Oakland Athletics’ Ramón Laureano (22) celebrates with Tony Kemp, left, after scoring against the San Francisco Giants on Jace Peterson’s single during the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Jul 26, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The San Francisco Giants offense woke up Wednesday night as they beat the A’s 8-3 to sweep the two-game series. The Giants had scored just five runs in their last four games. San Francisco needed the win to pick up a game on the LA Dodgers.

The Dodgers lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 and now own a three-game lead over the Giants. The A’s were hoping to win, but that did not happen. The guys from Oakland still have the worst record in all of baseball. With the trade deadline this weekend, it will be interesting to see if the A’s will be making any transactions. The game summary follows below.

In the bottom of the first, with one out and a runner on second, Giants’ third baseman J D Davis sent Freddy Tarnok’s pitch out of the park. For Davis, it was his 13th big fly this season to give the Giants an early 2-0 lead.

The Giants put their third run of the night on the board in the bottom of the second. With one out, Mike Yazstermski singled. Tarnok retired Marco Luciano on a fly ball to right field. Luciano was making his Major League debut. Second baseman, Casey Schmitt, mired in a slump, doubled to drive in Yaz with the run. The G-Men lead 3-0 after two.

The A’s put a three-spot on the board in the top of the fourth. With one out, JJ Bleday doubled. Jakob Junis, the Giants’ third pitcher of the night, struck out Jordan Diaz for the second out. Ramon Laureano walked. A’s manager Mrk Kotsay sent in Jace Peterson to pinch hit for Aledmys Diaz.

Peterson singled to drive in Bleday, and Laureano went to third. However, Luis Matos’ throw home got by everyone for an error. Laureano scored, and Peterson went to third on the error. Shea Langeliers followed with a single to drive in Peterson with the A’s third run. The game is tied 3-3 midway through the fourth inning.

The Giants regained the lead in their half of the sixth. Wilmer Flores led off the inning with a ground-rule double. Harris retired J D Davis for the first out. Giants’ skipper Gabe Kapler had Austin Slater pinch-hit for Michael Conforto, Slater, for the eighth time in his career, hit a pinch-hit homer run to put the Giants ahead, 5-3. For Slater, it was his fifth dinger this year.

The Giants put the game out of reach in the eighth. With two outs, three consecutive doubles, and a single produced three runs to give the Giants the lead 8-3. Giants’ reliever Luke Jackson gave up an infield single to Jordan Diaz leading off in the ninth. Jackson then retired the next three hitters to end the game. The Giants win 8-3.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 28-76. The Giants improved to 56-47 and now trail the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers by three games in the NL West division.

The line score for Oakland was three runs, eight hits, and one error.

The line for San Francisco was eight runs, nine hits, and one error. J D Davis and Austin Slater each had a two-run dinger. 

Both teams used a reliever to open the game. Ryan Walker started for the Giants and went two and 2/3rds innings. He did not allow a run. The Giants used six pitchers in the game. The A’s opener was Freddy Tarnok. Tarnok also went two and 2/3rds innings, but he gave up three hits, three runs, and a home run. The A’s used four pitchers.

Hogan Harris was the losing pitcher. His record is now 2-5. Alex Wood was the winning pitcher. 

The A’s do not play on Thursday, and they start a six-game road trip starting Friday night against the Colorado Rockies. After facing the Rockies, the A’s travel to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers.

The A’s nor the Rockies have yet to announce their starter for Friday. 

Attendance at the game was 36,142.