San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin says his piece after being ejected by plate umpire Quinn Wolcott in the ninth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Jun 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (45-40) came up short in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks (42-42) losing 4-2. It was an interesting game for a number of reasons. Manager Bob Melvin was ejected from the game when he complained to the home plate umpire.

Heliot Ramos got a miserable call and Melvin was out there standing up for his player. When it appeared that Christian Koss had hit a home run and tied up the game, the play was reviewed and it was determined that there was fan interference and Koss was awarded second base. It was not the way the Giants wanted to start this series. They were not able to catch a break in this game.

Game recap: San Francisco was quiet offensively through the first five innings with only 3 hits. The Diamondbacks were fairly quiet as well although in the third inning they were able to put one run up on the scoreboard taking an early 1-0 lead. Jose Herrera hit a sacrifice bunt allowing base runner Alek Thomas to score the early run from second base. Going into the sixth inning, each team had only managed three hits apiece.

The Diamondbacks struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning a home run off the bat of Lourdes Gurriel Jr., a shot to left center extending the Arizona lead 2-0.

San Francisco’s Dominic Smith got the Giants fourth hit of the game in the seventh inning and it was a good one, a double with only one out and Willie Adames at the plate. Adames got an infield single and San Francisco had runners at first and second base with two outs.

Tyler Fitzgerald would try and bring some runs home as he took the plate. Fitzgerald got the job done with some good wood, a bullet deep into center field bringing both Smith and Adames home to tie up this game 2-2. With one good swing, Fitzgerald got the Giants right back in this ball game.

The D’Backs got something going in the bottom of the seventh inning. Alek Thomas hit a single followed by a Jose Herrera single and Arizona had runners on first and third with only one out. The tie was short-lived when Geraldo Perdomo singled driving Thomas home for a 3-2 Arizona lead.

Giving up three singles in a row resulted in Giant’s pitcher Logan Webb exiting the game, relieved by Randy Rodriguez. Rodriguez got San Francisco out of the inning and it was onto the eighth inning.

When it appeared that San Francisco’s Christian Koss had homered in the eighth inning the play was reviewed and it was determined that there was a possibility of fan interference. After a very lengthy review Koss was awarded second base and Brett Wisely would run for Koss when it appeared he had a hip issue.

Arizona got out of the top of the inning hanging onto the 3-2 lead. As it turned out the Giants would need more than one run to tie the game. Eugenio Suarez hit the second Diamondback home run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, a solo shot giving Arizona a 4-2 lead.

This game went into the ninth inning and the Giants had their work cut out for them needing at least two runs to tie up this game. It was a three up and three down for San Francisco and the Diamondbacks had won the first game of the series 4-2.

Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb had a very good game but San Francisco just didn’t get the hits or the breaks needed to win this game. Webb got through 6 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits, three earned runs, one walk and seven strikeouts.

Game notes: Monday afternoon the Giants took on the Diamondbacks getting a three-game series underway. The Giants are coming off a disappointing series with the Chicago White Sox losing the series. Some poor production at the plate has hampered the Giants and Monday night was no exception as the Giants again were able to tie the Diamondbacks but couldn’t surpass them and Arizona was able to score twice to hand the Giants seventh loss in their last eight games.

Tomorrow game two will get underway at 6:40 PM. Hayden Birdsong will take the mound for San Francisco with a 4.13 ERA. The Diamondbacks will start Zac Gallen who had a 5-9 win/loss record and a 5.75 ERA. San Francisco will be in search of some improved offense and a win in game two of the series.