DENVER — Alex Dickerson hit three home runs and matched a career high with six RBIs, highlighting one of the biggest offensive shows ever at Coors Field as the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 23-5 on Tuesday night.
“That’s by far the best game I’ve ever had in my life,” said Dickerson, who just missed hitting a fourth home run in his final at bat in the ninth, settling for a 414-foot double that reached the warning track in centre, the deepest part of the field.
“I don’t think I’ve seen that many barrelled balls from one guy in one game before,” said Brandon Crawford, who also homered among his three hits and had six RBIs. “I thought he got that last one, too. That would have been pretty cool.”
Dickerson finished with 16 total bases (three homers, two doubles), tying the Giants’ franchise record set by Willie Mays on April 30, 1961 at the Milwaukee Braves.
“It’s incredible company,” Dickerson said. “The things he did in his career and everything he means to San Francisco, to even be mentioned in the same breath as him is an incredible honour.”
Donovan Solano also had four hits and six RBIs. Brandon Belt and Joey Bart added three hits apiece as the Giants collected 27 hits overall and scored in every inning except the ninth in winning for the 10th time in 13 games.
“There were plenty of good performances to go around, up and down the lineup,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said.
The 23 runs were the third-most allowed by the Rockies in team history. The Chicago Cubs scored 26 against Colorado on Aug. 18, 1995, and the Cincinnati Reds scored 24 on May 19, 1999. The 27 hits by the Giants were the second most ever allowed by the Rockies, matching the Cubs’ hit total in the 1995 game.
“We’ve got to circle the wagons a little bit here,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “With the pitching, we’ve had a couple of rough nights on the mound, coincided with a couple of rough nights at the plate. It’s a bad combination. We’ve got to put the two together, that’s for sure.”
Giants starter Kevin Gausman (2-2) went five innings and allowed two hits and two runs, both on solo home runs by Garrett Hampson.
Catcher Drew Butera pitched the last two innings for the Rockies. It was the seventh career pitching appearance for the position player and the first since 2018 as a member of the Kansas City Royals.
Dickerson touched off his power display — the first multihomer game of his career — with a towering first-inning solo shot that landed in the third deck overlooking right field. The 480-foot drive off Jon Gray (2-4) was longest home run by a Giants player since at least 2015.
He followed with a two-run drive in the second inning and a three-run homer off Jairo Diaz in the Giants’ seven-run sixth inning, their biggest of the night. Crawford also had a three-run homer in the sixth.
Dickerson doubled and scored in between his last two homers, drew a walk in the eighth inning, and doubled to the centre field warning track off Butera in the ninth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: LHP Drew Smyly, sidelined by a sprained left index finger, was set to travel Tuesday to the Sacramento alternate site to throw live batting practice. RHP Jeff Samardzija also was set to face live hitters as he works back from an inflamed throwing shoulder. … RHP Reyes Moronta, working back from right shoulder surgery, was slated for a bullpen session in Sacramento on Tuesday with the hope he throws live batting practice by the end of the week. Manager Gabe Kapler has remained optimistic Moronta will pitch for the Giants this season.
ROSTER MOVES
The Giants recalled INF Daniel Robertson from Sacramento. … The Rockies optioned LHP Phillip Diehl to their alternate training site and activated OF Kevin Pillar following his acquisition from Boston.
UP NEXT
LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 3.43 ERA) saw a streak of six consecutive quality starts to begin the season snapped when he gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings in a no decision last time out against San Diego. He’ll try to get back on track Wednesday against the Giants, who are starting RHP Logan Webb (2-3, 4.35 ERA).
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
