News » SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The way the last two seasons

have gone for the San Francisco Giants http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-maury-wills-jersey , those three World Series titles in 2010, ’12 and ’14 seem so long ago for manager Bruce Bochy’s club.The Giants finished 73-89 following a season during which the biggest names — Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto, Brandon Belt — were all injured at some point. They traded Andrew McCutchen to the Yankees in late August amid all the disabled list stints.San Francisco struggled to score runs and went a majors-worst 5-21 in September but improved on its last-place 2017 finish of 64-98 by nine wins during a second straight season in which pitchers Bumgarner and Cueto were sidelined for long stretches, and reliable right-hander Jeff Samardzija got hurt, too.Cueto had Tommy John surgery in August, Posey underwent season-ending hip surgery later that month then first baseman Belt underwent season-ending right knee surgery in September.“We’ve been one of those lineups that needed all hands on deck,” said Brian Sabean Fernando Valenzuela Jersey , the executive vice president of baseball operations. He didn’t want to speak about how the roster might shape up this winter until new hires are made in the front office.Change is coming. A new general manager is set to be hired to replace Bobby Evans, who will be reassigned after he was dismissed last week.President and CEO Larry Baer said preliminary conversations have begun.“We don’t know who that person is now. But he’s the guy who’ll be making decisions,” Bochy said. “I understand that. Whatever he wants to do, whether on the field, my job is to make it work. I think it’s wait-and-see what we do there.”Here are some things to take from the Giants’ second straight losing season:MADBUM’S FUTUREThe first big blow came when Bumgarner broke the pinkie on his pitching hand when he was hit by a line drive from Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield in his final spring training start. The 2014 World Series MVP had surgery to insert pins into the finger.“Really what’s unfortunate is when he got hurt in spring training,” Bochy said. “I think he’s come back and he’s thrown some really nice games.”Bumgarner is considered one of the Giants’ hardest workers, but his return isn’t a guarantee.In April 2012, Bumgarner signed a $35.56 million, six-year deal through 2017 that included $12 million club options for the 2018 and ’19 seasons.“I don’t know that there’s anything to address just yet http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-jackie-robinson-jersey ,” Bumgarner said after his final start Friday. “We’ll see what happens or what don’t happen. I don’t really know.”Bochy expects his ace to return to top form next season.“No doubt in my mind,” Bochy said.The lefty ace missed nearly three months last year following a dirt bike accident during an off day in Colorado.FINAL WEEKEND BUST NOT A BOOSTBochy hoped a strong showing in the final weekend would provide his group with a boost heading into the offseason.Instead, it was a bust — a 15-0 defeat to the Dodgers on the final day.Still, Bochy noted: “With what we’ve been through and even though we’re a little nicked up and missing some pieces right now, they know they can play with anybody.”PENCE’S FAREWELLOutfielder Hunter Pence is unlikely to return to San Francisco after 6 1/2 seasons in the Bay Area as a fan favorite. He had his farewell day during Sunday’s loss, waving and tipping his clap for multiple standing ovations throughout the game.The 35-year-old Pence plans to play winter ball and reinvent himself with the hopes of playing in 2019.“I still love it and I’m still healthy,” he said.RODRIGUEZ SHINESRookie Dereck Rodriguez (6-4) was a bright spot for a pitching staff that had to overcome struggles by the offense.He was winless over his final seven starts since defeating the Pirates on Aug. 12. Rodriguez’s 2.81 ERA with a minimum of 100 innings pitched ranks lowest in San Francisco history for rookies.The Giants lost his last seven outings and nine of 11.STRICKLAND’S PUNCHGiants closer Hunter Strickland broke his pitching hand punching a door in frustration after blowing the save in a 5-4 June defeat to the Marlins and then required surgery. He never was the same when he returned.IMPROVED FINISHA year ago, San Francisco finished last in the NL West at 64-98, just missing the franchise’s first 100-loss season since 1985.The Giants improved by nine wins despite all the injuries.“It’s not as bad as the perception let’s say of this last 25 games. When you’re virtually having to roll out — I hate to say — a split-squad lineup against playoff teams Kenley Jansen Jersey , that’s what our roster ended up being because of all the attrition,” Sabean said. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks are costing themselves crucial late-season wins by missing scoring opportunities.Two straight shutouts by the San Francisco Giants and Arizona dropped into a first-place tie with Colorado in the NL West.Pinch-hitter Gorkys Hernandez singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning, lifting the Giants to a 1-0 win on Tuesday night.“We’ve got a long way to go. We can’t win it today and we can’t win it tomorrow,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve got to play good baseball for another 30-plus days. Our guys are battle-tested. They’re smart, they’re aggressive, they’re tough, and I want them to remember that.”Steven Duggar scored the deciding run moments after what looked like a potentially serious injury. Duggar stayed in the game after making a headfirst slide back into second on Nick Hundley’s single after he initially rounded second. Duggar was seen testing his bruised left shoulder, which will be re-evaluated Wednesday.“I was out there, he was in pain http://www.dodgersfanproshop.com/authentic-corey-seager-jersey ,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He said, ‘I’m staying in this game.'”Going back to Sunday’s 5-2 win against Seattle, the Diamondbacks have gone 23 innings without scoring, shut out for the seventh time this season.San Francisco earned its 12th shutout and extended its winning streak to four games.“All we can do right now is just kind of put our head down and try to go win today,” ace pitcher Madison Bumgarner said. “… We’re not going to look behind, we’re not going to look ahead. We’re going stay focused on that day and then see where we’re at at the end of it. It’s no secret a lot of stuff has to go right and a lot of stuff has to go wrong.”Brad Ziegler (1-6) walked Duggar with one out, taking the loss for his first decision since returning to the Diamondbacks in a trade from Miami before the deadline.Will Smith (2-2) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the win.Arizona’s Nick Ahmed was thrown out at home to end the eighth as he tried to score from first on pinch-hitter David Peralta’s single to deep center.Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley allowed consecutive one-out walks in the eighth then manager Torey Lovullo turned to Andrew Chafin one out later and he retired Brandon Crawford on a groundout with runners on second and third.Arizona failed to take advantage of a break in the seventh when Giants left fielder Austin Slater flubbed a lazy fly ball by Jon Jay then slid on his backside trying to retrieve the ball for a three-base error.Bumgarner and Arizona righty Clay Buchholz each pitched seven scoreless innings with nothing to show for it — another pitcher’s duel a day after San Francisco’s Chris Stratton and Patrick Corbin.Bumgarner allowed four hits, five strikeouts and four walks. He has surrendered three or fewer runs in 13 of his 16 starts, but had nothing to show for this one. He was coming off eight strong innings in which he gave up one earned run to beat the Mets last Thursday.Buchholz has allowed only one run over his last three starts and 23 innings.Ketel Marte doubled to start the fifth but the D-backs couldn’t convert Enrique Hernandez Jersey , then Arizona loaded the bases in the sixth and Paul Goldschmidt was thrown out at home by third baseman Evan Longoria.San Francisco has played at least one one-run game in each of its last nine series.ON REVIEWJoe Panik thought he had a two-out double in the third when the play went to review and was overturned in just less than two minutes. He was thrown out at second by center fielder A.J. Pollock and credited with a single.TRAINER’S ROOMDiamondbacks: 1B coach Dave McKay was OK after he took a ball to the head during batting practice when it ricocheted about 75 feet off the protective L screen, according to Lovullo. … Arizona recalled INF/OF Christian Walker from Triple-A Reno to add right-handed hitting depth on the bench and optioned RHP Matt Andriese to Class-A Visalia. Andriese, who also will work out at the team’s Salt River Fields facility, will be stretched out to start and the D-backs didn’t want to take innings from any potential September call-ups who need innings at Triple-A.Giants: C Buster Posey is scheduled to return to the Bay Area on Thursday from Vail, Colorado, where he underwent season-ending right hip surgery Monday. Bochy exchanged texts with Posey and said “he’s doing great” and is already up and moving around. … RHP Jeff Samardzija is scheduled for a second opinion on his inflamed pitching shoulder Wednesday from Dr. Tim McAdams at Stanford.UP NEXTArizona 13-game winner righty Zack Godley (13-7, 4.59 ERA) is 5-0 with a 4.05 ERA over his last seven road starts and will be opposed in the series finale by standout Giants rookie Dereck Rodriguez (6-1, 2.30 ERA). The right-hander makes his second start since coming off the DL from a strained right hamstring.