WILMER FLORES

Pitcher Wade Miley was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs from Cincinnati on Friday, a surprising cost-cutting move by the Reds.

Only the San Francisco Giants themselves envisioned a season with success quite like this.

Dodgers ace right-hander Max Scherzer is the planned starter for the opening game of the NL Championship Series against the Braves.

The MLB rulebook is fuzzy about what is a check swing.

(AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) (Jed Jacobsohn)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — It’s always been one of the most murky areas in baseball: What exactly constitutes a check-swing? So how far does a big league hitter have to go with his swing in order for a pitch to be called a strike? Don't bother looking for it in the Official Baseball Rules: Amazingly, in the nearly 200 pages that govern Major League Baseball, there's no mention of how to decide. By rule, judgment calls are not reviewable under Major League Baseball replay rules and there's not been any movement to change that. When it happened live I thought he went, so that’s why I called it a swing,” Morales said.

It’s always been one of the most murky areas in baseball: What exactly constitutes a check-swing.

NLDS Dodgers Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants players watch during the ninth inning of Game 5 of a baseball National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) (Jed Jacobsohn)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Wilmer Flores swung — or he didn’t — and that was it. Last call for the San Francisco Giants. Instead, their final chance ended when Flores was rung up on an 0-2 pitch from Dodgers ace Max Scherzer pitching in a rare closer's role. Plate umpire Doug Eddings checked with first base ump Gabe Morales, who ruled Flores swung — check-swings are judgment calls and not reviewable under Major League Baseball replay rules.

A stellar season for the San Francisco Giants ended when Wilmer Flores was called out on a disputed check-swing to end a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the deciding Game 5 of the NL Division Series.

Mookie Betts homered and drove in three runs, Will Smith also went deep and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Francisco Giants 7-2 to force a decisive Game 5 in their NL Division Series.

Julio Urías shut down San Francisco and contributed an RBI single for his cause, Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock delivered two-run doubles to blow it open in the sixth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pounded the Giants 9-2 to even their NL Division Series at one game apiece.

Logan Webb struck out 10 pitching masterfully in his postseason debut, Buster Posey hit a two-run homer that held up, and the 107-win San Francisco Giants blanked the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 in the opener of their NL Division Series.

The San Francisco Giants finally won the NL West without needing to wait for the rival Dodgers' result on the season’s final day, pounding the San Diego Padres 11-4 for a franchise-record 107th victory to top the 1904 New York team.

LaMonte Wade Jr. singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants held their two-game lead in the NL West by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4.

Kris Bryant drew a pair of standing ovations in his return to Wrigley Field, then Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt homered in the seventh inning to send the San Francisco Giants over the Chicago Cubs 6-1 for their fifth straight win.

Thairo Estrada hit a three-run homer during San Francisco’s four-run eighth inning, and the Giants beat the Brewers 5-1 to avoid a four-game sweep.

Logan Webb threw seven strong innings to win his seventh consecutive decision, Tommy La Stella and Mike Yastrzemski each homered and drove in two runs, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0.

Jorge Soler hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning, Joc Pederson made a leaping catch at the wall for the final out and the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat San Francisco 6-5 to end the Giants’ five-game winning streak.

Giants Athletics Baseball Oakland Athletics' Starling Marte gestures toward teammates after hitting an RBI double against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu)OAKLAND, Calif. — (AP) — Josh Harrison hit a two-run single, Starling Marte added an RBI double, and the Oakland Athletics beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Friday night. Mike Yastrzemski homered for San Francisco. As Marte stole third, Jose Alvarez’s throw bounced past third baseman Wilmer Flores and into foul territory, and Marte scored easily. He had been unbeaten in 11 starts following a San Francisco loss.

Josh Harrison hit a two-run single, Starling Marte added an RBI double, and the Oakland Athletics beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Friday night.

José Altuve hit a grand slam in the sixth one inning after putting Houston ahead on a solo homer, and the AL-leading Houston Astros held off the San Francisco Giants 9-6 in a matchup of baseball’s top two teams.

San Francisco took three of four in a tense series between the longtime rivals. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts threw his cap and argued vehemently, leading to him being ejected in the ninth inning for the second consecutive night. Wade then hit a sinking liner to right field that dropped just in front of newly acquired Billy McKinney, giving San Francisco a 5-3 advantage. The teams have a three-game series beginning Tuesday in San Francisco before playing their final series of the season Sept. 3-5. Dodgers: RHPs Corey Knebel (right lat strain) and Jimmy Nelson (back) both pitched an inning during a simulated game.

LaMonte Wade Jr. broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run single and the San Francisco Giants rallied against closer Kenley Jansen again for a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Giants Dodgers Baseball San Francisco Giants' Wilmer Flores connects for a two-run home run during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Wednesday night. The Giants had just four hits before Flores' drive, which quieted the sellout crowd at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles starter Julio Urías pitched a gem, allowing just three hits in seven innings. AJ Pollock hit an RBI double to the right-field corner off Logan Webb in the fourth to score Bellinger and give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead.

Wilmer Flores hit a go-ahead, two-run homer off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning and the San Francisco Giants rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2.

Pinch-hitter Will Smith connected for a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from five runs down to defeat the San Francisco Giants 8-6 in the second game of a pivotal series between NL West rivals.

Giants Dodgers Baseball San Francisco Giants' Wilmer Flores, left, celebrates his solo home run with Donovan Solano during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, July 19, 2021, in Los Angeles. San Francisco pitchers had retired 11 straight Dodgers until AJ Pollock led off the ninth with a single. With the win, the Giants expanded their lead to two games over the defending World Series champion Dodgers. San Francisco has been in first place since May 31. Jarlín García (2-2), the third of six San Francisco pitchers, got the win by striking out two in 1 1/3 innings.

Buster Posey and Wilmer Flores hit back-to-back homers in the first inning, Thairo Estrada had a key double in the seventh and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-2 in the opener of a pivotal four-game series between the NL West rivals.

Cardinals Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants' Kevin Gausman throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, July 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) (Jed Jacobsohn)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — San Francisco right-hander Kevin Gausman had his no-hit bid ended by St. Louis slugger Nolan Arenado's one-out single to left on Monday. Gausman turned an inning-ending double play getting Harrison Bader to fly out and Carpenter was caught off first. Gausman began the day with a 1.68 ERA, the lowest through 16 starts of any Giants pitcher since the team moved West in 1958. There have been seven no-hitters in the majors this season, matching the mark for most in a season since 1900.

Cardinals Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants' Kevin Gausman throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, July 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) (Jed Jacobsohn)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — San Francisco right-hander Kevin Gausman hasn't allowed a hit through six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, closing in on what would be the record-tying eighth no-hitter in the majors this season. Gausman turned an inning-ending double play getting Harrison Bader to fly out and Carpenter was caught off first. Gausman began the day with a 1.68 ERA, the lowest through 16 starts of any Giants pitcher since the team moved West in 1958. In addition, Arizona’s Madison Bumgarner pitched a seven-inning hitless game in a doubleheader on April 25 that is not recognized as a no-hitter by Major League Baseball.

San Francisco right-hander Kevin Gausman had his no-hit bid ended by St. Louis slugger Nolan Arenado’s one-out single to left.

Diamondbacks Giants Baseball San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey hits a three-run home run in front of Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Stephen Vogt during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) (Tony Avelar)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped their 22nd straight road game Wednesday night, matching the 1963 Mets and '43 Philadelphia Athletics for the major league record with a 13-7 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores added a two-run drive in the fifth and Brandon Belt hit his ninth homer that inning. Asdrubal Cabrera homered and Ketel Marte hit a two-run double in the D-backs' five-run sixth. “Excited to get back.”RHP Kevin Gausman (7-1, 1.43) pitches for San Francisco.

The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped their 22nd straight road game, matching the 1963 Mets and ’43 Philadelphia Athletics for the major league record with a 13-7 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Kapler said he experienced no side effects from his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. He said others, who looked into vaccination possibilities in the Phoenix area at the end of spring training, had Moderna or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson shots. Opening day is Thursday at Seattle, and Kapler says any of his players who need some downtime before then will have it. School officials said COVID-19 opt-outs made it impossible to field the required number of players in key position groups to meet Southern Conference playing guidelines. The Mocs were 3-2 this spring and were set to head to Western Carolina for a game on Saturday.