Tampa Bay Rays – Sports Radio Service

MLB The Show podcast Tony Renteria: What are the factors that led to SF’s 6 game skid?; Braves on MLB’s best start; plus more news

Published on May 5, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Atlanta Braves Drake Baldwin (right) celebrates after hitting a two run home run against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Sat May 2, 2026 (AP News photo)

MLB The Show podcast Tony Renteria:

#1 How have the Tampa Bay Rays managed to maintain their hot streak, and what are the key factors behind the San Francisco Giants’ six-game losing skid?

#2 Braves’ dominant start to the season What has fueled the Atlanta Braves’ league-best start, and how significant is rookie pitcher JR Ritchie’s early impact on their success?

#3 Padres ownership change What could the potential long-term effects be of the San Diego Padres’ new ownership group on team spending, culture, and competitiveness?

#4 Astros vs. Dodgers rivalry renewed How does the ongoing rivalry between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers—rooted in the 2017 World Series—continue to influence current matchups and player performances?

#5 League-wide tensions and fan reactions What do recent fan protests (such as those seen in Boston) reveal about growing frustrations with MLB team management, and how might this impact front-office decisions?

Join Tony Renteria does the MLB The Show podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez: Giants looking to break out of six game skid Monday against Padres

Published on May 4, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Shortstop Taylor Walls #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays turns a double play against the San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field on May 03, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Calvin Hernandez/Getty Images)

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez:

#1 How did the pitching matchup between Tyler Mahle and Steven Matz influence the pace and outcome of the game at Tropicana Field?

#2 What were the key moments that allowed the Tampa Bay Rays to secure a 2–1 walk-off victory in extra innings?

#3 How did Jonathan Aranda’s performance (including his 4-hit game) impact the final result for Tampa Bay?

#4 In what ways did the Giants struggle offensively during this game and the broader road trip leading up to it?

#5 How did small-ball tactics—like bunts and situational hitting—help the Rays tie the game late and eventually win?

Lincoln Juarez filled in for Marko Ukalovic. Lincoln does the Giants podcasts Fridays and Marko regularly does the Giants podcast each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants Finish Off Torturous Road Trip Losing to Tampa Bay 2-1 In a Walk-off; San Francisco suffers sixth straight loss

Published on May 3, 2026May 3, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants Rafael Devers (right) flexes after hitting a double against the Tampa Bay Rays and second baseman Ben Williamson (left) at the Tropcana in Tampa Bay on Sun May 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Despite leading 1-0 going into the ninth inning, the San Francisco Giants (13-21) were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays (21-12) 2-1. This marked their sixth loss in a row and their second sweep in a row for the Giants.

Game recap: The Giants offense continues to sputter and despite some pretty good pitching and defense Sunday San Francisco has a huge offensive hurdle to get over as they head home for their next series Monday night. They did hit four doubles in Sunday’s game but they cannot string hits together as the Giants saw throughout this entire road trip.

The Giants got after it early scoring a run in the first inning. Rafael Devers doubled followed by a Casey Schmitt single that drove Devers home for the first run of the game and a 1-0 lead. This is the first time San Francisco has led in this series and they will be looking for some insurance runs. Unfortunately as this game progressed those insurance runs were nowhere to be found.

San Francisco was having some improved offensive with the two runners on base in the first inning, two runners on base in the third inning but that would be it for the Giants. They would either go three and out or a single here or a double there but they were not stringing hits together. Both teams were actually struggling offensively. Through seven innings five hits for the Giants and five for the Rays.

The 1-0 San Francisco lead held through eight innings. The Giant’s starting pitcher Tyler Mahle went 5.1 innings allowing four hits, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He was relieved in the sixth inning by Matt Gage who closed out the sixth.

Gage was relieved by Keaton Winn in the seventh inning. Ryan Walker took the mound in the eighth inning. So far the Giants had kept the Rays off the scoreboard but the 1-0 lead was far too close for comfort.

Walker got into a bit of a jam in the eighth inning. He walked Junior Caminaro followed by a Jonathan Aranda single and the Rays had runners at first and third. Ryan Vilade bunted, Caminaro scored and this game was tied going into the ninth inning. San Francisco was going to need some more offense.

Luis Arraez, Chapman and Adames would lead off the ninth inning. It did not go well with Arraez grounding out, Chapman fouling out and Adames striking out. The San Francisco defensive needed to step up and avoid a Tampa Bay walk-off.

There had been no home runs in this game so Tampa Bay was a hit away from winning the series. The Giant’s Caleb Kilian took the mound looking to extend this game into the tenth inning. Kilian got through the inning sending this game into extra innings and San Francisco had another chance to salvage this game.

The Giants went three and out in the top of the tenth going on to face some of the big Tampa Bay hitters. Kilian remained in the game facing Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Ryan Vilade. Caminero was intentionally walked and then disaster hit. Aranda singled Simpson home for the 2-1 walk-off win. San Francisco had lost six games in a row and suffered their second sweep in a row.

Game notes: It has been a forgettable road trip for the Giants getting swept by the Phillies followed by getting swept by the Rays. Sunday they finish up the series and just couldn’t avoid a second sweep in a row. This road trip has been plagued by poor offense pure and simple.

It has not been a happy time for the Giants. Seeing Matt Chapman going 2 for 21 from the plate is just crazy. Willy Adames former leadoff batter now batting sixth. There have been numerous roster changes trying to shake things up to no avail so far.

All of that aside, the Giants just wanted to get back in the win column Sunday but couldn’t hold in the bottom of the ninth inning to avoid the sweep and move on to their next series at home with the San Diego Padres on Monday. San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle went 5.1 innings allowed four hits, one walk and five strike outs. For Tampa Bay starter Steven Matz six innings, four hits, one earned run, two walks, and a strike out.

It had been a torturous road trip for the Giants and more then anything the Giants just want to turn their circumstances around. On this road trip they had an average 1.5 runs per game, no home ruins, they were shut out twice and they did get runners on base but continually left them stranded.

On top of that they put immense pressure on their pitchers. A lot to repair and it all comes down to the offense. It will be a quiet flight home for the Giants as they start another series Monday night at Oracle Park with the San Diego Padres.

The Giants starter RHP Trevor McDonald (0-0 ERA 0.00) will take the mound Monday night. The Padres will start Randy Vasquez who has a 3-0 win/loss record and a 2.94 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 6:45 PM.

Giants Continue To Struggle Losing Fifth In a Row – Rays Dominate Winning 5-1

Published on May 2, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Tampa Bay second baseman Richie Palacios (left) tags out San Francisco Giants baserunner Casey Schimtt (10) attempting to steal second base at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Sat May 2, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (13-20) lost a second game in their series to the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1.The Giants will be looking to avoid a second sweep in a row Sunday in game three of the three game set in Tampa Bay.

No matter how you look at it, nothing is working for the Giants right now. It’s a hot mess, the answers are slow to come and it’s just pure frustration for San Francisco. They have been moving the starting line ups around trying to right the ship. Nothing seems to be working for San Francisco.

Game recap: The first three innings were scoreless neither team able to generate much offense. The Giants had a single in the first, three and out in the second and a walk in the third inning but not much else. The Rays had much the same with a single in the first, a three and out in the second and a single in the third.

San Francisco had a fourth inning single but the Rays showed some signs of turning things around. Tampa Bay hit a couple of singles (Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda) and with the two runners on base, Jake Fraley singled, their third of the inning, driving Caminero home for the first run of the game taking a 1-0 lead.

The Giants had another quiet inning with a Drew Gilbert single in the fifth but that would be all. The game then went into a very long bottom of the fifth that saw the Giants load the bases. Giants pitcher Landon Roupp walked two runners and allowed a double and two singles.

The Rays Hunter Feduccia doubled to start the bottom of the inning followed by a Taylor Walls walk. Chandler Simpson successfully bunted loading the bases. Cedric Mullins also walked and the Rays had a second run now leading 2-0.

Jonathan Aranda singled driving Simpson and Walls home extending the Rays lead out to 4-0. The Giants then brought in Matt Gage to relieve Roupp. He did give up a walk but got out of the inning.

San Francisco finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. Luis Arraez doubled and Rafael Devers also doubled driving Arraez home and the Giants had their first run of the game.

That would be the only run but the San Francisco offense finally had a two hit inning a good sign that things may be turning around for the Giants in this game. The Rays went three and out in the bottom of the inning more good news but it was late in the game and San Francisco needed to make a move. Ryan Borucki relieved Gage in the sixth inning. Gage allowed no runs and no hits and only one walk.

Just when it looked like things were turning around, the Giants struggled through the top of the seventh inning. They had a Heliot Ramos single but not much else. The Giants had a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh inning; Gregory Santos came in to relieve Borucki who finished with no hits, no runs and no walks. Santos got out of the inning and it was onto the eighth.

Arraez had his third hit of the game in the top of the eighth but that would be the only hit for the Giants in the inning. It was just more of the same for San Francisco. The Rays scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth driving their lead to 5-1. Jonny DeLuca who had doubled scored on a throwing error.

The Giants were down to their final three outs in the game. Casey Legumina would take the mound looking to close out this game for the Rays. Matt Chapman would strike out, Willy Adames lined out and Ramos ground out and that was the ball game. The Giants had lost their fifth game in a row their longest drought this season. The final was 5-1.

It was just more of the same for San Francisco. They had only scored one run in this entire series. Frustration abounds and just when it looked as if things were turning around with three series wins in a row it all unraveled. We can see why it is happening but turning it around is really tough to figure out. San Francisco has been through this before last season although it happened much later in the season.

Giant post game notes: Saturday evening the Giants took on the Rays in game two of their three game series. San Francisco is in deep trouble offensively unable to generate hits let alone runs. A quandary considering the roster. They have some outstanding players on this team and so it is a real mystery.

The bottom line is that this team somehow has to get going offensively. So easy to say but far more difficult to actually do. The Giants Chung Hoo Lee hit in top the batting order in an effort to shake things up trying to determine what is going to gets things turned around Lee went 0-4 without a basehit. The team desperately needs their offense to heat up.

The Giants will get one last chance Sunday to avoid a second sweep in a row. Tyler Mahle will take the mound with a 1-4 win/loss record and a 5.87 ERA. The Rays will start Steven Matz. He has a 4-1 win/loss record with a 4.31 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 10:40 AM.

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez: Rays beat Ray doesn’t get run support in 3-0 SF loss

Published on May 1, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) puts the tag on San Francisco Giants Luis Arraez (right) after trying to stretch a double into a triple in the top of the fourth inning at the Tropicana in Tampa Bay on Fri May 1, 2026 (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln:Juarez:

#1 The Tampa Bay Rays Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero both hit home runs and Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan pitched six quality innings as the Rays blanked the Giants 3-0 Friday night.

#2 The Rays Taylor Walls hit a double to lead off the sixth inning and then stole third base and wound up scoring on Chandler Simpson’s sac fly for the Rays third and final run of the game.

#3 McClanahan was going smooth sailing unti the top of the fifth when the Giants Rafael Devers and Jung Hoo Lee both singled that put them both on first and third base. McClanahan got Jerar Encarnacion to hit into a double play that ended the inning. McClanahan allowed five hits and struck out five batters.

#4 Ray allowed three runs and four hits in six and one third innngs of work. Ray gave up a bunt single to Simpson and later picked Simpson off at first base when Simpson was trying to seal three pitches later on. Ray pitched well enough to win but didn’t get the run support.

#5 Giants go at it again on Saturday afternoon they’ll start RHP Landen Roupp (5-1 ERA 2.55) he’ll be opposed by the Tampa Rays RHP Griffin Jax (1-2 ERA 6.35) first pitch 3:10pm PDT.

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

Giants Generate Little Or No Offense Getting Shutout by Rays 3-0

Published on May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Once again San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray throws to the Tampa Bay Rays line up at the Tropicana in Tampa Bay in the opening game of the three game series on Fri May 1, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

After getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies this week the San Francisco Giants (13-19) lost their fourth game in a row losing to the Tampa Bay Rays (19-12) 3-0 at the Tropicana in Tampa Bay. The Giants couldn’t get much offense going at all. It’s just more frustration for San Francisco as they watch their season record plummet. They only had six hits in the game and seldom had two runners on base in an inning.

Game recap: There was not a whole lot going on in the first inning for either team. The Giants went three up three down and the Rays had a single. Chandler Simpson had that single but was thrown out stealing second.

The Rays were first up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. Yandy Diaz hit a solo home run to right for an early 1-0 lead. Tampa Bay would add to that in the fourth inning with another long ball off the bat of Junior Caminero another solo home run for a 2-0 lead. The Giants went three and out in both the third and fourth innings. San Francisco had a very sluggish start in this game.

The Giants got some offense going in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth inning they got a couple of hits and left Rafael Devers stranded on third base. They also got a hit in the sixth but the inning came to an end when Heliot Ramos grounded into a double play. San Francisco had generated some offense but had nothing to show for it.

The Rays would score another run in the bottom of the sixth inning extending their lead to 3-0. Taylor Walls doubled followed by a Simpson sacrifice. Walls scored on that sacrifice and the Rays had it all going on going into the seventh inning while San Francisco was running out of time to make any impact in this game.

Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray finished 6.1 innings allowing 4 hits, 3 runs (2 home runs) striking out 5. He was relieved by JT Brubaker who took over in the seventh inning. The Tampa Bay starting pitcher Shane McClanahan went six innings before being relieved by Ian Seymour in the seventh inning.

The Giants had a single in the seventh inning but you are not to go anywhere if you can’t string out some hits. This game was headed in the wrong direction for the Giants. Going into the eighth inning San Francisco was looking at not only a loss but possibly a shutout. The Rays had gone three and out in the bottom of the seventh.

It was just at a standstill for the Giants going three and out in the eighth. With two outs in the ninth inning, it was up to Luis Arraez to keep this game going. He ground out and that was the ball game with the Rays winning. This was the seventh shutout this season for San Francisco as they drop to a season record of 13-19.

Game notes: Friday evening, the Giants traveled to Tampa Bay for a three-game series with the Rays. The Giants have lost four games in a row getting swept this week by the Phillies and losing the opening game of the series to Tampa Ray.

The Giants lost both ends of the doubleheader Thursday on walk-offs. San Francisco had some great opportunities in the late innings of both of those games but just couldn’t pull off a win in either.

On Friday in Tampa Bay, Giants pitcher Robbie Ray once again started and threw a game good enough to win but didn’t get the run support in the 3-0 loss. Ray went 6.1 innings, allowed four hits, three runs, and five strike outs. For Rays starter Shane McClanahan a quality start pitching six innings allowing five hits and struck out five.

The Giants need to generate offense if they plan on winning any games in this series. These guys have some great hitters on their roster but the offense is just stagnant right now.

The Giants plan on starting Landen Roupp in game two of the series on Saturday. He has been pitching well and comes into the game with a 5-1 win/loss record and a 2.55 ERA. The Rays will start Jesse Scholtens (2-1 ERA 3.20). First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:10 PM PDT Saturday afternoon.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Pads on hot streak face Bucs; Nats struggling for pitching battle Cards; plus more news

Published on April 7, 2026 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Diego Padres pitcher German Marquez was dealing against the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching six and striking out four at PNC Park in Pittsburgh in the Padres 5-0 win on Mon Apr 6, 2026 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Can the San Diego Padres carry their momentum into Pittsburgh? After an emotional series win over Boston, highlighted by late-game heroics, the Padres cooled off a hot Pirates team shutting them out 5-0 on Monday.

#2 Will the Washington Nationals’ pitching struggles continue against the Cardinals? With one of the worst ERAs in baseball early on, this series could reveal whether Washington can stabilize or spiral further.

#3 How will the Dodgers vs. Blue Jays matchup play out with star power on both sides? With hitters like Freddie Freeman heating up and strong pitching matchups, this game was one of the day’s marquee contests as the Dodger squashed the Jays on Monday night baseball 14-2.

#4 Can the Tampa Bay Rays build momentum after returning to Tropicana Field? After a long absence due to stadium damage, their home opener brings both emotional energy and long-term franchise questions.

#5 Which teams will maintain early-season momentum—or collapse—after a wild weekend of results? With surprising sweeps, extra-inning thrillers, and tight games across the league, Monday’s slate will test which trends are real.

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

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Padres back in post season for 4th time in last 6 seasons; Braves Albies out with fractured hand; plus more news

Published on September 23, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Diego Padres pitcher Jeremiah Estrada is fired up after getting the third out against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park in San Diego on Mon Sep 22, 2025 (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The San Diego Padres for the fourth time are back in the post season within the last six years. The Pads clinched on Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-4, the Brewers did it in a 11 innings victory against the NL Central champions Milwaukee Brewers.

#2 Ozzie Albies the Atlanta Braves second baseman had to leave on Monday in a game against the Washington Nationals when he fractured his hamate bone in his left hand. Albies was in pain after fouling off a pitch while hitting against the Nats RHP Konnor Pilkington. Albies stayed at the plate for one more pitch but then walked toward the dugout and went to see the trainer. Former A’s second baseman Nick Allen came into replace Albies.

#3 The sale of the Tampa Bay Rays has been approved by the MLB owners and the club has been purchased by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski. The sale allows previous Rays owner Stu Sternberg to close the sale. The Rays who said on Sep 17th that the sale would close close to the last day of the regular season. Sternberg owned the team from Nov 2005 and renamed the team from Devil Rays to Rays in 2008.

#4 He’s 41 years old and he’s returning to the Atlanta Braves for the third time veteran pitcher Charlie Morton was signed by the Braves after the Detroit Tigers designated Morton for assignment. Braves manager Brian Snitker didn’t say one way or the other if Morton will pitch during the last week of the regular season.

#5 The Sacramento A’s who went 3-3 on their last road trip in Boston and Pittsburgh open up a six game homestand tonight in Sacramento against the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. The A’s had a rough trip losing to the Pirates Sunday 11-0 and losing second baseman Zack Gelof for the rest of the season due to a left dislocated shoulder. The A’s are hoping to finish the season on a positive note when face the Astros Tuesday night at Sutter Health Park.

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

Webb dominant, and Giants snap skid with 7-1 exorcism over Rays

Published on August 17, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants centerfielder Jung Hoo Lee (51) makes a spectacular catch off his glove, thigh, calf, and between his legs off Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Aug 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025

Oracle Park

San Francisco, California

Tampa Bay Rays 1 (61-64)

San Francisco Giants 7 (60-64)

Win: Logan Webb (11-9)

Loss: Ryan Pepiot (1-2)

Time: 2:16

Attendance: 38,876

By Stephen Ruderman

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants had a late exorcism, sparked by a four-run bottom of the sixth inning, to snap their seven-game losing streak, and get a much-needed 7-1 win over the Rays Sunday.

You all know what’s going on. The Giants have dropped seven-straight, as well as 15 of their last 16 and 19 of their last 22 games at home. Overall, they have gone 18-35 since June 13, and 7-21 since July 11. Plain and simply, they needed a win Sunday to show at the very least that they still had some fight in them.

Of course Logan Webb was on the mound Sunday, because the Giants can almost never win a game prior to one of his starts. Webb set the tone nicely with a one, two, three, top of the first inning.

Jung Hoo Lee then lined a double off the wall down the right field line to lead off the bottom of the first against Rays’ starter Ryan Pepiot. With the leadoff double, things felt different, almost as if the Giants were going to have a good day Sunday. So of course the Giants wasted it, as Pepiot set down the next three.

Webb continued to deal, and the game turned into a pitcher’s duel just like Saturday night. In fact, Webb retired 12 of the first 13 men he faced. Pepiot, meanwhile, threw one, two, three innings in the second and third, and worked out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth.

Webb ran into trouble in the top of the fifth, as the Rays put runners at first and second with one out after first-baseman Dominic Smith made an errant throw to second while trying to start a double play. However, Everson Pereira grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning, and Webb got out of it.

Webb settled back down to throw a one, two, three, top of the sixth, and Pepiot set down the first two men he faced in the bottom of the sixth. However, another opportunity would present itself for the Giants with two outs.

Heltio Ramos lined a base-hit to left field, and Devers singled to right. Adames then walked on four pitches to load the bases for Dominic Smith, who has been swinging the bat well, and has collected several big hits here in August.

You would think that the Giants would waste another opportunity, but Smith finally broke the ice with a broken-bat single down the right field line to knock in a pair. When right-fielder Jake Mangum’s throw came into second, Adames broke for the plate, and just got in ahead of the tag. Smith went down to second, and the Giants suddenly had a 3-0 lead.

There was a real roar from the 38,876 in attendance at Oracle Park this afternoon. It wasn’t one of those sarcastic cheers; it was a sincere expression of joy and excitement by the Giants’ faithful, who have had very little to cheer about over the last month.

Christian Koss then lined a double to left to knock in Adames and make it 4-0. For the record, It was a double, because left-fielder Chandler Simpson fell on his behind while trying to field the ball, and they gave Koss the time he needed to take second.

Do you want to know how bad things have been? The bottom of the sixth was the Giants’ first four-run inning in exactly two weeks. The Giants put up a four-spot and five-spot in their win against the Mets in New York on Aug. 3.

Nevertheless, the Giants got a much-needed crooked number in the bottom of the sixth. Adames, who had boldly taken home after Smith’s base-hit, was riling the troops and dancing around the dugout after Koss’ double. Even after everything the Giants have gone through since the All-Star Break, Adames is still doing everything he can to spark this team.

Webb came back out for the top of the seventh and threw a scoreless inning to cap off one of his best starts of the season. Webb gave up just three hits, and didn’t walk a single guy, while striking out seven over seven strong shutout innings.

It was almost identical to Verlander’s outing last night. However, unlike last night the Giants wouldn’t blow it today.

Drew Gilbert stepped up to the plate to lead off the bottom of the seventh against Rays’ reliever Mason Englert. Gilbert came into this at-bat 1-for-20 as a big leaguer, with his one hit being a broken-bat bloop single Monday night against the Padres.

Gilbert proceeded to hit a home run to the arcade out in right on a ball he knew was gone the second it left his bat. Tyler Fitzgerland then stepped up, and he immediately followed it up with a home run to left to make it 6-0.

The Rays would get on the board with a run off the struggling Tristan Beck in the top of the eighth. However, the Giants responded with a run in the bottom of the eighth, and it was Gilbert who got the two-out base-hit to right to knock in the run.

This turned out to be a big day for the Giants’ young outfielder. Despite his slow start at the plate, Gilbert has shown some potential with his strong arm and his ability to field balls off the tough 24-foot-high Willie Mays Wall in right.

Keaton Winn finished off the game with a one, two, three top of the ninth, and the Giants got their win.

Logan Webb got the win, and Ryan Pepiot took the loss.

The Giants get their 60th win, and improve to 60-64.

Now the Giants will head down to San Diego to take on the Padres for four games starting Monday night. The Giants have won six out of their last eight on the road, and the Padres were just swept by the Dodgers in Los Angeles, so the Giants could have an opportunity to try and get back towards the .500 range.

However, that may be a tad difficult, considering the Giants will then go to Milwaukee for three next weekend to take on a Brewers’ team that had their 14-game winning streak snapped today.

Anyway, Robbie Ray (9-6, 2.98 ERA) will take the ball in the series opener for the Giants at Petco Park Monday night. The Padres starter RHP Nestor Cortes (1-1 ERA 5.71).

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

Giants’ bullpen meltdown spoils Verlander gem as losing streak reaches seven games; Rays get by SF 2-1

Published on August 16, 2025August 17, 2025 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

San Francisco Giants’ Justin Verlander walks to the dugout after pitching against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants bullpen blew a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning and the Giants suffer another late-game loss 2-1. Giants pitcher Justin Verlander threw his best start of the year and went seven innings deep for the first time as a Giant.

Fans entering Oracle Park Saturday night hoped that Bay Area rapper Saweetie wouldn’t be the most entertaining thing they saw.

Looking to avoid a sixth straight series loss at home, which has only happened once in the history of Oracle Park (2008), the Giants turned to 42-year-old Justin Verlander to put an end to what’s been a miserable losing streak.

Still with just one win on the season, Verlander made his 21st start of 2025 Saturday night. He allowed five earned runs last Sunday when the Giants got torn apart by the Washington Nationals 8-0. Other than recording his 3,500th strikeout Sunday afternoon, Verlander did not provide much else in the defeat.

Saturday night, Verlander looked stellar. Through his seven innings of work he tallied 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, and 8 strikeouts. The seven innings he threw Saturday night made for the longest outing of his 2025 campaign and his best outing as a Giant to date.

The Giants could only put together one run of offense for their Hall of Fame starter who earned his 3,511th career strikeout Saturday night allowing him to pass Walter Johnson on the all-time strikeout leaderboard.

In his 21 starts following Saturday’s no-decision, the Giants have provided just 38 runs of support. That put him at third fewest runs of support for pitchers across the majors with at least 20 starts.

Saturday night was also the seventh time this season that Verlander exited a game inline for the win. The Giants have only won one of those games.

Through the struggles Verlander has faced he’s managed to put together some quality starts giving the Giants chances to win ballgames. Bob Melvin said postgame when asked what that says about Verlander, “That’s why he’s gonna be a Hall of Famer”.

Worse than the Giants not being able to help with the bats, the bullpen couldn’t preserve the win as Jose Butto recorded two outs on two pitches but lost his command in the eighth. Matt Gage replaced him after the Rays tied the game at 1-1 and couldn’t hang on either. A hit-by-pitch and three singles allowed the Rays to rally for two runs to take a late lead in the eighth and they wouldn’t look back.

The Giants went down one, two, three, in the home eighth and struck out three consecutive times following a Jung Hoo Lee single in the bottom of the ninth.

San Francisco has lost seven in a row and 15 of their last 16 home games, marking the worst 16-game stretch at home since 1901.

Sunday afternoon is game three of the series where the Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (8-9 ERA 3.86) will face the Giants RHP Logan Webb (10-9 ERA 3.34), as Webb will take the mound to try and put an end to the losing streak.

First pitch 1:05pm at Oracle Park.