Baltimore Orioles Samuel Basallo slugs a two run home run in the bottom of the first inning agianst the San Francisco Giants at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Sun Apr 12, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was not at all pretty as the San Francisco Giants (6-10) dropped their series with the Baltimore Orioles (8-7) losing 6-2 on Sunday. The Giants lost by scores of 6-2 Saturday and Sunday and picked up their only win on Friday 6-3.

The Giants struggled at the plate finishing with only seven hits getting a rough start going three and out in the first four innings from starting pitcher Adrian Houser who finished 4 2/3 innings giving up four runs and it was all down hill for the rest of the game. The one bright spot for the Giants were the three hits off the bat of Casey Schmitt, the third hit a solo home run in the ninth inning.

Game recap: Baltimore had a great start in this game taking a first inning lead. Samuel Basallo hit a two-run homerun with Pete Alonso on base for a 2-0 lead. San Francisco really struggled at the plate going three and out through the first four innings of the game, looking for their first hit going into the fifth inning. O’s pitcher Povich was doing a bang-up job in his first outing.

The Giants got their first hit of the game in the fifth inning off the bat of Schmitt. Schmitt scored when Daniel Susac got his third RBI hitting a single and San Francisco had cut the Baltimore lead in half.

In a little over an hour this game was going into the middle of the fifth inning. The impressive pitching of Povich had much to do with how quickly this game was moving. Going three and out through four innings moves a game along very efficiently.

Baltimore pushed their lead out in the bottom of the inning scoring two more runs with two outs. The Orioles Pete Alonso doubled driving Gunnar Henderson and Taylor Ward both home. Henderson and Ward had both singled scoring from first and third. That would be it for the Houser. He finished 4.2 innings giving up five hits, four runs and a couple of walks. He was relieved by Matt Gage who took over with two Baltimore runners on base but he successfully got out of the inning. With the two runs scored in the fifth inning Povich and the Orioles took a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning.

Baltimore would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning taking a 5-1 lead. Coby Mayo singled and Leody Taveras scored from second base.

Through six innings Orioles pitcher Povich only had thrown 78 pitches finishing 6 2/3 innings. In the seventh inning he allowed a couple of hits, a Schmitt single and a Ramos double. He allowed five hits, one earned run, no walks and five strikeouts. He was relieved by Anthony Nunez to finish off the seventh inning.

With no outs Baltimore got a couple of hits in a row off right hand Giant pitchers. The Orioles Alonso and Ward and they were threatening again. There were more changes on the mound for San Francisco as Erik Miller relieved Ryan Walker who had pitched two thirds of the seventh inning.

With one out in the bottom of seventh, Miller was faced with a bases-loaded situation. Miller got out of the inning but he did give up another Baltimore run giving the Orioles a 6-1 lead. Ward had scored on an infield Colton Cowser hit.

This game went into the top of the ninth inning and the Giants were three outs away from losing the game and the series. San Francisco did score in the final inning when Schmitt had his third hit of the game and it was a dandy, a solo home run to left. That would be it for the Giants. San Francisco’s offense never really clicked in this game their season record dropping to 6-10.

Game notes: It was a beautiful day at Oracle Park at Camden Yards for game three between the Giants and the Orioles. After winning the first game of the series Friday 6-3, San Francisco dropped game two 6-2 and lost the series to the O’s dropping game three 6-2 Sunday. Giants starter Andrian Houser got touched up early in the game pitching 4.2 innings, five hits, four earned runs, two walks and three strikeouts. For O’s starter Cade Povich 6.2 innings, five hits, one earned run and five strike outs.

The Giants will now travel to Cincinnati for a three-game series with the Reds. Probable pitchers for game one will be Robbie Ray who comes into this game with a 2-1 win/loss record and a 2.08 ERA. For the Reds Brady Singer will probably get the nod. He has a 0-1 win/loss record and a 7.71 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:40 PM PDT Tuesday evening.