Photo: San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray throws against the Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
By Vince Cestone
SAN FRANCISCO — After getting swept by the Miami Marlins over the weekend, the San Francisco Giants got right back on track, beating the Athletics 3-1 at Oracle Park on Tuesday night.
The Giants got a strong pitching performance from lefty starter Robbie Ray. Ray, who figures to be traded at the deadline for prospects, threw eight solid innings. He gave up one unearned run, two hits, while striking out six. On the negative side, if any, he walked four batters.
The Giants opened the scoring in the second inning. Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee hit a long home run to right-center field, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead. The Giants scored again later in the inning after shortstop Willy Adames doubled and then third baseman Matt Chapman singled him in with a screamer off the left-field wall. Chapman was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, but the Giants were ahead 2-0.
The A’s got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when right fielder Colby Thomas reached on an error by the right fielder Lee, who dropped a routine fly ball. With Thomas at second base, the next batter third baseman Max Muncy singled him in, cutting the Giants’ lead in half to 2-1. The inning could’ve been worse, but Ray picked off Muncy trying to steal second base. The next batters Zack Gelof and Nick Kurtz popped out and grounded out respectively.
The Giants tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, designated hitter Bryce Eldridge walked. The next batter Casey Schmitt singled Eldridge to second. Then, with runners at first and second base with one out, Rafael Devers, who was the center of controversy on Sunday in Miami after he seemingly refused to want to be pinch ran for in the ninth inning, singled in Eldridge to give the Giants a 3-1 lead.
After Giants manager Tony Vitello named him closer last week, right-handed relief pitcher Caleb Kilian came in to try to shut the door in the ninth–and he did after getting into trouble. The first batter Kilian faced, catcher Shane Langeliers, flew out to left field. The next batter, left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, singled. Jacob Wilson then reached on a fielder’s choice on a comebacker to Kilian, with the out recorded at second base. The next batter, pinch hitter Lawrence Butler walked, but Kilian struck out center fielder Henry Bolte on a nasty breaking ball to earn the save. The Giants improved to 32-46, while the A’s fell to 38-40.
Although the Giants won, the win was bittersweet in a way. Second baseman Luis Arraez exited the game in the fifth inning after he fouled the ball off his right foot in the first inning. The Giants have not yet announced the extent of his injury.
In the sixth inning, Lee appeared to injure himself while trying to steal second base after he was clipped on the arm in a collision with second baseman Jeff McNeil. Lee was shaken up but later stayed in the game.
Up next, the Giants and A’s will play Game 2 of the series at Oracle Park on Wednesday night. Tyler Mahle (1-7, 6.04 ERA) will come off the injured list for the Giants to face Gage Jump (3-1, 2.37 ERA). Game time is at 6:45 p.m.
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