Tag: San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez: Buster says bullpen will improve over time; Critics say two months should show some flashes

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San Francisco Giants team president Buster Posey said the Giants bullpen will get better over time during a local San Francisco radio interview on Thu May 21, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez:

#1 San Francisco Giants president Buster Posey says that not signing Edwin Diaz is a hypothetical wish and he is satisfied with who he has in the bullpen.

#2 Posey said that the Giants have some guys in the bullpen with good stuff but the results say otherwise the Giants are just hovering over last place by one game over the Colorado Rockies in the NL West and have lost six of their last ten and got shellacked by the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-2 on Monday and swept in a three game series the rest of the way.

#3 Posey says Keaton Winn and Caleb Killan is throwing the ball great this year and that the bullpen needs some time and that the Giants will have to see what they turn into. Is the ciritcs and the media’s confidence in Posey starting to show cracks.

#4 Posey said he has no regrets not only signing the following players Diaz who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three years for $69M, Devin Williams signed with the New York Mets for three years at $51M, and Robert Suarez signed a $45 M deal with the Atlanta Braves for three years, $45M and the Baltimore Orioles signed Ryan Helsley for two years for $28M.

#5 Posey said that he doesn’t regret not signing those high priced bullpen artists “Do we think the cost-benefit of signing this guy is worth it?’ And we didn’t see it, so no, I don’t regret it.”

Lincoln Juarez does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Fridays at http://www.sporsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman: Posey says a no signing Diaz move was not regrettable; Says give it time for bullpen to improve

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Los Angeles Dodgers releiver Edwin Diaz who is on the shelf for three months due to an elbow injury was the prized sought relief pitcher the Giants didn’t consider in the off season (AP file photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 San Francisco Giants president Buster Posey says that not signing Edwin Diaz is a hypothetical wish and he is satisfied with who he has in the bullpen.

#2 Posey said that the Giants have some guys in the bullpen with good stuff but the results say otherwise the Giants are just hovering over last place by one game over the Colorado Rockies in the NL West and have lost six of their last ten and got shellacked by the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-2 on Monday and swept in a three game series the rest of the way.

#3 Posey says Keaton Winn and Caleb Killan is throwing the ball great this year and that the bullpen needs some time and that the Giants will have to see what they turn into. Is the ciritcs and the media’s confidence in Posey starting to show cracks.

#4 Posey said he has no regrets not only signing the following players Diaz who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three years for $69M, Devin Williams signed with the New York Mets for three years at $51M, and Robert Suarez signed a $45 M deal with the Atlanta Braves for three years, $45M and the Baltimore Orioles signed Ryan Helsley for two years for $28M.

#5 Posey said that he doesn’t regret not signing those high priced bullpen artists “Do we think the cost-benefit of signing this guy is worth it?’ And we didn’t see it, so no, I don’t regret it.”

Stephen Ruderman does the San Francisco Giants podcasts at http://www.sporsradioservice.com

Giants Swept In Forgettable Series vs Diamondbacks 6-3

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyller Mahle sits in the dugout in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenx on Wed May 20, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It had been a disappointing series for the San Francisco Giants (20-23) Giants going into game three. The Arizona Diamondbacks (25-23) went on to hand San Francisco a series sweep this afternoon. San Francisco was crushed in the first game12-2, then a walk-off in the second game and today a game dominated by Arizona.

Every time the Giants took the lead in this one the Diamondbacks answered back either tying up the game or taking the lead which they continued to extend. The final was 6-3, the Giants are looking forward to a day off Thursday before heading into their next series.

Game recap: San Francisco started off the game with a Casey Schmitt home run in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead. The Giants have scored early in this series and they have had some outstanding defensive plays especially in Tuesday night’s game but despite that they have been outplayed. The San Francisco lead did not last long. Perdomo sacrificed, Marte scored and this game was tied 1-1.

The Giants broke the tie taking back the lead in the second inning. Bryce Eldridge doubled Matt Chapman home and San Francisco had a 2-1 lead. Arizona pushed right back and took their first lead of the game in the third inning. Again it was Ketel Marte in on the action hitting a home run with Ryan Waldschmidt on base giving the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead in this see-saw game.

The way this game was playing out, it was no surprise when the Giants tied up the game in the fourth inning. Drew Gilbert singled driving base runner Chapman home for the 3-3 tie.

With the game tied the Diamondbacks went out and had a solid fifth inning scoring thre runs and taking a 6-3 lead. Ildemaro Vargas set up the first run grounding out and Tim Tawa scored for a 4-3 tally.

Two more runs would score in the fifth. Geraldo Perdomo doubled both Marte and Waldschmidt home taking a 6-3 lead into the sixth inning. Through seven innings both teams had 8 hits apiece as well as one home run each.

Arizona would hang onto the 6-3 lead going into the top of the ninth inning and the Giants were down to their last three outs. Bryce Eldridge and Daniel Susac both flied out and Harrison Bader struck out and that was the ball game. The final was 6-3 in favor of Arizona; San Francisco had been swept and fell 10 games below five hundred.

Giants starting pitcher Tyler Mahle finished the game going five innings and allowing 8 hits, 6 runs with 6 strikeouts. Relief pitchers Keaton Winn, Sam Hentges, and Joel Peguero all came in putting a stop to the Arizona scoring. They all had great outings.

Game notes: Everything was pointing to a tied up series on Tuesday night as game two went into the ninth inning with two outs. The Giants had led the game 3-1 through the top of the ninth inning. Their opponent the Diamondbacks had scored one run in the first inning but went scoreless through seven innings.

San Francisco was one out away from the win. That’s when Ketel Marte stepped up to the plate with two runners on base and knocked the ball out of the park; a three-run home run for the 5-3 walk-off. It was a huge blow for the Giants. The Giants ended up getting swept on Wednesday.

San Francisco will have the day Thursday to hopefully re-group. They are just struggling with inconsistency at the plate again. This was a forgettable series for the Giants. They will head into another series that gets underway at home on Friday night taking on the Chicago White Sox.

First pitch for that game is scheduled for 7:15 PM. Trevor McDonald will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 2-0 win/loss record and a 2:37 ERA. The White Sox probable pitcher will be Davis Martin. He has impressive stats with a 6-1 win/loss record and a 1.61 ERA.

Diamondbacks Shock San Francisco Winning Game Two In a Walk-Off 5-3

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Keaton Winn is fired up after getting the last out in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue May 19, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

While the back-to-back home runs were exciting it was the sensational San Francisco (20-29) defense that almost put this game on ice. The Giants took the lead in the second inning with back-to-back solo home runs off the bats of Rafael Devers and Willy Adames but this had to be one of the best defensive games the Giants have played this season.

San Francisco fought off back-to-back bases loaded situations in the seventh and eighth innings. When victory was so very close with two outs in the ninth inning disaster struck when Ketel Marte hit a home run with two runners on base for the walk-off 5-3 (24-23) taking the series lead 2-0.

Game recap: The Diamondbacks got an early start scoring in the bottom of the first taking a 1-0 lead. San Francisco put Arizona on notice in the second inning with a flurry of hits. They tied up the game when Rafael Devers hit the first home run, a solo shot. The Devers long ball was followed by a Willy Adames home run giving the Giants a 2-1 lead. The Giants had more up their sleeve. Matt Chapman singled and a Daniel Susac double brought Chapman home extending their lead to 3-1. It had been the perfect start for San Francisco.

Both teams put on the brakes in the third and fourth innings, in fact neither team would score going into the bottom of the eighth inning. The Giants had a single in the third and a walk in the fourth inning. The Diamondbacks went three and out in both innings.

San Francisco got going in the top of the fifth via a Casey Schmitt single followed by a Devers double with two outs. Adames grounded out to end the top of the inning and the Giants had stranded a pair. Arizona had a couple of singles in the bottom of the inning but also left them stranded, the score remaining 3-1 in favor of San Francisco.

In the top of the sixth inning the Giants again stranded a pair. Daniel Susac had his second hit of the game and Chapman had walked. An insurance run or two would be what the Giants would be looking for in the latter innings. The Diamondbacks were hitting some rockets but the San Francisco defense was handling those hits pretty easily.

The Giants went three and out in the top of the seventh. After the seventh inning stretch, the Diamondbacks started off the bottom of the inning with a Nolan Arenado double followed by a Ildemaro Vargas single and Arizona had runners at the corners with no outs.

Giants pitcher Keaton Winn would load the bases with only one out. Once again the Giants came up with an amazing double play and the San Francisco defense continued to dominate. Arizona couldn’t get anything past them.

Going into the top of the eighth inning this game had seen five scoreless innings for both teams. It was the San Francisco defense that was holding onto the 3-1 lead. All the damage in the game had been done back in the second inning.

Again Arizona loaded the bases with only one out and San Francisco was facing another challenge. The Giants would be looking to Caleb Kilian to get out of this mess. Again San Francisco would turn the double play and get out of the inning.

The Giants would go three and out in the ninth. They were three outs away from tying the series. San Francisco got the first two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Diamondbacks continued to fight scoring a run in the ninth.

With Ildemaro Vargas on base Adrian Del Castillo singled and it was a one run game 3-2. Arizona had a 2 out, 2 on situation. With Jose Fernandez and Ryan Waldschmidt on base Ketel Marte hit a home run and the Diamondbacks had the walk-off 5-3. San Francisco fought so hard in this game making this loss a tough one.

San Francisco starting pitcher finished the game going six innings allowing seven hits, one run, no walks and three strikeouts. Relief pitcher Keaton Winn got the GIants out of the bases loaded situation in the seventh inning and together Erik Miller and Caleb Kilian would get out of another bases loaded in the eighth. It just fell apart in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Game notes: The Giants came into Chase Field last night brimming with confidence after winning a series over the weekend against the Athletics. They were however treated with a dose of their own medicine losing the first game of the series with the Diamondbacks by a landslide 12-2 on Monday night.

San Francisco could not get much going at the plate finishing the game with eight hits but only the two runs. The Diamondbacks were hitting lights out with 16 hits and the 12 runs. Tuesday night San Francisco will be tried to get back in the series by winning game two but lost on a walk off three run home run by Ketel Marte in the last of the ninth with two out.

Wednesday the Giants will try to avoid a sweep after the disheartening walk-off win for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night. Tyler Mahle will take the mound for the Giants. His win/loss record is 1-5 and his ERa 5.59. Arizona will start Merrill Kelly coming into the game with a 3-3 win/loss record and a 5.91 ERA. First pitch for game three is scheduled to start at 3:40 PM.

Giants Trounced By Diamondbacks In First Game of Series 12-2

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San Francisco Giant Casey Schmitt (10) strikes out against Arizona Diamondbacks pitching as the Giants get blown out in a 12-2 laugher at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon May 18, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The damage done by the Arizona Diamondbacks (23-23) in the first five innings of today’s game one with the San Francisco Giants (20-28) spelled the difference in the Giants 12-2 loss Monday night. The Diamondbacks scored seven runs in the first three innings of the game and they pretty much coasted for the rest of the game. The Giants only had eight hits to Arizona’s 16.

Game recap: The Diamondbacks started off this game on one crazy roll. They had taken a series from the Colorado Rockies over the weekend and they were brimming with confidence.

They had a productive first inning scoring four runs and they did it via a grand slam. Nolan Arenado homered with Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo on base for a quick 4-0 lead to start the game. San Francisco got out of the inning before more damage could be done. The Giants had gone three and out in the top of the inning.

The Giants were able to score in the top of the second when Willy Adames homered and San Francisco was on the scoreboard with a lot of ball still to be played. They would need some quick innings; they would need to keep Arizona from extending their lead.

A couple of walks and a triple later the Diamondbacks would indeed extend their lead to 5-1. Ryan Waldschmidt walked and then stole second base. He then advanced to third base on a throwing error by San Francisco catcher Eric Haase. Corbin Carroll tripled and Arizona had scored yet another run.

The Giants got going in the top of third with a Harrison Bader double and then a Jung Hoo Lee single got Bader to scoring position at third base. Luis Arraez hit a sacrifice and Bader scored adding another run but San Francisco was still trailing by a bit 5-2.

Every time the Giants even hinted at a comeback, the Diamondbacks answered with multiple runs. The third inning was no exception with Arizona scoring two more runs and taking a 7-2 lead. The Diamondbacks hit four singles in the bottom of the third inning. Tim Tawa singled both Ildemaro Vargas and Gabriel Moreno home.

The Giants were getting a few hits in every inning but left them for the most part stranded. They had a single and a walk in the fourth but that would be all. Robbie Ray got the Diamondbacks three and out in the fourth inning and for the first time in the game kept them off the scoreboard.

Arizona got after it scoring more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning taking a 12-2 lead as the hits kept coming for the Diamondbacks. After giving up two singles and a home run that would be it for pitcher Robbie Ray. He went 4 1/3 innings allowing 11 hits, 9 earned runs, 2 walks and one strikeout.

He had struggled from the start. JT Brubaker relieved Ray but not before allowing three hits and a run before getting out of the inning. The Diamondbacks were dominating leading 12-2 going into the sixth inning. It had been a most disappointing series opener for San Francisco. Through five innings the Giants had four hits, the Diamondbacks 14 hits.

The Giants finally put an end to the offensive flurry in the sixth inning but trailing 12-2 San Francisco was staring down a nearly impossible comeback. The Giants rallied in the eighth hitting a couple of singles (Brennan and Schmitt) with only one out. Rafael Devers hit into a double play and that was inning. Not a whole lot was going right for San Francisco. This game was pretty much a done deal mid-way through the game.

Game notes: The Giants came off a series win over the Sacramento Athletics over the Fri-Sun weekend. In game three of that series they crushed the A’s 10-1 and so they came into Monday nights 3-game series against the Diamondbacks with a whole lot of confidence.

It looked like that they put their offensive struggles behind them. Willy Adames had really stepped up as had Harrison Bader and Casey Schmitt. Schmitt had provided some much needed offense in the series in Sacramento.

The Giants as a whole had showed signs of life. They were quite a few games under .500 but have moved from last place in the National League West into fourth. Then came their meeting on Monday night with the Diamondbacks at Chase Field and they got clobbered 12-2 a opposite result from what they got on Sunday when they clobbered the A’s 10-1.

It was a quiet eighth and ninth inning for San Francisco on Monday night as they fell in game one to the Diamondbacks 12-2. It was a rough opening outing for the Giants as they look ahead to game two of the series Tuesday night. Landon Roupp will start for San Francisco. He has a 5-4 win/loss record and a 3.49 ERA. Arizona will start Ryne Nelson who currently has a 1-3 win/loss record and a 5.40 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:40 PM PDT.

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Sutter Health gives the Candlestick Park treatment Giants crush A’s in wind blown game

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San Francisco Giants Harrison Bader front right is home plate by Jung Hoo Lee (51) after grand slam in the top of the eighth inning against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health West Sacramento on Sun May 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 How much did the strong wind conditions at Sutter Health Park affect the outcome of the game, especially Harrison Bader’s grand slam?

#2 Was Adrian Houser’s six-inning performance the turning point that gave the Giants momentum late in the game?

#3 Which defensive mistake by the Athletics hurt them the most during the Giants’ explosive eighth inning?

#4 Are the Giants starting to build real momentum after strong performances from Casey Schmitt, Luis Arráez, and Harrison Bader throughout the series?

#5 What does this rivalry series reveal about the atmosphere of MLB games in Sacramento while the Athletics play at Sutter Health Park?

Marko Ukalovic does the San Francisco Giants podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum: Bader’s slam leads the way in Giants 8th to sink A’s

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San Francisco Giants Harrison Bader connects for a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning against the Sacramento A’s at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun May 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento A’s podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 How did Harrison Bader’s eighth-inning grand slam help the San Francisco Giants pull away from the Athletics in the 10-1 win?

#2 What role did the windy conditions at Sutter Health Park play in Luis Arraez’s home run and the A’s defensive miscues?

#3 How effective was Giants starter Adrian Houser against the Athletics lineup despite issuing five walks?

#4 Why did the Athletics’ bullpen and defense unravel during the Giants’ eight-run eighth inning?

#5 How did A’s rookie Nick Kurtz continue his impressive on-base streak even in the loss to the Giants?

Daniel Dullum does the Sacramento A’s podcasts each Sunday 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. 

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey: Giants-A’s I 80 Series proves to be a big money maker in sold out Sutter Health Park

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The A’s recent success has kept ticket sales hoppinig at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento as they hosted the San Francisco Giants over the May 15-17, 2026 weekend (file photo by Visit Sacramento)

Sacramento A’s podcast Tony Harvey:

#1 Tony, talk about how successful these I 80 games have been particularly in a smaller minor league park like Sutter Health Park in a West Sacramento. These games have gotten so popular that you have people being turned away because there are no more tickets. Talk about the demand and supply.

#2 Tony, talk about how important the move by a group headed by Barry Broome the CEO and president of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council saying a a major announcement is coming soon about a bid bringing a MLB franchise to Sacramento. The idea would to be build a MLB park in the Sutter Health Park parking lot and get a group together to finance putting a MLB team together.

#3 According to reports Sacramento A’s owner John Fisher has not paid into the construction costs for the ball park in Las Vegas and he’s looking for minority investors to buys shares into ownership of the A’s and Fisher still has the San Jose Earthquakes up for sale. By the way not only is Fisher’s A’s in first place but his Earthquakes soccer team is tied for first place.

#4 Talking about Sunday’s ballgame against the San Francisco Giants at Sutter Health Park the Giants rallied for eight runs in the top of the eighth to crush the A’s 10-1. What did manager Mark Kotsay say about the bullpen during that eighth inning?

#5 The A’s are headed for Anaheim for a four game set with the Angels. Starting pitchers for Sacramento RHP JT Ginn (2-1 ERA 3.12) for Los Angeles RHP Walbert Urena (1-4 ERA 3.29) The A’s have lost four of their last six games and the Angels are on a six game losing streak after getting crushed by the Dodgers in a three game set over the weekend.

Join Tony Harvey Saturdays for the Sacramento A’s podcasts 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: Giants battle wind, and score eight runs in eighth inning for 10-1 win and series win over A’s in Sacramento

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San Francisco Giants Casey Schmitt (10) slugs a single off the Sacramento A’s during the I 80 series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun May 17, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Sutter Health Park

West Sacramento, California

San Francisco Giants 10 (20-27)

Sacramento Athletics 1 (23-23)

Win: Trevor McDonald (2-0)

Loss: Luis Severino (2-5)

Save: Matt Gage (1)

Time: 2:45

Attendance: 12,541

By Stephen Ruderman

WEST SACRAMENTO–The wind was howling a gazillion miles an hour from left field to right field at Sutter Health Park Sunday, and it made for quite a weird game. The Giants looked like they were going to have to battle it out, but they exploded for an eight-run exorcism in the top of the eighth, and they won it by a final of 10-1.

Look, I am not lying about the wind. The wind was blowing so hard that the flags in the lawn beyond right field weren’t just whipping, they were blowing up. Everything was blowing. The flagpoles were blowing. The light towers were blowing. The TVs above us in the outdoor extended press box were blowing, and we had to worry that they would kill us.

As for me, I took my precautions. I used my laptop as a paperweight for my game notes and scorecard. I would have to hope that it would hold up for two or three hours, or however long this game went.

The one thing the wind didn’t do was make me forget that the Giants really needed to win Sunday. Harrison Bader drew a walk off left-hander Jeffrey Springs to start the game, and Casey Schmitt lined a base-hit to right with one out. The Giants had runners at first and second with one out for Rafael Devers. Even with the wind howling, Devers and Willy Adames couldn’t shorten their swings, and they both flew out for yet another wasted opportunity by the Giants.

As I tweeted my frustrations at Rafi and Willy for their selfish at-bats, a massive gust of wind literally blew my laptop off the counter and into my lap. I was lucky enough to only lose my Giants game notes, and keep everything else.

Adrian Houser got off to a rough start this season, but his last two outings prior to today were solid. Houser walked Nick Kurtz to start the bottom of the first, but he then retired the next six.

With two outs and nobody on in the top of the third, Luis Arraez hit a high fly ball deep to right field that Carlos Cortes couldn’t track in the wind. It ended up going out, and Arraez had his second home run of the weekend—and the series—to put the Giants on the board.

Willy Adames reached on a throwing error by third-baseman Zack Gelof with one out in the top of the fourth, and advanced to second on a balk when Springs didn’t step towards first base on a throw over. Matt Chapman then shot a two-out double into the gap in left-center to knock in Adames and make it 2-0.

Houser continued to sail along into the middle innings. However, for whatever reason, he just would not pitch to Kurtz. Houser ended up walking Kurtz all three times he faced him, and he only threw one strike in each at-bat—or shall I say, “plate appearance.” Houser had never faced Kurtz before, so it made no sense.

Houser’s third walk to Kurtz, which came with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, came back to bite him. It put runners at first and second with two outs for Carlos Cortes, who hit a popup to the left side of the infield. It should have gotten the Giants out of the inning, but Matt Chapman and Willy Adames never played at Candlestick Park, so they didn’t know how to field popups in this kind of howling wind. The ball fell in for a Candlestick double to put the A’s on the board. Thankfully, that would be the only run the A’s got in the inning.

Despite Cortes’ Candlestick double, the Giants played a great defensive game in combat with the wind. Matt Chapman had to battle the wind for a tough catch in foul territory to end the bottom of the sixth.

That would also end Houser’s day, and he turned in the solid outing the Giants needed from him. Houser went six innings, and gave up just the run and four hits. Houser also had what Susan Slusser described as “Stu Miller moments,” as the wind knocked him off balance on the mound a few times.

Now, the Giants bullpen needed to hold the lead, and Sam Hentges threw a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh. Tony then had Keaton Winn warm up in the bullpen to pitch what was expected to be a tense bottom of the eighth.

However, the Giants’ offense—and perhaps, you can say the A’s gloves—had other plans in the top of the eighth. The Giants had the top of the order up against Luis Medina, and Bader reached on a ground ball to third that was bobbled by Gelof for the A’s third-baseman’s second error of the game. Arraez walked, and Schmitt lined a base-hit the other way to right to load the bases with nobody out.

It was now time for Rafi to shorten his swing, and he did, as he lined a base-hit to center. Bader scored, and after Lawrence Butler overran the ball, Arraez scored as well to make it 4-1. Willy also shortened his swing, and grounded a base-hit to left to reload the bases.

Mark Kotsay went with Jose Suarez, who got Daniel Susac to ground out to second with the drawn-in infield. A’s second-baseman Jeff McNeil was unable to get a throw to the plate, so he took the sure out at first, and Schmitt scored to make it 5-1.

Kotsay chose to put Matt Chapman on, and Drew Gilbert struck out swinging for the second out. It looked like the walk was going to pay off, but Jung Hoo Lee grounded a base-hit to right to keep the line moving and make it 6-1.

Bader then stepped up for the second time, and shot one down off the end of the bat down the right field line into the wind, which took it out for a grand slam. It was now 10-1, and it was just the second time this season the Giants scored ten runs. The other was April 17 in a 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals in D.C.

As for Keaton Winn, he was in the game anyway, which meant that the bottom of the eighth was his inning all the way. Winn threw a scoreless bottom of the eighth, and Joel Peguero threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

Oh yeah, and before I forget, Carlos Cortes pitched the top of the ninth for the A’s.

Anyway, Houser got the win, and Springs took the loss.

As I mentioned earlier, the Giants’ defense was incredible today. Luis Arraez, Harrison Bader and Drew Gilbert all made great plays to take away hits. Gilbert had to wrestle with the wind to make a weird diving catch for the first out of the bottom of the ninth.

The Giants improve to 20-27, and they will head down to Phoenix for a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks starting Monday night.

Robbie Ray (3-5 ERA 3.04) will go for the Giants in the series opener Sunday night. Zac Gallen will go for Arizona (1-5 ERA 5.02).

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

Sacramento A’s game wrap: A’s Defensive Meltdown in Eighth Inning Leads to 10-1Blowout Loss Against Giants

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Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics talks with first base umpire Jansen Visconti #52 after being called for a balk during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Sutter Health Park on May 17, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory Photo Credit: Scott Marshall/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Athletics were back in action to take on the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of a three-game series.

The Giants defeated the A’s and took the series 10-1 in a very windy matinee affair in front of a sold-out crowd of 12,541 patrons.

Jeffrey Springs got the ball to start for the A’s on Sunday. It was Jeffrey’s 10th start for the A’s this season. Springs threw the ball well for the A’s as he went six innings of two-run (one earned), five-hit ball while throwing 92 pitches during his outing. Springs walked only one batter and struck out three.

“Jeffrey threw the ball great today,” Mark Kotsay said of Springs after the game. “Six innings, two runs. Overall, I thought he did a great job with the elements, pitching in these conditions and going out and really just staying focused throughout the six-inning performance. He did a great job.”

Relieving Springs from the bullpen, it was a mixed bag from the A’s relief corps.

First out of the pen for the A’s was Justin Sterner, who came on to pitch the seventh inning for the A’s. Sterner pitched well and delivered a clean inning while striking out two batters on 23 pitches.

In the eighth inning, the bullpen unraveled for the A’s. Luis Medina came on for the A’s but failed to get an out. Medina faced five batters and gave up five runs (four earned) on three hits and surrendered a walk. It was an abysmal performance that didn’t end with him. Jose Suarez came on to pitch the rest of the eighth and didn’t fare much better. Suarez pitched one inning, giving up three runs on three hits while walking one and striking out one. It was a complete and total pitching and defensive meltdown for the A’s, who also committed three errors in the game (which is conservative; it could have been four).

“I mean, that’s the story of the game, really,” Mark Kotsay said after the game, referring to the team’s lack of clean baseball. “It’s a 2-1 game in the eighth, the leadoff hitter we put on [due to an error]. I think we kicked the ball around three times that inning. That’s not good baseball, and when you don’t play good baseball, things get out of hand, and it did in the eighth, and as you see, that’s the result.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s finished the game with just five hits and scored one run. They also walked five times.

The A’s lone run came in the fifth inning when Carlos Cortes hit an RBI double to, at the time, pull the A’s to within one at a 2-1 score.

That was all the A’s could muster on offense.

With the loss, the A’s lost the series to the Giants and fell to 23-23 on the season. The Giants improved to 20-27.

The A’s will head out on the road to take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Monday at 6:38 p.m. PST. J.T. Ginn (2-1, 3.12 ERA) is scheduled to start for the A’s, while the Angels are yet to announce a starter for the game.

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.