San Francisco, California, USA, June 17, 2025; At Oracle Park, Robbie Ray, 38, the starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning. (Photo Credits to D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images)

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Oracle Park

Cleveland Guardians: 3

San Francisco Giants: 2

Win: Cleveland Guardians Pitcher Slade Cecconi (2-3)

Loss: SF Giants Pitcher Robbie Ray (8-2)

Saver: Cleveland Guardians Emmanuel Clase (15)

Attendance: 36,222

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO- The Cleveland Guardians defeated the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night to start their nine-game homestand. The Giants were beaten by the Cleveland Guardians in a final score, 3-2.

Giants Manager Bob Melvin placed Rafael Devers into the No.3 spot in the roster and DH role. In the third inning, Devers excellently earned himself an RBI double, a strong 111mph blast into Triples alley that scored Willy Adames and put San Francisco ahead 2-1. Later, he would add a single in the ninth, part of a desperation rally that nearly turned the tide.

Throughout the game, the Giants’ offense had opportunities but found it tough to take advantage of them. San Francisco only finished 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, leaving 13 men behind overall, even though they put runners on base in almost every inning. Dom Smith’s RBI single in the second inning leveled the game early and was the only other Giant to drive in a run.

Robbie Ray pitched six innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out five batters, giving San Francisco a strong display. His only big error occurred in the sixth inning when Gabriel Arias hit a game-winning solo home run to put the Guardians ahead for good.

Arias hit his first home run since April 16th. “When you get six innings with three runs, a lot of times you win the game like that,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said after the game, putting Ray’s performance in perspective. He believes you are expecting more from him because he has been so excellent.

Slade Cecconi of Cleveland held his own, giving up just two runs in five innings while keeping the Giants in check. San Francisco put up a strong fight in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases following consecutive hits by Jung Hoo Lee and Devers, as well as a walk by Heliot Ramos, but closer Emmanuel Clase jammed the door shut. The Guardians’ bullpen took it the rest of the way. He earned his 15th save of the season by striking out Casey Schmitt on a high heater to close the game.

There were good signs for San Francisco despite the defeat. The club kept fighting in the last innings, and Devers seemed at ease at the plate. However, moral victories are not reflected in the standings, and the Giants are aware that if they hope to tie the series, they will need to perform better in the closing moments. In the ninth, the Giants had a chance to walk it off after loading the bases, but Emmanuel Clase closed the game off with a strikeout. After the game, Melvin noted, “We had a rally going, and it looked like we had a chance in the ninth, which we’ve done so many times here, but just couldn’t.”

On Wednesday night, the two teams will play again, The Guardians will start LHP Logan Allen (4-4 ERA 4.28) and the Giants’ veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (0-3 ERA 4.33) is expected to make his comeback from the injured list. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m., and he will face Logan Allen from Cleveland.

With the loss, The Giants are now on a three game losing streak and are 41-32 on the season. Guardians have now just snapped their previous three game losing streak.