San Francisco Giant Bryce Eldridge is congratulated in the Giants dugout after hitting a second inning home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Foster Griffin at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Tue Aug 18, 2026 (AP News photo)

It was not the series start that the San Francisco Giants (51-74) were looking for as they took on the Cleveland Guardians (61-65) at Progressive Field. Cleveland took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning to jump start the game for the Guardians and they did not look back.

San Francisco did score a run in the second inning but they would not cross home plate for the rest of the game. The Guardians on the other hand scored in the second, fourth and seventh innings finishing the game with eight runs for a final score of 8-1. Joe Adell was a monster at the plate with six RBIs a career high for him and the Giants only managed seven hits to the Guardians 12.

GAME RECAP

The Guardians Jo Adell got this game going in the right direction for Cleveland hitting a three run homer in the bottom of the first inning. This was only the beginning for the Guardians.

San Francisco’s Bryce Eldridge hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning but that would turn out to be the only run for the Giants in this game. Cleveland would add two more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Again Jo Adell was right in the mix singling Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez home for a 5-1 lead.

San Francisco had the bases loaded in the fourth inning but left them all stranded as the inning went into the bottom. Cleveland was picking starting pitcher for San Francisco Carson Whisenhunt apart.

He gave up another couple of runs in the inning. For a third time it was an Adell single that drove in Brayan Rocchio and a Drew Gilbert error eventually allowed Kwan to cross home plate giving Cleveland a 7-1 lead after only four innings.

There would be a pitching change in the top of the fifth inning for San Francisco with Trent Harris relieving Whisenhunt. Harris went three and out in the bottom of the inning finally stalling out the Guardians hit parade.

Cleveland’s starting pitcher Foster Griffin was cruising also going three and out and it was on to the sixth inning.

The sixth inning was a good one for both starting pitchers with Griffin going another three and out and Harris only giving up a single.

The Guardians made a pitching change in the top of the seventh inning with Matt Festa relieving Griffin who had gone six innings in a great showing. Cleveland would score another run in the bottom of the inning which would turn out to be their final run of the evening.

San Francisco relief pitcher Reiver Sanmartin gave up the one run for the final score 8-1 in favor of Cleveland. SanMartin would also pitch the eighth inning going three and out.

GAME NOTES

It was a rocky outing for San Francisco starting pitcher Carson Whisenhunt. He only pitched four innings giving up nine hits, seven runs, (six earned) and two walks with only one strikeout. Relief pitcher Trent Harris who relieved Whisenhunt had two great innings only giving up one hit and had five strikeouts.

The Guardians starting pitcher Foster Griffin breezed through this game going six innings only giving up the one run. He finished the game giving up five hits, the one run, no walks with six strikeouts.

The highlight of this game was the remarkable performance by Clevelands Jo Adell who finished with one run, three hits, and six RBIs. He was on fire in this game. The Guardians Jose Ramirez also had three hits and two runs.

The Giants Jonah Cox had two hits as did Bryce Eldridge. Eldridge scored San Francisco’s only run of the game.

Wednesday the Giants will be looking for a far better effort than Tuesday night’s game. Matt Wilkinson will take the mound for the Giants. This will be his very first MLB start, his first appearance for San Francisco. He has never pitched in the major leagues before. He did have an excellent season in the minors with 96 strikeouts in 90 innings this year. The Guardians will start Parker Messick. He has a 9-7 win/loss record and a 2.59 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:40 PM.