With two out in the bottom of the third that was all for San Francisco Giant starter Justin Verlander (35) who exited the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Fri Jul 18, 2025 ( Canadian Press via AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (52-46) just could not get going despite 11 hits in game one of their series with the Toronto Blue Jays (56-41) losing 4-0 Friday night at Rogers Centre. The Giants consistently left runners stranded and Justin Verlander only lasted 2 2/3 innings giving up nine hits and four runs. It was not the way they wanted to get started after the All-Star Break. They will be back at it Saturday in game two looking to even the series.

Game recap: The Blue Jays got to work early taking a 4-0 lead in the second inning. San Francisco had opportunity to do some damage with six hits in the game but Toronto with nine hits was the team cashing in.

Joey Loperfido doubled to get the game going in the second and Addison Barger scored for a 1-0 lead. Will Wagner came to the plate and he also doubled driving in base runners Alejandro Kirk and Loperfido home for a 3-0 lead.

Nathan Lukes finished off the inning with a single and Wagner scored for a 4-0 lead. It was a brief showing for San Francisco starting pitcher Verlander who did not go very far into the game. He was relieved after 2 2/3 innings allowing nine hits, four runs, two walks with zero strikeouts. He was relieved by Tristan Beck.

San Francisco got a single out of Patrick Bailey in the fifth inning but that would be all they could manage. Dominic Smith flied out and both Mike Yastrzemski and Heliot Ramos struck out to end the top of the inning.

The game went into the sixth inning with the Blue Jays still holding onto the 4-0 lead. This was an important inning for the Giants to get something going. First at bat for the Giants was Rafael Devers who doubled deep into center field.

Matt Chapman grounded out and Devers advanced to third. With Jung Hoo Lee at the plate and two outs, San Francisco needed to bring Devers home. Lee grounded out and despite eight hits in the game the Giants still had not gotten up on the scoreboard.

San Francisco got a rally going in the sevent inning with Smith and Bailey both singling with one out and that was it for Toronto pitcher Chris Bassitt. He was relieved by lefty Brendon Little. Neither team was able to score in the seventh or eighth inning and the Blue Jays took the 4-0 lead into the ninth inning. San Francisco was down to their last three outs in the ninth.

Casey Schmitt struck out, Dominic Smith struck out and Bailey made it a threesome also striking out and that was the ball game 4-0 in favor of Toronto.

Game notes: The Giants have had a a four-day stretch during the All-Star break to rest and reset going into their series with the Jays. They now look forward to the remainder of the 2025 season as they battle to climb up in the standings of the National League West.

They are currently in third place one and a half games behind the second place San Diego Padres. The Blue Jays continue to hang onto first place in the American League East three games ahead of the New York Yankees in a loaded division.

Verlander got shelled early in the game and dropped his season record to a 0-8 win/loss record looking at another loss and still searching for that first win of the season. Bassett had an outing for the Jays in the starting role pitching 6.1 innings allowing ten hits but no runs and striking out five hitters.

San Francisco had numerous scoring opportunities but came up empty despite 11 hits in the game. Verlander got the game going in the wrong direction and it was all downhill from there.

Saturday at Roger Centre the Giants will be looking to even up the series in game two. First pitch is scheduled for 12:07 PM PT. The Giants will start RHP Logan Webb (9-6, 2.94 ERA). The Blue Jays probable pitcher will be Eric Lauer with a 4-2 win/loss record and a 2.78 ERA. The break that the Giants got over this week did not seem to help and they will hopefully have an improved effort in Saturday’s game.