Texas Rangers fans and a San Francisco Giant fan were reaching and waiting for Giants Jung Hoo Lee’s home run ball in the top of the third inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Mon Aug 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (47-65) took to the road for a matchup with the Texas Rangers (55-57) Monday evening amid a well-published myriad of changes for the Giants. The Giants got what they have needed so badly in many of their losses, an early lead. Going into the fourth inning they had a 3-0 lead.

Logan Webb pitched six spotless innings giving up only five hits. They scored a couple of runs in the second inning adding one more in the third, a Jung Hoo Lee solo home run.

Lee would hit a second home run in the eighth inning extending the San Francisco lead to 4-0. Lee would sacrifice Grant McCray home and the Giants were looking for a shut-out going into the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Rangers foiled the possible shut-out when Ezequiel Duran hit a solo home run but San Francisco did come away with the 5-1 win.

GAME RECAP

San Francisco starting pitching Logan Webb had a three strike-out inning to open the game. Each pitcher had a walk in the first inning but no hits going into the second inning.

The Giants would light up the scoreboard in the second inning scoring two runs. Daniel Susac reached second on a Ranger error and would score when Drew Gilbert singled. Osleivis Basabe sacrificed Gilbert home for a second run and a 2-0 San Francisco lead.

The Giants continued pounding the ball with a third run, a Lee solo home run in the third inning. The Giants Logan Webb gave up a couple of singles in the bottom of the third but no runs and added one more strikeout. After three innings the Giants got the early start they had been looking for.

Rangers starting pitcher Cal Quantrill gave up a single in the fourth inning, no runs and Logan Webb had the same result with one single in the inning.

Both pitchers had quality innings in the fifth and sixth innings. Going into the seventh innings there were pitching changes for both teams. For Texas Ben Peoples relieved Quantrill and for San Francisco Sam Hentges relieved Webb. Both pitchers got through the inning and San Francisco took the 3-0 lead into the eighth inning.

San Francisco’s Lee hit his second home run of the game in the eighth inning and the Giants were weaving their way toward a shut-out now with a 4-0 lead. Both teams had six hits through eight innings but it was the Giants that had the timely hits.

The game went into the ninth inning and the Giants were three outs away from winning the first game of the series. Lee had been instrumental in this game and would add another RBI sacrificing Grant McCray, who had walked, home.

San Francisco was looking at a 5-0 shut-out win to open this series. The Rangers had something else in mind and with one out the shut-out was snuffed in thanks to an Ezequiel Duran solo home run.

It has been a tough start for the Rangers committing five errors in this game, not their finest hour but they did avoid the shut-out. Their offense was equally sub-par. The final was 5-1 in favor of San Francisco.

GAME NOTES

The Giants dominated in game one of the series from start to finish. They scored early and the work on the mound from Logan Webb was terrific. Webb kept the Rangers’ offense under control limiting hard contact and preventing any big innings. Webb gave the Giants the chance to play from in front for a change.

San Francisco capitalized on scoring opportunities while the Rangers did not cash in with runners on base. The Giants played a far cleaner game defensively while the Ranger struggled with five errors. This was one of the best all-around games San Francisco has played recently.

San Franciscos’ Logan Webb pitched through six innings allowing five hits, no runs, one walk and eight strikeouts. Webb was relieved by Keaton Winn in the seventh inning going 2/3 s of an inning. Sam Hentges would relieve Winn in the seventh inning closing out the inning and would also pitch through the eighth. It was some solid work from the mound in this game.

Quantrill pitched through six innings as well. He allowed four hits, three runs, one earned run, one walk and four strikeouts.

San Francisco had a great start in game one and would be looking to score early in the second game of the series Tuesday. This was key to their win Monday night. Blade Tidwell will take the mound for the Giants in game two.

Tidwell was traded to the Giants by the New York Mets on July 30th of 2025. He had a shoulder injury that prevented him from debuting with the Giants in 2025. Tidwell will be returning to the big leagues for the first time since late April where he was operating out of the bullpen. Tidwell’s ERA is 3.00. The Rangers MacKenzie Gore will start Tuesday. He has a 6-9 win/loss record and a 4.77 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 5:05 PM.