San Francisco Giants pitcher Carson Wisenhunt works on the San Diego Padres line up in the bottom of the second inning at Petco Park in San Diego on Fri Jul 31, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (47-63) got a great start in their series with the San Diego Padres (56-54) taking a 4-1 win Thursday night and Friday night the Giants failed to extend a win in the second game getting shutout 7-0.

The Padres have decided on a starting pitcher. Bradgley Rodriguez, relief pitcher, will start this game. He has an ERA of 2.33. The Giants wil go with Carson Whisenhunt. He comes into the game with a 2-1 win/loss record and a 4.60 ERA.

Thursday the Giants got an early lead but Friday’s the top of the Padre’s lineup gave San Diego an early lead 2-0. It was the San Diego big guns Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado and Luis Rengifo getting the job done.

The Padres continued to extend their lead scoring runs in the third and fourth innings taking a 6-0 lead half way through the game. San Francisco only had one hit through four innings, the Padres had eight hits.

GAME RECAP

San Diego starting pitcher Bradgley Rodriguez had a one two three first inning. Giants starting pitcher Carson Whisenhunt struggled in the bottom of the inning. Tatis Jr. doubled followed by a Luiz Rengifo single and the Padres had runners at first and third with one out.

Machado sacrificed Tatis Jr. home for the first run of the game. Ty France walked and San Diego now with two outs had runners on first and second. Luis Campusano singled Rengifo home and the Padres had a 2-0 lead. Whisenhunt finally got out of the inning but it had been a tough start.

Yuki Matsui relieved Rodriguez in the top of the second inning. He dismissed the Giants one two three; a nice start for both of the San Diego pitchers. The Giants got out of the bottom of the second inning although Whisenhunt did give up a single and a walk.

Matsui got the job done in the top of the third inning only giving up a single. The Padres got to work in the bottom of the third scoring another run now leading 3-0. France got the inning going with a single.

France was thrown out at second when Merrill grounded into a fielders choice. Campusano singled and Merrill advanced to third scoring when Xander Bogaerts grounded into a double play. San Diego had now taken a 3-0 lead.

Matsui had another solid inning in the fourth going three and out and the Giants offense was having a rough day at the plate with only one hit through four innings. There was no stopping the Padre offense in Friday’s game.

Jase Bowen (bottom of the batting order) had a monster hit in the bottom of the fourth hitting the ball into the third deck. It was his first big league home run and it gave the Padres a 4-0 lead.

After two walks and the home run there was a change on the mound for the Giants. Adrian Houser relieved Whisenhunt facing Machado with only one out. Machado flied out but Tatis Jr and Rengifo both advanced stealing second and third base.

This was Tatis Jr’s 26th steal of the season and Rengifo’s fifth. France singled both Tatis Jr. and Rengifo home and the Padres were cruising leading 6-0 going into the fifth inning.

German Marquez relieved Matsui in the fifth inning. He was also outstanding dismissing the Giants going three and out. Houser gave up a couple of singles in the bottom of the fifth but kept the Padres from scoring.

Luis Arraez got the Giants second hit of the game but that was the only offensive action in the sixth inning for San Francisco. In the bottom of the sixth Machado just missed hitting a home run hitting a double off the wall.

San Diego had two runners on base, Rengifo on third and Machado at second. France sacrificed Rengifo home and the hit parade continued for San Diego. With a 7-0 lead the Padres put this game on ice.

The game went into the top of the eighth inning and the Giants were six outs away from losing the second game of the series. It was also a quick bottom of the eighth.

German Marquez closed out the game shutting out the Giants 7-0. They did it with excellent offense and timely hitting and their pitching was outstanding. The Giants just could not get going coming away with only two hits in this game.

GAME NOTES

This game got away from the Giants quickly. Starting pitcher Whisenhunt couldn’t keep the Padres’ lineup in check. San Diego scored runs in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings.

The Giants offense was almost non-existent . They only managed a couple of hits through six innings. They were unable to put sustained pressure on the Padres’ pitchers. The Padres on the other hand consistently hitting with runners on base and preventing San Francisco from getting any momentum. The Giants just could not make adjuistments against the San Diego pitching.

The Padres got production throughout the lineup. Tatis Jr. set the tone at the top of the lineup by getting on base and helping create scoring opportunities. Machado came through with key hits that drove in runs and kept the pressure on San Francisco.

Bogaerts added timely RBI hits to extend their lead and Merrill was also good with run-producing at-bats as the Padres continued to pile on the offense all night. It was a memorable night for Jase Bowen hitting his first big league home run, a dandy flying into the third deck of the stadium.

It was a rough night for Whisenhunt. He pitched through 3 1/3 innings allowing seven hits, six earned runs, four walks with three strikeouts. Houser went 4 2/3 innings allowing five hits, one earned run, one walk with three strikeouts. The entire game was a one-sided affair.

Giants team president Buster Posey has suspended outfielder Harrison Bader’s salary while the Giants investigate a scooter crash that further injured Bader’s previous injured left foot. Sources said that Bader hit the back of a Fire Truck in downtown San Francisco on Sunday. The Giants played the Brewers at Oracle Park last Sunday. The source said that Bader was drunk at the time. The Giants are investigating if that is true or not.

“Over the weekend, Harrison Bader was involved in an accident that has delayed Harrison’s prior treatment timeline for plantar fasciitis and, unfortunately, his return to the field,” Posey said in a statement. “We are still investigating the circumstances of the accident but will be suspending payment to Harrison until he is able to resume performing services for the Club.”

Game three in this series will get underway Friday with first pitch scheduled for 5:40 PM. Tyler Mahle will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 3-9 win/loss record and a 4.96 ERA. The Padres will start Walker Buehler. His win/loss record is 6-5 and he has an ERA of 5.13.