San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski reacts after striking out against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Fri Aug 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

Giants Lose Game Two In An Ugly Finish Minnesota 3 – San Francisco 2

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the San Francisco Giants (61-64) got smoked by the Minnesota Twins (64-61) 9-0 in a no-contest. The Twins took charge of the game in the first inning and never looked back. San Francisco was looking to even the series Saturday night in game two of the three game series.

Game two had a far different look from last night’s game. This game was a pitcher’s duel through seven innings. The Giants starter Alex Cobb pitched five innings allowing four hits, no runs and seven strikeouts. Sonny Gray went five innings for the Twins with one allowed hit and no runs with four strikeouts. The Giants weren’t able to hold on losing by a run 3-2 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

San Francisco was first up on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. Tommy La Stella sacrificed and Luis Gonzalez scored for the 1-0 lead. That lead would hold through seven innings.

The game was halted when the skies opened up in the eighth inning in an absolute deluge. It had been threatening throughout the game but with two innings left it became reality and the game was delayed.

Minnesota threatened in the eighth inning with runners on first and third with one out but the Giants kept them off the scoreboard heading into the ninth inning.

The Giants loaded the bases in the ninth inning and Wilmer Flores scored off an Austin Slater sacrifice taking a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

The Twins tied up the game when Carlos Correa singled driving in Max Kepler and Jake Cave singled and Luis Arraez scored. It was a new ball game.

This was another ugly finish for the Giants. After intentionally walking Max Kepler in the bottom of the tenth, the bases were loaded. San Francisco pitcher Dominic Leone walked Gilberto Celestino and that was the ball game. It was another devastating loss for the Giants.

Sunday San Francisco will be looking to avoid the sweep with first pitch at 11:10 AM PT. Jakob Junis will take the mound with an 3.58 ERA and a 4-3 win/loss record. The Giants will be facing Aaron Sanchez 3-4 on the mound for the Twins. His overall ERA is 7.36 but does have a 4.50 ERA over the last 7 days.