SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants will open Oracle Park’s gates on July 8 at 3 p.m. for a public celebration of Willie Mays’ life in an ensuing two-hour service.
Admission is free through the Willie Mays Plaza gates at Third Street and King. Mays passed away June 18 at the age of 93.
The Giants entered Thursday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs having won three straight games since returning home, including Monday’s game in which all players wore Mays’ No. 24. Flags at Oracle Park continue to fly at half-mast in his honor.
The celebration of life program is set for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Parking reservations are encouraged for those driving to the ballpark. The Giants and Mays’ family are encouraging fans to make donations to the Say Hey Foundation in his honor.
The Giants play their final game of a week-long trip July 7 in Cleveland, then are off on the day of the memorial before beginning a home series against the Blue Jays on July 9.
WADE TO RETURN FRIDAY
First baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. will return for Friday night’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, if all checks out OK with his left hamstring strain that has sidelined him the past month.
“It’s a pretty significant bat,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “Whether it was on base or whether it was big hits, he’s a top-of-the-order guy that we lean on a lot, so it will be great to get him back.”
Wade leads Giants’ hitters with a career-high .333 batting average and .470 on-base percentage. He is expected to be activated off the 10-day Injured List b before Friday’s 7:15 p.m. game against the Dodgers; Logan Webb (6-6, 3.16 ERA) is slated to oppose Landon Knack (1-1, 2.10).
MORE INJURY UPDATES
Alex Cobb (right shoulder) and Kyle Harrison (right ankle) are slated to throw bullpen sessions Friday as they near respective comebacks. Cobb’s next step would be to play a couple of days later at Single-A San Jose, Melvin said. Mike Yastrzemski (left oblique strain) is also making strides in his recovery, Melvin added.
FIRST-HALF QUOTE
How to summarize this Giants’ season in which they lost five straight before Thursday’s attempt at a four-game sweep of the Cubs?
“It’s been all over the place. We’ve been good at times, bad at times,” Melvin said. “… We’d like to get back to .500. With the amount of injuries we’ve had — you never want to use injuries as an excuse — we’d like to be in a better position than we are right now (39-42). If we get a few key guys back, there’s better baseball, more consistent baseball ahead.”