Sacramento A’s game wrap: Wilson’s Blast Buys Extra Time but Vargas Cashes In As D-Backs edge A’s in 10 innings 6-5

Wilson’s Blast Buys Extra Time but Vargas Cashes In As D-Backs edge A’s in 10 innings 6-5

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Idemaro Vargas turns a double play while avoiding the sliding Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom (21) on a ball hit by the A’s Jonah Heim in the top of the third at Chase Field in Phoenix Tue Jul 22, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

Digging out of an early hole, the A’s finally reached level ground with two outs in the ninth, and even moved ahead in the tenth. One final answer from Arizona turned the comeback into a 6-5 loss when Ildemaro Vargas singled home Gabriel Moreno for the winning run.

Jack Perkins had barely settled on the mound when Arizona built a 3-0 lead. Ketel Marte drew a leadoff walk, Moreno singled with two outs, and Max Kepler drove a three-run homer to right-center. The opening inning had already been Perkins’ biggest trouble spot as a starter, with ten of his previous 24 runs allowed occurring in the first. Perkins recovered from there,allowing no more runs over his next four innings and giving the A’s enough time to work their way back.

That work began in the third. Lawrence Butler sent a grounder through the middle and raced to third for a triple, then scored when Alika Williams singled to right. Jacob Wilson was hit by a pitch and Tyler Soderstrom drew a walk, loading the bases with nobody out. It was the first major turning point, and Arizona starter Kohl Drake escaped it. Shea Langeliers lined to shortstop, and Jonah Heim grounded into a double play that held the score at 3-1.

Drake, making his major-league debut, limited the Athletics to that single run across five innings. Tommy White produced one of the few other threats with a fourth-inning single, one game after becoming the third player in Athletics history to record four hits within his first three major-league games.

Arizona added breathing room in the seventh without a hit. Geoff Hartlieb issued consecutive walks to Vargas and Jorge Barrosa, then threw a wild pitch that moved both runners. Marte followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Vargas for a 4-1 lead.

The Athletics answered in the eighth when Langeliers drove Ryan Thompson’s pitch over the wall in left-center. It was his 23rd homer of the season, continuing another power-heavy year for the All-Star catcher. Heim and White followed with singles, putting the tying runs aboard, but Jeff McNeil grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The ninth began quietly and nearly ended the same way. Paul Sewald retired Carlos Cortes and Butler, leaving the Athletics one out from defeat. Donovan Walton then lined a triple to center, and Wilson followed with a two-run homer to left that tied the game at 4-4. Wilson entered the game riding an eight-game hitting streak and carrying the third-longest errorless streak by a shortstop in major-league history. One swing had rescued the Athletics from the edge.

Soderstrom began the tenth at second and moved to third on Langeliers’ groundout. Heim lifted a sacrifice fly to center, giving the A’s their first lead at 5-4. Late production has been a regular part of Heim’s season, with 18 of his first 30 RBIs recorded in the seventh inning or later.

The lead did not survive the bottom half. Luis Medina inherited Corbin Carroll at second, then issued walks to Moreno and Kepler. Nolan Arenado singled to center to score Carroll and tie the game, keeping the bases loaded. Medina struck out Tim Tawa, but Vargas followed with a ground-ball single to left that brought Moreno home and ended it.

The Athletics had several reasons to admire the fight, especially after falling behind by three runs before recording a hit. They also had two painful missed chances: the bases-loaded opportunity with nobody out in the third and the two-on threat in the eighth. Those moments separated a stirring comeback victory from a defeat that took ten innings to settle.

The series finale will send rookie left-hander Gage Jump (3-5, 3.78 ERA, 56 strikeouts) against veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly (7-8, 5.20 ERA, 62 strikeouts), with first pitch set for 12:40 p.m. Pacific and a rubber game waiting to be claimed.

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. 

Sacramento A’s game wrap:McNeil’s Pinch Hit Turns the Desert Green in 5-2 A’s win

Sacramento A’s Jeff McNiel launches a two run seventh inning pinch hit home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Jul 20, 2026 (AP News photo)

McNeil’s Pinch Hit Turns the Desert Green in 5-2 A’s win

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 with contributions from the entire lineup. They got a rookie’s first home run, another blast from their steady shortstop, four hits from a newcomer, a veteran’s two-run pinch single and three scoreless innings from the bullpen. The result ended an eight-game road losing streak and a run of five straight defeats in series openers.

Joshua Kuroda-Grauer provided the first jolt in the second inning. The 23-year-old drove Mitch Bratt’s pitch 416 feet to left-center for his first major-league home run, giving the A’s a 1-0 lead. He later fought through a painful foul ball off his groin and finished the plate appearance with a single before leaving with a testicular contusion.

Kuroda-Grauer entered the game tied for the most hits by an Athletic through the first 15 games of a career. His two-hit performance gave him 25 through 16 games, matching Eddie Murphy’s franchise mark from 1912. It was another impressive chapter in a start that has made the rookie one of the brightest parts of a difficult summer.

Jacob Wilson doubled the advantage in the fifth, sending a solo home run to left-center for his sixth of the season. Wilson also handled every chance at shortstop, extending his errorless streak to 100 games. Between Kuroda-Grauer and Wilson, the left side of the Athletics’ infield supplied power, defense and a glimpse of what the club hopes to build around.

Jeffrey Springs protected the 2-0 lead through five innings. Arizona’s Nolan Arenado doubled in the fifth for the 2,000th hit of his career, but Springs stranded him. The Diamondbacks finally solved the left-hander in the sixth. Jorge Barrosa opened with a double, and Ketel Marte followed with a two-run homer that tied the game. Geraldo Perdomo added a bunt single, prompting Mark Kotsay to turn to Luis Medina.

The Athletics had already missed a major scoring chance in the top of the sixth. Tommy White and Alika Williams reached, Henry Bolte moved them over with a sacrifice bunt, but Perdomo threw White out at home on Wilson’s grounder. That wasted opportunity could have hung over the game. Instead, the A’s answered one inning later.

Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler began the seventh with singles against Kevin Ginkel. After Donovan Walton popped up a bunt and Jonah Heim struck out, White hit a ground ball back toward the mound. He was initially ruled out, which would have ended the inning, but a replay challenge overturned the call and loaded the bases.

That brought Jeff McNeil off the bench. He entered just 1-for-8 as a pinch hitter, while the Athletics’ pinch hitters had managed only one hit in their previous 23 at-bats. McNeil changed the math with one swing, lining a single to center that scored Langeliers and Butler for a 4-2 lead. He then stole second, and White scored on Ginkel’s wild pitch to make it 5-2.

White finished 4-for-5 in only his fourth major-league game, giving the Athletics a steady stream of traffic from the seventh spot. The A’s collected 15 hits, including 13 singles, and did enough with them to overcome 11 runners left on base.

Medina earned the victory after stopping Arizona’s sixth-inning threat and working through the seventh. José Suarez retired the side in order in the eighth, and Hogan Harris handled a two-runner ninth for his seventh save. Harris struck out Ildemaro Vargas and Arenado before an automatic-ball-strike challenge turned Ryan Waldschmidt’s apparent ball into the final strike.

Game 2 is set for 6:40 p.m Tuesday night. Pacific, with Jack Perkins (2-5, 6.87 ERA, 72 strikeouts) starting for the Athletics; Arizona had not officially named its pitcher as of publication, though Triple-A left-hander Kohl Drake (3-5, 6.92 ERA, 60 strikeouts) was reportedly in line for his major-league debut.

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.

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason: A’s can’t get past Nationals in 5-2 loss

Washington Nationals Dylan Crews is congratulated by teammates after hitting a top of the fifth inning home run against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Heatlh Park in West Sacramento on Sun Jul 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara, the visiting Washington Nationals rebounded on the Sunday after getting clobbered by the Sacramento A’s on Saturday. The Nats held on for a 5-2 win getting pitching from starter Frank Griffin who pitched seven innings allowing eight hits and one run.

#2 A’s starter Jacob Lopez went 4.1 innings allowing two hits and two runs and strike out six hitters, Lopez was releived by Elvis Alvarado who pitched two thirds allowing two hits and three earned runs, which accounted for a bulk of the Washington runs Sunday.

#3 Alvarado got tagged for two home runs by the Nationals in the top of the fifth inning when CJ Abrams hit a 422 foot two run home run giving the Nats a 4-1 lead. The Nats picked up an insurance run from Dylan Crews who hit 362 foot home run to left field making it 5-1.

#4 The A’s only offense came from Tyler Soderstrom when he hit a single to right field to score Alika Williams in the bottom of the third. Later the A’s would add their last run of the game in when Jacob Wilson singled to center scoring Jeff McNeil to make it 5-2 which would be the final.

#5 The A’s head to Arizona to open up a three game series with the Diamondbacks. Starting pitchers for Sacramento LHP Jeffrey Springs LHP (3-9 ERA 6.08) for Arizona LHP Mitch Bratt (0-0 ERA 6.00) first pitch 6:40pm PDT at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Barbara Mason filled in for Daniel Dullum on the Sacramento A’s podcast. Barbara usually podcasts A’s baseball Mondays 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. 

San Francisco Giants game wrap: Robbie Ray’s outing cut short after two errors, Mariners slug two home runs off Houser to win 6-3 and take series

San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray pitched four innings allowing seven hits and one earned run despite the effort the Giants took on a tough loss to the Seattle Mariners at T Mobile Park in Seattle on Sun Jul 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sunday, July 19, 2026

T-Mobile Park

Seattle, Washington

San Francisco Giants 3 (42-57)

Seattle Mariners 4 (50-50)

Win: Logan Gilbert (8-6)

Loss: Adrian Houser (2-7)

Save: Andres Munoz (17)

Time: 2:35

Attendance: 36,204

By Stephen Ruderman

SEATTLE–The Seattle Mariners beat the San Francisco Giants 6-3, thanks to a pinch-hit solo home run by Luke Raley, and a two run home run off the bat of Cole Young, to take the series in Seattle.

The Giants looked to bounce back after another rough loss Saturday evening. Despite Saturday’s loss, they still had a chance to take the series.

The weather has been as perfect as you can get here in Seattle over the weekend. It has been sunny with puffy clouds, and temperatures have not gotten above the low 70s, nor below the upper 50s. Sunday would be another spectacular day for baseball with the roof open at T-Mobile Park.

Logan Gilbert struck out Luis Arrez to open the game. Bryce Eldridge then hit a home run that just cleared the wall in left-center field. For Eldridge, it was his tenth home run of the season.

Casey Schmitt immediately followed up Eldridge’s home run with a base-hit to left, and then stole second base. Rafael Devers struck out for the second, but Heliot Ramos then hit a ground ball that found a hole into right-center for a base-hit. Schmitt scored, and it was 2-0 Giants.

Robbie Ray took the ball for the Giants. Ray, who pitched two seasons for the Mariners in 2022 and 2023, came into today’s game 4-0 in his previous five starts, with a 1.08 ERA. 

Ray retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the first inning, but Cole Young reached on an error by Casey Schmitt at third. Ray got Arozarena to fly out on what was a great sliding catch by Jung Hoo Lee, but Schmitt’s error made Ray have to throw six extra pitches.

Ray threw a quick and quiet bottom of the second. He then survived a two-out jam in the bottom of the third.

Ray would not be so lucky in the bottom of the fourth. Randy Arozarena led off, hit a ground ball into the hole on the left side. Schmitt came over to his left to get it, but he spun and threw the ball away, which allowed Arozarena to reach second. It was scored a two-base error, and it was Schmitt’s second error of the day.

Josh Naylor singled in Arozarena with one out to put the Mariners on the board. Naylor then stole second, and with two outs, Weston Wilson got a base-hit to knock in Naylor, and tie the game. 

It could have been worse. Colt Emerson got a base-hit, and J.P. Crawford walked to load the bases. Julio Rodriguez then flew out to right to end the inning.

With the fact that Arozarena reached on Schmitt’s air, and that Naylor scored with two outs, both runs were unearned.

Gilbert, meanwhile, retired ten straight batters after Ramos’ RBI base-hit in the top of the first. 

The Giants would have a response in the top of the fifth inning. Gilbert’s streak ended when Willy Adames led off the inning with a walk. Grand McCray then laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt softly along the third base line to move Adames over to second.

After Drew Cavanaugh struck out for the second out, Luis Arraez came up. Arraez had uncharacteristically struck out in his first two at-bats. In fact, it was the first time in over two years, since July 3, 2024, that Arraez had struck out twice in a game.

Of course Arraez had to come through to prove it was a fluke, and that is indeed what he did. Arraez lined a double off the end of the bat down the left field line, and the Giants retook the lead.

Unfortunately, the Giants’ lead would be short lived. Cole Young led off the bottom of the fifth with a base-hit, and then Randy Arozarena lined a base-hit the other way to right to put runners at the corners with nobody out.

That would do it for Ray, who had thrown 86 pitches. Sam Hentges came in, and got Cal Raleigh to ground into a double play, but Young scored to re-tie the game at 3-3. 

As for Ray, he had a decent start. He went four-plus innings, and gave up five hits and three runs, with just one of them earned. He walked two, and struck out six.

“I thought he was good,” said Vitello. “Robbie’s about as consistent as you could ever ask out of a pitcher. [He] had to deal with a little bit of adversity. Towards the end, whether it’s an accurate assessment or not, [the] pitch count climbs in a shorter amount of innings or time, and [he] also had to work through a lot of stuff.”

Gilbert closed out his day with a one, two, three top of the sixth. Gilbert went six innings, and gave up four hits and three runs. He walked just one, and struck out ten.

Adrian Houser came in for the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Luke Raley pinch-hit for Wilson, and hit a home run to right-center field to give the Mariners their first lead of the day.

It was Raley’s second-career pinch-hit home run. The other came on Aug. 16, 2023 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays against, you guessed it, the Giants.

Cole Young hit a two-run opposite-field shot to right off Houser in the bottom of the seventh to make it 6-3. Houser came back out for the eighth, and survived another jam.

Eduard Bazardo pitched a scoreless top of the seventh for the Mariners. Left-hander Sape Speier did the same in the top of the eighth.

Andres Munoz, who goes by the nickname of “Senior Smoke,” threw a one, two, three top of the ninth to close it out.

Logan Gilbert was rewarded for his ten strikeout performance with the win. Adrian Houser took the loss, but you have to hand it to him, as he did save the bullpen from being taxed, going into what is going to be a hot and humid three-game series in Kansas City. Andres Munoz got the save.

The Giants fall back to 15 games under .500 at 42-57. The Mariners improve to .500 at 50-50, and are now just a half game behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West. The Rangers lost to the Atlanta Braves 8-5 in Cobb County.

The Giants will now head from the beautiful and mile confines of Seattle to the hot and humid climate of Kansas City to take on the Kansas City Royals for a three-game series, and 2014 World Series rematch.

“Right now is a bad day,” said Votello. “Pouting on the flight isn’t going to change anything, so you do what you do on the flight: play cards, take a nap, whatever; and then when we land, it’s go time against the Royals.”

RHP Trevor McDonald (3-7, 5.02 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants starting pitcher for the RHP Royals Michael Wacha (5-7 ERA 3.77). Speaking of 2014, Wacha, who gave up the National League Pennant-winning home run to Travis Ishikawa as a St. Louis Cardinal. Yup, Michael Wacha is still around, folks.

First pitch from Kauffman stadium will be at 6:40 p.m. CDT, and 4:40 p.m. PDT back home in San Francisco.

Giants News and Notes:

  • The Giants have reportedly signed their first-round draft pick, right-handed pitcher Jackson Flora. The signing bonus is rumored to be $7,997,500.

Flora was selected out of UC Santa Barbara, where he pitched three seasons. He was 12-0 this season, and led D1 with a 1.06 ERA. He also struck out 133.

Flora, who is 21 years old, of course grew up a Giants’ fan during the Championship Era.

  • The Giants also signed their third-round draft pick, outfielder Peyton Bonds, the nephew of Barry Bonds. Bonds’ deal is worth around $887,000. 

Bonds, who was drafted out of Rutgers, can hit for both contact and power, and is a solid center-fielder.

Sacramento A’s game wrap: A’s Offense Sputters As Nationals Take Series Winning Game Three 5-2

Sacramento A’s starting pitcher Jacob Lopez deals to the Washington Nationals line up in the first inning at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun Jul 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Washington Nationals (50-50) had the A’s number in game one of their series severely beating them down 23-4 Friday followed by the Athletics (42-57) getting some outstanding payback in game two winning that game 15-1 on Saturday.

On Sunday it all came down to game three that would decide the winner of this series. It was a bit of an up and down game for starting pitcher Jacob Lopez. He was relieved by Elvis Alvarado who gave up two back-to-back home runs for three runs and the Nationals had a 5-1 lead.

Prior to those home runs the A’s were looking at a 2-1 deficit that was manageable but that all came to an end when the Nationals extended their lead to 5-1. While the Athletics did have 11 hits in this game and the Nationals only seven.

The two home runs were the deciding factor in Sunday’s National win along with the A’s inability to string together hits. They have only won one series this season at home another huge disappointment after sitting atop the division for quite a while earlier this season.

GAME RECAP

Going into this game three the series was up for grabs. After a couple of exciting offensive competitions both teams were eyeing a win in the final game of the series. A’s starter Lopez got the first out of the game but went on to walk the next two at bats.

25 pitches later Lopez got out of the inning leaving the two runners stranded. Jacob Wilson got a single in the bottom of the first but 13 pitches later the Nationals Foster Griffin closed out the inning.

The Athletics retired the Nationals in the top of the second as did Washington leaving one runner Colby Thomas stranded going into the top of the third inning.

The Nationals were first up on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Nasim Nunez scored on a Curtis Mead ground out taking a 1-0 lead. It was a very brief lead for the Nationals. The Athletics tied up the game in the bottom of the inning when Tyler Soderstrom singled Alika Williams home and this game was knotted at 1-1 after three innings.

The Nationals took back the lead in the top of the fourth when Harry Ford doubled Dylan Crews home for a 2-1 advantage. Ford hit the ball deep into left field and Soderstrom could not round it up for the easy Washington run.

Lopez hit a second batter in the inning but got out of the inning leaving two runners stranded only giving up the one run. The Nationals retired the Athletics three and out in the bottom of the fourth.

It all came apart in the top of the fifth inning when the Nationals picked A’s relief pitcher Elvis Alvarado apart hitting a couple of back-to-back home runs. The first a two run home run off the bat of CJ Abrams with Curtis Mead on base for a 4-2 lead. Dylan Crews hit a solo home run to finish off the top of the inning with the Nationals leading 5-1.

Henry Bolte had singled to start off the bottom of the inning, the only hit of the inning for the A’s.

The A’s Brady Basso came in to relieve Alvarado in the top of the sixth inning. Despite a throwing error from Joshua Kuroda-Grauer he got the A’s out of the sixth inning. Shea Langeliers doubled to start off the bottom of the sixth but there was not much else going on for Sacramento going into the seventh inning. The A’s had a lot of ground to make up and not much time to do it.

The Nationals went three and out in the top of the eighth. The A’s would face relief pitcher Tom Cosgrove in the bottom of the eighth inning who only lasted 2/3 of an inning after giving up back-to-back singles to Jonah Heim and Josua Kuroda-Grauer. He was relieved by Clayton Beeter after giving up the two singles. Beeter got the job done and the A’s were down to their last three outs.

The Athletics Geoff Hartlieb came into the bottom of the ninth inning looking for some sort of rally. While the A’s were able to score a run in the ninth that would be all from Sacramento. Wilson singled Jeff McNeil home for the one run. The final was 5-2 in favor of the Nationals.

GAME NOTES

The Nationals clearly took advantage of scoring opportunities. They were more effective with runners on base while the Athletics had a lot of trouble delivering timely hits. The A’s did struggle on the mound.

Lopez has been inconsistent this season and the Nationals this season have been able to capitalize when they have runners aboard. It was Alvarado who did the most damage in this game however.

A huge reason for the Nationals win in this game was starting pitcher Foster Griffin who has been one of Washington’s most reliable pitchers and he made it extremely difficult for the Athletics lineup to string together any sort of rally. It was another disappointing loss for the Athletics coming out of the all-star game.

Lopez took the mound in this game with a 4-3 win/loss record and a 6.83 ERA. He favored the slider to start the game and held fairly steady through four innings. He was relieved by Alvarado who gave up back-to-back home runs for three National runs in the fifth inning. Lopez pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing two hits, two earned runs, two walks with six strikeouts.

The Athletics faced the Nationals starter Foster Griffin with a solid 10-2 win/loss record and a 2.77 ERA. He had a solid showing pitching seven innings allowing eight hits, ine earned run, one walk and two strikeouts.

Monday the Athletics will head to Arizona for a three-game series with the Diamondbacks. Sacramento’s pitcher for the series will be Jeffrey Springs. He has a 3-9 win/loss record and a 6.08 ERA.

The Diamondbacks will probably start Mitch Bratt a newly acquired young left-handed pitcher. His two starts this season only went three innings so the win/loss decision went to the bullpen. He has no win/loss record so far this season but has a 6.00 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:40 PM.

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 Win First Game Over Diamondbacks This Season 6-4

San Francisco Giants starter Trevor McDonald allowed only one hit over six innings pitched against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Jul 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The first four innings of this game was a good old fashion pitchers duel until the San Francisco Giants broke through scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Both starting pitchers Trevor McDonald for the Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen were terrific through the fourth inning.

The Giants broke through in the fifth inning with a couple of home runs one from Heliot Ramos and a second off the bat of Victor Bericoto. In the very next inning San Francisco scored three more runs taking a 6-0 lead into the top of the eighth inning. The Giants had finally beaten the Arizona Diamondbacks this season despite a very shaky eighth inning that saw the Diamondbacks score four runs. The final was 6-4 in favor of San Francisco.

GAME RECAP

The first four innings of this game was a pitchers duel with the Giants Trevor McDonald and Arizona’s Zac Gallen putting on quite a show. McDonald gave up one single through the four innings and Gallen also gave up one hit. They were both terrific until it came to the fifth inning.

San Francisco turned the entire game around in the top of the fifth inning. Heliot Ramos got the Giants on the scoreboard with a home run to center taking a 1-0 lead. This was his sixth home run this season. Victor Bericoto came to the plate and hit a 2-run home run his fourth of the season and San Francisco had taken a 3-0 lead.

The Giants would double their lead in the top of the sixth inning scoring three more runs. Heliot Ramos tripled Rafael Devers home for the first run of the inning. Jung Hoo Lee singled Ramos home for the second run and they capped the inning off with a Drew Cavanaugh single that drove Lee home. It had been another tremendous inning for San Francisco now leading 6-0.

The Giants had kept the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard through seven innings but that all came to an end in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was a very sloppy inning for San Francisco.

Arizona cut the Giants lead significantly starting with a Pavin Smith single that drove Nolan Arenado home for the first run. Ketel Marte doubled and TommyTroy scored on a throwing error by shortstop Christian Koss followed by another run scored by Smith cutting the Giants lead in half.

Arizona would score a fourth run with Marte scoring on a Corbin Carroll ground out. Koss would have a second error in the inning. It had been a tough one for relief pitchers Ryan Walker and Dylan Smith giving up four runs in the inning. Arizona had new life now only trailing by two runs 6-4

Going into the bottom of the ninth inning the Diamondbacks were now three outs away from losing this game. Despite a forgettable eighth inning San Francisco held on to beat the Diamondbacks 6-4 a winner over Arizona for the first time this year.

GAME NOTES

This had been a much better start for the San Francisco Giants (36-50). In the first two games of this series Arizona (43-43) had scored early never allowing the Giants to take the lead until Wednesday night. The Giants had 11 hits in the game, the Diamondbacks seven.

The two home runs in the fifth inning off the bats of Heliot Ramos and Drew Bericoto turned this game around. San Francisco added three more runs in the sixth inning but they let the Diamondbacks back in the game in the bottom of the eighth inning giving up hits along with some ugly errors by shortstop Christian Koss. San Francisco was able to hang on to beat Arizona for the first time this season 6-4 avoiding the sweep.

San Francisco starting pitcher Tyler McDonald had a terrific game. He pitched six innings allowing only one hit with five strikeouts. He was spectacular. Arizona starter Zac Gallen also had a nice start through four innings before it all went south in the fifth inning.

San Francisco will now head to Colorado for their next series with the Rockies that gets underway this Friday. Probable on the mound for the Giants will be Logan Webb. He has a 5-5 win/loss record and a 3.09 ERA. The Rockies are right now undecided as to who will take the mound on Friday night. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 5:10 PM.

Barbara Mason is a San Francisco Giants road reporter for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Diamondbacks Dominate In Game Two Beating Giants 8-2

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman bare hands a bouncing ball this would be his last play before leaving the game with abdominal pain against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Center in Phoenix on Tue Jun 30, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Once again, the Arizona Diamondbacks (43-42) got a jump on the San Francisco Giants (35-50) taking an early first inning lead. Monday night it was 1-0 after Ketel Marte hit a solo homer and Tuesday night another home run for Arizona in the opening inning but this one embellished with two runners on base.

The Diamondbacks Lourdes Gurriel Jr. homered with Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno on base taking a quick 3-0 lead. Arizona was not finished scoring three more runs in the third inning putting the Giants behind the eight ball trailing by the score of 6-0. When the dust had settled the Diamondbacks had won game two 8-2.

GAME RECAP

The Arizona Diamondbacks had much the same start as they did in Monday’s game one. In fact they bettered their first inning start in Monday’s game with yet another home run, this one a three run shot taking a 3-0 lead. This was not the start that San Francisco was looking for.

The Giants went three and out in the second inning and despite a triple from Luis Arraez in the third inning San Francisco was still looking for their first run of the game. The Giants wanted to keep the Diamondbacks from doing any further damage that would make a comeback even more overwhelming. It didn’t go the Giants way and in the bottom of the third Arizona put three more runs up on the scoreboard taking a 6-0 lead.

San Francisco starting pitcher Landen Roupp had a rough inning giving up three singles and two walks. After almost three inning there was a pitching change for the Giants. Adrian Houser came in to relieve Roupp. In a very tough outing Roupp went 2 2/3 innings allowing five hits, six earned runs, six walks with four strikeouts. Houser got San Francisco out of the third inning.

There was not much offense for either team in the fourth and fifth innings. It was getter much later in the game with the Giants still trailing 6-0. San Francisco desperately needed to break through and get up on the scoreboard.

The first run of the game for the Giants came in the top of the sixth off the bat of Luis Arraez. They had a long way to go and not a lot of time to do it but they were finally on the scoreboard 6-1.

Not to be outdone, the Diamondbacks scored another run in the bottom of the sixth. Ketel Marte had his second home run of the series scoring his first in the first inning of yesterday’s game. Trailing 7-1 San Francisco would need a huge comeback and only three innings left to do it in.

The Diamondbacks allowed a Rafael Devers solo home run in the top of the seventh but still led 7-2. Time was running out for San Francisco. Their offense remained stagnant with only four hits through seven innings while the Diamondbacks had eight and would finish with ten hits.

San Francisco went three and out in the top of the eighth inning. Arizona would finish off the game with yet another run in the bottom of the eighth. San Francisco was now down to their final three outs. There would be no rally in the top of the ninth for the Giants losing the second game of the series. Wednesday the Giants would be playing to avoid a sweep.

GAME NOTES

This was a frustrating loss for San Francisco. They could not generate much offense the entire evening. They lost Matt Chapman in the sixth inning who exited the game with an abdominal strain.

There was not much that went right for San Francisco in game two. It was an awful game for Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp. He could not find the strike zone lasting only 2 2/3 innings allowing six earned runs while issuing six walks.

When you give a lineup that many free baserunners it’s tough to recover. The Diamondbacks took full advantage of every San Francisco mistake. They were patient at the plate forcing Roupp into deep counts following that with timely hits.

The three run home run to start the game by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. gave the Diamondbacks all the confidence they would need. Ketel Marte also remained red hot hitting his fourth home run in the past four games. The Diamondbacks have had San Francisco’s number all season executing better in every phase, pitching, timely hitting and taking advantage of Giants mistakes.

Wednesday’s game three will get underway with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 PM. San Francisco will be playing to avoid a sweep. The Giants have already lost eight games to the Diamondbacks without a single win this season.

Trevor McDonald will start for the Giants looking to win their first game against Arizona this season. He has a 2-6 win/loss record and a 4.94 ERA. The Diamondbacks will start Zac Gallen. He comes into this game with a 3-7 win/loss record and a 6.15 ERA .

Diamondbacks Fight Off Giants Rally In Ninth Inning Winning Game One 5-4

Arizona Diamondbacks Geraldo Perdomo (right) hits a three run double as San Francisco Giants catcher Eric Haase reaches for the ball in the last of the fifth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Jun 29, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Arizona Diamondbacks (42-42) and Eduardo Rodriguez proved to be too hot to handle for the San Francisco Giants (35-49) in the first game of their three game series. He pitched for seven innings allowing five hits but only one earned run improving his ERA to 2.21. The Giants attempted a rally in the top of the ninth inning but came up short losing the game 5-4.

Game recap: The Diamondbacks got going early taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Ketel Marte hit a solo home run to right field, his 15th of the season. It took awhile but San Francisco was able to tie up this game in the top of the fifth inning 1-1.

Victor Bericoto got the rally going first with a double and then reaching third base when Eric Haase grounded out to first. Jonah Cox grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out but Bericoto scored to even the game at one apiece.

The bottom of the fifth inning must have seemed unending for San Francisco. A couple of walks and a single later, the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded with only one out. Geraldo Perdomo doubled bringing Nolan Arenado, Ketel Marte and Tommy Troy home giving Arizona a 4-1 lead.

It was time for a pitching change and Sam Hentges relieved Mahle who had pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing four hits, four earned runs, three walks with three strikeouts. Hentges lasted for only 1/3 of an inning allowing one hit and two walks. He was relieved by JT Brubaker who closed out the bottom of the inning.

This had so far been a difficult start for San Francisco. From the opening Arizona home run to the lengthy bottom of the fifth inning, the Giants were really struggling. Their biggest challenge so far in the game had been left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. The Giants had not been able to generate much offense early with this guy on the mound.

The Diamondbacks would tack on another run in the bottom of the sixth with their second home run of the game taking a 5-1 lead. This one off the bat of Nolan Arenado, his eighth home run of the season and so far Arizona was in command of this game and showing no signs of letting up.

With two San Francisco runners on base and one out in the top of the eighth inning, there was action in the Arizona bullpen. Casey Schmitt sacrifice flied to center for the second out but Drew Gilbert scored with Luis Arraez moving over to third base.

There was a pitching change for Arizona with Kevin Ginkel relieving Rodriguez who finished seven innings allowing five hits, one run and one strikeout. Ginkel pitched 2/3 of an inning before being relieved by Brandyn Garcia who closed out the inning.

The game went into the top of the ninth inning with the Giants trailing 5-2. Heliot Ramos led off the inning with a solo home run cutting the Diamondbacks lead to 5-3 followed by a Bryce Eldridge single.

Drew Cavanaugh singled Eldridge home and we had a one-run ball game with only one out. Unfortunately Drew Gilbert fouled out and Matt Chapman popped out and that was the ball game. The Giants forged a great rally but came up just short losing the game 5-4.

San Francisco rallied in the top of the ninth inning but came up just short. It all started with Arizona starting pitcher Rodriguez who kept the Giants’ hitters off balance and limited their scoring opportunities for most of the game.

The Diamondbacks set the tone with the Marte leadoff home run giving Arizona an advantage. The Giants offense never really produced a sustained rally until the ninth inning. They didn’t string together enough quality at-bats with runners on base until that final inning.

Game notes: The Giants came into Monday night’s game on a high after winning their last two series against the Atlanta Braves. They took a series off the Sacramento Athletics to start the past week followed by a series win over the weekend against the number one team in the National League East, the Braves.

The Giants started Tyler Mahle who went 4.1 innings allowing four hits and four earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts. Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven innings allowing five hits, one earned run and one strikeout.

San Francisco will be looking to even up this series Tuesday in game two. The Giants probable starting pitcher will be Landen Roupp. He has a 5-7 win/loss record and a 4.07 ERA. The Diamondbacks will start Brandon Pfaadt. He has a 0-1 win/loss record and a 5.92 ERA. First pitch for game two is scheduled for another 6:40 PM start.

San Francisco Giants report: Giants schedule doubleheader against Diamondbacks at Oracle Park on Sat Aug. 29 with day off Sun Aug 30th

The San Francisco Giants and Jung Hoo Lee will celebrate Lee’s Bobblehead day before the first game of a doubleheader on Sat Aug 29th at Oracle Park in San Francisco (photo by RP to Win and X)

San Francisco Giants report: Giants schedule doubleheader against Diamondbacks at Oracle Park on Sat Aug. 29 with a day off Sun Aug 30

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–To accommodate the Giants’ makeup game against the Atlanta Braves in Cobb County on Aug. 31, the Giants have moved their series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park from Aug. 30 to a day-night doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 29.

As collectively bargained between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players’ Association, teams may not be scheduled to play more than 21-straight days, and may not be scheduled to play in the Eastern Time Zone a day after playing in the Pacific Time Zone. With the Giants’ makeup game scheduled against the Braves in Cobb County on Aug. 31, that violated both rules, as the Giants would have been forced to play for 23-straight days.

The first game of the doubleheader against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 29, which was originally scheduled as the series finale on Aug. 30, will begin at 1:05 p.m. Tickets for the originally-scheduled series finale will be valid for the first game. Jung Hoo Lee bobbleheads, which were set to be handed out to the first 15,000 fans on Aug. 30, will instead be handed out to the first 15,000 fans for the first game of the doubleheader on Aug. 29.

The second game will remain in its originally-scheduled 7:05 slot, as will the ceremony to honor Jeff Kent, who will be a month removed from his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 26. 

All fans will be asked to leave Oracle Park following the first game. Fans with tickets to both games will be permitted to re-enter the park when the gates open for the second game.

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants reporter and podccaster at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Giants Chapman gets social media hate mail “I hope your family dies”; Reds De La Cruz on the IL with hamstring strain; plus more news

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (26) wears a hat as part of Armed Forces Day before the game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman is foregoing social media after receiving hate mail one of the worst ones a fan who wrote “I hope your family dies.” Chapman said “People always threaten us. I just block and move on. I don’t make a big deal out of it, but it’s definitely not a good thing. I would never do such a thing to anyone.” Chapman added.

#2 The Cincinnati Reds have placed star shortstop Elly De La Cruz on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Can Cincinnati remain competitive during his absence, and what impact will the call-up of top prospect Edwin Arroyo have on the club?

#3 The NL West race is heating up. Are the Los Angeles Dodgers still clear favorites despite pitching concerns, or do the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks have a realistic path to overtaking them?

#4 Major League Baseball’s labor negotiations are becoming a major off-field story. How concerned should fans be about the possibility of a work stoppage in 2027, and what would a salary cap proposal mean for the sport’s competitive balance?

#5 Former Boston Red Sox and Hall of Famer David Big Pappi Ortiz says that Sox owner John Henry is concerned about the way the Sox are heading who are in last place. “He’s worried. We had a conversation. I can see. I’ve known John a long time, him and the whole team — him and (chairman) Tom Werner, the whole group, they’re working on figuring things out to get this ride better,” Ortiz said Monday morning in an interview with The Associated Press.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

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