Former San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford addresses the crowd in his retirement speech at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Brandon Crawford Day Sat Apr 26, 2025 before the Giants hosted the Texas Rangers (AP News photo)
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Oracle Park
San Francisco, California
Texas Rangers 2 (15-12)
San Francisco Giants 3 (18-10)
Win: Ryan Walker (1-1)
Loss: Jacob Webb (2-1)
Time: 2:38
Attendance: 40,153
By Stephen Ruderman
Patrick Bailey capped off a festive and an exciting afternoon by sending everybody home happy with a pinch-hit walk-off base-hit to propel the Giants to a 3-2 win over Bruce Bochy’s Rangers on Brandon Crawford Day.
Even though the Giants and Rangers had a game Saturday, the only thing on anyone’s mind today was Brandon Crawford. Crawford, one of the greatest shortstops in Giants’ franchise history, and possibly the greatest shortstop in San Francisco Giants’ history, had his official retirement ceremony prior to the game.
Some of Crawford’s former teammates, including Buster Posey and Hunter Pence were there, as was his old manager, Bruce Bochy. Something tells me that having this ceremony when Bochy was in town with the Rangers was a calculated decision, and a good one at that.
Crawford, who is beginning to look the part of a retired ballplayer with noticeable gray whiskers, took to the podium and made his speech. Afterwards, Crawford threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Posey, who was in the squat behind home plate in his executive attire, and he and his family took a lap around the field.
There was of course the ballgame that was supposed to be played Saturday. The Rangers shut out the Giants in the series opener Friday night, and the Giants looked for some of the old mojo and vibes to lead them to victory Saturday.
It was also a matchup of two undefeated pitchers in Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle. Both pitchers came into today’s game with 3-0 records, though Ray’s ERA was substantially higher.
Both pitchers were slow to get their feet on the ground, Ray even more so. The Rangers plated a run off Ray in the top of the first inning, as Wyatt Langford doubled with one out; advanced to third base on an infield hit; and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jake Burger.
Mahle worked his way out of jams in the bottom of the first and second, and Ray somewhat settled down with a scoreless top of the second.
However, Ray ran into problems again in the top of the third. Well, it was really a problem, and that problem was former Giant and Willie Mac Award Winner Kevin Pillar, who played for Bochy in his final season at the helm of the Giants in 2019.
Pillar lined a base-hit to left field to start the inning. He then stole both second and third, and then he scored on the second sacrifice fly of the game by Burger.
Mahle pitched scoreless innings in the bottom of the third and the fourth. Ray got his first one, two, three inning of the day in the top of the fourth, and did the same in the top of the fifth.
Mahle had pitched four shutout innings, but he was far from dominant. He had yet to throw a one, two, three inning, as the pesky Giants did everything they could to get on the board.
The Giants would finally break through in the bottom of the fifth. Christian Koss started the inning with a base-hit to right, and Sam Huff got him over to third with a double. Mike Yastrzemski popped up to Nick Ahmed, another former Giant, at short for the first out, but Willie Adames lined a base-hit to left-center to knock in both runners and tie it.
Mahle ended up going five innings, while giving up two runs.
Robbie Ray, on the other hand, was in complete control. He threw another one, two, three inning in the sixth, and he ended up setting down 13-straight Rangers. Josh Smith broke the streak with a two-out base-hit in the top of the seventh, but Ahmed then flew out to end the inning and a really strong start for Ray.
In seven innings, Ray gave up two runs and five hits. He walked just one, and he struck out Ray. While neither pitcher got a decision in this one, Ray definitely won the battle of undefeated starting pitchers.
Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless top of the eighth, and this game sailed into the ninth. Neither team could get the lead back, and this game was going to be settled one way or another.
Ryan Walker was once again entrusted with the top of the ninth, but the Rangers pounced on him right away. Marcus Semien and Jonah Heim both singled, and Texas had runners on first and second to start the inning.
Walker was in trouble again, but he bore down. Kyle Higashioka attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Walker got him to pop out to the catcher, Sam Huff, in foul territory. Walker then struck out Josh Smith and Joc Pederson to get out of it unscathed and with the game still tied.
The Giants went to the bottom of the ninth in perfect position to win it, and you kinda just knew they were going to win it.
Jacob Webb, who finished the bottom of the eighth for the Rangers, was back out for the bottom of the ninth. The Giants wasted no time, as Heliot Ramos singled to center, and LaMonte Wade walked on four pitches. Unlike Higashioka, Christian Koss was able to get the sacrifice bunt down, as he got the runners over to second and third.
Bob Melvin then sent in Patrick Bailey to pinch-hit for Sam Huff. Bruce Bochy countered by bringing in the left-hander, Jacob Latz, to force the switch-hitting Bailey to hit right-handed. For Bailey it was no problem. Bailey took the first pitch, a changeup at the bottom of the knees, and flipped it out to right for a base-hit, and Ramos scored to win it.
It was the Giants’ fourth walk-off win of the season, as they improve to 18-10.
Ryan Walker was rewarded for his hard work and perseverance during this long week with the win. Jacob Webb took the loss for the Rangers. And yes, Robbie Ray and Tyler Mahle still remain undefeated at 3-0.
The Giants will try to win the series in the finale Sunday afternoon. Jordan Hicks (1-3, 6.59 ERA), who has had some rocky starts early on, will take the ball for the Giants. Jack Leiter (2-0, 0.90 ERA), the son of former major leaguer, Al Leiter, and the nephew of former Giant, Mark Leiter, will make the start for the Rangers.
First pitch will be at 1:05 p.m.
Giants News and Notes:
Saturday was also the fifth sellout for the Giants so far this season at Oracle Park. Since 2019, the most games the Giants have sold out in a single season at Oracle Park is 10, which they did in both 2022 and 2024.
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