Category: MLB

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A Statue for Vin Scully-Simply the Best-From my Notebook

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Los Angeles Angels TV play by play announcer and author Amaury Pi Gonzalez (left) and Los Angeles Dodgers radio and TV play by play announcer Vin Scully (right) pose for a photo (photo from the author Amaury Pi Gonzalez)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Los Angeles Dodgers Approve $1.1 Million Project to Build Statue Honoring Vin Scully – The Greatest “Voice of the Soul” in American Baseball History After more than half a century as the “immortal voice” of American baseball, legend Vin Scully is finally set to have his own statue outside Dodger Stadium in a $1.1 million project approved by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The man who recounted some of MLB history’s greatest moments with a voice described as “the sound of an American summer” is now preparing to be immortalized in the very place where he spent 67 years creating the soul of the Dodgers, also called 28 World Series — a legacy many believe is even greater than baseball itself.

My good friend and ex-Dodgers Spanish broadcaster Jaime Jarrin first introduced me to Vin Scully in 1988 when I was broadcasting for the Oakland A’s, who were facing the Dodgers in that year’s World Series. Since then, I have seen Vin Scully many times, and he has always been a gentleman and a great inspiration not only for me but for numerous broadcasters for many decades.

The last time legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully visited Angel Stadium in 2016 to call the Freeway Series during the regular season, I was the Spanish play-by-play announcer for the LA Angels on FSN (Fox Sports Net) in Los Angeles.

His broadcast booth (visiting TV) was separated from my broadcast partner José Mota’s and mine by a glass partition. When I was doing the Spanish for the SF Giants, my wife would come with me to the games on Sundays. She has her “Broadcaster’s Baseball,” which she brings to the Sunday games, and she collects autographs from the visiting teams’ broadcasters. That included a signature from Mr. Scully.

Vin gave Gail permission to call him “Vin”. One of the best “gifts” Gail has ever received. She was born in SoCal and has been a lifelong Dodger fan, with fond memories of attending a game when Don Drysdale was pitching his no-hitter. Fast-forward to recent memories: Mr. Scully told me after a game, “Don’t forget to say hi to Gail.”

A true gentleman. Vin Scully Statue at Dodger Stadium will be great for baseball fans and for a great man and broadcaster, and I applaud the LA Dodgers for the initiative, because Vin Scully was the best baseball play-by-play announcer who ever lived, from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and is well known and recognized all over the world.He broadcast the Dodgers games on the radio and later on television for 67 years; he was simply the best.

Quote: “May God give you for every storm, a rainbow, for every tear, a smile, for every care, a promise, and a blessing in each trial.”-Vin Scully.

Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum: A’s Cortes and Kurtz home runs put the final touches on Pads to avoid sweep

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Sacramento A’s Carlos Cortes circles the bases after hitting in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego on Sun May 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 No doubt about it Daniel good pitching defeats good hitting every time as the Sacramento A’s held the San Diego Padres to just two runs for the win?

#2 A’s sluggers Carlos Cortes and Nick Kurtz helped spark the Athletics’ 5–2 victory with home runs at Petco Park how important are they to the A’s line up?

#3 What was notable about Nick Kurtz’s performance and on-base streak during the Athletics vs. Padres game?

#4 Starting pitchers for Monday night as the second place Seattle Mariners come calling in Sacramento. Starter for Seattle RHP Luis Castillo (1-5 ERA 6.41) for Sacramento RHP Aaron Civale (5-1 ERA 3.31) first pitch at Sutter Health Park 6:40pm PDT.

#5 How did fans and commentators react to the Athletics’ offensive struggles earlier in the series before their Game 3 win over San Diego?

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O: Astros Walker goes 3-3 to power past Cubs; Yanks Cole back on mound; plus more news

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Christian Walker of the Houston Astros (left) was being assisted by a coach and the team trainer after getting hit by a pitch against the Boston Red Sox on Sat May 2, 2026

MLB The Show podcast Charlie O:

#1 How did Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker power his team past the Chicago Cubs on Saturday?

#2 Why was Gerrit Cole’s return for the New York Yankees overshadowed by the Tampa Bay Rays?

#3 Which MLB team earned its major-league-leading 36th victory thanks to the Atlanta Braves Chadwick Tromp’s walk-off hit?

#4 What concern emerged for the Houston Astros despite their shutout win over the Cubs?

#5 According to recent MLB power rankings, which team climbed to the No. 1 spot ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cubs?

Charlie O does the MLB The Show podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s game wrap: A’s Find Their Missing Bite and Take the Finale 5-2

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Sacramento A’s Carlos Cortes (2) gives thanks to the Almighty after hitting a top fo the first inning home run against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego on Sun May 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The boys from Sactown had spent the first two games of the series staring at chances that slipped away. This time, they did not wait around for permission. Carlos Cortes opened the game by lifting a home run to right center, giving the Green and Gold the surge they had been lacking as of late.

It was one swing, one run, and one early reminder that Cortes has been one of the hottest bats in the lineup, hitting .381 over his previous 23 games and carrying the best batting average in the majors among players with at least 100 plate appearances.The Cortes led A’s got the three run win 5-2 at Petco Park in San Diego.

The first inning also gave the Athletics something just as valuable as the lead: a calm defensive start. Fernando Tatis Jr. singled to begin the bottom half, but Miguel Andujar rolled into a smooth 6-4-3 double play started by Alika Williams. Gavin Sheets then took a called third strike, and the A’s were back in the dugout with momentum still in their hands.

They added on in the second with the lower part of the order doing the damage. Zack Gelof drew a walk, and Henry Bolte ripped a double to left to bring him home. Bolte has brought speed, energy, and a little electricity to the lineup since his call-up, and he kept showing why the A’s were willing to give the 22-year-old center fielder meaningful starts so quickly. Williams followed with a single to left that scored Bolte, stretching the lead to 3-0 before the Padres could fully settle in.

Luis Medina worked through early traffic and was helped by his defense before Jacob Lopez took over in the second. Lopez had never faced the Padres before, and his outing became a test of patience. He did not dominate, but he didn’t allow the game to unravel either.

The Padres put runners on, but the A’s kept finding ways to cut off rallies, including a huge relay in the fifth when Tatis doubled to left and Ty France tried to score from first. Tyler Soderstrom fired to Williams, Williams relayed home, and Jonah Heim finished the play at the plate. It was a sequence of baseball reel highlight finesse. “How about that”, I could almost hear Mel Allen say from his heavenly pressbox stool.

The A’s pushed the lead to 4-0 in the fourth without a hit doing the final damage. Heim doubled, Jeff McNeil and Bolte drew walks, and after Michael King’s wild pitch, Heim scored from third. The inning could have been bigger, especially with the bases loaded, but even one run mattered in a series where every missed chance had felt expensive.

San Diego finally broke through in the sixth when Andujar doubled, moved to third, and scored on Manny Machado’s sacrifice fly. Ty France then tightened the game in the seventh with a solo homer to right off Justin Sterner, trimming the lead to 4-2. Suddenly, the finale had the familiar feel of a game ready to test the A’s bullpen again.

The ninth inning gave the Athletics breathing room, and it started with Cortes again. He singled to left, Lawrence Butler pinch-ran, and Nick Kurtz dropped a bunt single toward third. Kurtz had already extended his remarkable on-base streak to 47 games, moving past Rickey Henderson and into third place alone in Athletics history. That is not a footnote anymore. That is franchise royalty territory. Tyler Soderstrom followed with a ground-ball single to right, scoring Butler and giving the A’s a 5-2 lead.

The bottom of the ninth still had some drama. Hogan Harris issued two walks, including one after Jackson Merrill’s challenged plate appearance was overturned. With two on and one out, Scott Barlow was asked to settle the whole thing down. He did exactly that, striking out Nick Castellanos before getting Tatis to fly out to right, where Butler handled the final out.

After dropping the first two games, the Athletics needed more than a decent effort. They needed a response. They got one from Cortes, Bolte, Williams, Soderstrom, Kurtz, and a bullpen that held firm when the Padres tried to make the game uncomfortable. It was tough, timely, and exactly the win a first-place team needs before heading into a crucial series tomorrow in Sacramento.

Speaking of that series, Memorial Day Monday brings a big one to Sacramento, as the A’s open a three-game set against their West Coast rivals and the team currently chasing them in second place, the Seattle Mariners. Aaron Civale gets the opening-night ball for the A’s, bringing a 5-1 record, 3.31 ERA, and 37 strikeouts into the matchup. Seattle will counter with Luis Castillo, who enters at 1-5 with a 6.41 ERA and 47 strikeouts. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Devers hits grand slam, as he and Schmitt carry Giants to 8-5 win over White Sox to take series

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San Francisco Giants Rafael Devers admires the final touches of his grand slam home run in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago White Sox 5 (26-26)

San Francisco Giants 10 (22-31)

Win: Keaton Winn (1-1)

Loss: Noah Schultz (2-4)

Save: Caleb Kilian (3)

Time: 2:56

Attendance: 40,220

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants had another resilient win today, as they blew a 4-1 lead, but bounced right back thanks to a grand slam by Rafael Devers, who along with Casey Schmitt, led the Giants to an 8-5 win over the White Sox to take the series on Star Wars Day—and a gorgeous one at that—here at Oracle Park.

Yesterday, the Giants had another one of those wins where they showed true resilience, and most importantly, showed that they were capable. They played solid station-to-station baseball. After they blew a 3-0 lead, they exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth. If the Giants want to turn things around this season, they are going to have to keep having games like they had yesterday. As I said, they are very much capable of doing this.

Robbie Ray gave up a grand slam to Nolan Arenado on just his sixth pitch on Monday night in Arizona. Ray’s sixth pitch today was fouled off by White Sox’ leadoff man Chase Meidroth. Unfortunately, Meidroth hit a home run two pitches later. Well, giving up one run on eight pitches is much better than giving up four runs on six pitches.

Ray retired the next three, and the Giants had a response ready for Noah Schultz in the bottom of the first. Willy Adames drew a walk to lead off the inning, and Luis Arraez bunted him over to second. That set things up for the red-hot Casey Schmitt, who lined a double off the end of the bat, and down the right field line to tie the game. Rafael Devers then doubled off the final archway on the brick wall out in right-center to give the Giants the lead.

Ray was shaky, but he escaped a pair of jams in the second and third. Schultz hit Arraez with one out in the bottom of the third. Schmitt then came up, and hit a home run to left to make it 4-1. It was Schmitt’s second home run in as many days, and his 11th of the season.

Ray had issued back-to-back walks with two outs in the top of the third, but he managed to get away with it. He then issued back-to-back walks to start the top of the fourth, and the White Sox turned that into a run to make it 4-2.

Ray then walked Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas to start the top of the fifth, and Tony saw enough. Keaton Winn was summoned, and Murakami and Vargas would both eventually score to tie the game. Thankfully, Winn was able to limit the damage to just two runs, and keep the game tied.

As for Ray, he walked seven, and gave up four runs over four-plus innings. Ray had gotten off to a great start this season, but for whatever reason, his last three starts have been a collective nightmare, as he has given up 16 earned runs over his last 13 innings.

For the second day in a row, the Giants had blown a three-run lead. However, for the second day in a row, they had an immediate response.

Willy Adames doubled to lead off the bottom of the fifth, and then Arraez was hit for the second time today. It clearly was not intentional, but the Giants were all on the edge of the dugout, and Tony even appeared to show emotions. Hey, the guy’s an old college head coach, what else would you expect?

Venable wisely pulled Schultz, and brought in Grant Taylor. Schmitt was up, and was the perfect man to come through. Well, Schmitt walked, and that set things up for Rafi. I honestly thought Rafi would strike out or pop out, but he hit a grand slam to left to give the Giants an 8-4 lead. The sold-out crowd of 40,220 here at Oracle Park went nuts. I wanted to as well, but I can’t cheer in the press box.

The Giants bullpen took it the rest of the way. Winn stuck around to pitch a scoreless top of the sixth. Winn would end up getting the win. Vargas hit a home run off Matt Gage to lead off the top of the seventh, but Gage then retired the next three. I want Erik Miller to be the closer, but Tony went to him for the eighth, and the left-hander threw a 1-2-3 inning. It was Caleb Kilian who took the ball for the top of the ninth, and he struck out the side to pick up his third save of the season.

Rafi and Schmitt combined to knock in every single run for the Giants today. Rafi had five RBIs, and Schmitt had three. By the way, Casey Schmitt is now hitting .296.

I’ll keep saying it. The Giants just need to keep playing this kind of baseball. If they do, they will turn things around, and get back into contention this season. The question is whether they have it in them to keep this up.

The Giants improve to 22-31, and they just need one more win to make it a winning streak.

The Diamondbacks, who swept the Giants over the week in Phoenix, will be in town for three starting tomorrow afternoon. Landen Roupp will look to continue his strong start, as he will take the ball for the Giants tomorrow. Merrill Kelly will go for Arizona.

I said tomorrow afternoon, because tomorrow is of course Memorial Day. However, tomorrow’s game will not be a 1:05 start.

First pitch will be at 2:05 p.m.

San Francisco Giants analysis and commentary: White Sox hung out to dry by the Giants, 8-5, losing the series (2-1) on Star Wars Day in Sunny SF Bay

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Caleb Kilian (right) is congratulated by catcher Daniel Susac (left) after the Giants defeated the Chicago White Sox at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun May 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Chicago White Sox (26-26) dropped the “rubber” game 8-5. and lost the series (2-1) to the San Francisco Giants (22-31) Sunday afternoon inside a sold out Oracle Park.

Chicago actually got the party started early with a leadoff home run by second baseman Chase Meidroth. His fourth bomb of the season put the South-siders up 1-0 after the initial half inning.

That lead was very temporary, as the home team equaled that tally in their half of the first inning. First baseman Casey Schmitt doubled to right field, scoring Willy Adames. Designated hitter Rafael Devers also doubled to right field, plating Schmitt. The Giants ended the inning with a one run advantage, 2-1.

In the bottom frame of the third, Shmitt was at it again, with a two run homer, doubling the Giants’ run total, 4-1. Second baseman Luis Arrez also scored on the blast.

The White Sox did respond in the top of the fourth inning, when shortstop Luisangel Acuna’s sacrifice fly scored catcher Edgar Ouero, bringing the deficit to two runs. 4-2.

The very next stanza Chicago tied things up with a two-run performance. Third baseman Colson Montgomery grounded out to second base, subsequently scoring DH Munetaka Murakami. Next Quero knocked in first baseman Miguel Vargas on a single. After 4 1/2 innings it was all tied up at 4-4.

The bottom of the fifth started off horribly for the Pale Holes, as they put three consecutive batters on base with a double. walk and hit batsmen. A bases loaded situation, with no outs. Devers stepped up to the plate with the absolutely advantageous situation. He not only seized the moment, he blasted a Grand Slam HR to double the lead again, and possibly put the game out of reach, 8-4. Adames, Arrez and Schmitt all scored on his extra-base hit.

In the top of the seventh inning the Windy City sluggers did make one last attempt at the lead. Miguel Vargas launched a solo home run to left field, getting them as close as three runs, but it was not enough in the end, 8-5.

The next two innings were just a formality, as the Giants held on to their three run lead, pleasing the Oracle faithful. On Star Wars Day, The Force was with the team in the City by the Bay.

The White Sox will next be in action back in Chicago Monday, May 25, hosting the Minnesota Twins at 1:10 PM CT on TV CHSN at Rate Field. The Giants will host the Arizona Diamondbacks on the same date at 2:05 PM PT on KNBR Radio/KSFN Radio and NBC Sports Bay Area at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Bader with the hot bat looking for more RBIs; Schmitt also providing some offense

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San Francisco Giant Harrison Bader while on with NBC Sports gets something to drink from the Powerade can after their win against the Chicago White Sox on Sun May 24, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast podcast Stepehen Ruderman:

#1 Harrison Bader getting his second grand slam in six days is one for the books and he was key in the San Francisco Giants laugher Saturday against the Chicago White Sox.

#2 Casey Schmitt also hit a home run and knocked in three runs. The Giants Willy Adames clouted a home run to help San Francisco end a four game losing streak.

#3 The Giants also got some offense from Matt Chapman, Daniel Susac, and Luis Arraez who got two hits each. Arraez has been producing at the plate for the Giants with a triple on Saturday and a hefty .323 average.

#4 The Giants who have scored 12 runs in their last four games put together two rallies on Saturday with three runs in the fourth and six runs in the fifth inning.

#5 Stephen, talk about Sunday’s starting pitchers for the Chicago White Sox LHP and looking for his third win this season Noah Schultz (2-3 ERA 4.93) and for the San Francisco Giants Robbie Ray (3-6 ERA 4.28)

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s game wrap: The A’s Played Well, but Failed to Follow Through; Pads Giolito blanks Sac 2-0

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San Diego Padres starter Luis Giolito was dealing against the Sacramento A’s at Petco Park in San Diego on Sat May 23, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics had enough baserunners to have made Saturday night a clear win, but the absolute lack of finishing touches failed to get any of them across the plate. A 2-0 loss to the Padres became a lesson in missed chances, survival pitching, and how a game with only two runs can still feel like it had a dozen turning points hiding in the San Diego the dirt.

Sacramento opened with immediate pressure against Lucas Giolito. Carlos Cortes started the game with a hard line-drive single to right, and Nick Kurtz followed with a base hit to move Cortes to third. Two powerful statements right off the bat (pun intended), especially with the heart of the order due. But Shea Langeliers then lifted a ball to right, Brent Rooker struck out, and Tyler Soderstrom’s easy fly was shut down as the inning slipped away without a run. The A’s had Giolito wobbling, but they never made him pay.

J.T. Ginn, making his first start since taking a no-hit bid into the ninth inning against the Angels, had to work through speeding traffic right away. Fernando Tatis Jr. drew a walk to begin the Padres’ first, and Manny Machado later reached as well, but Ginn struck out Gavin Sheets and Nick Castellanos to keep San Diego off the board. Considering Ginn had been riding one of the more dramatic recent starts by an A’s pitcher, his early command issues made this outing feel like a very different test. This one was not about chasing history. It was about escaping a pileup.

The escape act finally cracked in the second. Jackson Merrill reached, stole second, and the Padres loaded the bases after Freddy Fermin and Sung-Mun Song reached. Tatis was hit by a pitch, forcing in Merrill for the game’s first run. Ginn still avoided major damage when Miguel Andujar grounded into a force at the plate and Sheets flew out, but San Diego had taken the lead without needing a big swing.

The Padres added their second run in the third after Castellanos reached and Merrill doubled to right. Ty France grounded out to short, scoring Castellanos, and that was enough breathing room for San Diego’s staff. José Suarez replaced Ginn in the inning and limited the damage, while the A’s bullpen later gave the lineup a real chance. Joel Kuhnel delivered two perfect innings with three strikeouts, and Scott Barlow worked around a France walk in the eighth to keep it at 2-0.

The issue was the offense kept stepping into traps. In the third, Cortes drew a walk before Kurtz hit into an unassisted double play. In the fourth, the A’s had their best chance after Rooker and Soderstrom reached, Giolito uncorked a wild pitch, and Henry Bolte reached to load the bases. Jeff McNeil then hit into a double play, ending the threat and turning a possible turning point into another stranded opportunity.

Kurtz still gave the A’s one of their better storylines by reaching again with his second hit of the game, extending a streak that had already placed him among the longest in Athletics history. Big Amish’s ability to keep reaching base has become less of a hot streak and more of a nightly expectation, which is absurd in the best baseball way. Langeliers also nearly sparked something in the eighth with a double to left, but Jason Adam struck out Rooker and Soderstrom to end that threat.

By the ninth, Mason Miller finished it with force. Zack Gelof and Bolte struck out before McNeil grounded out, leaving the A’s with five hits, several chances, and no runs. The Padres did not win the game with any heroics. They simply cashed in once with a hit batter, once with a groundout, and let their pitching do the rest.

For the Athletics, the loss was frustrating because it was so reachable. Their pitching staff allowed only two runs, the bullpen settled the game beautifully, and the lineup had the right names at the plate in the right spots. But baseball being baseball, unpredictable, sometimes the whole night is not decided by who creates the most noise. Sometimes it is decided by who does the smallest thing at the exact right moment.

Game 3 starters for Sunday’s series closer will be Luis Medina (1-1 / 2.41 ERA / 18 k) for the A’s, and Michael King (4-2 / 2.31 ERA / 59 K) for the Padres at 4:10pm

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in. 

Giants show serious resilience, and snap four-game slide with six-run fifth in 10-3 win over White Sox

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San Francisco Giants Harrison Bader (right) gets around on the baseball for a bottom of the fifth inning grand slam home run in front of Chicago White Sox catcher Drew Romo (left) at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat May 23, 2026 (AP News photo)

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Chicago White Sox 3 (26-25)

San Francisco Giants 10 (21-31)

Win: Matt Gage (4-1)

Loss: Erick Fedde (0-5)

Time: 2:47

Attendance: 40,172

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants showed serious resilience Saturday, after losing a 3-0 lead, by responding with a six-run bottom of the fifth inning to blow the game open, and they snapped their four-game snide with a much-needed 10-3 win over the White Sox.

In seasons like this, it’s hard to mark one particular moment as the low point. Katel Marte’s walk-off home run off Matt Gage on Tuesday was brutal. The White Sox’ nine-run top of the fourth inning last night was ugly. Plain and simply, it has been a bad season for the Giants thus far. They came into Saturday’s game 11 games under .500 at 20-31, and in desperate need of a win.

Adrian Houser, who really came through when the Giants needed him to with a strong six-inning start in Sacramento on Sunday, took the ball Saturday. Houser was coming off three solid starts, to be exact.

Saturday, Houser retired the first seven men he faced to get through the first three innings pretty quickly. He then escaped a jam in the top of the fourth. The fact that the Giants got through the top of the fourth Saturday without a massive crooked number was a good omen.

Will Venable, whose old man and former Giant, Max, was here Saturday, decided to have a bullpen game for the White Sox. Left-hander Bryan Hudson was the first to go, and he threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning. Hudson and Erick Fedde then combined for a 1-2-3 bottom of the second.

Bryce Eldridge was in the lineup for the fourth game in a row, which shows that pressure sometimes just may work. Eldridge led off the bottom of the third with a feisty 11-pitch at-bat that culminated with a line-drive base-hit to right field. Unfortunately, Harrison Bader immediately followed up Eldridge’s great at-bat by grounding into a double play.

One of the reasons I want the Giants to get back into it is that I don’t want them to trade Luis Arraez. He’s just too fun to watch. After Houser survived his jam in the top of the fourth Arraez led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple to triple’s alley in right-center. Casey Schmitt then hit a sacrifice fly to right to put the Giants on the board.

A sacrifice fly is a good way for an offense that can’t score runs to get on the board, but it still felt cheap. Good thing Rafael Devers followed that up with a base-hit to right. Matt Chapman also singled to right, and when Jarred Kelenic tried to get Rafi at third, Chapman aggressively took second. Up came Daniel Susac, and he lined a base-hit to left to knock in a pair and make it 3-0. The Giants had a chance to blow it open after Eldridge got his second hit of the game, but Bader and Drew Gilbert were unable to come through.

Houser escaped a jam in the fourth, but go figure: after the Giants finally had a big inning to put a crooked number on the board, the White Sox came right back with three runs to tie the game in the top of the fifth. That knocked Houser out of the game, and Matt Gage was the man who had to get out of it with the game still tied.

As bad as this season has been for the Giants, the fans have packed into Oracle Park all year, and have shown tremendous passion for this team, from the boos for their failures, to the massive euphoric cheers of their big hits and wins. The Giants themselves have shown tremendous resilience despite their poor season thus far. We saw it when they came back from three separate two-run deficits to beat the Pirates on Mother’s Day. Even during Tuesday night’s game in Arizona, the players on the bench showed tremendous enthusiasm after the double plays that got them out of the seventh and eighth innings.

The Giants showed that same resilience Saturday in the bottom of the fifth. Okay, Willy Adames flew out to start the inning, but Adames got a base-hit, and Casey Schmitt hit a big home run to left to put the Giants back ahead. It was Schmitt’s tenth home run of what is starting to turn into a breakout season for him.

Saturday was a gorgeous day at Oracle Park, but as can happen with gorgeous days, the sun can be a real problem. Chapman came up with two outs, and hit a popup along the line in very-shallow left that neither third-baseman Miguel Vargas nor shortstop Colson Montgomery could come with.

The ball fell in, and Chapman legged out a double. Susac and Eldridge walked to load the bases, and Venable brought in Jordan Leasure to face Bader. Bader hit a high popup along the third base line, but that was also lost in the sun, and it fell foul. Bader then hit a grand slam just to the right of straightaway center to send this sold-out crowd of 40,172 into oblivion, and blow the game open 9-3.

It was Bader’s second grand slam just this week. Of course, he hit the grand slam on Sunday in Sacramento. Still, that hardly pales in comparison to Casey Schmitt’s grand slams on back-to-back nights at Dodger Stadium last June.

Willy Adames hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 10-3. The Giants’ bullpen handled the fort the rest of the way. Gage went an inning and a third, and Sam Hentges threw a scoreless top of the eighth. Joel Peguero gave up back-to-back base-hits to start the top of the ninth, but he induced a double play, and ended up throwing a scoreless inning.

Let’s be honest, Saturday was an exorcism for the Giants. They played the kind of baseball that we have all known they are very much capable of playing. The fact that the Giants are so capable is what has made this start so frustrating. Too many players on this team have tried to be the hero, and have refused to shorten their swings in crucial RBI situations.

That is the biggest reason things have gone the way they have this season. Call me crazy, but if the Giants can start playing consistent station-to-station baseball like this going forward, I honestly believe they will get back into contention this season. I mean, they clearly still want to do something special this season. That is obvious by the way they play. The only question is whether they can keep it up, going forward.

Now, for the formalities. Matt Gage got the win in what was his first appearance since giving up the walk-off on Tuesday. He needed this. Erick Fedde took the loss.

The Giants improve to 21-31.

As for Sunday, the Giants have a chance to take the series. Robbie Ray (3-6 ERA 4.28) will get a chance to move on from his disastrous start in Arizona on Monday, and will take the ball. Noah Schultz (2-3 ERA 4.93) will go for the South-Siders.

First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Jung Hoo Lee out on 10 day IL back injury; Giants suffer 4th inning nine set back against Sox

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee (51) is on the 10 day IL out with a back injury as of Fri May 22, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Giants have now lost four straight games and are 2-7 in their last nine games. The loss on Friday night to the Chicago White Sox was not much of encouragement allowing nine runs in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park.

#2 Talk about pitcher Trevor McDonald he had a great break in with the Giants when he was called up and looked in command on Friday night until that fourth inning when the White Sox saw the baseball as big as beach balls.

#3 Also in the fourth inning McDonald and reliever Ryan Boruki hit outfielder Sam Antonacci it was the first time Giants pitchers hit the same batter whether it was the same pitcher or different pitchers.

#4 The Giants third baseman Matt Chapman has four extra base hits in his last six games. Chapman is hitting .304 with a .863 over the last six games.

#5 Talk about today’s starting pitchers for the White Sox RHP Erick Fedde (0-4 ERA 4.30) for the Giants RHP Andrian Houser (2-4 ERA 5.25) first pitch 1:05pm PDT

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com