

AA:  Portland Sea Dogs mauled the Richmond Flying Squirrels 11-2.  

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 5.  BA= .285.
Jack Payton 1B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .282.

A+:  Everett Aquasox outscored the Eugene Emeralds 12-10.

Damian Bravo CF- 2 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .355.
Cam Maldonado RF- 3 for 4, 3 HR(7), SF.  BA= .333.
Kaeden Kent SS= 4 for 5, 2B, 2 HR(2), SB(1).  BA= .400.

A smashing pro debut for Jeff Kent's son whose mugshot looks like he could be a clone.  And Cam Maldonado is looking more and more like a serious prospect.  

A:  San Jose Giants crushed the Visalia Rawhide 13-4.

Tanner Mally CF- 1 for 3, 2 BB, SB(5).  BA= .390.
Junior Barajas C- 3 for 5, 3 2B.  BA= .258.
Dario Reynoso 3B- 3 for 4, 3B, HR(15), BB.  BA= .276.
Angel Guzman 1B- 1 for 3, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .255.
Broedy Poppell RF- 2 for 4, 3B, BB.  BA= .250.
Ben Bybee RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.91.

Dario Reynoso is a wiry-strong prospect with a solid stat line showing power, speed(18 SB's) and plate discipline(15% walk rate) except for a 32% K rate.  

Game Wrap 8/27/2026: Giants 6 D'Backs 1

 The Giants scored 4 runs in the 8'th inning to break open a tight game and this time the bullpen held on in the 9'th for the win.  Key Lines:

Drew Gilbert RF- 1 for 3, HR(8), SF, R, 2 RBI.  BA= .243.  Gilbert barely missed a home run to the deepest part of Triples Alley on Wednesday.  He hit one to the same spot leading off the Giants half of the first inning but this time it carried over the top of the wall for a home run.  He added an RBI on a sac fly later in the game.  Gilbert is on a tear batting .333 over his last 7 games and with 5 RBI's in his last 2 games.  I think it's safe to say he is the odds on favorite to be at least a strong side platoon partner, probably in CF next season.  

Jonah Cox CF- 2 for 3, BB, SB(5), R, RBI.  BA= .278.  Tony Vitello has made some inneresting choices for his cleanup hitters lately but hey!  Maybe "small ball" works in the middle of the lineup?  Although it did no figure in the scoring Cox did what Giants prospect watchers dreamed of by laying down a bunt single then stealing 2B.  He was also part of the 9'th inning rally using his speed to score on a safety squeeze.

Bryce Eldridge RF- 1 for 4, 2B, R, RBI.  BA= .252.  Eldridge had a slow start to the game coming off the bereavement list but his RBI double was the key hit of the 9'th inning rally.

Landen Roupp RHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.25.  It wasn't overpowering but Roupp hung in there to hold the D'Backs down for 5 innings. this time bullpen took care of the rest.  

Trent Harris RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.50.  Kruk pointed out that Harris has a straight over-the-top delivery which allows him to work up in the zone with a 4-seam fastball and tunnel a downer curveball.  That's a classic pitch combo we don't see too often these days but it has a long history of effectiveness.  Note the game summary calls the fastballs sinkers and cutters but most of them were up in the zone which makes me think they are actually 4-seamers.  

Ryan Walker RHP- 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 6.60.  There was some uneasiness when Walker allowed hits to the first two batters, the second of which whistled past his ear at 104.5 MPH but he settled down to get the last 3 batters and keep the final score 6-1.

Blade Tidwell RHP takes the mound tonight facing Kohl Drake LHP who comes in with an ERA of 5.40.

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Down on the Farm: 8/26/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats defeated the Reno Aces 6-4.

Scott Bandura CF- 2 for 5, 2B, SB(22).  BA= .330.
Bo Davidson RF- 2 for 5.  BA= .300.
Will Brennan LF- 2 for 5, 2B, HR(6).  Ba= .316.
Diego Velasquez DH- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .236.
Adrian Sugastey C- 1 for 3, 2B, Sac.  BA= .304.
Aeverson Arteaga SS- 2 for 4.  BA= .236.
Cesar Perdomo LHP- 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 5.10.
Eric Cerantola RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.73.

Third Quality Start in a row for Cesar Perdomo.

AA:  Portland Sea Dogs outlasted the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-4(13 innings).

Dayson Croes 2B- 3 for 5, 2 BB.  BA= .262.
Jose Astudillo LF- 2 for 6, 2B, SB(3).  BA= 273.
Lisbel Diaz RF- 1 for 6, SF, SB(3).  BA= .152.
Shane Rademacher RHP- 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.22.
Esmerlin Vinicio LHP- 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.00.
Ryan Vanderhei RHP- 2 IP,  0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 2.36.
Tyler Vogel RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.00.

The game was tied at 0 after 9 innings.  The two teams traded runs in the 10'th and 12'th inning before the Sea Dogs scored 3 in the top of the 13'th and the Squirrels fall short with 2 in the bottom of the 13'th.

A+:  Everett Aquasox outscored the Eugene Emeralds 11-6.

Cam Maldonado RF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .300.
Alix Hernandez RHP- 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.92.

Maldonado had the only multi-hit game for the Squirrels. Jhonny Level, Damian Bravo and Dalton Wentz each hit doubles.

A: San Jose Giants whipped the Visalia Rawhide 12-6.

Lorenzo Meola 2B- 2 for 4, 3B, BB.  BA= .271.
Dario Reynoso 3B- 2 for 5, HR(14).  BA= .271.
Tanner Mally CF- 2 for 3, 3B, 2 BB.  BA= .393.
Luke Nixon DH- 2 for 5.  BA= .200.
Oliver Tejada LF- 2 for 4, 2B, BB, SB(3).  BA= .220.
Argenis Cayama RHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 4.20.
Dylan Carter RHP- 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.99.

Oliver Tejada is batting .417 over his last 7 games.

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Game Wrap 8/26/2026: Reds 10 Giants 9

 The Giants set a franchise today, yes I said FRANCHISE, record.......and that is not a good thing.  In season of late-inning failures, blowing a 6-run lead in the 9'th inning turned out to be not only the biggest failure of the season but in the entire history of the franchise, and yes, that includes the New York era.  Key Lines:

Jonah Cox CF- 1 for 3, HR(3), BB, 2 R, 2 RBI.  BA= .255.  Cox drove in the Giants first runs of the gamew with a homer in the second inning.  After an 8 consecutive strikeout run over 3 games, Cox bounced back nicely to go 3 for 8 with 2 HR's over his last 3 games.  He looks like at worst he could be the right side of a CF platoon with Drew Gilbert.  

Drew Gilbert PH/CF- 1 for 1, 2B, 3 RBI.  BA= .242.  Speaking of Drew Gilbert, it sure looked like he put the game away with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded double in the 8'th inning making the score 9-3.

Rafael Devers DH- 2 for 4, HR(29), BB, R, 2 RBI.  BA= .246.  Devers HR in the 5'th gave the Giants a 4-2 lead.  After a rough series in Boston, he went 5 for 11 with a HR in each game of this series.  Devers really turned his season around in the second half.  The finger-wagging incident and subsequent apparent make up with Manager Tony Vitello seemed to be a turning point.

Turner Hill LF- 3 for 4, 2B, R.  BA= .318.  Hill is making good on the promise of the number he put up in the minors this season and putting himself in the conversation for a spot on next season's team.

Shay Whitcomb 2B- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(3), 2 R, 2 RBI.  BA= .147.  Shay Whitcomb sure weares a baseball uniform well but has struggled at the plate since his call up.  He broke out today with a double and HR.  The double preceded Jonah Cox's HR in the second inning and the 2-run HR in the 6'th inning increased the Giants lead to 6-2.

Logan Webb RHP- 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K's.  Not sure why Landen Roupp's start was pushed back and Webb's moved up.  There is absolutely no reason to push Webb this season.  In fact, I would consider shutting him down and he is critical to any hope of a Giants turnaround for next season.  At least he is apparently healthy and threw another Quality Start.  

Spencer Bivens RHP- 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 12.00.  Bivens allowed a leadoff baserunner in the 8'th but then got the last two batters of the inning on strikeouts.  He has experience pitching multiple innings so I can't criticize sending him back out there for the 9'th although the bottom of the 8'th was a very long inning to sit through.  The top of the 9'th started HR, single, WP, walk, WP, walk.  That's when sub-manager Jayce Tingler went out and brought in Dylan Smith RHP.  Was there a point prior to that which was a better time to replace Bivens?  Given the Giants lead I can't really say so.  I will say that the first batter Smith faced, Eugenio Suarez, might be the absolute most dangerous hitter on the planet in that situation.  That man hunts pitches to send over the fence and that's exactly what he did and with the bases-loaded. Suddenly the score was 9-8 and the rest of the story was so predictable we all knew before it happened.  What a crusher!  

There is no rest for the weary as the D'Backs come in for a 4-game series over the weekend including an odd doublheader on Saturday.  Anyone know why that is?  Anyway, Landen Roupp RHP tries to shake it off tomorrow evening facing Jose Cabrera RHP who comes in with a 5.60 ERA.

Down on the Farm: 8/25/2026

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats bombed the Reno Aces 12-3.

Scott Bandura CF- 4 for 5, 3B, BB, SB(21).  BA= .329.
Parks Harber 3B- 3 for 4, 2B, BB, SF.  BA= 313.
Will Brennan RF- 2 for 5, BB.  BA= .315.
Eddys Leonard DH- 2 for 2, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .200.
Aeverson Arteaga SS- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .231.
Matt Gage LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 4.50.
Wilkin Ramos RHP- 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.64.
Cristian Alvarado RHP- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's, Save(2).  ERA= 6.75.

AA: Richmond Flying Squirrels topped the Portland Sea Dogs 8-7.

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .295.
Dayson Croes 2B- 3 for 3, Sac.  BA= .255.
Sabin Ceballos 1B- 1 for 3, HR(16), BB, SB(10).  BA= .220.
Zane Zielinski 3B- 1 for 2, 2B, BB.  BA= .211.
Trystan Vrieling RHP- 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.23.
Jack Choate LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, S(1).  ERA= 3.05.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds defeated the Everett Aquasox 10-4.  

Jhonny Level SS- 2 for 5, SB(13).  BA= .315.
Walker Martin LF- 3 for 4, BB, 2 SB(18).  BA= .238.
Dalton Wentz 2B- 1 for 3, HR(1), 2 BB.  BA= .286.
Hayden Jatczak 3B- 2 for 4, BB, SB(3).  BA= .255.
Robert Hipwell 1B- 2 for 5.  BA= .190.
Jacob Bresnahan LHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 10 K's.  ERA= 2.92.
Mauricio Estrella RHP- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 4.91.
Liam Simon RHP- 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 5.79.

A:  San Jose Giants edged out the Visalia Rawhide 6-5.

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 0 for 3, 2 BB, SB(8).  BA= .367.
Tanner Mally RF- 1 for 2, BB, 2 SB(4).  BA= .377.
Peyton Bonds CF- 2 for 5.  BA= .286.
Broedy Poppell LF- 2 for 3, BB, SB(15).  BA= .249.
Trey Seeley RHP- 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K's, 7/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 6.81.
Samir Chires RHP- 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.   ERA= 2.08.

DSL:  Padres Gold beat Giants Black 8-3(Posteason semifinals game 2).

Djean Macares CF- 2 for 4, BB, 2 SB.
Vinicius Dos Santos PR/RF- 1 for 1, HR.  
Santiago Guerrero LHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K's.

Giants Black eliminated from postseason play.