Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Santana (30) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 13, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

By William Espy

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants continued their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday evening in front of a crowd of 32,518 fans. The Giants defeated the Twins in the first game of the series on Friday, with a final score of 7-1. Saturday the Giants just couldn’t get enough hitting and lost in a two run game to the Twins 4-2 at Oracle Park.

Entering the night, the Giants found themselves three games out of a wild-card spot, while the Twins were looking to hold onto theirs as the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals looked to chase them down. Byron Buxton, who is in the middle of an eight-game hitting streak, was notably out of the lineup for the Twins.

Carlos Correa was scratched last minute as well, meaning the visitors were without two of their key players to start the night. Ryan Jeffers entered the lineup, and the rest of the infield was shifted around for Minnesota to accommodate the change.

Prior to the game, the Giants had a Wall of Fame ceremony for the “Core Four”: Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Santiago Casilla, and Sergio Romo. The four relief pitchers were an important part of the Giants’ bullpen when the team won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014.

It’s rare to see a group of players given an honor like the Wall of Fame at the same time, but under these circumstances, it seemed clear that the organization had an opportunity to do something special this time and they were ultimately rewarded with a plaque on King Street. In a symbolic passing of the torch, the inductees threw out the ceremonial first pitch to current members of the Giants’ bullpen.

With quite a few franchise legends at the ballpark for this game, there was certainly pressure on the Giants to perform at a high level and given the state of the Twins’ lineup, they had no excuses not to. They have historically been successful against the Twins at Oracle Park, as they had won seven of their last nine home games against them.

It was a battle of young pitchers, as both starters had a combined total of 21 career MLB starts. The Giants’ #4 prospect, Hayden Birdsong made his fourth career MLB start for the home team. Meanwhile, the Twins went with Simeon Woods Richardson who was making his 17th career start, and first appearance against the Giants.

Game recap: Things got off to a rough start for Birdsong, as he hit the Twins’ leadoff hitter Willi Castro to start the night. After two fly-outs to Michael Conforto and a weak ground ball which was handled by Patrick Bailey, Birdsong was able to get through the first inning with no further consequences.

Brett Wisely got the first hit of the night in the bottom of the first, and a two-out single by Bailey put runners on the corners. Oracle Park erupted moments later as fans thought Matt Chapman gave the Giants the lead with a three-run home run, but the ball was just outside of the foul pole and it remained a 0-0 ballgame for the time being. After multiple long foul balls, eventually, Chapman flew out to Castro to end the inning.

Both pitchers were struggling early despite not giving up a run in the first inning. Birdsong’s control was leaving much to be desired, which led to him walking Carlos Santana in the second inning. Meanwhile, Woods Richardson had thrown 22 pitches after just a single inning.

A fantastic diving catch by Mike Yastrzemski in the top of the third inning robbed the Twins of their first hit of the night. After three innings, neither team had registered a run but both had stranded a few batters. Birdsong’s control continued to be an issue as the game progressed though, as in the fourth inning he hit his second batter of the night, this time it was Jeffers.

This ultimately led to the Twins getting on the scoreboard, as a one-out double by Matt Wallner drove Jeffers in. There was also an error on the play by Yastrzemski which allowed Wallner to advance to third, keeping the pressure on Birdsong.

He walked Santana for the second time but seemed to be on the right track after striking out Max Kepler. Unfortunately for the Giants though, that wasn’t the case as a passed ball would allow Wallner to score and make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors. A ground ball to Chapman by Manuel Margot would allow the Giants to get out of trouble.

Heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, Woods Richardson’s pitch count was under control and the Giants were struggling to make solid contact against him. The first two batters in the inning struck out before Conforto drew a walk. Then, the Giants got their spark as a ground-rule double from Wilmer Flores put them both in scoring position for Yastrzemski.

He hit a slow dribbler to the shortstop, who was unable to make a play. As a result, Conforto scored and the Giants reduced the lead to a single run with runners on the corners. They’d be left stranded though, as Thairo Estrada would fly out to left field and end the inning.

The Twins tried to get a rally going in the fifth inning, but they ended up leaving two runners stranded. By the midway point of the inning, there was movement in the Giants bullpen, and rightfully so, as it seemed like Birdsong was running on empty.

Moments later, the Twins followed suit and started warming up some relief pitchers of their own. Soler put pressure on Woods Richardson immediately with a lead-off double. That pressure resulted in a wild pitch during the very next at-bat which allowed Soler to easily advance to third base and now the tying run was just 90 feet away.

Wisely struck out after a lengthy at-bat, but Heliot Ramos brought Soler home with a slow groundball single up the middle. With one out and a runner on, Rocco Baldelli made a call to the bullpen. Cole Sands entered the game in the bottom of the fifth, ending Woods Richardson’s night fairly early. Sands would quickly get out of the inning as Bailey grounded into a double play.

Both starters would receive no decision on the night, as Taylor Rogers would come out to start the sixth inning for the Giants. Rogers struck out the first batter he faced, but the veteran Santana restored Minnesota’s lead with a solo shot to make it 3-2.

The play was put under review and after a lengthy second look, the call was confirmed to the dismay of the fans in attendance. Kepler nearly added a tally of his own with a hard-hit ball that ended up bouncing into McCovey Cove, but this one was called a foul ball which was confirmed after review. Kepler did end up getting on base with a single though.

Rogers wouldn’t last a full inning, as he was pulled for Randy Rodriguez after 31 pitches and only one out. Rodriguez gave up a single to the first batter he faced, Margot, but Vazquez grounded into a double play to end the inning.

After a scoreless top of the seventh inning, the Twins made a pitching change once again to start the bottom of the inning as Jorge Alcala entered the game. The Giants started the eighth inning well with Erik Miller taking over on the mound and getting the first two batters out.

Santana continued to be a spark plug for the Twins though, as he got a single to swing momentum in Minnesota’s favor. Kepler followed suit, getting a single into right field which advanced the runner to third. Margot who was 1-for-3 on the night at this point stepped up with a chance to either extend his team’s lead or he could get his opposition out of trouble. He struck out looking, and the Giants kept the deficit at a single run.

Griffin Jax entered the game for the Twins to start the bottom of the eighth. He struck out Wisely to start the inning and Ramos flew out to right field, giving the Giants two outs very quickly. The next batter, Bailey hit a ball hard into into the gap.

It was nearly a home run but was just short. It ended up being the next best thing though, as his triple put the tying run 90 feet away once again. They’d be unable to capitalize though, as Chapman flew out to right field.

Sean Hjelle entered the game in the top of the ninth to try to keep the Giants deficit at one before their final chance to tie things up. Vazquez got his first hit of the night to start the inning, and Castro followed it up with a single of his own.

Larnach stepped up to the plate with no outs and runners on first and second and got his first hit of the night as well. As fans started prematurely heading for the exit, things had the ability to get disastrous for the home team.

The Twins scored a run on Jeffers’ groundball, but the Giants got a double play as well, which was likely the best-case scenario for them. Brooks Lee walked then leisurely jogged to second base with no opposition. Ultimately, the Giants escaped with minimal damage though as Wallner would strike out to leave two runners stranded in scoring position.

As the Giants looked to pull off a comeback at the 11th hour, the Twins had Jhoan Duran take over on the mound for the bottom of the ninth. Conforto struck out to begin the inning, then LaMonte Wade Jr stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter for Wilmer Flores. He grounded out to second base, and Yastrzemski stepped up to the plate as the Giants’ final hope. He’d ground out as well, and the Giants would fall 4-2. Cole Sands would be credited with the win, while Taylor Rogers got the loss.

Twins and Giants duel once again Sunday at Oracle Park in the rubber game match starting pitcher for Minnesota RHP Chris Paddock (5-3, ERA 5.18) for San Francisco Blake Snell (0-3, ERA 7.85) first pitch 1:05pm