SF Giants game wrap: A Strange Turn and a Quiet Finish as O’s defeat Giants 6-2 at Camden Yard

San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb grimaces after the Baltimore Orioles went to work on him. Webb’s line six innings, five hits, four runs, three walks, and six strikeouts at Camden Yard in Baltimore on Sat Apr 11, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Mauricio Segura

The Giants did not get blown off the field, which may have made this one even more irritating. For a while, they looked steady, sharp, and very much in position to keep their good stretch rolling. Heliot Ramos drove in a run in the second inning with a two-out single, then brought home another with a groundout in the fourth. That gave San Francisco both of its runs, and it briefly felt like the club had enough control to push this game in its own direction.

Instead, the offense stalled, the rhythm slipped, and a contest that was still within reach turned into a 6-2 loss. Ramos finished with two hits and both RBI, but the Giants could not find the extra swing that might have changed the shape of the game. Their three-game winning streak ended, and what started as a manageable afternoon slowly turned into one that felt like sand slipping through their fingers.

Logan Webb was not terrible, but he was not sharp enough to survive Baltimore’s growing pressure. He worked six innings, gave up five hits, and allowed four runs. That line tells part of the story, but not all of it. Webb had moments where he looked like the pitcher the Giants trust to settle a game and keep a lead in place.

He also had stretches where Baltimore forced him to pitch from a less comfortable spot. Gunnar Henderson tied the score with a run-scoring groundout early, then pushed the Orioles ahead with a solo homer in the third. Webb kept battling after that, yet the game never quite settled back down for him. When an ace is even a little off, good teams keep poking until something opens. That is exactly what happened here. Webb was not shelled, but he spent too much of the game reacting instead of dictating, and that usually means trouble.

The fourth inning was where the whole thing got weird, and the weirdness mattered. Ramos had just tied the game at 2-2, which should have given the Giants a clean reset. Instead, Baltimore answered with a messy, maddening sequence that seemed to suck the air out of San Francisco’s dugout.

On a ground ball to second, runner Dylan Beavers tried to leap over Luis Arraez and kicked him in the hand. Beavers was ruled out for interference, but because the play was called dead immediately, the batter remained safe at first even though Arraez still completed the throw in time.

That is the sort of baseball rule that can make perfectly sane people want to yell at a wall. The inning continued, Leody Taveras later scored, and the Orioles added two runs in all. Arraez stayed in briefly, got a hit in the fifth, then exited with a right wrist contusion. X-rays were negative, but the moment itself felt like more than a fluke. It changed the tone of the game and left the Giants chasing it.

San Francisco had chances after that, which is what keeps this loss from being dismissed as one of those days when nothing was possible. Things were possible. The Giants simply did not cash in often enough. Chris Bassitt, who had struggled badly in his first two starts of the season, lasted only 4 2/3 innings, allowed seven hits, and threw 89 pitches.

That should have been an opening. Instead, Baltimore’s bullpen slammed the door. The Giants stranded men in scoring position in the fifth and eighth innings and finished 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. That stat is the kind that tells the truth without needing any decoration.

Seven hits against a starter who was still trying to find himself should have created more damage than two runs. It did not. San Francisco got traffic, but not traffic with purpose. The lineup kept knocking, but nobody came through with the big swing or the sharp line drive that could flip the game back.

Baltimore, meanwhile, got exactly the kind of production the Giants could not match. Jeremiah Jackson was the loudest problem in the room. He finished a triple short of the cycle, doubled home a run in the fourth, and later homered to add breathing room.

Henderson’s solo shot set the tone, Colton Cowser chipped in two hits, and Coby Mayo drove in two runs, first on a forceout and then with a single in the eighth. None of it looked accidental. The Orioles kept stacking useful at-bats, even while dealing with roster trouble.

Adley Rutschman had gone on the injured list with left ankle inflammation before the game, and Ryan Mountcastle exited early with left foot pain, but Baltimore still found enough offense to control the second half of the contest. For the Giants, that part stings too. They were not beaten by a club running at full strength and firing on all cylinders. They were beaten by a team that adapted faster and finished cleaner.

The Giants were not hopeless. They were not lifeless. They just were not good enough in the moments that decide games between capable teams. Ramos did his job. Webb battled. Arraez kept playing through pain until he could not.

But the lineup let a shaky starter escape, the defense got dragged into a bizarre turning point, and the bullpen could not keep the margin frozen long enough for a comeback. Games like this are annoying because they tease you with possibility before shutting the door. The Giants can walk away saying they were in it, and that is true. They also have to admit they left too much unfinished.

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 game wrap: A’s on fire win 4th in a row; Sac’s Soderstrom connects for two home runs in 11-6 win

Sacramento A’s Tyler Soderstrom is thrilled after hitting a three run home run against the New York Mets in the top of the eighth inning at Citi Field in New York on Sat Apr 11, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The Sacramento Athletics beat the New York Mets, 11-6, to clinch the series victory at Citi Field on Saturday evening and notch their fourth straight win of the season.

Tyler Soderstrom hit two home runs and drove in five runs, and the A’s tagged Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga for a career-high seven runs over a career-low 2.1 innings. In the final stretch of their six-game road trip in the New York City area, the A’s have emerged a different team.

“Obviously we’re playing really good baseball against really good teams. We knew the first two weeks of our season were going to be a challenge with the teams that we were facing,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “Right now we’ve got a chance to obviously sweep a series in New York, which, you know, it says a lot about the team and the confidence that they have.”

Bo Bichette singled on a line drive to center fielder Denzel Clarke and Luis Robert Jr. scored, putting the Mets up 1-0 in the first inning.

In the second, Clarke walked and Jacob Wilson scored, tying the game. Lawrence Butler grounded into a force out, fielded by second baseman Marcus Semien, and Jeff McNeil scored, giving the A’s a 2-1 lead.

Tyler Soderstrom hit a home run on a fly ball to right center field and Shea Langeliers scored.

“It’s good to get the first one out of the way and then just keep rolling,” said Soderstrom.

Then Carlos Cortes hit a home run on a fly ball to right center field and Jacob Wilson and McNeil scored, expanding the A’s lead to 7-1. It was his first homer of the season.

Cortes said the key to his success was “always preparing like I’m going to play, even if I know I’m not going to play.”

In the fifth inning, Bichette homered on a fly ball to right field and Francisco Lindor scored, cutting the Mets’ lead to 7-3.

The umpire reviewed a home run in the sixth inning and the call on the field was overturned, and Francisco Alvarez’s fly ball to center field put the Mets within three runs of the A’s. Bretty Baty hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Clarke and Carson Benge scored, and the Mets trailed 7-5.

In the seventh inning, Jorge Polanco hit a home run on a fly ball to right field, putting the Mets within one.

Langeliers in the eighth singled on a ground ball to Benge and Clarke scored, putting the A’s up 8-6. Soderstrom homered on a fly ball to right center field and Nick Kurtz and Langeliers scored, putting the A’s on top 11-6.

“The guys swang the at-bats really well, I mean, what a day for both Sodi and Cortes. You know, big hit by Lang there in the eighth, keep the inning going,” Kotsay said. “So offensively we took some great at-bats against some good pitching today and the results were there.”

New York (7-8) dropped a season-high four consecutive games. The A’s have won five of their last six games at Citi Field.

In the series finale on Sunday, A’s right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale (1-0 ERA 2.70) will face Mets right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta (1-0 ERA 4.80). First pitch is at 10:40 a.m. PT at Citi Field.

Sacramento A’s game wrap: A’s get second straight shutout beat Mets 4-0; Sac’s third win in a row

Former New York Met and current Sacramento A’s infielder Jeff McNeil swings for a fourth inning double against his old team the Mets at Citi Field in New York on Fri Apr 10, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK. — The Sacramento Athletics shut out the New York Mets 4-0 in the first game of the three-game series at Citi Field on Friday night, a day after shutting out the Yankees and taking that series.

Jeff McNeil delivered two hits in his first game against his former team, including a single that drove in one of three runs in the ninth. The Mets prepared a video tribute for McNeil, who called it “awesome” and the standing ovation “great,” and also admitted he “felt a little choked up out there.”

“I just tried to collect myself, you know, it was kind of nice when the first at-bat was over. It was like, alright, let’s just go and play some baseball,” said McNeil. “That’s kind of what this whole day was too. It was a super special day, but got through it, and now we just get to go play baseball.”

In the third inning, Shea Langeliers singled on a line drive to right fielder Brett Baty and Carlos Cortes scored, putting the A’s up 1-0.

In the ninth, McNeil singled on line drive to left fielder Carson Benge and Jacob Wilson scored, giving the A’s a 2-0 lead. Then Denzel Clarke singled on a ground ball to center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and Zack Gelof and Max Muncy scored, making it 4-0.

A’s starting pitcher JT Ginn threw a season-high four innings and notched his second scoreless outing of the season.

“It feels good to go out there and do my job today, you know, whatever role they need me to do, I’m ready to get the ball and go,” said Ginn.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay complimented the team’s “awesome job tonight,” including key contributions from the bullpen.

“For our offense to add on like we talked about, we felt good about our chances to add on this season, and it came together tonight,” said Kotsay.

The game marked the first time the A’s have recorded shutouts in consecutive road games since July 29 and 30, 2021.

The A’s (6-7) are 5-2 in their last seven games. The Mets (7-7) suffered their first loss of an opener in a home series this season.

In game two of the series, A’s left-handed pitcher Jacob Lopez (0-1 ERA 6.48) will face Mets right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga (0-1 ERA 3.09). First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. PT. on Saturday.

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. 

Casey Schmitt Leads Giants To Win Over Baltimore 6-3; SF picks up third straight win

San Francisco Giants Willy Adames slugs a third inning home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Fri Apr 10, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Baltimore Orioles (6-7) had a late game rally but came up short losing to the San Francisco Giants (6-8) 6-3. The Giants went into the ninth inning leading 6-1 but an Oriole home run off the bat of Gunnar Henderson for two runs made this game a bit closer but with two outs the Henderson homer made little difference when Adley Rutschman popped out for the third out. He left a runner stranded on second. Casey Schmitt led the Giants with three hits and the team put together 12 hits in the game.

Game recap: The Giants scored first to start the game but it did not come until the third inning. Willy Adames hit a solo home run for the early 1-0 San Francisco lead. The fourth inning was productive for both teams although more so for the Giants. Heliot Ramos singled Casey Schmitt home to extend the San Francisco lead to 2-0 followed by more work from Adames, a double, driving Ramos home taking a 3-0 lead. The Orioles would get up on the scoreboard in the same inning but continue to trail 3-1. Leody Taveras doubled Dylan Beavers home for the single run.

The Giants put the game pretty much on ice in the seventh inning scoring three more runs taking a 6-1 lead into the ninth inning. Schmitt doubled Matt Chapman home followed by a Jung Hoo Lee home run with Schmitt on base.

Landon Roupp pitched through six innings allowing five hits, one earned run, two walks with four strikeouts. He was relieved by Keaton Wynn who pitched a flawless seventh inning. In the eighth inning JT Brubaker took the mound but after walking two runners he was relieved after 2/3’s of an inning by Matt Gage. With the score remaining 6-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning Blade Tidwell closed out the game for the Giants.

The Orioles scored twice in the ninth inning Henderson homered to right with Jeremiah Jackson on board for the two runs. It was just too little too late for Baltimore. The Giants finished the game with 12 hits with Schmitt hitting three of them. Adames, Chapman and Lee each had two hits. Some great hitting as well as solid pitching all contributed to this win.

Game notes: Friday evening the Giants began a three- game series with the Orioles in Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards. San Francisco came off a series win over the Phillies. They won two games of the three game series winning Wednesday afternoon 5-0 for their second consecutive shutout against the Phillies, in fact, the Phillies have not won a series in San Francisco since 2013.

In that game Rafael Devers was the difference-maker hitting a home run driving in four runs for the win in game three. Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray was on the mound getting the shutout.

Friday night Giants starter Landen Roupp pitched six innings, five hits, one earned run, two walks and five strike outs., For Orioles starter Shane Baz went five innings, nine hits, allowed three runs, two walks and four strikeouts.

First pitch for game two of this series is scheduled for 4:15 PM Saturday night. Logan Webb will take the mound for the Giants with a 1-1 win/loss record and a 5.00 ERA. The Orioles will start Chris Bassitt with a 0-2 win/loss record and a 14.21 ERA.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: This Baseball star is in Five Halls of Fame

Martin “El Immortal” Dihigo who played in the Negro Leagues and is in five separate Hall of Fames is the focus of That’s Amaury News and Commentary (photo from Cooperstown Expert)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: This Baseball star is in Five Halls of Fame

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Martin Dihigo “El Immortal,” also known as “El Maestro,” born in Cuba (1906-1971), a legendary star and Negro League player, has been inducted into five (5) separate baseball halls of fame: Cuba, México, the United States, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. Also in the United States, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1958 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The five Hall of Fames are the most in history for a baseball player.

Dihigo is arguably the greatest Negro League player. He played all nine positions and was a standout pitcher and hitter. He managed the New York Cubans of the Negro Leagues from 1935 to 1936. The New York Cubans were founded by fellow Cuban Alejandro Pompez; the team featured Cuban and Latin American players of African descent. The New York Cubans won their only Negro League World Series championship in 1947. Led by manager Josá Maria Fernández and stars like Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso and Luis Tiant Sr., they defeated the Cleveland Buckeyes four games to one (with one tie) to secure the title. 

One of the most incredible seasons for any professional baseball player in history was in 1938 in the Mexican League; Martin Dihigo won the Triple Crown as a pitcher in victories, strikeouts, and earned-run average. Then, that same season, as a hitter won the batting title with a .387 average. He did all that with the Aguila de Veracruz. In one game in México, On August 5, 1939, he struck out 22 batters during a 13-inning game, wearing the uniform of the Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz.

Dihigo retired at 45 years of age and died of heart trouble in Cienfuegos, Cuba, on May 20, 1971. He was 65 years old. He died on Cuba’s Independence Day.  May 20, 1902, is Cuba’s Independence Day from Spain.

 Before Shohei Ohtani, Cubans revered Martín Dihigo as the first true two-way player who dominated as both a pitcher and a batter in the professional league

Historical Note: The first documented, official baseball game in Cuba took place on December 27, 1874, at the Palmar de Junco field in Pueblo Nuevo, Matanzas. Habana defeated Matanzas 51–9 in a seven-inning match. The field is considered the cradle of Cuban baseball and the world’s oldest active stadium.

Quote: Orestres Miñoso (All-Star): “He was a big man, but he was big in all ways, as a player, as a manager, as a teacher, as a man”.

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

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

Sacramento A’s report: A’s Springs loses no hit bid in 7th blank Yanks 1-0

Sacramento A’s pitcher Jefferey Springs takes aim on the New York Yankees lineup in the first inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Wed Apr 9, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK.— Sacramento Athletics starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning in a 1-0 win over the New York Yankees on Thursday afternoon – their first series victory at Yankee Stadium in a decade.

The game was runless until the seventh, when Tyler Soderstrom singled on a sharp line drive to right fielder Aaron Judge and Max Muncy scored, putting the A’s up 1-0.

Springs did not allow a hit from 22 batters before giving up a single to Ben Rice in the seventh. Afterward, he said that he “honestly didn’t realize it was the seventh inning already.”

“I was an inning behind for some reason,” said Springs. “Obviously was trying to get one out, two out, three outs and then reset and do it again. Yeah, obviously trying to be efficient, trying to get quick outs and go as deep as possible in the game and then you know you look up and it’s seven innings.”

A’s manager Mark Kotsay complimented “another great quality start from Jeff” and said he “mixed pitches really well today.” He added that Springs is “just a different guy from last year” and “feeling really confident right now.”

Springs and relief pitchers Justin Sterner and Hogan Harris combined for the team’s first shutout of the season.

“To come into New York – it was a tough game, first game of the series – and to fight these two games and come out with the series win, again I think these guys are really coming together as a group and it’s showing out there on the field right now,” Kotsay said.

A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz said: “It’s kind of what we came in here to do… We started the year not great and we knew what we could do and I feel like now we’re showing it.”

Brent Rooker was injured on a first-inning swing and left with back pain. He said he was feeling “alright” with some soreness and tightness on his right side and will undergo further imaging on Friday.

The Athletics (4-7) are 2-1 in their six-game road trip that continues with a three-game series against the New York Mets (7-5) starting on Friday. The A’s named RHP JT Ginn (0-0 ERA 5.14) who will face Mets right-handed pitcher RHP Clay Holmes (2-0 ERA 1.42). First pitch at Citi Field is at 4:10 p.m. PT.

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: A’s come back to edge Yanks 3-2 to even series in the Bronx

Sacramento A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (23) congratulates pitcher Jon Kuhnel (right) after defeating the New York Yankees in the bottom of the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Wed Apr 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK.—The Sacramento Athletics rallied to beat the New York Yankees 3-2 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night and tied the three-game series.

Brent Rooker hit a sacrifice fly off David Bednar that sealed the game for the A’s after four innings of a 2-2 tied score.

In the first inning, Cody Bellinger singled on a fly ball to left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and Trent Grisham scored, putting the Yankees up 1-0.

Then Shea Langeliers challenged a pitch result and the call on the field was confirmed, allowing J.C. Escarra to walk and Aaron Judge to score, and boosting New York up 2-0.

In the fourth inning, Jeff McNeil singled on a ground ball to Bellinger and Lawrence Butler scored, and the A’s trailed the Yankees 2-1. On a wild pitch by WIll Warren, Max Muncy scored and tied the game 2-2.

In the ninth, Rooker went out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Trent Grisham and Nick Kurtz scored, giving Oakland the win.

A’s starting pitcher Luis Severino in his third start of the season allowed two runs in five innings without recording a decision.

“I know I got the stuff to go through a good lineup, so I decided to fight, go out there against a great lineup, a team that has been in the playoffs many years, so I’m happy,” said Severino.

Right-handed pitcher Joel Kuhnel tossed a perfect ninth and recorded his first save of the season, which was his first since 2022. Kuhnel didn’t make the Opening Day roster but was called up on Tuesday and said he felt “really relaxed, honestly.”

“Coming up, just really felt at home,” he said. “No weird first-day jitters because I was around a bunch of guys I didn’t know. So, I felt really good and really relaxed.”

A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Kuhnel: “He’s only got one save in his career, and to come in that moment there with a one-run lead and get three outs, it says a lot about just the grind that he’s put in to get back here in the big leagues.”

Kotsay added that the bullpen “did a great job.”

The A’s (4-7) are 1-1 in their six-game road trip which will continue in the Bronx on Thursday. First pitch for their last game of the series against the Yankees (8-2) is at 10:35 a.m PDT. Sacramento’s LHP Jeffrey Springs (1-0 ERA 2.38) will face New York’s LHP Ryan Weathers (0-0, ERA 4.30).

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. 

SF Giants game wrap: Back-to-back shutouts nets Giants series win over Phillies; SF’s Mahle blanks Phils 5-0 at Oracle Wednesday

San Francisco Giants Rafael Devers slugs an RBI single agianst the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom eighth at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Apr 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Philadelphia Phillies 0 (6-6)

San Francisco Giants 5 (5-8)

Win: Matt Gage (1-0)

Loss: Aaron Nola (1-1)

Time: 2:29

Attendance: 36,106

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–After the Giants’ bullpen blew late leads on Sunday and Monday, the Giants shut out the Phillies in back-to-back games to get a massive series win against one of the best teams in Baseball. Wednesday, Tyler Mahle and the Giants’ bullpen shut out the Phillies 5-0.

The Giants suffered a devastating loss to open the series Monday night, as the bullpen blew a 4-0 lead, and the offense only got two hits in the final five innings of the game. They then bounced back nicely Tuesday night with a big 6-0 win behind a strong start by Robbie Ray. I get that it was only April 7, and that there is really no such thing as a must-win game this time of the year, but the Giants truly needed that win last night.

Tyler Mahle took the ball on another gorgeous day at Oracle Park, and survived a jam in the top of the first inning. Aaron Nola went for the Phillies, and the game quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel.

Mahle wasn’t dominant, as he had to work out of another jam in the top of the third, but he was still solid, as he gave up just three hits over five and two-thirds shutout innings. Nola, on the other hand, was dominant, though he had to work through a jam in the bottom of the fourth.

The Giants had runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom of the sixth for Rafael Devers. To be honest, I didn’t have much faith that Devers would come through. He froze like a statue on a fastball right on the inside corner in the bottom of the fourth, and grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the bottom of the fourth. Just before I was able to tell Sportstalk podcaster Bruce Magowan, who was sitting next to me in the press box, that Devers would pop up all over himself, he hit a three-run home run to straightaway center.

Now, it was up to the Giants’ bullpen to hold the lead. Matt Gage, who finished the top of the sixth, was back out for the seventh. Gage retired the first man he faced, but after Otto Kemp lined a pinch-hit single to right, Tony pulled Gage for Caleb Kilian.

I didn’t particularly like the move, and when Kilian walked Trea Turner on four pitches to get Schwarber up to the plate as the tying run, I was certain that we would see a Schwar-bomb end up somewhere in the South Bay. I was already wrong about Devers in the sixth. Much to my pleasant surprise, Schwarber struck out, and Harper grounded out to second. Kilian did his job. The inning was over, and the shutout was still intact.

Blade Tidwell threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the eighth, and the Giants tacked on two more runs against Jose Alvarado in the bottom of the eighth. Erik Miller was the guy for the top of the ninth, and he threw a 1-2-3 inning to close it out.

Matt Gage got his first big league win, and Aaron Nola took the loss.

The Giants improve to 5-8, and considering the fact that I expected them to be 3-10 after these first two weeks, I am ecstatic.

The Giants will now head back on the road for a three-city swing through Baltimore, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C. I have no clue why they are going to another metropolitan area in between their two series in the Beltway. I have tried making my own Major League Baseball schedules in the past, but it is one of the most difficult jigsaw puzzles to solve.

Anyway, the Giants begin a three-game series against the Orioles at Camden Yards on Friday. RHP Landen Roupp (1-1 ERA 4.22) will go for the Giants, and RHP Shane Baz (0-0 ERA 4.09) will go for the Orioles.

First pitch will be at 7:15 p.m EDT. in Baltimore, 4:15 p.m PDT in San Francisco

Headline Sports podcast Bruce MacGowan: Taking a look at the progress of Giants manager Tony Vitello

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello is all smiles after defeating the New York Mets at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Thu Apr 2, 2026. (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Bruce MacGowan:

#1 Talk about Tony Vitello Giants manager and how he’s getting things worked out since that rather tough first week he had to start off the season.

#2 Bruce goes over the line up card for the Giants and how he disagreed with the order of the line up.

#3 NL West one of the tougest in baseball next to the Eastern Division in the American League.

#4 The Giants have a big questions in their bullpen whose ever heard of Ryan Boruki?

#5 Bruce, when the Giants traded Mike Yastrzemski, Camilio Doval and Tyler Rogers did that take part of the soul of the Giants when that deal went down last season?

Bruce MacGowan is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Ray pitching with a lot of consistancy for SF

San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray had a great outing pitching shutout ball for six plus innings giving up three hits and seven strikeouts against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park in San Francisco Wed Apr 8, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Giants got a pitching performance once again from starter Robbie Ray who went 6.2 innings, three hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts in the Giants shutout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

#2 It seems like when Ray is starting a lot of the guys really perform a little extra behind Ray not to say they don’t that for the other starters.

#3 Talk about how concerned manager Tony Vitello is about the starting rotation and the bullpen?

#4 Also talk about the bullpen and with Ryan Boruki, Erik Miller, Matt Gage, JT Brubaker, Caleb Killan, Blade Tidwell, Keaton Winn and Ryan Walker.

#5 Matt Chapman and Willy Adames has swung the bat better. They’ve swinging hitting the ball the opposite way which they have been doing constantly which they need to be doing,

Stephen Ruderman is a San Francisco Giants staff writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com