Tag: New York Yankees

San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello heads out of the dugout to make a pitching change in the top of the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sat Mar 28, 2026 (AP News photo)

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

New York Yankees 3 (3-0)

San Francisco Giants 1 (0-3)

Win: Jake Bird (1-0)

Loss: Tyler Mahle (0-1)

Save: David Bednar (2)

Time: 2:46

Attendance: 40,634

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Yankees have swept the Giants to open the season, as the Giants wasted three crucial opportunities, and the Yankees won 3-1, but hey, at least the Giants finally got their first run.

After being shut out in their first two games, I imagine a lot of Giants’ fans—well, at least this writer—didn’t have much faith that Saturday would be that much better. Though, I admit: the pregame performance by the Giants’ new mariachi band made things a little bit better at the beginning.

Tyler Mahle, who did not give up a single run over 10 innings during Spring Training, made the start, and his official Giants’ debut Saturday. Mahle survived a two-out triple by Cody Bellinger in the top of the first, and the Giants’ reshuffled lineup came up against Will Warren in the bottom of the first.

Warren retired the first two men he faced, but Luis Arraez, now in the three-hole in the lineup, singled over the mound. Rafael Devers then made a two-strike adjustment, and fisted a base-hit the other way to left. The Giants had runners at first and second for Heliot Ramos. Warren got out ahead to a 1-2 count, but Ramos started battling. Meanwhile, Arraez caught Ryan McMahon napping at third base, and stole third without a pitch. Ramos fouled off four two-strike pitches, and worked the count full. However, Warren got Ramos to go up the ladder on a high fastball—Reggie Sanders style—on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, and the Giants wasted a massive opportunity.

After the Giants wasted a big opportunity in the bottom of the first in the season opener on Wednesday, the Yankees responded with five runs in the top of the second. Thankfully, that would not be the case Saturday. However, the Yankees did score a pair of runs off Mahle in the top of the third on a two-out double by Ben Rice.

Some people wanted to attribute those two runs to Luis Arraez. Many people believed Arraez should have been able to get to Cody Bellinger’s a base-hit a batter before, which he dove for. Despite his impressive hitting abilities, Arraez is not exactly known for his defense, and that was definitely a risk in signing him. A lot of people are going to overreact to Arraez’s defense, but his work with Ron Washington has paid off. Me personally? I believe people are overreacting here.

Anyway, It looked like the Yankees were going to get a third run on a base-hit to left by Giancarlo Stanton, but Ramos cut Rice down at the plate with a great throw to end the inning. That gave the Giants some momentum going to the bottom of the third.

Jung Hoo Lee lined a double down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the third. Matt Chapman then lined a base-hit to left-center field, and at long last, the San Francisco Giants finally had their first run of the 2026 Season. That was the lone run the Giants would score in the bottom of the third, but hey, it’s a start!

Mahle was done after he threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fourth. Mahle had thrown 80 pitches, and there was every reason to believe that he could have gone out for another injury. With his injury history over the last couple of years, it’s understandable that Tony took him out. Mahle gave up the two runs in the third, and five hits. He walked one, and struck out five.

Ryan Borucki came in for the top of the fifth, and with two outs, Judge hit his second home run of the series—and season—to make it 3-1.

One thing I have noticed with Tony is that he seems to like to make pitching changes. Very Felipe Alou-esque. I guess that’s why the Giants gave him number 23. He certainly likes to get his relievers a lot of work. Matt Gage, Keaton Winn, Erik Miller, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker all pitched Saturday.

Though, the bullpen has been the biggest positive to start the season. They continued its nice start Saturday, as they gave up just a run and two hits over five innings.

The Giants wasted another massive opportunity in the bottom of the sixth, and then they would have one more opportunity in the bottom of the ninth.

Aaron Boone brought in his closer, David Bednar, for the bottom of the ninth. Ramos, who was truly the player of the game for the Giants today, used ABS to work a leadoff walk. Willy Adames finally got his first hit of the season with a single to left, and the Giants had runners at first and second with nobody out for Bader.

Well, let’s just say that Bader struck out, and that Patrick Bailey rolled over to second for a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

And there you have it, the Yankees have swept the Giants. By the way, the Yankees have swept the Giants in the last three series they have played here at Oracle Park. 2019, 2024 and now here in 2026.

Though, look on the bright side! The last time the Giants were swept to open the season was 2012 in Arizona, and they went on to win the World Series that year. Hey, good omen!!!

Seriously though, one run through the first three games is a brutal and embarrassing way to open the season. The guy we need to talk about here is Willy Adames. He is 1-for-11 with five strikeouts to open the season. I get that players go through their slumps, but Adames refuses to make two-strike adjustments. That has to change.

Jung Hoo Lee, Matt Chapman, Patrick Bailey and Casey Schmitt are also off to rough starts. Lee finally got his first hit today, but Bailey and Schmitt remain hitless.

Another thing I have noticed with Tony is that he is still in his college mindset. From his pitching changes, to his do-or-die intensity in the opening series of the year, the guy is having his inevitable growing pains. He is going to have to learn to adjust to the big leagues. As I said Friday, with the Giants’ struggling offense, their tough schedule and Tony’s growing pains, the first two weeks are not going to be pretty.

Jake Bird got the win; Tyler Mahle got the loss; and David Bednar picked up his second save.

Oh, and before I forget, the Giants out-hit the Yankees Saturday. There’s another positive.

The Giants have a day off Sunday they will spend Saturday night in San Diego after a late-night flight. Then, the Giants will start a three-game series against the Padres at Petco Park on Monday night. RHP Landen Roupp will make his Giants’ debut on Monday Roupp will be opposed by the Padres RHP Walker Buehler.

I will say this as a way to make us all feel better. The Yankees are just a good team. The Padres have been a mess. They are now on their fourth manager in the last seven years in Craig Stammen, and their bullpen has taken a big step back. Perhaps, the Giants can come out of San Diego with a win or two. We’ll just have to wait and see.

First pitch on Monday will be at 6:40 p.m.

New York Yankees Aaron Judge slugs a two run home run in the top of the sixth inning off San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Fri Mar 27, 2026 (AP News photo)

Friday, March 27, 2026

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

New York Yankees 3 (2-0)

San Francisco Giants 0 (0-2)

Win: Cam Schlittler (1-0)

Loss: Robbie Ray (0-1)

Save: David Bednar (1)

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 40,273

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–For the first time in the 143-year-plus history of the Giants, they have been shut out in both of their first two games of the season. Friday, the Yankees shut them out 3-0, and the Giants ended up with just one hit.

Friday was the official home opener for the Giants on another spectacular afternoon at Oracle Park. Jon Miller introduced the Giants’ starting lineup, as he has for so many years during the home opener. Jeff Kent, who will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his old manager, Dusty Baker.

It was another great pitching matchup with Robbie Ray going for the Giants, and Cam Schlittler going for the Yankees. Just as Webb did Wedesday night, Ray started things off with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning. Though, unlike Wednesday, the Giants were unable to waste an opportunity in the bottom of the first, as they went down 1-2-3 instead.

Ray survived a bit of a jam in the top of the second. The Giants, too, threatened, as Helliot Ramos hit a two-out double off the end of the bat, and down the right field line in the bottom of the second. Casey Schmitt was then jammed, and hit a fist-job popup to Jazz Chisholm at second to end the inning.

Well, that would turn out to be the only hit the Giants would get off Schlittler, and for the entire game as well. Schlittler struck out eight, and gave up just the one his over five and a thirdf innings.

Ray kept up for the most part. He gave three hits through the first five innings—two more than Schlittler.

Old Giants’ killer Paul Goldschmidt let off the top of the sixth with a double down the right field line. Up came Judge (0-for-7 on the season with five strikeouts), and he took out his frustrations with a towering blast down the left field line that just stayed fair and hooked around the foul pole to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead.

Ray was done after getting Cody Bellinger to ground out to second. Like Schlittler, Ray went five and a third, and didn’t walk anybody—yeah, I forgot to mention that earlier with Schlittler. Though, Ray gave up two runs and five hits, and he struck out four. Ray was solid, but he just could not get any offensive support.

With the way the Giants’ offense had been since the bell rang on Wednesday, you just knew that the game was pretty much over after Judge’s home run. Jose Butto came in to make his 2026 debut, and then Giancarlo Stanton decided to rub in everyone’s faces with a bomb half way up into the bleachers in left field.

Tony Vitello used Keaton Winn, JT Brubaker and Caleb Killan out of the bullpen in the season opener on Wednesday. Vitello used Butto, Erik Miller, Ryan Walker, Ryan Borucki and Matt Gage in relief Friday. With that, every single Giants’ reliever on the opening day roster has made their 2026 debut.

The positive we can take out of this one is that the Giants’ bullpen, which is their biggest achilles heal, has actually gotten off to a solid start in the first two games of the season. In seven and two thirds innings, the bullpen has given up just a run and four hits. They have walked five, and struck out nine. Hey, there’s a positive!

On March 29, 2019, in San Diego, the Giants were three outs away from being shut out in their first two games of that season. However, Evan Longoria let off the top of the ninth inning with a home run off Phil Maton. The Giants still lost 4-1.

Anyway, Matt Chapman didn’t want to be part of history. He fought off some two-strike pitches from Yankees’ closer David Bednar to draw a two-out walk in the bottom of the ninth, and keep the game going. Chapman then took second and third base on defensive indifference. Hey, as Dusty Baker used to say, “die hard, boys!” Well, Rafael Devers grounded out to second, and history was made.

However, this is not the first time the Giants have been shut out through their first 18 innings of the season. In 1909, the New York Giants lost their opener 3-0 to the Brooklyn Superbas at the Polo Grounds, and they were shutout through the first seven innings the next day.

The Giants also became the first team in Baseball history to be shutout and limited to five or fewer hits through their first two games of the season. Plain and simply, this is an embarrassing start to the 2026 Season for the Giants.

Who knows. Perhaps, Tony Vitello is still feeling some nerves. It certainly seems that way considering how intense his postgame press conference was. I trust Tony, but he has got to settle the nerves a bit.

Anyway, Cam Schlittler got the win; Robbie Ray took the tough hard-luck loss; and David Bednar picked up the save.

You guessed it, the Giants are 0-2.

Speaking of the Giants’ record, I am going to warn people right now that with the Giants first 13 games being against the Yankees, Padres, Mets and Phillies, don’t be surprised if they start off as bad as 3-10. Especially with how out of whack this offense is right now. Be ready, kids, because these first two weeks are not going to be pretty.

Hey, go out and get em Saturday! It will be the first Fiesta Gigantes of the regular season. We will get to see the Giants’ new colorful ‘Gigantes’ jerseys for the first time in the regular season, and we will get to see the Giants’ new mariachi band for the first time as well. See, there’s still stuff to look forward to in the midst of this rough start.

Tyler Mahle will make his Giants’ debut after not giving up a season run over four games and 10 innings during Spring Training. Will Warren will go for the Yankees.

Saturday is also a FOX game, so that means a 4:15 p.m. start time. Starters for New York (RHP) Will Warren for San Francisco (RHP) Tyler Mahle. See ya then, folks!

San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray was dealing in spring training agianst the Los Angeles Dodgers on Fri Feb 27, 2026 at Scottsdale Stadium. Ray makes his regular season debut Fri Mar 27, 2026 against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco. (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Giants came into Oracle Park with a seven game losing streak against the New York Yankees. The Giants in their meetings with the Yankees have been swept twice in three game series in 2019 and 2024.

#2 The last time the Giants defeated the Yankees was on June 24, 2007 7-2. How much do you see the Giants regrouping after getting knocked around Wednesday night?

#3 Stephen talk a little bit about today’s starter Robbie Ray who makes his season debut today. Ray was at one time 7-0 last season up until he got his first loss on May 31st. Ray no doubt a power pitcher and can go deep in innings pitched. He might be the best starter in the San Francisco rotation.

#4 The Giants had troubles hitting off Yankees starter Max Fried on Wednesday and will face right hander Cam Schiitter. Schlitter made his MLB debut last season and finished the campaing going 4-3 with a 2.65 ERA. Had a good spring going 2-0, with a 0.93. A good mix of pitches and can bring it. How do you see the Giants line up facing Schlitter today?

#5 It’s usually All Rise for the Judge but for Aaron Judge on opening night it was All sit down for the Judge as he struck out four times against Giants pitching.

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

One of the key players in the New York Yankees vs. San Francisco Giants series is the Yankees Aaron Judge (99) at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP file photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez:

#1 What makes the Yankees vs. Giants matchup on March 25, 2026, unique compared to other Opening Day games this season?

#2 Talk about today’s starting pitchers for the New York Yankees left hander Max Fried and for the Giants Logan Webb how do you see that match up.

#3 How does playing at Oracle Park influence the performance of both teams, especially hitters vs. pitchers?

#4 Which star players (like Aaron Judge or key Giants players) are expected to have the biggest impact in this Opening Night game?

#5 Can Giants team president Buster Posey live up to the expectations of getting a club together and get a competitve team on the field together.

Lincoln Juarez is a San Francisco Giants beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb gets the call to pitch the opener against the New York Yankees at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Wed Mar 25, 2026 (AP file photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 What makes the Yankees vs. Giants matchup on March 25, 2026, unique compared to other Opening Day games this season?

#2 Talk about today’s starting pitchers for the New York Yankees left hander Max Fried and for the Giants Logan Webb how do you see that match up.

#3 How does playing at Oracle Park influence the performance of both teams, especially hitters vs. pitchers?

#4 Which star players (like Aaron Judge or key Giants players) are expected to have the biggest impact in this Opening Night game?

#5 Can Giants team president Buster Posey live up to the expectations of getting a club together and get a competitve team on the field together.

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

By Vince Cestone

Photo credit: SF Bay News Lab San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee (51) slugs a three run fourth home run against the Monterrey Saltanes on Tue Mar 24, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants open the regular season on Wednesday evening, and they look ready to take on the New York Yankees at Oracle Park as they beat the Sultanes de Monterrey 8-2 on Tuesday night.

Landon Roupp, who was looking to bounce back from his poor start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 18, did just that. He threw 5 1/3 innings, giving up just four hits and two runs. He struck out six Sultanes batters but did walk three. Roupp figures to be the Giants’ fifth starter this season.

The Giants struck first in the fourth inning. After two walks, Giants’ outfielder Jung Hoo Lee launched a one-out, three-run homer against Sultanes pitcher Justus Sheffield that gave San Francisco a 3-0 lead. Lee is having a fantastic spring, hitting .455 (10-for-22), with a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.227 OPS.

The Sultanes answered back with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, left fielder Brayan Mendoza doubled in catcher Ricardo Genoves and center fielder Ismael Alcantra. That made the score 3-2 Giants. But the Giants got those runs right back the next inning.

Third baseman Christian Koss hit a little league home run to lead off the inning. Alcantra misplayed the ball in center, allowing Koss to come in and score. The play was scored as a triple and an error, giving the Giants a 4-2 lead.

Then, after a walk and a wild pitch, Jake Holton doubled in another run to make it 5-2 Giants.

San Francisco tacked on two more runs in the seventh inning when Victor Bericoto doubled in two runs, giving the Giants a 7-2 lead. Bericoto is having a fabulous spring, hitting .419 with a .422 on-base percentage and 1.120 OPS. He had three home runs and 14 RBIs in 43 at-bats this spring. Bericoto was recently optioned to the minor leagues, but he has certainly made an impression and could be back with the Giants very soon if he continues his hot hitting in the minors.

The Giants capped their scoring in the eighth inning, when Holton hit a two-out, RBI single to give the Giants an 8-2 lead. Holton went 2-for-3 on the night.

On the bullpen side for the Giants, Michael Fulmer and Blake Tidwell combined for 3 2/3 hitless innings and seven strikeouts. Tidwell had four strikeouts in two innings and closed out the game.

Up next, the Giants will open the season on Wednesday night against the Yankees at 5:05 p.m. at Oracle Park. Giants ace Logan Webb will be on the hill for the Giants against the Yankees’ Max Fried. The game will be televised exclusively on Netflix.