Detroit Tigers third base coach Joey Cora (left) has got a good idea that Detroit Tigers Jake Rogers (right) has got the throw and tag beat ahead of San Francisco Giants third baseman in bottom of the fifth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wed May 28, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason
Despite a more productive offense, the San Francisco Giants (31-25) got swept by the Detroit Tigers (37-20) losing game three 4-3 on Wednesday.

Giants Heliot Ramos had the only home run of the game which scored two runs. Taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Giants were looking pretty good. It all came crashing down when the Tigers put four runs up on the scoreboard in the fifth taking the 4-3 lead that would be the final.

Game recap: San Francisco got those bats working in the second inning with a couple of hits. Matt Chapman doubled to open the inning and LaMonte Wade Jr. doubled driving in Chapman for the early 1-0 lead. The score remained 1-0 going into the fifth inning.

More hits for the Giants came in the fifth when Ramos homered with Mike Yastrzemski on board to extend their lead to 3-0 in a much improved offensive effort mid-way through the game. Through five innings the Giants already had five hits and with the 3-0 lead looked to be in control of this game.

The Tigers turned this entire game upside down in the bottom of the fifth inning as eight Detroit batters came to the plate. A couple of runs scored when Colt Keith doubled Jake Rogers and Kerry Carpenter home in a Detroit rally that was just getting started with no outs.

The Tigers would tack on another two runs to take the lead 4-3 when Justyn -Henry Malloy singled Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith home. The San Francisco 3-0 lead had been extinguished in a single inning.

This game went into the ninth inning with the Tigers continuing to lead 4-3. It became a pitchers duel as neither had scored through three innings. It came down to the top of the ninth and the Giants had one last chance to salvage the game.

It was quick and painful for San Francisco in the inning. Ramos struck out, Wilmer Flores flied out and Jung Hoo Lee ground out and that was the ballgame with the Tigers sweeping the Giants winning the game 4-3.

The Giants had more production at the plate with ten hits in the game outhitting the Tigers 11- 7. The problem for San Francisco was the number of runners in scoring position that failed to score. They had nine players in scoring position coming away with only one run.

Lack of opportunity was not the problem for the Giants today because they had a multitude of chances to score. While the Tigers were outplayed in the game they were able to hang onto the lead for the one-run win.

The hero of the game for the Tigers was closer Tommy Kahnle who pitched the final two innings. He finished the game with no hits, no runs, no walks and two strikeouts.

Roupp lasted four innings for San Francisco and was relieved by Randy Rodriguez for a couple of innings. Ramos and Chapman each had three hits and LaMonte Wade Jr. has really stepped it up lately with a couple of hits.

It was another really tough game for the Giants. Three Tiger runners reached first base after being hit and so there was a lot going on for San Francisco that attributed to this loss.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the Giants finished up their series with the Tigers swept after losing games one and two by 3-1 scores and losing by a run on Wednesday 4-3. San Francisco continued to struggle at the plate in both Monday and Tuesday games and needed more production offensively in Wednesday’s game.

Giants starting pitcher Roupp went four innings pitched allowed five hits and an earned run. The Tigers scored three more unearned runs. All four of the Detroit runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning and that was all they needed to win the game. Tiger starter Jobe Jackson went 4.2 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs for the win.

The Giants will take a travel day off Thursday before taking on the Miami Marlins on Friday for a three game series. Probable pitcher for San Francisco will be Kyle Harrison with a 0-1, 3.86 ERA. The Marlins will start Cal Quantrill who comes into the game with a 3-4 win/loss record and a 6.09 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:10 PM.