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Ben Martin

Giants hoping bats come to life at Reds’ hitter-friendly park

The Giants players each used one phrase repeatedly following Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Reds that put them in an 0-2 hole in the best-of-five series. “We don’t really have a choice,” catcher and MVP candidate Buster Posey said. “Our backs are against the wall. We’ve got to go out, fight, scrap and claw until the end.” Read More

Giants unable to pounce on Reds bullpen after Cueto exits with injury

Despite an early injury to Cincinnati Reds starter Johnny Cueto, the Giants were unable to get their offense going as they dropped Game 1 of the National League Division Series 5-2 Saturday at AT&T Park. Starter Matt Cain gave up the first runs of his postseason career, ending a 23²⁄³-inning scoreless streak. All three of the runs he allowed came on home runs — a two-run shot by Brandon Phillips in the third inning and a solo shot by Jay Bruce that landed in the arcade above Triples Alley in the fourth. Phillips later added an RBI single in the ninth. Read More

Reds' Baker just happy to have health back

Dusty Baker
Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker received a standing ovation when introduced to the crowd at AT&T Park before Saturday’s playoff opener. Baker managed the Giants from 1993 to 2002, finishing his run here with a trip to the World Series. Baker said he still has fond memories of making the move from Candlestick Park to the shores of McCovey Cove before the 2000 season. Read More

As fog disappears, Ainslie has the edge

The fog lifted and winds died down a bit for the second day of racing in the latest installment of the America’s Cup World Series on San Francisco Bay on Thursday, a day that saw Ben Ainslie Racing take the early lead in fleet racing, while Artemis Racing-White and Emirates Team New Zealand advanced to the semifinals of the match racing. Read More

Despite poor season, Giants will lean on Lincecum

Tim Lincecum’s struggles during 2012 are well-documented. Statistically, he just completed the worst season of his six-year Giants career and isn’t exactly ending on a high note, getting battered for 11 earned runs in 10 innings over his last two regular-season starts. He finished the season with a 10-15 record and a 5.18 ERA. None of that has stopped manager Bruce Bochy from putting the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner in the playoff rotation, however. Read More

This year’s Giants rely on moving runners instead of home run

The 2012 Giants have little in common with the 2010 team that stole the hearts of San Francisco on The City’s first World Series championship since moving from New York. Both teams were built on pitching, and much of the 2010 staff remains on the roster, but the offense is a stark contrast. The 2010 team was sixth in the National League in home runs, sparked by the midseason pickup of Pat Burrell, whose 18 long balls in 96 games with the Giants that year provided a big power surge. Read More

Three teams eliminated as fog rolls back into Bay

The fog rolled in over San Francisco Bay just in time for the match-race qualifiers of the America’s Cup World Series on Wednesday, an event that left Luna Rossa Piranha, Luna Rossa Swordfish and China Team eliminated from the match-race event. Team Korea, Energy Team, Emirates Team New Zealand and Ben Aisnlie Racing each won their first match races to advance to today’s quarterfinals, while Artemis Racing Red survived the four-team loser’s bracket to claim the final spot. Read More

Next installment of America's Cup World Series expected to draw record crowds

Record crowds are expected this week as the next leg of the America’s Cup World Series takes place on San Francisco Bay, beginning today and running through Sunday. The racing will coincide with Fleet Week, which on its own usually draws about a half million spectators, according to ACWS officials. The conversion of the two events would likely make it the largest crowd ever to watch a sailing race in North America, possibly the world. Read More

All systems go for Warriors' Curry return

The Warriors had a tumultuous 2011-12 season laced with injuries and highlighted by trading one of the team’s most popular players. The move that sent Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks for center Andrew Bogut raised enough ire among fans that they booed team owner Joe Lacob at a halftime ceremony honoring former Warrior icon Chris Mullin. The move also handed the reins of the team to Stephen Curry, who played in only 26 of the team’s 66 games last season due to recurring ankle problems. Read More

Giants' Zito peaking at right time

Barry Zito may have pitched his way into the playoff rotation Thursday as the Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-3 behind six solid innings from their starter. The Giants have now won his past 10 starts, a streak not accomplished since Bill Swift started 11 straight wins in 1992. For the second start in a row, Zito was backed by a six-run inning, this one off Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin from his offense, as the team batted around in the second inning — highlighted by home runs by Marco Scutaro and Hunter Pence. Read More

Cabrera won't be included on Giants playoff roster

Melky Cabrera will be left off the Giants’ postseason roster despite being eligible to come back after the first five games of the playoffs, manager Bruce Bochy announced Thursday. The left fielder, who had a .346 batting average in 113 games this season, has been serving a 50-game suspension since Aug. 15 after testing positive for a banned substance.   Bochy said the decision was made based on how well the team has been playing in Cabrera’s absence and a plethora of options to man left field. Read More

Pools, host sites for World Baseball Classic tournament unveiled

Giants officials and players joined Mayor Ed Lee and several international baseball leaders on the shores of McCovey Cove on Tuesday to announcing the venues for the first round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The first round, which consists of pool play involving four teams in each city, will take place in Fukuoka City, Japan; Taichung, Taiwan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Phoenix and Scottsdale, Ariz. AT&T Park has already been announced as the location of the semifinals and final, with the second round set for Tokyo and Miami. Read More

Gold medalists to star in Esurance Classic in front of friends, family

Bob and Mike Bryan have had a very eventful summer. The twin tennis stars won an Olympic gold medal in London in July, then won their record 81st doubles title, at the U.S. Open in New York on Sept. 10. This weekend’s return to their home state for the Esurance Tennis Classic in Mill Valley will provide a different sort of experience than the rush they’ve been through over the past few months. Read More

Sandoval belts pair of bombs as Giants close in on NL West crown

It’s safe to say Panda mode is back on at AT&T Park. Pablo Sandoval hit two home runs Thursday, including one that fueled a six-run fourth inning, as the Giants cruised to a 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Sandoval now has three homers in his last two games to lead the team to a four-game sweep of the last-place Rockies and push their magic number to three after the Washington Nationals beat the Dodger 4-1. Read More

Quakes not going to ease up in playoffs

The Earthquakes this week became the first MLS team to clinch a playoff spot, marking their second trip to the postseason in the past three years. The 2012 season has been a big turnaround for a club that has not finished higher than sixth in the Western Conference since A’s owner Lew Wolff brought the team back following the previous incarnation moving to Houston after the 2005 season, when they won the Supporters’ Shield for the best regular-season record. Now the Earthquakes have their eye on bringing the Shield back to San Jose. Read More
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