- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,198,605
- Reaction score
- 59
After an 8-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, the San Francisco Giants looked to carry that momentum into the second game of their four-game series. With the 2026 MLB All-Star Game quickly approaching, every game has become increasingly important.
Instead, the Giants suffered a 4-3 loss.
Caleb Kilian was charged with the loss after blowing the save in the ninth inning, dropping to 0-5 on the season.
Robbie Ray took the mound after an outstanding month of June, posting a 1.36 ERA during the stretch.
It marked his best run of the season and, with the MLB trade deadline approaching, his recent success could make him an intriguing trade candidate should the Giants explore that route.
The Giants also had an opportunity to jump ahead early against Rockies starter Tanner Gordon, who entered the game with a 6.95 ERA across 45.1 innings. Given Gordon's struggles this season, San Francisco appeared well-positioned to capitalize.
They did exactly that in the bottom of the second inning.
Rafael Devers launched a solo home run to give the Giants an early 1-0 lead. The homer continued a strong stretch for Devers, who has steadily bounced back after a slow start to the season and has once again become one of the Giants' most dangerous hitters near the top of the lineup.
Over his last 15 games, Devers has posted a .314 batting average with a .407 on-base percentage and a .765 slugging percentage. He has clearly found his rhythm offensively, and the next question is whether he can continue producing at this level as a consistent force in the lineup.
Ray also turned in a solid outing.
He held Colorado scoreless until the fifth inning, when Jake McCarthy delivered an RBI double after Ezequiel Tovar opened the frame with a double. Aside from that sequence, Ray limited the damage and escaped the inning by inducing a groundout from Kyle Karros to Willy Adames.
The sixth inning, however, became far more difficult.
Ray issued three consecutive walks to load the bases with nobody out, forcing the Giants to turn to Dylan Smith. Although the situation looked dire, Smith delivered one of the game's biggest moments by escaping the jam without allowing a run.
Taking over with the bases loaded and no outs leaves almost no margin for error, yet Smith executed flawlessly and preserved the tie.
His performance also prevented Ray from taking the loss.
Overall, it was a decent, though not dominant, outing for the veteran left-hander. Ray finished with 5.0 innings pitched, allowing four hits and one earned run while walking six and striking out four. Three of those walks came in the sixth inning, and without Smith's escape act, Ray's final line and ERA could have looked much worse.
Following Smith, the Giants turned to Keaton Winn and Sam Hentges in the seventh inning. Winn recorded the first two outs before manager Tony Vitello handed the ball to Hentges to finish the frame. The two combined for an efficient inning, throwing just 14 pitches, nine of them strikes.
San Francisco regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Luis Arraez started the rally with a single. Casey Schmitt then worked a walk, setting the stage for Devers, who delivered again with an RBI single to put the Giants back in front, 2-1.
Hentges followed with another scoreless inning in the eighth, sending the Giants into the ninth with a one-run lead.
That lead quickly disappeared.
Kilian entered in a save situation but was unable to record an out.
With the bases loaded, Kyle Karros lined a two-run single to give Colorado a 3-2 advantage. Erik Miller replaced Kilian after the hit, but the damage had already been done. Cole Carrigg later added a sacrifice fly to extend the Rockies' lead to 4-2, with the inherited runner charged to Kilian.
Kilian's final line reflected the rough outing. He allowed three hits, three earned runs, and one walk while throwing 21 pitches without recording an out.
The Giants nearly rallied in the bottom of the ninth.
With the bases loaded and one out, Devers lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one.
Willy Adames then drew a walk to reload the bases, bringing Bryce Eldridge to the plate with two outs. Eldridge, who delivered a walk-off earlier this season, once again found himself in a big moment with the winning run at second base. This time, however, he grounded out to second to end the game.
The Giants and Rockies will continue their four-game series on Saturday. Tyler Mahle (1-8, 5.70 ERA) is scheduled to start for San Francisco, while Colorado is expected to counter with Kyle Freeland (2-7, 7.46 ERA). With the series now even at one game apiece, the Giants will look to bounce back in their next matchup.
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
Instead, the Giants suffered a 4-3 loss.
Caleb Kilian was charged with the loss after blowing the save in the ninth inning, dropping to 0-5 on the season.
Robbie Ray took the mound after an outstanding month of June, posting a 1.36 ERA during the stretch.
It marked his best run of the season and, with the MLB trade deadline approaching, his recent success could make him an intriguing trade candidate should the Giants explore that route.
The Giants also had an opportunity to jump ahead early against Rockies starter Tanner Gordon, who entered the game with a 6.95 ERA across 45.1 innings. Given Gordon's struggles this season, San Francisco appeared well-positioned to capitalize.
They did exactly that in the bottom of the second inning.
Rafael Devers launched a solo home run to give the Giants an early 1-0 lead. The homer continued a strong stretch for Devers, who has steadily bounced back after a slow start to the season and has once again become one of the Giants' most dangerous hitters near the top of the lineup.
Over his last 15 games, Devers has posted a .314 batting average with a .407 on-base percentage and a .765 slugging percentage. He has clearly found his rhythm offensively, and the next question is whether he can continue producing at this level as a consistent force in the lineup.
Ray also turned in a solid outing.
He held Colorado scoreless until the fifth inning, when Jake McCarthy delivered an RBI double after Ezequiel Tovar opened the frame with a double. Aside from that sequence, Ray limited the damage and escaped the inning by inducing a groundout from Kyle Karros to Willy Adames.
The sixth inning, however, became far more difficult.
Ray issued three consecutive walks to load the bases with nobody out, forcing the Giants to turn to Dylan Smith. Although the situation looked dire, Smith delivered one of the game's biggest moments by escaping the jam without allowing a run.
Taking over with the bases loaded and no outs leaves almost no margin for error, yet Smith executed flawlessly and preserved the tie.
His performance also prevented Ray from taking the loss.
Overall, it was a decent, though not dominant, outing for the veteran left-hander. Ray finished with 5.0 innings pitched, allowing four hits and one earned run while walking six and striking out four. Three of those walks came in the sixth inning, and without Smith's escape act, Ray's final line and ERA could have looked much worse.
Following Smith, the Giants turned to Keaton Winn and Sam Hentges in the seventh inning. Winn recorded the first two outs before manager Tony Vitello handed the ball to Hentges to finish the frame. The two combined for an efficient inning, throwing just 14 pitches, nine of them strikes.
San Francisco regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Luis Arraez started the rally with a single. Casey Schmitt then worked a walk, setting the stage for Devers, who delivered again with an RBI single to put the Giants back in front, 2-1.
Hentges followed with another scoreless inning in the eighth, sending the Giants into the ninth with a one-run lead.
That lead quickly disappeared.
Kilian entered in a save situation but was unable to record an out.
With the bases loaded, Kyle Karros lined a two-run single to give Colorado a 3-2 advantage. Erik Miller replaced Kilian after the hit, but the damage had already been done. Cole Carrigg later added a sacrifice fly to extend the Rockies' lead to 4-2, with the inherited runner charged to Kilian.
Kilian's final line reflected the rough outing. He allowed three hits, three earned runs, and one walk while throwing 21 pitches without recording an out.
The Giants nearly rallied in the bottom of the ninth.
With the bases loaded and one out, Devers lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one.
Willy Adames then drew a walk to reload the bases, bringing Bryce Eldridge to the plate with two outs. Eldridge, who delivered a walk-off earlier this season, once again found himself in a big moment with the winning run at second base. This time, however, he grounded out to second to end the game.
The Giants and Rockies will continue their four-game series on Saturday. Tyler Mahle (1-8, 5.70 ERA) is scheduled to start for San Francisco, while Colorado is expected to counter with Kyle Freeland (2-7, 7.46 ERA). With the series now even at one game apiece, the Giants will look to bounce back in their next matchup.
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!
It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
