San Francisco Giants pitcher Camilo Doval throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
San Francisco Giants game wrap:
By Lincoln Juarez
SAN FRANCISCO – The final Saturday afternoon of the Giants’ 2026 season saw LHP Matt Wilkinson make his final appearance in his debut season. Wilkinson entered Saturday 1-3 with a 3.65 ERA through 24.2 innings pitched, coming off a stellar performance last weekend at Dodger Stadium where he held the Dodgers scoreless on just three hits through 5.0 innings.
The young left-hander set down Betts, Ohtani and Will Smith in order in the first and got through the first two frames in just seven batters. Dodgers starter Blake Snell (4-1, 1.86) and old friend of the Giants gave up a double to Victor Bericoto and a single to Bo Davidson in the first that amounted to nothing for the Giants. In the second inning Snell stranded Shay Whitcomb at second base after a single and stolen base keeping the game scoreless.
Wilkinson was one out away from getting through three innings without allowing a hit when Mookie Betts stepped in and knocked an 86mph cutter into the third row of the left field bleachers.
The Giants had a chance to counter against Blake Snell in the home third with Jonah Cox reaching third with a double and stolen base. Turner Hill put the ball in play with nobody out and brought Cox home on a sacrifice fly to center.
Matt Wilkinson was pulled after his three innings of work, he gave up one earned on one hit, which was a home run, while striking out two. Following the game, it was revealed by manager Tony Vitello that a lower-back injury is what forced Wilkinson out of the game early. “He had a lower-back issue that started in the bullpen before the game so based off his warmups…we didn’t know if we’d get one inning.” Wilkinson described that he tried to fight through it the best he could but it didn’t last him very deep into the game.
He was replaced with RHP Duncan Davitt who got the first two outs of the fourth but also gave up two earned runs on three hits.
Snell finished after four complete, allowing one run on five hits and striking out three, and left the game with the Dodgers ahead 3-1.
Right-handers Tristan Beck and Carson Seymour got the Giants to the seventh inning, when Camilo Doval made his return to the Giants after being claimed off waivers from the Pirates Thursday night. Doval started the season in New York as a Yankee posting a 3-1 record with a 4.54 ERA, a save and 39 strikeouts. After being traded to the Pirates on August first, he was 0-1 with a 3.79 ERA, 23 strikeouts in 20 games.
“Well nothing like being back home… I’m super happy and super thrilled to be back and just to get on that mound” Doval exclaimed, also adding “I’m back at home, let me be who I am, and let me do what I know I can do.”
Doval faced Betts, Ohtani and Dalton Rushing, who pinch-hit for Will Smith in the seventh inning and struck them out in order during his Giants return. With that Doval became the 71st player used by the Giants this season, tying the 2025 Atlanta Braves for the most players used by a team in Major League history.
Safe to say Doval was thrilled to be back in a Giants uniform and hoping he can stick around to play a role in the bullpen in 2027. Tony Vitello mentioned “If you’re asking me, I’m all for anybody that can help us win and he looked like he can help us win” on the thought of hopefully locking up Doval for next season.
In the home seventh, the Giants got within a run as Drew Cavanaugh tripled home Drew Gilbert to make it 3-2. In the eighth, Turner Hill doubled and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Bo Davidson drove him home on a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game at three.
Just when the Giants got almost all of the momentum on their side, Kiké Hernández led off the ninth and batted a 1-0 pitch into the left field bleachers to a roar of Dodger fans at Oracle Park. Tanner Scott took the mound in the bottom of the ninth and recorded his second straight and his 25th save of the season.
The Dodgers spoiled the first two games of Mike Krukow’s retirement weekend celebration at Oracle Park but the Giants have one more opportunity to send Kruk off with the ultimate “Atta Babe”. A win on Sunday over LA would be the ultimate send off for the legend himself.
Giants fans come together once more in 2026 Sunday afternoon for the final game of the season and to celebrate Mike Krukow in his final game in the booth. No starting pitchers have been announced on either side but first pitch is at 12:05pm.
