Game Wrap 5/24/2026: Giants 8 White Sox 5

Rafael Devers' grand slam home run in the 5'th inning broke the game open and the Giants hung on for the win.  Key Lines:

WillyAdames SS- 1 for 4, 2B, BB, 2 R.  BA= .233.  I am not a big fan of Adames leading off but he got the job done today against a talented but inexperienced lefty.

Luis Arraez 2B- 0 for 2, 2 HBP, Sac.  BA= .320.  Arraez got hit twice.  Recall the Giants hit 3 White Sox batters in one inning on Friday.  Was this payback or just a wild rookie pitcher?  Seems a bit suspicious that the first one hit him in the butt and the second in the right kidney area of his back, but why Arraez?  Schultz was taken out of the game right after the second plunk.  

Casey Schmitt 1B- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(11), BB, 3 R, 3 RBI.  BA= .296.  Schmitt is having himself a breakout season, at least so far.  He showed plus bat-to-ball skill in the minors but swung at everything.  It's been fun to see him improve his pitch recognition and put that hit tool to work.  He didn't have to become a walk machine.  Just lay off the easy takes which he mostly does now.  

Rafael Devers DH- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(7), R, 5 RBI.  BA= .245.  The double was hit harder and went farther but bounced off the brick wall in Triples Alley.  The White Sox CF played it well holding Devers to a double.  Jon Miller said it would have been a HR in every other ballpark.  

Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 4.  BA= .240.  Chapman is batting .400 over his last 7 games.  So now the Giants finally have the "big three" all hitting well at the same time.  Time to put together a winning streak!

Robbie Ray LHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 7 BB, 3 K's, 6/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.60.  Ray huffed and puffed his way through 4 tough innings of his own making.  He threw 92 pitches in 4 innings.  Giants have only had one SP go 6 innings out of the last 5 starts.  

Keaton Winn RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 4/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 1.93.  When Winn came on in the 5'th inning I texted my family and said, "Is it just me or does Tony Vitello choose his relief pitchers using a random number generator?"  Winn did give him 2 scoreless frames but that is a different role than he has had lately. 

Caleb Kilian RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, Save(3).  ERA= 2.42.  Kilian is now tied with Ryan Walker for the team lead in Saves.  The Giants have had only 10 Saves all season and only 16 Save Ops.  Kilian appears to have the stuff for it.  Hopefully appearances like this will help him settle into the role.

Those nasty D'Backs are coming in for a 3-game series starting tomorrow afternoon with Landen Roupp RHP facing long time Giants nemesis Merrill Kelly RHP.  

Down on the Farm: 5/23/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats shut out the Sugarland Space Cowboys 6-0.

Buddy Kennedy 1B/3B- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(6), BB.  BA= .331.

Drew Cavanaugh C- 3 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .400.

Spencer Bivens RHP- 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.04.

Jason Foley RHP- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Ryan Walker RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Tristan Beck RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 4.58.

Wilkin Ramos RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 2.16.  

Drew Cavanaugh started last season in A San Jose. He's hit at ever level.  Can he catch well enough to carry the strong side of a L-R platoon?  There are at least 3 pitchers in this game who I would rather have in the Giants bullpen than Ryan Borucki.  Foley should be ready soon.  The Giants probably want to see him pitch on consecutive days first.

AA: Richmond Flying Squirrels defeated the Binghampton Rumble Ponies 5-1.

Jonah Cox RF- 4 for 4, BB, 3 SB(24).  BA= .417.

Parks Harber LF- 0 for 2, 3 BB.  BA= .340.

Bo Davidson CF- 0 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .277.

Zane Zielinski 2B- 1 for 4, 2B.  BA= .158.

Logan Martin RHP- 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.25.

Will Bednar RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.11.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds outscored the Hillsboro Hops 9-8.

Dakota Jordan CF- 0 for 3, 2 BB, SB(9).  BA= .279.

Gavin Kilen SS- 3 for 5.  BA= .316.

Carlos Gutierrez LF- 2 for 4, BB, SB(11).  BA= .258.

Jean Carlos Sio 2B- 2 for 4, HBP.  BA= .368.

Walker Martin 3B- 1 for 2, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .219.

Lisbel Diaz RF- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(7).  BA= .252.

Cole Hillier RHP- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 4.91.

Liam Simon RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K's, Save(3).  ERA= 4.50.

A: Stockton Ports topped the San Jose Giants 4-3.

Isaiah Barkett DH- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .358.

Jhonny Level SS- 0 for 3, BB, SF.  BA= .331.

Jeremiah Jenkins 1B- 2 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .272.

Dario Reynoso 3B- 1 for 3, 2 BB, SB(5).  BA= .301.

Andy Polanco CF- 1 for 3, 2B, BB, 2 SB(17).  BA= .277.

Ben Bybee RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.73.

Cooper McGrath RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 8.82.

ACL:  Giants beat the Cubs 7-5.

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 1 for 1, 3B.  BA= .421.

Yosneiker Rivas PR/3B- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .412.

Yohendry Sanchez C- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .444.

Alexander Fuentes RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.86.

Josuar Gonzalez came out of the game for a pinch runner immediately after running out the triple to lead off the game.  The first thing I think of when I see that is a hammy.  

Game Wrap 5/23/2026: Giants 10 White Sox 3

Turnabout is fair play and this time it was the Giants who got a grand slam home run from Harrison Bader in a 6-run 5'th inning in a runaway win.  Key Lines:  

Willy Adames SS- 1 for 5, HR(6), R, RBI.  BA= .233.  Believe it or not, Adames has a .286 BA over his last 7 games and .323 over his last 15.  Sure doesn't feel like it.  He's only .213 over his last 30 games which tells you how bad he was for the first half of that.  

Luis Arraez 2B- 2 for 5, 3B, 2 R.  BA= .323.  We should start calling him Luis Two Hits.  Out of 49 games he has 13 2-hit games, 5 3-hit games and one 4-hit game.  Been a long time since the Giants had a hitter like that.

Casey Schmitt LF- 2 for 4, HR(10), SF, R, 3 RBI.  BA= .291.  Seems like Casey might have found a home in LF, at least until Ramos gets back but that may be awhile.

Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .234.  Since coming out of his 7 for 70 or whatever funk, Chapman is batting .346 over his last 7 games.

Bryce Eldridge DH- 2 for 3, BB, R.  BA= .179.  Eldridge is 5 for 15 over his last 4 games.

Harrison Bader CF- 2 for 4, HR(5), R, 4 RBI.  BA= .178.  I remarked to my daughter that Bader may not be much of a hitter but he does run into one once in awhile.  The great part of the grand slam is he would have made an out but the 3B, Vargas, wasn't wearing sunglasses and dropped a foul pop.  

Adrian Houser RHP- 4.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 5 K's, 6/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 5.30.  Giants SP's have struggled to pitch even 5 innings let alone 6 or 7.  

Matt Gage LHP- 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 1.74.

Sam Hentges LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Joel Peguero RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.00.  Put these three with Keaton Winn RHP and Caleb Kilian RHP you start to have the makings of a 5 man bullpen.  Add Brubaker for long relief and you just need a couple more.  Erik Miller LHP can probably stay.  Ryan Borucki LHP needs to go.  Jason Foley RHP is rehabbing in Sacramento.

Robbie Ray LHP will try to bounce back from his last start and win the series facing the fireballing Noah Schultz LHP.

Down on the Farm: 5/22/2026

AAA:  Sugarland Space Cowboys outscored the Sacramento River Cats 7-6.

Buddy Kennedy 3B- 2 for 4.  BA= .325.

Christian Koss SS- 2 for 5, SB(1).  BA= .444.

Grant McCray LF- 2 for 3, BB, SB(9).  BA= .235.

Logan Webb RHP- 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K's, 5/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 0.00.

Carson Seymour RHP- 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 4 K, 7/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.30.

Logan Webb makes a rehab start after receiving an injection for knee bursitis.  Grant McCray is 6 for 8 over his last 3 games and 12 for 28 over his last 8 games.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels doubled the score on the Binghampton Rumble Ponies 10-5.

Jonah Cox RF- 1 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .400.

Bo Davidson CF- 2 for 5, HR(6), SB(2).  BA= .284.

Charlie Szykowny 3B- 1 for 3, 2 BB, SB(3).  BA= .289.

Diego Velasquez 2B- 1 for 2, 2B, BB, HBP, SB(8).  BA= .248.

Greg Farone LHP- 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 7.49.

Tyler Vogel RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, Save(6).  ERA= 2.08.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops 7-3.

Trevor Cohen RF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .270.

Gavin Kilen SS- 2 for 4.  BA= .307.

Jancel Villaroel C- 2 for 4, HR(4).  BA= .268.

Jean Carlos Sio 2B- 1 for 4, HR(3).  BA= .353.

Jacob Bresnahan LHP- 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.93.

Ryan Vanderhei RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.99.

Esmerlin Vinicio LHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 0.44.

A: San Jose Giants destroyed the Stockton Ports 12-0.

Isaiah Barkett 2B- 3 for 4, HBP.  BA= .356.

Jhonny Level DH- 1 for 5, 2B.  BA= .338.

Hayden Jatczak 3B- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .313.

Junior Barajas C- 0 for 2, 3 BB.  BA= .290.

Damian Bravo LF- 2 for 5.  BA= . 286.

Lorenzo Meola SS- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .238.

Jeremiah Jenkins 1B- 2 for 3, 2 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .263.

Jorge Polanco CF- 1 for 4, 2B, SF, SB(15).  BA= .276.

Jose Astudillo RF- 0 for 3, SF, Sac.  BA= .340.

Braydon Risley LHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's, 7/3 GO/AO.  ERA= 2.20.

Alix Hernandez RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.42.

Evan Gray RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA 9.00.

The whole team got in on the act in this game.

ACL:  Guardians topped the Giants 6-5. 

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 1 for 2, 3 BB, SB(4).  BA= .405.

Santiago Camacho C- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .348.

Carlos Concepcion 1B- 2 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .226.

Yosneiker Rivas LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .357.

Carlos De La Rosa LHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.30.

Luke Mensik RHP- 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 5.54.

Game Wrap 5/22/2026: White Sox 9 Giants 4

Trevor McDonald was perfect through 3 innings then inexplicably fell apart in the 4'th inning allowing 7 runs in what was ultimately a 9-run inning, a disaster inning if there ever was one.  Key Lines:

The lineup managed 7 hits and 3 walks with Luis Arraez 2B the only Giant with 2 hits.  

Trevor McDonald RHP- 3.2 IP, 3 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.76.  The 4'th inning was one of the strangest I've ever seen.  How does a team score 7 runs 3 hits and a walk?  The inning goes HBP, HBP(challenged, upheld), fly out, infield single(bases now loaded), walk, double, fielder's choice(run scored, no outs recorded), Strike Out, groundball single, pitching change(Ryan Borucki LHP replaces Trevor McDonald), HBP, Double, infield single/error(Adames), Strikeout.  That's how.  

It seemed like a mistake at the time but in retrospect, Arraez' decision to try for an out at home on a play he could have easily gotten an out at first looms large.  The next batter struck out and that would have ended the inning at 4-0 an the Giants still in the game.  Instead, it led to 5 more runs and an insurmountable 9-0 White Sox lead.  

As to what caused McDonald's meltdown, we've seen several minor league pitchers fall apart when having to pitch out of the stretch after a strong start to a game.  Is that what happened here?  

As it stands, there are only 3 MLB teams with worse records than the Giants as we close in on the 1/3 mark of the season. They have lost 4 games in a row.

Adrian Houser RHP tries to stop the latest skid this afternoon facing Bryan Hudson LHP who comes in with a 1.57 ERA. Hudson might be an Opener.

Down on the Farm: 5/21/2026

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats beat the Sugarland Space Cowboys 8-2.

Drew Cavanaugh C- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .346.

Christian Koss SS- 2 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .500.

Grant McCray LF- 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB.  BA= .226.

Turner Hill RF- 1 for 3, BB, SB(6).  BA= .325.

Aeverson Arteaga 3B- 1 for 2, SF.  BA= .375.

Blade Tidwell RHP- 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 5.63.

Trent Harris RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 5.40.

Gregory Santos RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.57.

Interesting that Arteaga moves over to 3B with Christian Koss at SS.  

AA:  Binghampton Rumble Ponies stomped the Richmond Flying Squirrels 9-2.

Parks Harber LF- 2 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .362.

Maui Ahuna DH- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .238.

Cesar Perdomo LHP- 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 4.42.

Shane Rademacher RHP- 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.40.

A+:  Hillsboro Hops defeated the Eugene Emeralds 6-1.

Jancel Villaroel DH- 1 for 4, HR(3).  BA= .250.  

Robert Hipwell 1B- 1 for 1, 3 BB. BA= .127.

A:  San Jose Giants outscored the Stockton Ports 9-7.

Jhonny Level SS- 4 for 5, 2 HR(9).  BA= .342.

Cam Maldonado CF- 3 for 5, 2B, 3B.  BA= .300.

Hayden Jatczak 1B- 2 for 3, HR(6), 2 BB.  BA= .303.

Damian Bravo LF/CF- 3 for 5.  BA= .281.

Jeremiah Jenkins DH- 2 for 5, HR(4).  BA= .250.

Dario Reynoso 3B- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .300.

Argenis Cayama RHP- 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K's, 7/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.91.

Jhonny Level started the season red hot with his BA peaking at .538 on April 7, then had a bit of a dip with a nadir of .319 on May 16.  He's had a couple of big games since to boost his BA up to .342.  He might be a candidate for early promotion to A+ but Gavin Kilen is playing SS there.  Both look more like future 2B on defense.

ACL:  Giants topped the Mariners 3-2(7 innings).

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 1 for 3, SB(3).  BA= .400.

Luis Hernandez 3B- 2 for 3, 2B, 3B.  BA= .352.

The two bonus babies continue to play up to their pedigree.

Down on the Farm: 5/20/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats blasted the Sugarland Space Cowboys 13-1.

Scott Bandura LF- 1 for 5, 2B, BB.  BA= .200.

Buddy Kennedy 3B- 3 for 4, BB, SB(4).  BA= .329. 

Osleivis Basabe 2B- 1 for 4, HR(4), BB.  BA= .269.

Drew Cavanaugh DH- 3 for 5, 2B, 2 HR(2).  BA= .318.

Jake Holton 1B- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .238.

Grant McCray CF- 2 for 2, 2B, 2 BB, HBP.  BA= .217.

Logan Porter C- 3 for 5, HR(1).  BA= .269.

Aeverson Arteaga SS- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .364.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.35.

Jason Foley RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Ryan Walker RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

A lot going on here.  Scott Bandura moves up to AAA.  Huge game for Drew Cavanaugh.  To my eye he was the best hitter for A San Jose early last year and has hit at every level.  Whiz now has 5 strong starts in a row with a composite line of 1.59, 28.1 IP, 7 BB, 27 K.   The peripherals don't jump out at you but aren't terrible either.  He may be close to ready for another shot in MLB.  Jason Foley continues he rehab assignment.  He's never been a big strikeout pitcher which makes me wonder if he's really Closer material.  If Ryan Walker continues to pitch well in AAA I expect to see him get another shot in SF.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels topped the Binghampton Rumble Ponies 7-6.

Parks Harber LF- 4 for 5, HR(6).  BA= .352.

Adrian Sugastey C- 2 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .263.

Ty Hanchey RF- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(1).  BA= .438.

Jack Payton DH- 1 for 2, BB, SF.  BA= .158.

Will Bednar RHP- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 4.85.

Ben Peterson RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.

Tyler Vogel RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.25.

Parks Harber is raking AA Eastern League as we hoped he would.  Giants seem to have a lot of catchers playing non-catcher positions throughout the organization.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds defeated the Hillsboro Hops 8-3.

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .264.

Dakota Jordan DH- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .288.

Carlos Gutierrez LF- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .252.

Luis De La Torre LHP- 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 4.88.

Cade Vernon RHP- 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 5/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.67.

Liam Simon RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.25.

A:  San Jose Giants outscored the Stockton Ports 7-6.

Isaiah Barkett 2B- 2 for 3, 2 BB, SB(5).  BA= .342.

Jhonny Level SS- 1 for 3, HBP, SF.  BA= .327.

Hayden Jatczak 1B- 3 for 4, HR(5).  BA= .296.

Lorenzo Meola DH- 2 for 4, 2 2B.  BA= .239.

Broedy Poppell RF- 1 for 1, HR(2), 2 BB, SB(6).  BA= .239.

Cooper McGrath RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 10.05.

As someone noted in a comment a day or two ago, this year's San Jose lineup hits like gangbusters but the pitching is dramatically less effective than in past seasons.

ACL:  White Sox beat the Giants 4-1(7 innings).

Josuar Gonzalez SS= 1 for 3.

Leandro Rodriguez RHP- 3.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K's, 3/0 GO/AO.  ERA= 5.79.

Giants had just one hit in the game.