Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 406

A complete list of Paris Olympics medal winners

PARIS (AP) — The 2024 Olympics are underway. Australia led the medal standings after the first day of competition, but more winners will join the list every day from July 27-Aug. 11. See which countries lead the medal count. Below is a list of all the medal winners, day by day.

Sunday, July 28ARCHERYWOMEN’S TEAM

Gold: South Korea

Silver: China

Bronze: Mexico

CANOE SLALOMWOMEN’S KAYAK SINGLEAustralia’s Jessica Fox gold medalist in the women’s kayak single poses with her medal during the canoe slalom at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Gold: Jessica Fox, Australia

Silver: Klaudia Zwolinska, Poland

Bronze: Kimberley Woods, Britain

CYCLING MOUNTAIN BIKEWOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY

Gold: Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, France

Silver: Haley Batten, United States

Bronze: Jenny Rissveds, Sweden

FENCINGMEN’S EPEE INDIVIDUAL

Gold: Koki Kano, Japan

Silver: Yannick Borel, France

Bronze: Mohamed Elsayed, Egypt

WOMEN’S FOIL INDIVIDUAL

Gold: Lee Kiefer, United States

Silver: Lauren Scruggs, United States

Bronze: Eleanor Harvey, Canada

JUDOWOMEN’S 52KG

Gold: Diyora Keldiyorova, Uzbekistan

Silver: Distria Krasniqi, Kosovo

Bronze: Larissa Pimenta, Brazil and Amandine Buchard, France

MEN’S 66KG

Gold: Hifumi Abe, Japan

Silver: Willian Lima, Brazil

Bronze: Gusman Kyrgyzbayev, Kazakhstan and Denis Vieru, Moldova

SHOOTINGMEN’S 10M AIR PISTOL

Gold: Xie Yu, China

Silver: Federico Nilo Maldini, Italy

Bronze: Paolo Monna, Italy

SKATEBOARDINGWOMEN’S STREETRayssa Leal, of Brazil, right, gestures during the women’s skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. At left is Liz Akama, of Japan, and center Coco Yoshizawa, also of Japan.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Gold: Coco Yoshizawa, Japan

Silver: Liz Akama, Japan

Bronze: Rayssa Leal, Brazil

SWIMMINGMEN’S 400M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY

Gold: Léon Marchand, France

Silver: Tomoyuki Matsushita, Japan

Bronze: Carson Foster, United States

MEN’S 100M BREASTSTROKE

Gold: Nicolo Martinenghi, Italy

Silver: Adam Peaty, Britain and Nic Fink, United States

WOMEN’S 100M BUTTERFLYTorri Huske, left, of the United States, reacts after winning the women’s 100-meter butterfly final with teammate Gretchen Walsh at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Gold: Torri Huske, United States

Silver: Gretchen Walsh, United States

Bronze: Zhang Yufei, China

WOMEN’S 10M AIR PISTOL

Gold: Oh Ye-jin, South Korea

Silver: Kim Ye-ji, South Korea

Bronze: Manu Bhaker, India

Saturday, July 27CYCLINGMEN’S INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

Gold: Remco Evenepoel, Belgium

Silver: Filippo Ganna, Italy

Bronze: Wout van Aert, Belgium

WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL

Gold: Grace Brown, Australia

Silver: Anna Henderson, Britain

Bronze: Chloe Dygert, United States

DIVINGWOMEN’S SYNCHRONISED 3M SPRINGBOARDChina’s Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani hold their gold medal on the podium of the women’s synchronised 3m springboard diving final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Gold: Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen, China

Silver: Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook, United States

Bronze: Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen, Britain

FENCINGWOMEN’S EPEE INDIVIDUAL

Gold: Vivian Kong, Hong Kong

Silver: Auriane Mallo-Breton, France

Bronze: Eszter Muhari, Hungary

MEN’S SABER INDIVIDUAL

Bronze: Luigi Samele, Italy

JUDOWOMEN 48KG

Gold: Natsumi Tsunoda, Japan

Silver: Baasankhuu Bavuudori, Mongolia

Bronze: Shirine Boukli, France, and Tara Babulfath, Sweden

MEN 60KG

Gold: Yeldos Smetov, Kazakhstan

Silver: Luka Mkheidze, France

Bronze: Ryuju Nagayama, Japan and Francisco Garrigos, Spain

RUGBY SEVENS

Gold: France

Silver: Fiji

Bronze: South Africa

SHOOTING10M AIR RIFLE MIXED TEAMMedal winners pose for a photograph after the medal ceremony of the 10m air rifle mixed team competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Chateauroux, France. China’s Sheng Lihao and Huang Yuting won the gold in the competion, while South Korea’s Park Hajun and Keum Jihyeon took silver and Kazakhstan’s Islam Satpayev and Alexandra Le took the bronze. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Gold: Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao, China

Silver: Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun, South Korea

Bronze: Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev, Kazakhstan

SWIMMINGMEN’S 400M FREESTYLE

Gold: Lukas Maertens, Germany

Silver: Elijah Winnington, Australia

Bronze: Kim Woo-min, South Korea

MEN’S 4X100M FREESTYLE RELAY

Gold: United States

Silver: Australia

Bronze: Italy

WOMEN’S 400M FREESTYLE

Gold: Ariarne Titmus, Australia

Silver: Summer McIntosh, Canada

Bronze: Katie Ledecky, United States

WOMEN’S 4X100M FREESTYLE RELAY

Gold: Australia

Silver: United States

Bronze: China

 See other events still in progress

Simone Biles competes in Olympics with a calf injury: What we know

PARIS (AP) — Simone Biles dominated during qualifying with the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the Paris Olympics on Sunday despite limping on her left leg and saying she had an issue with her calf.

Here’s what we know about Biles’ status:

What’s the latest on Simone Biles’ calf injury?Simone Biles, of United States, prepares to compete on the vault during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

U.S. coach Cecile Landi said only that Biles’ injury was minor, has been bothering her for a couple of weeks and there was no discussion of sidelining the seven-time Olympic medalist.

“I can’t express it,” Landi said. “I’m really proud of her and what she’s been through and what she’s showing the world what she’s capable of doing.”

Biles and the rest of Team USA did not speak to reporters after qualifying.

Did her calf issue impact her qualifying score?

Not by much. Biles completed qualifying and leads the all-around standings with a total of 59.566.

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Biles dazzled a star-studded crowd on balance beam to open qualifying, then appeared to tweak the leg while warming up on floor exercise. She left the floor with Team USA doctor Marcia Faustin — an eerily similar scene to what played out in Tokyo, when Biles dropped out of the team competition to protect her safety.

With her ankle taped, Biles posted the highest score on floor and vault through two subdivisions. She did limit the difficulty of her uneven bars routine, skipping a unique skill she submitted to the International Gymnastics Federation on Friday. She did her usual set to score a 14.333, then tried to keep from putting too much weight on her leg following her dismount.

Is Biles still planning to compete?

Landi said there’s been no discussion of pulling Biles from the Paris Olympics.

Biles’ next event would be the team final Tuesday — the one she skipped in Tokyo, citing concerns with her safety and prompting an international discussion on mental health. The individual all-around is Thursday, where Biles and teammate Sunisa Lee — the Tokyo gold medalist with Biles sidelined — will become the first pair of Olympic all-around champions to square off in an all-around final.

Paris Olympics Day 2: Simone Biles, LeBron James shine as Americans step up

By JENNA FRYER, AP National Writer

PARIS (AP) — On the first sunny day of the Paris Olympics, the stars from the United States shined bright.

Simone Biles and LeBron James dazzled, so did the U.S. women’s soccer team. Torri Huske grabbed some of the spotlight, and Haley Batten made a name for herself by earning a silver medal in mountain biking for the best finish ever by an American rider.

Although it was French swimmer Léon Marchand who received the most boisterous cheers in crushing the field to win gold in the men’s 400-meter individual medley, the U.S. had a strong Sunday on Day 2 of the Games.

Simone shines

Biles made her Olympic return three years after pulling out of multiple finals at the Tokyo Games to protect her safety, which prompted an international discussion about mental health, by powering through discomfort she felt in her calf to lead the U.S. women’s gymnastics team into the finals.

Biles, Suni Lee and Jordan Chiles went 1-2-3 in the all-around during early qualifying, though Chiles will miss the all-around final due to rules that limit countries to entering two athletes per competition.

There’s a chance Chiles will make the floor exercise final should she finish in the top eight. Lee is practically a lock for the beam and bars finals, with 2020 floor exercise champion Jade Carey in good position to join Biles in the vault final.

But all eyes were on Biles, who briefly scared an entire nation when she left the after her floor exercise and received medical attention. She had tweaked her calf in warm-up, but U.S. coach Cecile Landi said it was a minor injury.

She performed in front of a star-studded crowd that included Tom Cruise, Jessica Chastain, Snoop Dogg, Anna Wintour and Lady Gaga, who wrote on social media of Biles: “She nailed it, what an honor to be so close!”

LeBron James leads Team USA

Two of the most experienced Olympians on the U.S. men’s basketball team, James and Kevin Durant, began the squad’s bid for a fifth consecutive gold medal with a near-flawless performance.

LeBron James, left, of the United States, shoots as Bogdan Bogdanovic, of Serbia, during a men’s basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (Gregory Shamus/Pool Photo via AP)

Durant made his first eight shots and scored 23 points, James added 21 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and the U.S. rolled to a 110-84 win over Serbia in the Olympic opener for both teams.

James and Durant were a combined 18 for 22 from the field — 8 of 9 for Durant, 9 of 13 for James — as the U.S. had no trouble with the reigning World Cup silver medalists.

Jrue Holiday scored 15, Devin Booker had 12 and Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry each added 11 for the U.S.

Pool party

Huske knocked off world-record holder Gretchen Walsh in the women’s 100 butterfly, using a strong finish to get her hands to the wall just ahead of her teammate in a 1-2 finish for the U.S.

The favorite went out with her usual strategy: start fast and try to hold on. It worked at the U.S. trials, where she set her world record of 55.18 last month, and she was under record pace at the turn.

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But Huske chased her down in the race that really mattered. The winner touched in 55.59 — about the length of a finger ahead of Walsh’s time of 55.63.

When Huske saw the “1” beside her name on the scoreboard, she reached across the lane rope to give Walsh and hug while breaking down in tears.

Marchand, meanwhile, lived up to the huge expectations at his home Olympics with a flag-waving crowd cheering his every stroke. He was under world-record pace on the final turn but faded a bit coming home, touching in 4 minutes, 2.95 seconds — an Olympic record, but just shy of his own world mark of 4:02.50.

Marchand claimed that mark at last year’s world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, erasing a record held by Michael Phelps for 15 years.

And, in an upset, Italian swimmer Nicolo Martinenghi shocked record-holder Adam Peaty in the 100 breaststroke.

Peaty, the gold medalist in both Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, had taken a long layoff to deal with mental health issues. Upon his return, he worked his way back up to speed and entered the final as the top qualifier but settled for silver as his quest for a third consecutive gold was ended.

US Soccer wins

Sophia Smith scored a pair of goals to lead the U.S. past Germany 4-1 and put the team in good position to advance out of its group at the Olympics.

Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams also scored for the Americans, who defeated Zambia 3-0 in the opener but won’t know their fate in the knockout round for sure until after the final Group B matches on Wednesday.

The Americans play Australia in Marseille to conclude group play.

Mountain biker medals

Batten broke a rule but still came home with America’s best ever mountain biking finish when she won silver.

Batten was fined by the Olympic mountain bike judges for violating a rule on the final lap of her race. She was jockeying for second place when she went through a lane dedicated for taking on food and drink or stopping for mechanical problems.

Pauline Ferrand Prevot, of France, centre, winner of the women’s mountain bike cycling event, poses with her gold medal flanked by silver medallist Haley Batten, of United States, left, and bronze medallist Jenny Rissveds, of Sweden, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Elancourt, France. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

After the judges reviewed the footage, they decided Batten had done neither and broke one of the rules of the race. She was fined 500 Swiss francs, or about $565, for “failure to respect the instructions of the race organization or commissaires,” though the judges apparently decided that the infraction was not serious enough to warrant a disqualification.

Batten finished ninth three years ago at the Tokyo Games.

Tennis veterans win

Rafael Nadal was unsure he could even play men’s singles Sunday the day before his match, but turned up at Roland Garros and beat Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round.

The victory set up a blockbuster showdown against rival Novak Djokovic.

It will be the 60th meeting between this pair of greats, more than any other two men have played against each other in the sport’s Open era, which began in 1968. Djokovic, a 37-year-old from Serbia, leads the head-to-head series 30-29, and his 24 Grand Slam titles make him the only man in tennis history with more than Nadal’s 22.

Andy Murray’s tennis career, meanwhile, was extended for at least one more match when he and British partner Dan Evans saved five match points during a first-round doubles win. Murray and Evans rallied past the Japanese pair of Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori 2-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9.

The Brits trailed 9-4 in the decisive tiebreaker, which is held in place of a third set in doubles.

The 37-year-old Murray announced before the Summer Games that it would be the final event of his career, and then pulled out of the singles bracket, leaving him only in doubles.

Murray is a three-time Grand Slam champion and the only tennis player with two Olympic singles golds — from London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

After sweeping Rockies, do SF Giants buy, sell or stand pat at MLB trade deadline?

SAN FRANCISCO — It is too little, too late? Or just enough, at just the right time?

These are the questions that Farhan Zaidi and the Giants’ front office will contemplate over the ensuing 48 hours, give or take, leading up to Tuesday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline after his team completed a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.

“Everybody in this room, we believe in each other,” said third baseman Matt Chapman, who contributed three hits and drove in a pair of runs in the win. “We believe our best baseball is ahead of us.”

On the one hand, the past four games pulled them back within 3½ games of the final National League wild card and two games of .500. The bullpen game they deployed in the series finale could be the last of the season as their starting rotation nears full-strength and looks fearsome. Tyler Fitzgerald has given them superstar-level production at shortstop, and they have the makings of a homegrown core up the middle with Heliot Ramos roaming center and Patrick Bailey behind the plate.

On the other, Zaidi had 100 games before this week to evaluate his team, and they spent exactly four days of that span as a winning ball club. Just last week they dropped two of three to the same opponent they just swept while starting 2-5 after the All-Star break. Even after sweeping both halves of Saturday’s double-header, FanGraphs pegged their chances of reaching the postseason — let alone making a deep run — at 16.9%, the equivalent of rolling a six-sided die.

San Francisco Giants’ Michael Conforto (8) slides safely into second base after hitting a double as Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rodgers (7) attempts to apply the tag in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Figuring into the calculation is the Giants’ schedule the rest of the way, the seventh-easiest remaining slate, but what it can’t account for are the feelings within the clubhouse walls. Sean Hjelle said on NBC Sports Bay Area that, “I think people are going to regret counting out the Giants,” and two of the team’s most likely trade chips, veteran outfielder Michael Conforto and injured starting pitcher Alex Cobb, have both professed their desire in recent days to remain in San Francisco.

“I know it’s easy from the outside world to write us off. I just don’t think that anybody in this clubhouse feels that,” Cobb said before the game while discussing his latest setback. “I don’t want to disparage other teams, but even the really bad teams hit a stride and just rattle off wins and we haven’t had that yet. When we do, I see us being right in the mix of it at the end of the year. I think everybody does.”

Were the past four games the Giants finally hitting their stride?

Or were they four games against the National League’s second-worst team, with two more on tap against the AL’s second-worst squad?

“I just try to narrow it down to each and every game and not worry about what’s happened in the past or what’s going on going forward,” manager Bob Melvin said. “There was some fight in all of these games, won a little bit differently each and every game… .500 has been a tough spot for us to get to. If we’re going to move forward, we have to get to .500. But it was nice to be able to string a few wins together and get that feeling when we took the field that we felt like we were going to win the game.”

Either way, it amounted to some of the Giants’ most inspired baseball of the season, outscoring their opponents 25-9 over the course of the four-game series. Opening leads within the first two innings of each game, the Giants never trailed and held an advantage at the end of all but one of the series’ 36 innings.

On the pitching mound, the Giants followed up the 30 strikeouts they recorded over both games of Saturday’s double-header with 11 more between Erik Miller, Randy Rodríguez, Taylor Rogers, Jordan Hicks, Spencer Bivens and Camilo Doval, setting a franchise record for punchouts in four-game series with 53.

After averaging a paltry 3.6 runs over their seven-game road trip out of the All-Star break, the Giants scored an average of 6.25 over the four-game sweep while pounding out double-digit hits in three of the four contests, including 13 on Sunday — three apiece from Chapman and Jorge Soler.

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin gestures to a player in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

“I think we’re just playing cleaner baseball all the way around,” Melvin said. “Our defense seems to be better, we’re tightening that up. We’re getting a lot of contributions from some of the younger players. That’s been kind of a constant here recently. We’re getting some bigger hits. We’re just playing a little bit cleaner baseball. We’re running the bases a little bit better. Putting a little bit more pressure on other teams. Don’t necessarily just have to string hits together.”

Spelling injured second baseman Thairo Estrada, Casey Schmitt gave the amalgam of bullpen arms an early lead to protect with a 422-foot solo shot to left field in the first inning, and the Giants had built a 3-0 advantage by the end of the second after Conforto and Derek Hill traded extra-base hits out of the bottom two spots in the lineup.

Hicks was originally scheduled to make his final start before transitioning to the bullpen but ended up entering in relief to begin the sixth inning — “It wasn’t going to be a deep outing anyway,” Melvin explained — allowing two runs on three hits, including a solo home run from Michael Toglia in the seventh, over two innings.

The two innings of relief offered a preview of Hicks’ usage in the second half behind a new-look rotation consisting of Logan Webb, Blake Snell, Robbie Ray, Kyle Harrison and, soon enough, Cobb. Eight of the 20 fastballs he threw registered radar gun readings of 95 mph or faster.

“That’s another guy who can help us back there,” Chapman said of Hicks’ move to the bullpen. “Offensively, it seems like we’re starting to put together good at-bats. Soler’s starting to get going here. We’ve got a lot of good things happening. I think we all believe in each other and we hope to be able to push for that playoff spot.”

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OF Heliot Ramos was held out of the starting lineup for only the second time since he was called up May 8 while dealing with a jammed right thumb, Melvin said. Ramos had started the past 68 games, including both halves of Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader.

RHP Sean Hjelle was placed on the bereavement list before first pitch, but all Melvin could share was that he was attending to a “family thing.”

Up next

With Tuesday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline looming in the background, the Giants will enjoy a day off Monday before regrouping for a two-game series against the A’s. While RHP Alex Cobb was originally set to make his season debut during the series, his start was pushed back and the Giants have not named their starting pitchers.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval (75) pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-4. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval (75) kisses a ball after defeating the Colorado Rockies during their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-4. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Jorge Soler (2) slides past Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings (25) to score on a single hit by teammate Matt Chapman (26) in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Randy Rodríguez (73) tosses the ball to first base to throw out Colorado Rockies’ Sam Hilliard (16) in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Jorge Soler (2) slides past Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings (25) to score on a single hit by teammate Matt Chapman (26) in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) swings and is struck out in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon (19) throws his bat while arguing with home plate umpire Laz Diaz (63) over a pitch count violation in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman (26) steals second base as Colorado Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar (14) fails to catch the throw from home in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman (26) connects for a single in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Colorado Rockies’ Sam Hilliard (16) watches as a ball hit by San Francisco Giants’ Jorge Soler (2) bounces into the left field bleachers for an RBI ground rule double in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Derek Hill (48) connects for an RBI triple against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Colorado Rockies pitcher Austin Gomber (26) pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (10) connects for a solo home run in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

A Giants fan holds a San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee bobblehead before the start of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Translator Justin Han assists San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) as he signs autographs before the start of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval (75) pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-4. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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Alex Cobb suffers another setback, hopes SF Giants keep roster intact at trade deadline

SAN FRANCISCO — After suffering another setback in his latest rehab outing, Alex Cobb’s season debut will not come this week at Oracle Park.

The 36-year-old pending free agent just hopes that when he is eventually ready to pitch, it will be in the same uniform he has worn for the past two and a half years. Ahead of Tuesday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, Cobb’s name is one that has been floated in rumors if the Giants commit to a selloff.

“I want to be here,” the veteran right-hander said from the home clubhouse Sunday morning.

After offseason hip surgery and complications in his shoulder, Cobb was originally slated to make his first start of the season this week against the A’s but instead was set to meet with club trainers Sunday to determine his next steps after a blister on his index finger popped in what was scheduled to be his final tuneup.

Cobb said he was “ready to join the rotation” after tossing five scoreless innings last Saturday for Triple-A Sacramento but felt the blister appear when he unleashed a slider on the second-to-last pitch of his outing. He lasted only two innings Friday in San Jose after the blister opened on the first batter of the game.

“I’m almost embarrassed that something keeps happening every time I’m almost ready,” Cobb said. “Just dealing with the punches as they come. At some point, I’ll be on the mound. I hope. But right now, frustrating.”

The blister, Cobb said, impacts his grip on every pitch but his curveball. They typically require about two weeks to heal, and manager Bob Melvin said Cobb could still be an option on the upcoming road trip that begins Friday in Cincinnati before heading to Washington, D.C.

That is, if Cobb is still on the team after Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Along with Blake Snell, Michael Conforto, Mike Yastrzemski and — before their own injuries — Wilmer Flores and Thairo Estrada, Cobb is one veteran on an expiring contract that the Giants could try to move to recoup some prospect capital and clear the way for more opportunities for their young players.

In his 13th major-league season, Cobb has pitched in the postseason just once — as a 24-year-old with the Rays in 2013 — and acknowledged Sunday that he doesn’t know what his future holds after this year.

Even after three wins in a row over the Rockies, the Giants’ playoff chances stood at 16.7%, according to FanGraphs. But, Cobb said, the front office would be doing him no favors by shipping him to another contender with better odds of playing in October.

“I know it’s easy from the outside world to write us off. I just don’t think that anybody in this clubhouse feels that,” Cobb said, echoing the sentiment shared by Conforto after their series loss in Los Angeles. “You can see the potential of what this rotation can do. I just think it takes so long to form chemistry in a clubhouse. I don’t want to disparage other teams, but even the really bad teams hit a stride and just rattle off wins and we haven’t had that yet.”

The Giants had just rattled off their improbable 107-win season in 2021 when Cobb signed a three-year, $36 million contract that winter. While he breathed new life into his career, earning his first All-Star nod and posting a 3.80 ERA while going 14-15 the past two seasons, that hasn’t resulted in a postseason berth.

If it’s up to him, he would like to see that contract through to the end.

“I don’t know what my career is going to look like next year. I’ve loved every minute of being a Giant. I’ve loved everything about this organization, the city, pitching here, the teammates,” Cobb said. “Obviously I want to win. But I also want to win with a team that (I’ve) lost with.

“I think going through the last two and a half years of not living up to expectations and not being where we wanted to be would make once we do eventually win – which I envision us doing here – so much more special than just jumping on a team that’s put all the work in and just jumped on the tail end of it with two months left in the season and not really feeling a part of it. I think there’s something more special about going through losses with a team and being on the other end when they win.”

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One pitcher who assuredly won’t throw again for the Giants this season in Keaton Winn.

The 26-year-old right-hander will undergo surgery Monday to repair the ulnar nerve in throwing elbow, which he and the team hope will put an end to the discomfort he has experienced for the past two years. The procedure comes with a two-month recovery timeline, meaning Winn should be fully cleared when pitchers and catchers report for spring training next February.

“I’ve been dealing with this nerve for like the last two years,” Winn said, “so it feels nice to be be able to say that I’m going to get it taken care of.”

Dr. Steven Shin will perform the surgery in Los Angeles to repair the facial sling that Winn originally had inserted to support the nerve when he had his ulnar collateral ligament repaired as a minor leaguer. The sling had started to sag, Winn said, rubbing the nerve against his bone and preventing him from fully extending his arm without pain, and “while you’re pitching you have to get into this position. I couldn’t do it, really.”

Five years after tragic shooting, can the Gilroy Garlic Festival return?

It was the final evening of the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival, and Gene Sakahara was rushing around the grounds as he had every year for four decades when he suddenly heard what sounded like fireworks popping. Then he saw the screaming crowd and realized what it really was: gunshots.

Sakahara and others rushed to herd a nearby group of children, including two of his grandchildren, behind the cover of a barbecue. With a chafing dish in one hand and a knife in the other, Sakahara stood guard by the crying youths, unsure of where or how many shooters there might be.

FBI personnel pass a ticket booth at the Gilroy Garlic Festival Monday, July 29, 2019 in Calif., the morning after a gunman killed at least three people, including a 6-year-old boy, and wounding about 15 others. A law enforcement official identified the gunman, who was shot and killed by police, as Santino William Legan. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Later that night, Sakahara and his kin emerged safely, but the gunman had wounded 17 people and killed three — 6-year-old Stephen Romero of San Jose; 13-year-old Keyla Salazar of San Jose; and 25-year-old Santa Cruz resident Trevor Irby — leaving indelible scars on the community.

After the mass shooting, the Garlic Festival as the community knew it ended, cutting off a beloved tradition and a vital source of funding for the city’s nonprofits and local organizations.

A makeshift memorial for the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting victims is set up at the corner of Uvas Parkway and Miller Avenue in Gilroy July 30, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Staff Archives)

Five years later, a growing group throughout the city is hoping to revive the festival, aiming for a smaller, safer event that could give back to the community again. While the desire for a festival is nearly universal among those interviewed by this news organization, potential organizers face increasing insurance rates and safety concerns in their efforts to bring it back.

“My attitude is we shouldn’t let a crazy murderer decide our fate in the future,” said Sakahara. “Bring it back because it’s part of Gilroy, the identity of Gilroy.”

Before the devastating events of July 28, 2019, the Gilroy Garlic Festival enjoyed international acclaim as a beloved food festival. From its roots as a humble luncheon in 1978, it grew into a phenomenon with an annual attendance of around 100,000 for nearly four decades, attracting curious foodies, famous chefs and garlic fanatics from around the world for garlic ice cream, shrimp scampi and pepper steak sandwiches.

File photo of Herbie the Gilroy Garlic Festival mascot welcoming visitors to the festival in Gilroy in 2019. Since 1979, the festival has raised more than $11.7 million for local nonprofits and schools. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)

“In Gilroy, it’s like a holiday. It’s Christmas in July,” said resident Steve Williams, who attended for decades.

Sakahara has been involved in the festival since its inception, most notably as one half of SakaBozzo, a cooking demonstration duo with fellow festival faithful Sam Bozzo. He said the festival led to a profound change in the reputation and civic pride of Gilroy. Before the festival, he remembers sometimes being embarrassed about coming from “a town that stinks like garlic,” but the festival made it “chic to reek.”

The event was nearly entirely run by some 4,000 volunteers and gave out hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, offering a lifeline to more than a hundred charities and nonprofit organizations throughout the city, and providing around a third of the funding for the Chamber of Commerce. In the wake of the shooting, many organizations are struggling to find new sources of funding.

Gene Sakahara, left, and Sam Bozzo the cooking duo named SakaBozzo from the Gilroy Garlic Festival, pose for a photograph in Sakahara’s home in Gilroy, Calif., on Monday, July 22, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

The festival also attracted commerce, filled hotel rooms and brought in accompanying taxes. When the festival left, so did the source of revenue. “Financially, it was a big hit,” said Jane Howard, interim president of the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce.

Efforts to bring back the festival began as early as 2020, but was hampered by COVID. In 2021, the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, which runs the festival, attempted a smaller iteration at the local amusement park Gilroy Gardens, but the insurance liability had leaped from $6 million to $10 million after the shooting. At that rate, the festival association could not afford for anyone to insure them, said City Councilmember Tom Cline, who also served as president of the association from 2019 to 2021.

Since then, the festival has taken on a half-dozen smaller iterations, like a drive-through festival with live music in 2021, and a pasta dinner and songwriters concert this year, among others. But Cline and others are dedicated to bringing the event back to Gilroy.

Cline nostalgically described the former festival as a class and family reunion rolled into one, calling it “the heartbeat of Gilroy.”

In 2014, Pyro Chefs, from right, Steve Janisch, Bob Filice, and Scot Weaver cook Shrimp Scampi at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, in Gilroy. (LiPo Ching/Bay Area News Group)

“If there’s one thing I want to see done, it’s seeing this come back,” said Cline. “It’s kind of a mission in my life.”

Even some who were present on the day of the shooting hope to see the festival return. Both Steve Williams and his wife Anabel Williams ran from the sound of gunshots that Sunday, but say they would attend the garlic festival if it came back. “This is the only thing that stabilized Gilroy,” said Anabel Williams. “It helped out so many people.”

But for others, it is much harder to move on. Wendy Towner was selling honey with her husband when she confronted the gunman to distract him from a nearby group of children, including her own young son. Her child ended up safe, but the gunman shot her and her husband. She still bears the physical and emotional scars and goes to physical therapy and trauma therapy every week. “We’re still looking over our shoulder,” Towner said. “My life is never ever going to be the same.”

In November of 2019, Towner and a group of other victims sued the city, the Festival Association and First Alarm Security & Patrol, Inc., which provided security for the event, alleging the defendants were negligent in ensuring that the event was secure.

Last November, the case was dismissed on the grounds that “a mass shooting incident was not a reasonably foreseeable risk.”

The group is appealing the decision. While many in Gilroy cite the lawsuit as one of the reasons for the high insurance, Towner says it isn’t a matter of being for or against the festival. “I think we all want the same thing. We all want safety. We all want to have a good time,” said Towner. “I don’t want the Garlic Festival shut down. … My biggest concern is will they make it safe.”

In the wake of the lawsuit’s dismissal, efforts have ramped up to bring the festival back. In late August, the City Council will be revising the permit process for special events like the garlic festival, including examining the criteria for insurance.

For its part, the festival association has begun making nascent plans to bring back the festival with fewer people, with some proposing an event of around 30,000 — making it both easier to secure and less expensive to insure. While there are several potential locations, Gilroy Gardens has emerged as a popular contender because the theme park has built-in parking and fencing surrounding the park. Current president of the Garlic Festival Cindy Fellows emphasizes that nothing is set in stone, but says she hopes to see the festival return next year.

“For anybody who is from Gilroy, who has the heart of Gilroy, the Garlic Festival was an absolute treasure. And I for one refuse to believe that it’s gone,” said Gilroy Mayor Marie Blankley. “It grew from nothing. It could totally start over again that exact same way.”

Durant parachutes in as Team USA beats Serbia in group stage opener

Steph Curry led Team USA out of the tunnel for pregame warmups and Steve Kerr broke the team’s huddle in France.

But it was Kevin Durant, the former Warrior, who put on his cape to open the group stage of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics men’s basketball tournament.

Against three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and Serbia, Durant dropped a game-high 23 points on nine shots. When the game was in the balance, in the first half when Team USA looked unsure of itself, Durant came off the bench and steadied them.

As two early fouls interrupted Curry’s rhythm and Kerr searched for a solution for how to correctly fit 2023 NBA MVP Joel Embiid into the lineup, Durant and LeBron James (21 points, nine assists, eight rebounds) carried the red, white and blue to a 110-84 win.

“I think we just bring out the best in one another,” James said in a postgame on-court interview. “We’re very seasoned to the FIBA games, we’ve played a lot of international basketball when it comes to the Olympics and World Championships. To have KD on our side, to have KD on my side, it’s a treat, for sure.”

Team USA’s all-time leading scorer scored 21 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting in the first half alone. Durant drilled a fallaway to beat the halftime buzzer, a tough fadeaway in the lane and all five of his triples in nine minutes.

Durant didn’t start because of a calf injury that sidelined him during Team USA’s exhibitions. Kerr was put in the familiar position of how to re-acclimate Durant off calf issue.

But Durant showed no signs of any rust whatsoever. With his buzzer-beater, Team USA led Serbia, 58-49, after 20 minutes. The Americans hit 12 of their 18 first-half 3-pointers (67%) compared to only five triples for Serbia.

Before Durant’s explosion, Team USA fell behind early and then failed to gain separation.

Embiid recorded just two first-half points and got targeted by Jokic on defense. Jokic converted an and-1 in the post against Embiid and also drew him out to the perimeter for a 3. Embiid’s talent is undeniable, but Kerr and the coaching staff has struggled to create an ecosystem that works for both him and the rest of the team.

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Early in the second half, Curry bumped knees with a Serbia defender he was setting a screen on. He limped around the court but stayed in the game.

That Curry got banged up setting a pick was apt. So much of Team USA’s offense revolves around Curry’s off-ball movement and the attention he attracts from defenses. One play, two Serbians closed out to Curry off the ball, leaving Jrue Holiday wide open under the basket for a layup.

Curry didn’t make a significant scoring contribution, but James stepped up in that department. Curry’s old Finals foe registered 18 points and eight assists on 8-for-9 shooting before the fourth quarter. His superb third period helped Team USA earn a 19-point lead.

Even as America grew its lead to an insurmountable level in the fourth quarter, Kerr kept Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton on the bench. Margin of victory matters in group play, so there’s no such thing as garbage time, but Tatum’s exclusion from the rotation will raise questions for Kerr.

Kerr told reporters in Paris that he discussed the decision to bench Tatum with the Celtics star and that he handled it professionally. Durant usurped at least some minutes that would’ve gone to Tatum, who just inked the richest contract in NBA history.

“[Tatum will] make his mark,” Kerr told reporters postgame. “Our guys know the key to this whole thing is to put all the NBA stuff in the rearview mirror and just win six games. Jayson is the ultimate pro and champion and he handled it well, and he’s going to be ready for the next game.”

What’s no concern to Kerr is the team’s chemistry. Players have had to sacrifice shots and roles, and there are as many egos on one team as possible, but there’s no indication that Team USA’s complicated history with each other has bled into their play. When Curry nailed a deep 3-pointer as the final buzzer sounded, he stuck is tongue out and looked to Durant, who danced in front of the bench.

Almost as if those guys were teammates once before.

Horoscopes July 28, 2024: Dustin Milligan, learn from experience

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Dustin Milligan, 39; Sally Struthers, 77; Jim Davis, 79; Peter Cullen, 83.

Happy Birthday: Being detailed will make a difference this year. Go above and beyond. It’s time to step up, lead the way and make your mark. Learn from experience, and you will avoid making the same mistake twice. Put your energy and skills to work for you instead of giving your all to benefit someone who doesn’t appreciate you. Forge ahead. Your numbers are 5, 13, 20, 24, 33, 39, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Activities and events that combine physical challenges with socializing will activate your mind, body and soul. You’ll have a competitive edge if you give your all. A change of heart will take you in a different direction or encourage you to change your look or game plan. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your disposition will make a difference in the outcome of personal and domestic encounters. Look for opportunities to please loved ones instead of provoking havoc. Getting along, putting your differences aside and refusing to let a stubborn attitude disrupt your day are advisable. Keep the peace. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An empathetic, understanding attitude will help along with truth, patience and alternative solutions. Avoid having overindulgent behavior and embellishing facts. Choose peace and love over discord and chaos. Let romance pave the way to harmony. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Doubt will stand between you and your desires. If you eliminate negativity and replace it with a positive attitude, it will change how others respond. Speak from the heart, and the impact you have and the difference you make will satisfy your soul. 4 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Being curious will help you determine your next move. Don’t let uncertainty cause you to miss out or to defer to someone competing with you. Set your emotions aside and incorporate discipline and desire into whatever you do, and victory will be yours. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Listen and learn, verify information and make decisions to free up time for something you want to pursue. Use your intelligence to get what you want, and shelve any argumentative thoughts that come to mind. Learn from experience. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Visual experiences will change how you think and do things. Travel and put yourself in situations that pique your imagination. Participate in events that excite and stimulate your mind, and you’ll encounter someone who makes an impression and shows interest in you. Romance is on the rise. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Think before you act, especially where money, health and contracts are concerned. What you observe will benefit you when the time to talk is right. A premature decision will leave you without enough cash or energy to finish what you started. Look inward and focus on being happy. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Act and do whatever it takes to protect and maintain possessions, relationships and reputation. Keep a clear head and moderation in mind, regardless of what others do. Time is on your side, and balance and integrity are in your best interest. Be good to yourself. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A change someone makes will give you something to consider. Refrain from joining a joint venture or investing in a long shot. Protect and be grateful for what you have. A relaxing day at home will help ground you. Reflect and revise your strategy. 5 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Communication will get you in trouble. What you do will make a difference, so consider who you want to please and the best way forward. Spend more time on self-improvement, personal growth and gaining insight into pleasing loved ones. Affection and nurturing are favored. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Stabilization is vital to positive change. Don’t jeopardize your health or well-being to fit a criterion someone else is niggling you to adopt. Stay calm and consider what works for you. Separate your emotions from your goals, and reiterate your concern, objective and decision. 4 stars

Birthday Baby: You are motivated, dynamic and resourceful. You are fixated and effective.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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Blake Snell records career-high 15 strikeouts as SF Giants sweep doubleheader

SAN FRANCISCO — The last time Blake Snell took the mound at Oracle Park, he flirted with a perfect game across seven brilliant innings. Snell wouldn’t make another true run at that historical feat, but on a chilly, overcast Saturday afternoon, the left-hander was every bit as dominant — and more.

Snell set a new career-high with 15 strikeouts over six scoreless innings as the Giants beat the Rockies, 4-1, in the first leg of their doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Oracle Park, becoming the first Giant with that many strikeouts in a game since Tim Lincecum in July 2009. San Francisco needs as much going right as possible to creep back into the playoff conversation, and with his performance in recent weeks, Snell is unquestionably going right.

“He was a Cy Young Award winner last year for a reason, doing stuff like this,” said manager Bob Melvin.

Snell became the sixth pitcher in Giants history with 15 or more strikeouts in a game, joining Lincecum, Jason Schmidt, Gaylord Perry, Carl Hubbell and Christy Mathewson. Along with the strikeouts, he induced 30 swings-and-misses, the most he’s had in a single start in his career. Of those 30 whiffs, Snell induced 14 with his curveball, which, appropriately enough, is also the most he’s had in a single start in his career.

most swings & misses in a game, Giants under pitch tracking (2008, including playoffs):

2010 NLDS G1 Tim Lincecum: 31
Today Blake Snell: 30
7/13/13 Tim Lincecum: 29
7/21/24 Hayden Birdsong: 27
7/9/22 Carlos Rodón: 27

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 28, 2024

Snell set the tone for his afternoon by striking out Ezequiel Tovar, the Rockies’ leadoff hitter, on three pitches. He would punch out two batters apiece in the first and second; three in the third and fourth; and two in the fifth. Snell walked Tovar to begin the sixth, but proceeded to strike out the next three batters he faced. Snell’s final pitch of the day was, appropriately enough, a curveball in the dirt that Kris Bryant had no chance of hitting. As he walked off the mound, Snell received a thunderous standing ovation.

The left-hander, whose previous career-high in strikeouts was 13, said he wasn’t trying for strikeouts early on. That mindset would shift towards the end of his outing.

“Last couple innings, I was really trying,” Snell said with a smile. “When I went out for the sixth, I was well-aware of what I was trying to do.”

Snell had a rocky beginning to his tenure in San Francisco, hitting the injured list twice in the first half and underperforming whenever he did take the mound, a product of having a reduced spring training. But in recent weeks, Snell has looked the part of a reigning Cy Young Award winner. Over his last four starts since coming off the injured list, Snell has allowed two earned runs across 24 innings (0.75 ERA) with 30 strikeouts to seven walks. For as good as Snell has been, he believes there’s another level for him to hit.

“I’m starting to have more confidence, understanding how to make adjustments quicker now,” Snell said. “I’m getting there, as weird as that is to say. I still feel like I have more to improve on. I will say the curveball is the best it’s been for a while.”

Snell’s recent stretch of excellence has resulted in his name circulating in trade rumors ahead of the July 30 deadline. In the midst of his ninth major-league season, Snell knows what’s required for those talks to quiet down.

“Just got to win,” Snell said. “We win and I ain’t going nowhere. At least, I believe that. I’ve seen crazy things happen.”

In theory, the Giants have a blueprint to catapult themselves back into the mix for one of three Wild Card spots. Robbie Ray made his season-debut earlier this week, and Alex Cobb should be doing the same next week. The Giants also have one of the easiest schedules in baseball the rest of the way, their next four series being against teams that are currently under .500 (A’s, Reds, Nationals, Tigers).

“I like where we’re at,” Snell said. “I like the rest of the schedule as well. I think it could be a really fun last couple of months. Just got to win.”

Fitzgerald hits latest homer, rookie continues impressing in Game 2 win

While a cold San Francisco evening prevented several fly balls from reaching the seats, Tyler Fitzgerald bested the elements with a solo home run in the eighth inning — his eighth in his last 10 games — as San Francisco beat Colorado, 5-0, in the second game of the doubleheader.

Hayden Birdsong followed Snell with a dazzling encore, tossing five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and three walks. Through six starts, the 22-year-old has a respectable 2.97 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 30 1/3 innings.

Baumann designated for assignment

Prior to the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Giants designated right-handed reliever Mike Baumann for assignment.

In a corresponding move, right-hander Spencer Bivens was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

San Francisco acquired Baumann on Sunday after he was designated for assignment by the Mariners. In his Giants debut on Friday, Baumann allowed two earned runs and recorded two outs.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell (7) reacts after striking out Colorado Rockies’ Kris Bryant (23) in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Snell finished with a total of 15 strikeouts in six innings pitched. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman (26) connects for a solo home run in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval (75) pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-1. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval (75) is congratulated by catcher Patrick Bailey (14) after the final out in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-1. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rodgers (7) forces out San Francisco Giants’ Brett Wisley (0) at second base for the double play in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

An Oracle Park employee flips over the K sign after San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell (7) struck out Colorado Rockies’ Kris Bryant (23) in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Snell finished with a total of 15 strikeouts in six innings pitched. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants fans cheer as Colorado Rockies’ Kris Bryant (23) reaches for a triple hit by San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski (5) in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell (7) receives a hug from pitching coach Bryan Price after striking out Colorado Rockies’ Kris Bryant (23) in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Snell finished with a total of 15 strikeouts in six innings pitched. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

Colorado Rockies’ Kris Bryant (23) grimaces in pain after being hit by a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval (75) in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-1. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin gestures to a player in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell (7) reacts after striking out Colorado Rockies’ Kris Bryant (23) in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Snell finished with a total of 15 strikeouts in six innings pitched. This is game one of their double header against the Rockies. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

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Burford’s broken hand could flip Dominick Puni into 49ers’ rookie starter

SANTA CLARA — Rookie Dominick Puni might be fast-tracked into a starting spot on the Super Bowl-contending 49ers’ offensive line.

His potential aside, Puni played right guard on the first-string unit both Friday and Saturday because injuries sidelined his top competition, Jon Feliciano and Spencer Burford.

Burford might undergo surgery on a fractured right hand, after taking all first-team snaps through two practices as he tries avenging a Super Bowl blocking gaffe.

Feliciano, who supplanted Burford as the starting right guard midway through last season, is believed to be dealing with a knee issue ahead of his 10th NFL season.

That opens the door for Puni. That doesn’t freak out the 49ers, who might need his versatile services either in Week 1 at right guard or later in his rookie season elsewhere on the line.

“He’s done a real good job,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We haven’t had pads on yet, which is always a challenge for guys in protection. He’s stepped in, gotten more reps, and I’m excited about him.”

The 49ers, after Sunday’s day off, will suit up in pads Monday for the first time of camp, which is honestly when the judging begins for such high-contact spots among linemen. The pass protection thus far hasn’t been ideal, as expected behind a patchwork unit.

Missing from camp’s opening, four-practice block were left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, both of whom are embroiled in contract disputes. While Williams draws a $50,000 daily fine as a holdout, Aiyuk is attending meetings and participating in all but practices, and he stoically watched Saturday’s warmups from a cart near the weight room.

Presuming Williams and Aiyuk get their business resolved, the 49ers’ high-producing offense returns intact from last season’s NFC-winning effort, led by Brock Purdy’s franchise-record passing total (4,280 yards) and Christian McCaffrey’s NFL-leading rushing output.

The offense could improve as it welcomes the NFL Draft additions of Puni, a third-round choice out of Kansas, as well as wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, a first-round pick who could make his camp debut Monday if his hamstring strain allows.

When Puni reported to rookie camp in May, he spoke like a true lineman: “Physicality, hard-nose football, run the ball — it is what I like to do.” He also knew who he’d be protecting: “I love Brock Purdy. The fact he was the last pick, that’s storybook.”

Puni has made a positive first impression adapting to the NFL and a complex scheme. Three summers ago, he was at the University of Central Missouri, before transferring to Kansas and finishing his collegiate career as a sack-denying offensive tackle.

Chris Foerster, the 49ers’ offensive line coach and run-game coordinator, called Puni a “special guy,” commending his strong frame (6-foot-5, 313 pounds) and intelligence as he learns not just a new scheme but a new position. He played left tackle, left guard and right tackle in college.

“Even if Puni is the best player, is that the guy?” Foerster rhetorically asked Friday. “Do you want him out there opening game, Monday Night Football against the Jets? If he’s the best player, you do, but those are bright lights.”

Two years ago, Burford started the 49ers’ season-opening loss at Chicago, and he remained the starter into last season before Feliciano took over at the midseason bye. Foerster stopped short of calling it an open competition and instead referred to it as a “fluid situation.”

“Everyone in the room can play. That’s why they’re here,” center Jake Brendel said. “The coaching staff wants the best players to be out there, and we do, too. We’re definitely seeing a few different bodies at right guard with injuries. One thing is for sure: Foerster’s going to have the best guy out there for us.”

Burford participated in position warmups then retreated to individual conditioning on a side field during 11-on-11 action.Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers add third wide receiver with Arizona State connection; cornerback waived San Francisco 49ers | Have 49ers turned the corner in terms of quality cornerbacks? San Francisco 49ers | 49ers’ training camp: Deebo Samuel spies touchdowns on kick returns San Francisco 49ers | 49ers had their priorities in order when extending Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers | 49ers training camp, Day 2: Offense excels without Williams, Aiyuk

HUFANGA TIMELINE

Safety Talanoa Hufanga’s camp debut is being targeted for the 49ers’ joint practices Aug. 15-16 against the New Orleans Saints, Shanahan said. Hufanga has been rehabilitating on the side from last November’s anterior cruciate ligament tear.

Meanwhile, Shanahan did not opine for the 49ers to sign a veteran free agent as cover, insisting he is happy with a safety unit that’s led by Ji’Ayir Brown and George Odum, while complemented by Erik Harris, Tayler Hawkins and Malik Mustapha.

CAMPBELL’S ENTRY

Veteran DeVondre Campbell is fitting in well next to Fred Warner and filling in for Dre Greenlaw (Achilles). “There’s just a lot of great players here, so there isn’t going to be much attention on me and I can just play free,” Campbell said. “I’m in the latter part of my career, so I wanted to go somewhere where they were winners, and didn’t have to go through the process of wondering if they were going to make the playoffs or not.”

Campbell’s familiarity with the coaching staff includes assistant Brandon Staley having recruited him in high school, and Shanahan overlapping with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 as their offensive coordinator. “The thing about Kyle is his mind is insane. He’s probably the best in the game in terms of being able to get guys open. That’s what I’ve always respected about him since knowing him as a rookie in Atlanta,” Campbell. “Actually getting to see him as a head coach, he’s taught me so many things in the short time I’ve been here, about how they’re attacking us as a defense and it helps me in how to play certain things.”

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

McCaffrey, Brendel, Nick Bosa, Charvarius Ward and Maliek Collins all returned to action after a day off. McCaffrey had a strong run down the sideline and nearly made an over-the-shoulder catch there, too. Bosa made quick work of left tackle Jaylon Moore on an early play. … Josh Dobbs had his best practice of camp with completions to Chris Conley, Trent Taylor, Jake Tonges, Brayden Willis and Danny Gray.  “Dobbs has done a hell of a job for us so far,” said Shanahan, prefacing that by saying how challenging it is for backup quarterbacks to play behind reserve linemen. … Purdy’s best pass of the day came when he layered a 15-yard toss over Fred Warner’s reach and to crossing receiver Malik Turner. … Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave rested Saturday, so Kevin Givens and Jordan Elliott rotated next to Collins. … Rookie receiver Jacob Cowing remains out with a hamstring injury. … Wide receiver Frank Darby, a 2021 sixth-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons, made his practice debut upon signing a one-year deal. … Cornerback Kemon Hall, a 2023 practice squad member, was waived.