DARIN RUF NEWS

Hits leadoff homer Ruf went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a triple, three RBI and a walk in Monday's win over the Rockies.

Impact The 35-year-old took starter Kyle Freeland deep to open the game and then drove in teammates Steven Duggar and Kevin Gausman with a triple off of reliever Ben Bowden in the fifth inning. He has now launched a career-high 15 home runs this season in what has been his first full season in the majors since 2015.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Estrada, Gausman lead Giants past Rockies, 10-5

Thairo Estrada hit two of San Francisco’s four home runs, Kevin Gausman pitched seven solid innings and the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 10-5 to maintain their one-game lead in...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Duggar triples, Giants hold off Dodgers 6-4 for NL West lead

Steven Duggar hit a tiebreaking two-run triple after being called up earlier in the day, Brandon Belt homered, and the San Francisco Giants wrapped up their key weekend series agai...

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reaches base four times Ruf went 2-for-4 with two walks and a strikeout in a 3-2 triumph against the Dodgers on Friday.

Impact Batting leadoff, Ruf singled in the first inning, walked in the third, singled in the sixth and walked in the ninth to reach base four times for the second time all season. While he isn't an everyday player, Ruf has shined when given the opportunity, evidenced by a .279/.405/.535 slash line, and his career high 16 percent BB% ranks fourth in MLB among hitters with at least 250 plate appearances.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Giants beat Brewers 5-1, move into 1st-place tie

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

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

On base three times Saturday Ruf went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and two total runs scored in Saturday's 6-5 win over Oakland.

Impact The 35-year-old went back-to-back with Brandon Belt in the seventh inning, cutting San Francisco's deficit to one run. Ruf was also on base after a walk in the second inning when Kris Bryant homered. While his playing time has dried up with San Francisco's batters nearly at full health, Ruf has gone 11-for-34 (.324) with three homers, seven RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base in August. Ruf's path to playing time is as a short-side platoon option with Belt at first base or one of Alex Dickerson or LaMonte Wade in left field.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Wade's pinch-hit HR in 9th lifts Giants past A's 6-5

Pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. connected for a two-run homer in the ninth inning, helping the San Francisco Giants rally for a 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics

AUGUST 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gausman expected to start as Giants host the Diamondbacks

The Giants are expected to send Kevin Gausman to the mound Wednesday and the Diamondbacks will give Merrill Kelly the start

AUGUST 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pops homer in win Ruf went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Sunday's 5-4 win over Milwaukee.

Impact The 35-year-old put San Francisco ahead with his first-inning solo shot, his 13th homer of the year and his third in his last eight games. Ruf has added 30 RBI, 33 runs scored, nine doubles and a pair of stolen bases while slashing .275/.393/.567 across 206 plate appearances. He's likely to fill a short-side platoon role with Brandon Belt at first base going forward.

AUGUST 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

La Stella's hit in 8th gives Giants 5-4 win over Milwaukee

Pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 to take two of three in the series between...

AUGUST 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Starting for resting Belt Ruf will start at first base and bat third Sunday against the Brewers.

Impact Though Ruf will crack the lineup for the series finale, he's lost hold of an everyday role at first base following Brandon Belt's return from the injured list Thursday. The lefty-hitting Belt started each of the past three games, though he'll take a seat Sunday to make room for the righty-hitting Ruf while the Brewers bring southpaw Brett Anderson to the hill.

AUGUST 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Widener scheduled to start as Arizona hosts San Francisco

The Diamondbacks will send Taylor Widener to the mound Monday and the Giants plan to give Anthony DeSclafani the start

AUGUST 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fills stat sheet in win Ruf went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's 5-3 win over Houston.

Impact The 35-year-old put San Francisco ahead with an RBI single in the third inning, then added insurance with a two-run blast in the fifth. Ruf has hit safely in seven straight games, going 10-for-28 (.357) in that span. He's homered in back-to-back contests, giving him 12 on the year. He's added 29 RBI, 32 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases, although he's not much of a speed threat. Ruf is likely to remain in a near-everyday role at first base until Brandon Belt (knee) can return, which is expected within a week to 10 days.

AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bryant homers in Giants debut, San Francisco tops Houston

Kris Bryant homered in his Giants debut, a two-out solo shot in the third inning, and San Francisco beat the Houston Astros 5-3 on Sunday

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Goes yard, scores three runs Ruf went 2-for-5 with a home run and two additional runs in Saturday's win over the Astros.

Impact Ruf went yard for the first time since July 18, but he also extended his hitting streak to six games. Plus, the three runs scored Saturday represent the second-highest mark of the season for the first baseman. The veteran slugger ended July on a strong note with a slash line of .298/.420/.649 while also hitting .310 over his last 10 contests.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Giants hit 5 HRs, rough up Greinke, Astros 8-6

The San Francisco Giants hit five home runs, including four off Astros ace Zack Greinke, and beat Houston 8-6 in an interleague matchup of division leaders

JULY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giants rally in 9th for 2nd straight night to beat Dodgers

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 Dodge...

JULY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hits homer in loss Ruf went 1-for-1 with a solo homer and a walk in Sunday's 2-1 victory over the Cardinals.

Impact Ruf drove in the only run of the day for the Giants with a solo blast off Wade LeBlanc in the fourth to tie up the game but was eventually replaced by LaMonte Wade once the Cardinals put in a right-handed pitcher. He has had much more success against left-handed pitching this season, as he's slashing .321/.458/.732 with six homers, 13 RBI, 13 runs scored and a 1.190 OPS over 72 plate appearances. His struggles against righties have made him a platoon bat, which limits his upside, especially in mixed leagues.

JULY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Bader's infield single lifts Cardinals past Giants 2-1

Harrison Bader put St. Louis ahead with a checked-swing single off the glove of Giants first basemen LaMonte Wade Jr. in the seventh inning, and the Cardinals went on to a 2-1 vict...

JULY 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wainwright expected to start for the Cardinals against the Giants

The Cardinals will roll out Adam Wainwright to the mound Friday and the Giants plan to give Kevin Gausman the start

JULY 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Crawford homers, Giants assured MLB's top record at break

All-Star Brandon Crawford had three hits, including his 18th home run, and the San Francisco Giants ensured themselves the best record in baseball at the break by thumping the Wash...

JULY 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slugs homer Friday Ruf went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Friday's 5-3 win over Washington.

Impact Ruf plated the Giants' first run of the game with a single in the first inning, then drove in another with a 433-foot solo shot in the fifth. The veteran has gone deep in each of his past two games and has homered three times across 12 at-bats since July 4. He is on pace to surpass his career high of 14 home runs set back in 2013 when he was with Philadelphia.

JULY 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Fill-ins Casali, Ruf hit homers, Giants beat Nationals 5-3

Curt Casali hit a two-run homer while filling in for injured All-Star catcher Buster Posey, late lineup addition Darin Ruf added a go-ahead drive and the San Francisco Giants beat...

JULY 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Homers off bench Ruf went 1-for-1 with a two-run homer and a walk in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Cardinals.

Impact Ruf entered the game in the sixth as a replacement for LaMonte Wade who had to be taken out due to a left hand strain. The 34-year-old Ruf walked his first time up and then clobbered a 427-foot home run to center to give the Giants some breathing room and put them up 5-2 in the eighth. He now has two home runs in the first week of July after missing most of June with a right hamstring strain. Ruf continues to be a viable depth option for manager Gabe Kapler this season, slashing .259/.396/.537 with eight homers, 20 RBI, 22 runs scored, a steal and a 23:38 BB:K over 134 plate appearances.

JULY 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Wood goes 7 to win 8th, Giants beat Cardinals 5-2

Alex Wood pitched seven strong innings of three-hit ball, and the San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-2

JULY 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS