The Latest Breaking News from David Villar

CHICAGO — It’s a shame Carlos Rodón quickly ran up his pitch count Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, because who knows how many strikeouts he would have finished with if he were more economical.

LOS ANGELES – It was a rake n’ bake series.

SAN FRANCISCO — After mostly standing pat Tuesday afternoon at baseball’s trade deadline, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi justified his decision not to dismantle a team free-falling out of playoff position by reasoning, “a hot two weeks can turn it around.”

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants entered Thursday’s game looking for anything to snap their seven-game losing streak.

SAN FRANCISCO — It couldn’t happen again. It wouldn’t, right? Surely, the thoughts racing through the heads of so many of the 41,257 Giants fans in attendance Saturday afternoon when Mike Yastrzemski stepped in against Brewers reliever Jandel Gustave with the bases loaded, tied at 1, in the bottom of…

SAN FRANCISCO — Brandon Crawford came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. The game tied and a Giants win in the balance, the veteran knew what he needed to do.

SAN FRANCISCO — Whether it be wins or hits, the Giants have struggled lately to string together anything but losses. But perhaps the tides are starting to turn.

SAN FRANCISCO — On the other side of this home stand is the All-Star break. If all goes well, the Giants could enter it a resurgent bunch, recovered from their recent skid and well within reach of the playoffs. The other way? Well, it should make Farhan Zaidi’s options at…

PHOENIX — The Giants’ freefall continued here Monday afternoon in the airplane hangar that doubles as the home of Arizona Diamondbacks. They lost for the 11th time in 14 games and dropped their fifth straight. Once again, it came down to their putrid defense.