Snell, Birdsong pile up strikeouts, the Giants beat the Rockies 4-1 and 5-0 to sweep doubleheader

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Blake Snell struck out a career-high 15 in six innings in the San Francisco Giants' opening 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies, and Hayden Birdsong fanned eight over five innings in a 5-0 win in the second game for a doubleheader sweep Saturday night.

Patrick Bailey hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning in opener. In the second game, Tyler Fitzgerald hit his eighth homer in 10 games.

Snell had the most strikeout in the majors this season and the most for an outing of six innings or under since at least 1901. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner struck out 15 of 18 batters.

“Cy Young Award winner last year for a reason — doing stuff like this,” said Giants manager Bob Melvin, who also managed Snell last season in San Diego.

Snell induced 30 swings and misses, one shy of Tim Lincecum in the 2010 NL Division Series opener against Atlanta for the Giants’ most since pitch tracking started in 2008.

“Putting together some good starts,” Snell said. “I’m starting to have more confidence, understanding how to make adjustments quicker now.”

Snell noticed how many strikeouts he had and was attempting to top his prior career best of 13, accomplished four times.

“I wasn’t trying early on,” Snell said. “Last couple innings, I was really trying. I knew where I was at: I need to get 13. I want 13. After the sixth, I was well aware of what I was trying to do.”

Snell walked two while pitching shutout ball and lowered his ERA from 5.83 to 5.10. A 31-year-old left-hander, he signed a $62 million, two-year contract as a free agent but is 0-3 in 10 starts. spending time on the injured list with a strained adductor muscle in his left thigh and a strained left groin.

“He’s always been kind of a second-half guy,” Melvin said. “Last year, when he went on a run like this, not only was it similar to this type of stuff every night that he was either giving up no runs or one run, he was able to pitch out of jams. He was able to get a strikeout with a man on third. It’s kind of his forte.”

Snell said he’s not worried about being dealt ahead of the Tuesday trade deadline as long as the Giants string together some wins. Snell can opt out of his contract after the World Series and become a free agent, giving up a $30 million salary for 2025.

“We just got to win,” Snell said. “If we win, I ain’t going nowhere. At least I believe that.”

Bailey broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh with a two-out, opposite-field double to the left-center field gap off Justin Lawrence (3-4).

Matt Chapman homered in the second for the Giants, and Michael Toglia hit a tying homer in the seventh against Ryan Walker (7-3). Peter Lambert threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the eighth. Camilo Doval got his 19th save in 23 chances.

Birdsong (3-0) beat Colorado for the second time in a week. The rookie, who struck out 12 over six innings Sunday in a 3-2 victory in Denver, said that he picked up where Snell left off.

“I’m obviously not left-handed, I’m not Blake Snell — but I still have a curveball," Birdsong said. “And that’s what they’ve struggled with the last couple of outings.”

Colorado has struck out seven or more times in 20 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors. The Rockies struck out 30 times in the doubleheader. The Giants' 34 strikeouts over the first three games of the series is their most in a three-game span since 1975.

“We just got out pitched, we got outplayed all day,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “We scored one run in two games.”

Black said he was frustrated about the lack of offense, especially after the Rockies scored 20 runs against the Red Sox earlier in the week.

“Too many strikeouts, not putting the ball in play — which is the exact opposite of what happened on Wednesday against the Red Sox,” Black said.

Fitzgerald homered again Saturday, a day after he became the first Giants player to record seven home runs in an eight-game span since Barry Bonds in 2004. Mike Yastrzemski knocked in two runs, and Brett Wisely and Heliot Ramos also had RBI hits off Rockies starter Tanner Gordon (0-3) in Game 2.

“We got two wins today and one yesterday,” Birdsong said. “Put a statement out there that we’re here to win. We’re not just playing.”

Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar had hits in both games to extend his hit streak to 14 games, one shy of his career-high.

Colorado traded hard-throwing reliever Nick Mears to Milwaukee for minor league pitchers Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera. Pitcher Ty Blach was also designated for assignment.

Giants right-hander Mike Baumann was designated for assignment, and right-hander Spencer Bivens was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.

UP NEXT

RHP Jordan Hicks (4-7, 4.01) was set to stars Sunday for the Giants against LHP Austin Gomber (2-6, 4.70).

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San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman, right, celebrates with Curt Casali after scoring against the Colorado Rockies on Brett Wisely's double during the second inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Taylor Rogers throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the seventh inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Heliot Ramos hits an RBI single against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski watches hits sacrifice fly against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Erik Miller throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the eighth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Spencer Bivens celebrates after the team's victory over the Colorado Rockies in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Díaz, right, tags out San Francisco Giants' Brett Wisely at home during the second inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. Curt Casali reached first on the play. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia, right, runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants center fielder Heliot Ramos, second from right, celebrates with third baseman Matt Chapman (26) after the team's victory over the Colorado Rockies in the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman turns a double play after forcing out Colorado Rockies' Kris Bryant at third to end the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. Michael Toglia was out at first. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman turns a double play after forcing out Colorado Rockies' Kris Bryant at third to end the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. Michael Toglia was out at first. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman, left, scores on a wild pitch by Colorado Rockies pitcher Peter Lambert during the eighth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. Matt Chapman scored on the play. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell, right, stands on the mound after walking Colorado Rockies' Brendan Rodgers, foreground, during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Blake Snell pitches to a Colorado Rockies batter during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Blake Snell throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants' Blake Snell pitches to a Colorado Rockies batter during the fourth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

In this photograph taken with a slow shutter speed, San Francisco Giants' Blake Snell pitches to a Colorado Rockies batter during the sixth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a new sex crime charge in New York, as he awaits retrial in his landmark #MeToo case.

A new indictment charged the jailed ex-movie mogul with committing a criminal sex act, accusing him of forcing oral sex on a woman at some point between April 29, 2006, and May 6 of that year.

Weinstein has long maintained that he never engaged in any sexual activity that wasn't consensual.

No details about the new accuser were released.

“Thanks to this survivor who bravely came forward, Harvey Weinstein now stands indicted for an additional alleged violent sexual assault,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. The Democrat added that the investigation continues.

Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala said he had “absolutely no clue” about the accuser's identity or the specifics of the allegation.

“We have a lot of work to do. We have to find out who that person is. We have to do an investigation,” he said outside court.

Weinstein “never forced himself on anyone,” the attorney said.

The 72-year-old Weinstein, who is recovering from emergency surgery, came to court in a wheelchair, carrying two novels with him. He appeared to watch the proceeding intently.

Prosecutors revealed last week that Weinstein had been indicted on additional sex crime charges that weren’t part of the case that led to his now-overturned 2020 conviction. But the new indictment was sealed until his arraignment.

Prosecutors have said that the grand jury heard evidence of up to three alleged assaults — two in hotels in the Tribeca neighborhood and one at a lower Manhattan residential building. The purported incidents took place from the mid-2000s to 2016, prosecutors said.

It's not clear whether those include the allegation that underlies the new indictment, nor what the grand jury made of what it heard about any claims beyond the one the indictment describes.

Aidala said Weinstein was “somewhat relieved” to find only one charge on the new indictment.

While bracing for the new charges, Weinstein also is awaiting retrial after New York state’s highest court this spring overturned his 2020 conviction on rape and criminal sex act charges involving two women. The high court, called the Court of Appeals, ordered a new trial.

It has been tentatively scheduled to begin Nov. 12, though it's likely to be delayed. Judge Curtis Farber set an Oct. 2 hearing to discuss scheduling.

Aidala said Weinstein wants to go to trial as soon as possible, but his defense team didn't want to rush its work on addressing the new charge.

The Court of Appeals ruled that the then-trial judge unfairly allowed testimony based on allegations that were not part of the case. That judge's term expired in 2022, and he is no longer on the bench.

Prosecutors want to fold the new charges into the retrial, but Weinstein’s lawyers say it should be a separate case. Farber plans to rule Oct. 2 on that issue.

Weinstein, who also was convicted in 2022 in a Los Angeles rape case, remains behind bars while awaiting his New York retrial.

Weinstein has been at a Manhattan hospital following emergency surgery Sept. 9 to drain fluid around his heart and lungs. He takes as many as 19 different medications for his various health ailments, Aidala said.

A judge agreed last week to let Weinstein remain indefinitely in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital instead of being transferred back to the infirmary ward at New York's Rikers Island jail complex.

Once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood, Weinstein co-founded the film and television production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company and produced films such as “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Crying Game.”

Harvey Weinstein appears in criminal court in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein, center, appears in criminal court in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein, center, appears in criminal court in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein appears in criminal court in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein, center, appears in criminal court in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)

Harvey Weinstein, center, appears in criminal court in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)

Harvey Weinstein appears in criminal court in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)

FILE - Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Criminal Court, May 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, Pool, File)