Giants lose another Verlander start and fall to Cardinals 6-5

San Francisco Giants Heliot Ramos (17) hits a two run single off of St Louis Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy (36) in the bottom of the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Mon Sep 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Lincoln Juarez 

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants couldn’t help starter Justin Verlander with the gloves or the bats as they lost another game he started in game one against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park. The Cardinals offensive boom in the fifth inning surged them past the Giants in a 6-5 win. The loss drops the Giants to 3.5 games back in the NL Wild Card race.

Monday night the Giants hosted the Cardinals in the first game of a six-game home stand to end the season at Oracle Park. Verlander was on the mound for his 28th start of the season. The veteran right-hander looked to take the momentum from his last four starts, where he’s posted a 0.36 ERA (1er, 25.0ip) with a .149 opponent average, 0.92 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts, into Monday. 

Verlander did not allow a run through his first two innings pitched and got some help in the first inning from Heliot Ramos on his 19th home run of the season. 1-0 Giants before the Cardinals offense came alive and scored in three straight innings. 

The Redbirds tied it in the third and set down any momentum the Giants offense had by throwing a zero in the bottom half. St. Louis struck again in the fourth to take the lead, but this time the Giants had an answer. 

Matt Chapman, Casey Schmitt, and Patrick Bailey all singled to manufacture a run and tie the game 2-2. Later with two outs, Heliot Ramos singled home two more runs to put the Giants ahead 4-2 with his second and third RBI of the night. 

In the top of the fifth, the Cardinal offense took off. A four-spot in the fifth inning made it a 6-4 ballgame in favor of the Cardinals. Verlander did not make it out of the inning and ended up with another no-decision through 4.1 IP. 

After the fifth, the Giants bullpen shut out the Cardinals the rest of the night and Devers hit his 33rd home run of the season to get the Giants within a run in the home fifth. 

The offense could not overcome the one-run deficit and the Cardinals held on behind a great bullpen effort and took game one of the series 6-5.

Tuesday night Logan Webb will get the start for San Francisco in what will be another must-win game scenario if they want to have any sort of shot at the postseason after this week. 

Starters: For the Cards RHP Andre Pallante (6-14, 5.23) vs. for the Giants RHP Logan Webb (14-11, 3.27), Tuesday night at Oracle Park. First pitch at 6:45pm. 

San Francisco Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic: Giants open final homestand for 2025 Monday night against Cardinals

San Francisco Giants pitcher Trevor MacDonald pitches to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the first inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Sun Sep 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

SF Giants podcast Marko Ukalovic:

#1 San Francisco Giants pinch hitter Patrick Bailey hit a RBI double in the top of the eighth inning that led to a three run inning Sunday.

#2 The Gians got to Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen who pitched two thirds of an inning allowing three hits, three earned runs, and two walks. The Giants with the win avoided being swept in the finale of a four game series on Sunday.

#3 Treinen (1-7) had been struggling and allowed the three runs to score in the top of the eighth, he had walked two and gave up three hits and the Giants took advantage in a game that almost got away from them.

#4 Willy Adames walked with the bases loaded that allowed the tie breaker to score and Matt Chapman grounded out to add another RBI as Treinen was relieved and booed by Dodger fans as he headed back to the dugout.

#5 The Giants return back to Oracle Park to open a six game homestand and the first three of those games will be against the St Louis Cardinals on Monday night. Starting for the St Louis Michael McGreevy (7-3 ERA 4.08) for San Francisco Justin Verlander (3-10 ERA 3.75) first pitch at 6:45 pm PT.

Marko Ukalovic did the Giants podcasts each Monday during the Giants 2025 regular season at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Avoids Sweep Beats Dodgers 3-1

Rafael Devers designated hitter belts a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the top of the first inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Sun Sep 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Sunday’s game was scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Los Angeles Dodgers (88-67) scored taking a 1-0 lead. San Francisco (76-79) rallied in the eighth inning scoring three runs taking a 3-1 lead and the eventual win.

Giants starter Trevor McDonald was spotless in his first start and the Giants defense was great. Relief pitching was equally amazing and this was a nice win for San Francisco.

This game was one of those good old-fashioned pitching duels with McDoanld pitching his young heart out. Through six innings he had allowed six hits but no runs and three strikeouts. After six innings this was a scoreless game. The Dodgers Emmet Sheehan gave up one hit and ten strikeouts through seven innings. This had been a great game for both pitchers.

McDonald was relieved in the seventh inning by Spencer Bivens who was spotless with no hits, no runs, and no walks. He was relieved in the eighth inning by Joey Lucchesi.

The Dodgers got busy in the seventh inning with two runners on base, Max Muncy and Andy Pages, with no outs. Los Angeles broke the tie with a run when Michael Conforto singled Muncy home and the Dodgers had taken a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers were looking for more with two on base and still no outs. San Francisco got out of the inning giving up only the one run and it was on to the eighth inning. This game was moving along at light-speed going through seven innings in under two hours.

In the top of the eighth inning the Giants mounted a rally of their own. Patrick Bailey hit a ground rule double and Christian Koss scored to tie up this game. San Francisco would load the bases with one out and Willy Adames at the plate.

Adames walked and Drew Gilbert scored giving San Francisco a 2-1 lead. The bases remained loaded with one out and Matt Chapman grounded out to shortstop and Bailey scored for a 3-1 San Francisco lead.

The Giants took the 3-1 lead into the ninth inning three outs away from the win. San Francisco did not score in the top of the ninth inning and it would be up to Lucchesi to get the bottom of the ninth inning going in the right direction.

Lucchesi got Max Muncy to struck out and then he was relieved by Ryan Walker who came in to close out this game with the one out. Walker got the big second out and Michael Conforto came to the plate the Dodgers last chance with the two outs. Walker got him to strike out and that was the ball game with the Giants taking game four 3-1 and avoiding the sweep.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Giants wrapped up their four-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers under sunny skies. It has hardly been sunny skies for the Giants dropping the first three games of the series and but avoided getting swept in game four.

With six games left in the season and the Giants three games back in the Wild Card the Giants most likely will not be a part of the post-season. The promise they showed a few weeks ago took a nose-dive with some very disappointing games. Its not the way they wanted to end their season.

The Giants will now head home to finish up the season starting with a series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Justin Verlander is the probable pitcher for the Giants. He has a 3-10 win/loss record and a 3.75 ERA. The Cardinals will probably start Michael McGreevy. McGreevy has a 7-3 win/loss record and a 4.08 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

Despite Hot Start Giants Fizzle Losing to Dodgers In Game Three 7-5

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani slugs a home run off of San Francisco reliever Joel Peguero as catcher Patrick Bailey watches in the bottom of the sixth inning at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Sat Sep 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite a great start for the San Francisco Giants (76-79) taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning, they dropped game three to the Los Angeles Dodgers (88-67) 7-5. The Dodgers gobbled up that lead and by the fourth inning had tied up the game.

They took the lead in the fifth inning and never looked back. The Giants only had a single home run, the Dodgers had four home runs in this game. Shohei Ohtani hit his 53 home run of the season.

Game recap: The Giants got a great start in the first inning scoring four runs. Bryce Eldridge doubled to left driving in three runners, clearing the bases. Matt Chapman, Heliot Ramos and Willy Adames all scored on the double for a 3-0 lead.

Eldridge would score when Drew Gilbert walked for the fourth run and the Giants had a 4-0 lead. While it was a nice lead it was still very early in the game and we have seen San Francisco go silent after great early innings.

The Dodgers scored a couple of runs in the first inning. Max Muncy homered to right center with Freddie Freeman on base for the two runs. It did not stop there. In the fourth inning Michael Conforto hit a solo home run and the Dodgers trailed the Giants by a single run 4-3. Los Angeles would tie up this game when Freddie Freeman singled Shohei Ohtani home.

The Dodgers hit solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings taking a 6-4 lead. Tommy Edman hit the first one in the fifth and Ohtani hit his 53rd home run of the season in the sixth. Once again the Giants had let a great start slip right through their fingers. After scoring the four run in the first inning they had not scored through the next five innings negating the nice start.

Los Angeles continued to extend their lead scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth taking a 7-4 lead. Teoscar Hernandez singled Mookie Betts home and the Dodgers were rolling.

San Francisco was running out of innings going into the seventh inning. Rafael Devers hit a solo home run in the seventh inning but the Giants needed a whole lot more with only two innings left in the game. They still trailed 7-5. So far both teams had eight hits through seven innings.

The Dodgers took the 7-5 lead into the top of the ninth inning. With the exception of the Devers home run in the seveth inning the Giants offense had gone silent. Devers led off the inning and grounded out.

He was followed by Adames who struck out. Chapman came to the plate, the Giants last hope and lined out. The Dodgers had won the third game of the series 7-5. Los Angeles would be going for a sweep in Sunday’s game four.

Game notes: Saturday night the age-old rivals the Giants and the Dodgers played the third game of their four game series and this one stung as the Giants couldn’t maintain the lead and have now have lost three straight to the Dodgers with game four of the series Sunday.

The Dodgers won the first three games of the series Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Friday was an emotional night for the Dodgers as the incomparable Clayton Kershaw pitched his final regular season game. He left the mound after 5 1/3 innings as the entire stadium recognized his amazing career. The game continued after the ovation and Los Angeles really piled it on in the bottom of the fifth inning taking a 5-2 lead and eventually winning game two 6-3.

Giants starter for Saturday Kai Wei Teng pitched for three innings allowed one hit and two runs with two walks and six strike outs. But it was Joel Peguero the Giants fourth reliever who got touched up pitching 1.2 innings allowing five hits and three runs.

This series will wrap up Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM. Trevor McDonald will take the mound for the Giants. He has a 9.00 ERA. The Dodgers plan on starting Emmet Sheehan. He has a 6-3 win/loss record and a 3.17 ERA.

Giants Threaten In Ninth Inning But Fall to Dodgers 6-3; SF now 4 games back in the Wild Card

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw tips his cap to the Dodgers Stadium crowd after pitching his last regular season home game against the San Francisco Giants on Fri Sep 19, 2025. Kershaw is retiring after the 2025 post season. (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (76-78) dropped a second game to the Los Angeles Dodgers (87-67) 6-3 mid-way through their four-game series. They had distraction to contend with as the final appearance of Clayton Kershaw was the focus of much of this game.

They did take the early lead but the Dodgers turned the tables on them in the fifth inning, Kershaw’s final inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning Los Angeles hit back-to-back home runs off the bats of Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts taking a 5-2 lead.

Game recap: The Giants sent a message in the first at bat in the first inning. Heliot Ramos hit a solo home run to center for 431 feet taking an early 1-0 lead. San Francisco will be looking to add some insurance runs early in the game and put up a lot more hits on the board than last nights one hit. It was a lackluster offensive effort and the Giants have got to get their bats going especially against a team with the lineup that the Dodgers have.

The Mets have already won tonight, the Reds have already won and the Diamondbacks lost to the Phillies by the score of 8-2. This is simply another must win for San Francisco.

The Giants were unable to add any runs in the second inning but the Dodgers did tie up the game in the second off the bat of Miguel Rojas 1-1 who homered to left center. San Francisco broke the tie in the third inning taking the lead back 2-1.

Wilmer Flores singled driving base runner Matt Chapman home from third base and San Francisco already had three hits in this game. Through three innings Kershaw already had four walks but also had four strikeouts. This was of course an extremely emotional game for him and manager Dave Roberts was hoping he could get through five innings.

Kershaw took the mound for the final time in the fifth inning. It all started with a strikeout in 2008 and it ended in the fifth inning this evening striking out Rafael Devers. He was relieved by Edgardo Henriquez but not before a huge ovation at Dodger Stadium erupted and Kershaw received an ovation full of appreciation, respect and love from Dave Roberts, his teammates and everyone in the stadium.

We all got to witness history. To make this inning even more memorable, Otani went on to hit a 3-run home run giving the Dodgers a 4-2 lead. Mookie Betts kept the party going coming to the plate and hitting another home run giving Los Angeles a 5-2 lead.

San Francisco pitcher Robbie Ray exited the game after 5 2/3 innings. He was relieved by Spencer Bivens. The Dodgers roughed him up in the bottom of the fifth inning hitting the back-to-back home runs. That would be it for Ray.

The Dodgers would add to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Andy Pages doubled Rojas home from second base giving Los Angeles a 6-2 lead. The Giants had given up back-to-back doubles but finally got out of the inning. Going into the seventh inning San Francisco had a lot of work left to do but were running out of innings.

The Giants would make up a little ground scoring a run in the seventh inning but still trailing 6-3. Chapman singled Willy Adames home from second base. Going into the eighth inning San Francisco needed hits but instead went three and out. They were three outs away from dropping game two of the series.

San Francisco put two runners on base in the ninth inning. Christian Koss singled and Adames walked with one out. Devers struck out and the Giants were down to their last out. Chapman popped out and that was the ball game 6-3 in favor of the Dodgers.

Game notes: Friday evening the Giants lost the Dodgers in game two of their four game series. This is the final series between these two rival teams this season. Friday night’s game also marks the final time the Giants saw Clayton Kershaw on the mound.

Kershaw entered the game with 415 strikeouts with his lowest ERA a sparkling 2.08. Whether you are a Giants fan or a Dodgers fan there is no argument that he is one of the greatest pitchers to ever start for Los Angeles.

He has without doubt made life pretty miserable for the Giants through the years. It is hard to imagine baseball without him but this day comes for all of these guys when they make the difficult decision to leave the game.

He has worn “Dodger Blue” for 18 years so he will go into this game with mixed emotions. He sure has given Dodger fans so much to celebrate and cheer for. For San Francisco starter Robbie Ray 4.2 innings allowed 4.2 innings, five hits, five earned runs, two walks and five strike outs. Kershaw pitched 4.1 innings, four hits, two runs, four walks and six strikeouts.

San Francisco now has some ground to make up if they want to tie this series. Trailing 2-0 in the series has pretty much knocked them out of playoff contention. Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 PM. Kai Wei Teng will take the mound for San Francisco with a 2-4 win/loss record and a 6.41 ERA. The Dodgers will start Tyler Glasnow. He has a 3-3 win/loss record and a 3.06 ERA.

60 starts

Giants Sluggish Bats Result In Loss To Dodgers 2-1

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto was dealing against the San Francisco Giants allowing just one hit. The Giants Patrick Bailey got the only hit for San Francisco at Dodgers Stadium Thu Sep 18, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was a good old-fashioned pitchers duel through the first six innings of game one of the four-game series between the San Francisco Giants (76-77) and their rival the Los Angeles Dodgers (86-67) at Dodgers Stadium.

San Francisco only had one hit through six innings in another lackluster game in fact, the Giants would finish the game with only one hit and suffered scoring runs losing 2-1. Giant pitcher Logan Webb went seven innings allowing four hits and one run with five strikeouts. He gave the Giants a chance to win but San Francisco’s lack of offense was the deciding factor.

Game recap: The game was a good old-fashioned pitching duel through the first six innings. It was Los Angeles that broke through for the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Mookie Betts grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and Ben Rortvedt scored on a Patrick Bailey error for the first run of the game. The Dodgers would score a second run when Freddie Freeman singled Shohei Ohtani home for a 2-0 lead.

San Francisco would finally get up on the scoreboard in the seventh inning. It was a tough inning for Dodger pitcher Michael Kopech who walked the first two batters he faced. With one out Blake Treinen took over on the mound.

Treinen walked Heliot Ramos to load the bases. Treinen walked Rafael Devers for the Giants first run of the game. He struck out the next two Giant batter, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman.

With the score 2-1 in favor of the Dodgers, Los Angeles closed out this game. The Giants went three and out in the eighth inning and pretty much the same in the ninth with another three and out inning and that was the ball game.

Los Angeles had won game one 2-1 and now the Giants had fallen four games behind the Mets for the third wild card. San Francisco had only one hit in this game and the one run.

It was another great game for Shohei Ohtani with two huge hits. Yamamoto and the Dodger bullpen combined on the one-hitter. Ohhtani had a couple of doubles that bounced off the wall en-route to the win. He also scored one run. The Dodgers have now won eight of their last 11 matchups. They have had their struggles on the mound though with 23 walks in the first four games of this current home-stand.

Starting pitcher for San Francisco Logan Webb went seven innings allowing four hits, one run, one walk and five strikeouts. Patrick Bailey was the only Giant with a hit. With this loss the Giants are now three games behind the Mets with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cincinnati Reds ahead of San Francisco.

Game notes: The Giants lost to the Dodgers in game one of their four-game series. The Giants are three games back of third for a wild card spot and unfortunately couldn’t take advantage as the Mets beat the Padres Thursday night and lost a full game.

A Giants win would have keep them in stride with New York. There are only nine games left in the season so this was another missed opportunity for San Francisco.

Giants starter Logan Webb pitched will enough to win but just didn’t get the run support. Webb going seven innings allowing four hits and one run.

Friday night the Giants will face the Dodgers in game two of their series. In Thursday’s game Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw announced his retirement at the end of the season. He will take the mound Thursday in his final regular season home start.

The Giants will have Robbie Ray starting with a 11-7 win/loss record and a 3.50 ERA. Kershaw has a 12-2 win/loss record and a 3.53 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM.

Giants Come Out Flat But Redeem Themselves in 11th Inning Beating Arizona 5-1

San Francisco Giants starter Justin Verlander walks from the bullpen to the dugout after taking warmups before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Wed Sep 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

This game was a real sleeper until the 11th inning. After ten silent innings between the San Francisco Giants (76-76) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (77-76) in game three of their series, the Giants bats went crazy with four hits in the 11th inning scoring five runs and winning this game 5-1.

Up to that point they only had one hit through ten innings. It was an amazing win for the Giants winning a game that was so desperately needed. They got the job done in this one. Giant pitcher Justin Verlander was outstanding going seven innings.

Game recap: As this game got underway and the innings came and went, this game became a good old-fashioned pitchers duel. There was no score going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Neither team was hitting. Through nine innings, San Francisco had managed only one hit and Arizona had three.

Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaatt was having a solid game pitching through nine innings allowing only the one hit, giving up a walk with seven strikeouts. Justin Verlander went seven innings allowing 3 hits no runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.

This game was headed into extra innings. The one thing that San Francisco did not want to see was another Arizona walk-off. It was up to Giant’s pitcher Ryan Walker to get out of the ninth inning giving the Giants a chance in the tenth.

With one out Walker allowed a Corbin Carroll triple and the Diamondbacks were looking for their second walk-off of the series. Gabriel Moreno was intentionally walked and then it all went downhill when Walker hit Blaze Alexander and the Diamondbacks had the bases loaded.

Ryan Walker got out of this huge mess and the Diamondbacks had squandered a monster opportunity. With renewed life, San Francisco would lean on Rafael Devers to get the inning going after going hitless in three at bats.

He had a productive out moving speedster Grant McCray from second to third base. Willy Adames struck out for the second out and Matt Chapman came to the plate; the Giants last hope in the inning. The Giants wasted a great opportunity when Chapman struck out giving Arizona another crack at sweeping the series.

The Diamondbacks were able to move a runner, Alek Thomas, to third base but they also came up empty unable to bring Thomas home and this game went into the eleventh inning.

The Giants really got something going in the 11th. Matt Chapman advanced from second to third on a passed ball by Gabriel Moreno. Bryce Eldridge walked and San Francisco had two runners on base with no outs.

Jerar Encarnacion singled Chapman home and the Giants had taken the lead 1-0 with no outs. Patrick Bailey singled loading the bases for San Francisco. The Giants broke this game wide open when Christian Koss doubled driving Jung Hoo Lee (he ran for Eldridge) and Encarnacion home taking a 3-0 lead still with no outs.

There would be a pitching change for the Diamondbacks. Grant McCray sacrificed and Patrick Bailey scored extending their lead to 4-0. After such a slow start San Francisco was coming on like gangbusters. They would add another run with two outs when Rafael Devers singled Christian Koss home and this game went into the bottom of the 11th inning with the Giants leading 5-0.

The Diamondbacks were able to score a single run in the bottom of the 11th inning but it was too little too late. Corbin Carroll sacrificed Geraldo Perdomo home from third base but that would be it for Arizona. The final was 5-1 in favor of San Francisco.

Game notes: Wednesday afternoon the Giants beat the Diamondbacks in game three of their series. The Giants are .500 yet again this season. After a nice turnaround in past weeks their offense has really struggled. The Giants Wild Card chances improved Wednesday after the Mets lost to the Padres and the Giants moved from four games out now to two games back for the last Wild Card spot.

They were crushed in game one of this series losing 8-1 followed by a disappointing loss in game two. After taking a 4-0 lead early in that game, they allowed Arizona to come back and finish the game off with a walk-off winning 6-5.

Wednesday the Giants avoided the series sweep. With both the Mets and Reds losing the Giants once again are looking at a shot to get back into third place in the NL Wild Card race. Giants starter Justin Verlander had himself an outing going seven innings, allowing three hits, two walks, and three strikeouts for the win.

After breaking their four-game losing streak Wednesday, the Giants face a tough four-game series that gets underway Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM. They will take on the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Logan Webb will get the call with a 14-10 win/loss record and a 3.34 ERA. The Dodgers plan on starting Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He has a 11-8 win/loss record with a 2.66 ERA.

There is sure to be a lot of fireworks between these age-old rivals. San Francisco needs to have a great series. They are two games back behind the Mets and are tied with Cincinnati Reds and and half game back of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants now need to concentrate on the game in front of them and nothing else.

Giants Playoffs Hopes Fading; Lose to the Diamondbacks In Walk-off 6-5

Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll scores on a Jordan Lawlor walk off single in the bottom of the ninth inning as San Francisco Giants catcher Adam Knizner looks on at Chase Field in Phoenix on Tue Sep 16, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After leading 4-0 in the first inning, the San Francisco Giants (75-76) lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks (77-75) in a walk-off 6-5. The Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar hit an infield single in the ninth inning and Corbin Carroll crossed home plate from third base for the hard-fought win in a walk-off.

This was the Giants fourth loss in a row as the Giants drop two games back for the third spot in the NL Wild Card. The Giants playoff hopes maybe dimming as the regular season is rapidly coming to an end. Less than a week ago San Francisco had it all going on; they were playing some of their best ball of the season and like a thief in the night it all disappeared.

Game recap: The Giants had a great start in the game scoring four runs in the first inning. Taking a 4-0 lead in any game is terrific but needs some back-up from the mound and the cooperation of the defense.

Matt Chapman hit a sacrifice and Heliot Ramos score for the early 1-0 lead. Wilmer Flores singled in the first and Rafael Devers scored pushing their lead out to 2-0. They would extend that lead to 4-0 when Jerar Encarnacion doubled and Casey Schmitt and Wilmer Flores both scored.

The Diamondbacks very nearly tied up the game in the second inning scoring three runs. Blaze Alexander singled Gabriel Moreno home and Adrian Del Castillo hit a home run with Alexander on base and Arizona was within a run 3-4. San Francisco got an insurance run in the third inning taking a 5-3 lead. Wilmer Flores hit a solo home run to left center and the Giants were back in business.

When it looked so promising the Giants would not score for the rest of the game. They’re bats checked out after the third inning. The Diamondbacks scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning tying up this game.

Arizona took the tie into the ninth inning looking for a walk-off. It was quick one with Jordan Lawlar singling Corbin Carroll home and that was the ball game in the hoped for walk-off 6-5. The Diamondbacks had taken a 2-0 series lead and the Giants had lost their fourth game in a row.

Game notes: Time may be the San Francisco Giants worst enemy as the 2025 season enters the final weeks. The Giants were looking for a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday night after losing the first game of the series Monday night 8-1.

San Francisco has lost four games in a row; every loss sets their playoffs hopes back. Such a disappointment because of the promising turnaround the Giants had seen the past few weeks. Right now it all seems to be going in the wrong direction for the Giants.

Giants starter Tristan Beck threw for three innings allowing five hits, three earned runs, and one strike out. Beck was proceeded by four relievers. The second reliever Trevor McDonald pitched two innings allowed three hits, two runs, a walk and one strikeout. All the damage was done by the D-Backs as the Giants lost by a run Tuesday night.

In Wednesday’s game three the Giants will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks. First pitch for that game is scheduled for 12:40 PM PT.

Justin Verlander will take the mound for San Francisco. He has a 3/10 win -loss record and a 3.94 ERA. Arizona will start Brandon Pfaadt. He has a 13-8 win/loss record and a 5.31 ERA. The Giants will try to put an end to their losing streak as well as avoiding a sweep.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Giants fall back in NL Wild Card after recent loses; Jays Bichette no timetable for return; plus more MLB news

San Francisco Giant call up Bryce Eldridge replaced the injured first baseman Dominic Smith on Mon Sep 15, 2025 and went 0-3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his big league debut at Chase Field in Phoenix (photo from Bay Area News Group)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 What happened to the San Francisco Giants after winning some 15 out of 17 games and made to third in the NL Wild Card. They ran into a brick wall losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday and Sunday and lost in a landslide on Monday night to the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1. The Giants are now two games back of the NL Wild Card.

#2 Not ready for prime time for Bryce Eldridge? Eldridge who started Monday’s game went 0-3 against the Arizona Diamondback and is now the Giants starting first baseman after being called up from Triple A Sacramento after Dominic Smith was injured stretching at first base to make a catch doing the splits on a throw by third baseman Matt Chapman. Smith ended up with a hamstring injury. Eldridge 20 years old was ranked number 29 in the ESPN rankings for prospects.

#3  The Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette is seeking a second medical opinion for his knee injury and could return as the designated hitter. Bichette has been out since Sep 7 and was seen by Dr. Dan Cooper. Jays manager John Schneider said there was no news and that Dr. Cooper was just checking the injury for the recovery process.

#4 Nick Kurtz has really set the tone at the Sacramento A’s since breaking in. He had that four home run game, he’s up to 32 home runs and is hitting .298, 32 home runs, 112 hits, and 80 RBIs. He’s a top candidate for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

#5 The Chicago Cubs who are in first place for the NL Wild Card and are looking to shore up some pitching activated right hander Michael Soroka off the 15 day IL on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs intend to use Soroka as a reliever. Soroka threw for two innings on Monday night in the Cubs 4-0 shutout win.

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.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Giants Watch Playoff Hopes Dwindle Losing to Diamondbacks 8-1

San Francisco Giants Casey Schmitt who hit a third inning home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks is greeted in the dugout by teammates at Chase Field in Phoenix on Mon Sep 15, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Every game going forward is critical for the San Francisco Giants (75-74). They have to break out of their current funk after dropping two games to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend. Going into Monday night’s series with the Arizona Diamondbacks (75-75) the Giants have to at the very least win the series.

It did not go as planned and San Francisco got walloped by Arizona 8-1. You could see the pain and disappointment etched on the faces of the players in the dugout. This not how they wanted to start this series.

Casey Schmitt hit a solo home run to get San Francisco on the board but that would be it for the Giants. They only had two hits in the entire game. With Monday night’s loss, Tuesday’s game takes on even more importance.

Game notes: Arizona took an early lead in this game 1-0. A pickoff error from Giants pitcher Kai-Wei Teng allowed Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo to score for the one-run lead. The Giants answered back in the third inning to tie up the game at one apiece.

Casey Schmitt homered to center for the tie. With the game tied this was anybody’s game and San Francisco had a nice opportunity to take the lead going into the fourth inning. It didn’t even come close to happening.

Unfortunately the rest of the game was all Arizona. The Diamondbacks did not score agains until the sixth inning but they broke this game wide open in the sixth scoring 6 runs taking a 7-1 lead.

Ildemaro Vargas singled driving two runners, Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno home for a 3-1 lead and they never looked back. The Diamondbacks followed that up with a Jordan Lawlar double that drove Blaze Alexander home and extended their lead to 4-1.

A James McCann 2-run home run upped their score to 6-1. Arizona was hot and showed no signs of letting up. Perdomo tripled Jake McCarthy home for a 7-1 lead.

The Diamondbacks finished San Francisco off in the eighth inning. Again it was Geraldo Perdomo at the plate doing more damage doubling. Jake McCarthy scored on that double for the 8-1 lead that turned out to be the final.

It was an awful game for the Giants managing only two hits. With the 8-1 loss Monday, Tuesday’s game takes on even more importance putting pressure on the mound and at the plate. They have to get the bats working because they were positively stagnant at the plate.

The Giants started a three-game series with the Diamondbacks only to lose a critical game at Chase Field and drop back two games in the NL Wild Card race.

Game notes: Every game going forward is crucial because of this traffic jam in the National League race for the third wild card spot. The Mets and the Reds were both off Monday night. Right now the Reds are tied with the Giants for second place in the NL Wild Card.

The Giants lost Monday’s game against the Diamondbacks. They are coming off a horrendous loss to the Dodgers 10-2 Sunday. They have to start stringing hits together if they want to have any chance to string wins together.

They do have the time, although limited, to do just that but losing now is not an option. They have to get the bats working and of course there have been some rough starts on the mound for the team. For Giants starter Kei Wei Teng pitched four innings, two hits, didn’t allow a run, one walk and five strike outs. but relievers Joey Lucchesi and Keaton Winn gave up runs in the ninth inning as the Diamondbacks piled it on.

First pitch in Tuesday’s game two is scheduled for 6:40 PM. Right now the Giants are undecided as to who will take the mound. The Diamondbacks will start Eduardo Rodriguez. He has a 8-8 win/loss record and a 4.98 ERA.