San Francisco Giants Rafael Devers (right) flexes after hitting a double against the Tampa Bay Rays and second baseman Ben Williamson (left) at the Tropcana in Tampa Bay on Sun May 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite leading 1-0 going into the ninth inning, the San Francisco Giants (13-21) were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays (21-12) 2-1. This marked their sixth loss in a row and their second sweep in a row for the Giants.

Game recap: The Giants offense continues to sputter and despite some pretty good pitching and defense Sunday San Francisco has a huge offensive hurdle to get over as they head home for their next series Monday night. They did hit four doubles in Sunday’s game but they cannot string hits together as the Giants saw throughout this entire road trip.

The Giants got after it early scoring a run in the first inning. Rafael Devers doubled followed by a Casey Schmitt single that drove Devers home for the first run of the game and a 1-0 lead. This is the first time San Francisco has led in this series and they will be looking for some insurance runs. Unfortunately as this game progressed those insurance runs were nowhere to be found.

San Francisco was having some improved offensive with the two runners on base in the first inning, two runners on base in the third inning but that would be it for the Giants. They would either go three and out or a single here or a double there but they were not stringing hits together. Both teams were actually struggling offensively. Through seven innings five hits for the Giants and five for the Rays.

The 1-0 San Francisco lead held through eight innings. The Giant’s starting pitcher Tyler Mahle went 5.1 innings allowing four hits, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He was relieved in the sixth inning by Matt Gage who closed out the sixth.

Gage was relieved by Keaton Winn in the seventh inning. Ryan Walker took the mound in the eighth inning. So far the Giants had kept the Rays off the scoreboard but the 1-0 lead was far too close for comfort.

Walker got into a bit of a jam in the eighth inning. He walked Junior Caminaro followed by a Jonathan Aranda single and the Rays had runners at first and third. Ryan Vilade bunted, Caminaro scored and this game was tied going into the ninth inning. San Francisco was going to need some more offense.

Luis Arraez, Chapman and Adames would lead off the ninth inning. It did not go well with Arraez grounding out, Chapman fouling out and Adames striking out. The San Francisco defensive needed to step up and avoid a Tampa Bay walk-off.

There had been no home runs in this game so Tampa Bay was a hit away from winning the series. The Giant’s Caleb Kilian took the mound looking to extend this game into the tenth inning. Kilian got through the inning sending this game into extra innings and San Francisco had another chance to salvage this game.

The Giants went three and out in the top of the tenth going on to face some of the big Tampa Bay hitters. Kilian remained in the game facing Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Ryan Vilade. Caminero was intentionally walked and then disaster hit. Aranda singled Simpson home for the 2-1 walk-off win. San Francisco had lost six games in a row and suffered their second sweep in a row.

Game notes: It has been a forgettable road trip for the Giants getting swept by the Phillies followed by getting swept by the Rays. Sunday they finish up the series and just couldn’t avoid a second sweep in a row. This road trip has been plagued by poor offense pure and simple.

It has not been a happy time for the Giants. Seeing Matt Chapman going 2 for 21 from the plate is just crazy. Willy Adames former leadoff batter now batting sixth. There have been numerous roster changes trying to shake things up to no avail so far.

All of that aside, the Giants just wanted to get back in the win column Sunday but couldn’t hold in the bottom of the ninth inning to avoid the sweep and move on to their next series at home with the San Diego Padres on Monday. San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle went 5.1 innings allowed four hits, one walk and five strike outs. For Tampa Bay starter Steven Matz six innings, four hits, one earned run, two walks, and a strike out.

It had been a torturous road trip for the Giants and more then anything the Giants just want to turn their circumstances around. On this road trip they had an average 1.5 runs per game, no home ruins, they were shut out twice and they did get runners on base but continually left them stranded.

On top of that they put immense pressure on their pitchers. A lot to repair and it all comes down to the offense. It will be a quiet flight home for the Giants as they start another series Monday night at Oracle Park with the San Diego Padres.

The Giants starter RHP Trevor McDonald (0-0 ERA 0.00) will take the mound Monday night. The Padres will start Randy Vasquez who has a 3-0 win/loss record and a 2.94 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:45 PM.