San Francisco Giants #16 Rafael Devers hits a homerun (365 ft) to left field on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo credits to Jay Choi SF Bay News Lab)
By Michael Villanueva
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants have now lost back to back games in two days to the San Diego Padres. After Tuesday night’s loss, the Giants, again, dropped Wednesday afternoon’s game and the homestand to the Padres.
Although the Giants starting and losing pitcher, Adrian Houser, had one of his best starts as a Giant, San Francisco would lose to San Diego, 5-1. Thursday’s game was meaningful and special for the Giants regardless of the results, because Wednesday was Willie Mays 95th Birthday. Happy Birthday to the 12-time Gold Glove winner, two time MVP winner and 1954 World Series Champion.
Giants Adrian Houser had just thrown 73 pitches and got through six one-run innings. A solid start and performance the Giants needed, however their hitting would be a big factor on their loss. three hits in their own home park, the whole game, is a direction to a loss. Earlier in the season when Houser started the season, there was speculation on his performance, so to see a turn around from him this afternoon was great for the team and the fans.
At the start of the game there was solid pitching from both teams pitchers. Especially from the Padres and winning pitcher, Matt Waldron, who rang up seven strikeouts and just two hits allowed in the Padres win. It would go back and fourth all the way until the top of the fourth inning, when Padres, Gavin Sheets would get a homer to right field to the Padres on the board, 1-0.
An inning later, in the bottom of the fifth, Rafael Devers would get his third homerun of the season on a fly ball to left field. His homerun would get the Giants on the board, but it would be their only time they got to scoreboard. The score is tied, 1-1. However the San Francisco Giants would strikeout 13 times in this game, which showed both on how solid the Padres pitching was and how much the Giants are struggling on offense and hitting.
After Devers hitting sequence, the Padres would lock in and take over the afternoon in San Francisco. Going into the final stretch of the game, in the top of the seventh inning, Padres Ty France would hit a triple and bring in two runs with that hit. The score would jump to, 3-1, Padres holding the lead. Frances triple would be his second of the season.
Then again, just an inning later, the Padres weren’t done and would put up more runs. Padres Xander Bogaerts sent a 424 ft homer over the left field fence, his seventh of the season, and add second more runs to the Padres box sheet. With the score 5-1 the Giants had their backs on the wall. San Francisco would still have a chance for a comeback.
With just one inning left, the Padres knew what time it was. It was Miller time. Padres closer Mason Miller in one inning would put up two strikeouts to close the game. San Francisco has lost eight of nine and they’re now at their lowest record, 14-23 on the season. The win Wednesday would go to pitcher Padres Matt Waldron with seven strike outs, two hits, and one earned run. Also the losing pitcher would be Adrian Houser, three hits, one earned run, and three strikeouts.
The Giants will get a chance to rest Thursday, and get ready for their next series. The Giants will host the Pittsburgh Pirates starting on Friday, May 8th at 7:15 p.m at Oracle Park. San Francisco will send out starter LHP Robbie Ray (2-4, 2.95 ERA), and Pittsburgh will send out RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (2-2, 4.76 ERA). The game will be broadcasted on NBCS BA.











