Down on the Farm: 7/21/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats defeated the Oklahoma City Comets 7-3.

Will Brennan DH- 1 for 5, HR(3).  BA= .333.

Scott Bandura CF- 2 for 4, BB, SB(10).  BA= .286.

Parks Harber 3B- 2 for 4, BB. BA= .375.

Turner Hill RF- 2 for 4, 2B, 3B, SB(20).  BA= .331.

Adrian Sugastey C- 2 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .500.

Trent Harris RHP- 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 3.78.

Joe Whitman LHP- 1.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.97.

Reiver Sanmartin LHP- 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.97.

Michael Fulmer RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.29.

Adrian Sugastey plays his first AAA game.  Is Trent Harris a SP now?  I wondered if Joe Whitman's move to the bullpen was some sort of innings limit but he pitched 117 innings last season in AA.

AA:  Hartford Yard Goats vs Richmond Flying Squirrels postponed by rain.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds outscored the Everett Aquasox 13-8.

Isaiah Barkett 2B- 3 for 6, HR(1).  BA= .294.

Carlos Gutierrez DH- 2 for 4, 2B, SB(21).  BA= .268.

Jakob Christian RF- 2 for 4, 2B, HBP.  BA= .256.

Zander Darby 1B- 2 for 5, HR(9), BB.  BA= .263.

Lisbel Diaz CF- 2 for 6, 2B.  BA= .264.

Walker Martin 3B- 1 for 2, HR(13), 3 BB.  BA= .232.

Jose Astudillo LF- 2 for 3, BB, 2 SB(2).  BA= .267.

Esmerlin Vinicio LHP- 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.11.

A:  Ontario Tower Buzzers beat the San Jose Giants 6-2.

Trey Seeley RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 8.82.

ACL:  Giants shut out the Cubs 6-0(7 innings).

Josuar Gonzalez 2B- 1 for 3, HR(3), BB, SB(8).  BA= .344.

Yulian Barreto 3B- 1 for 3, 2B.  BA= .242.

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

Kendry Castro RHP- 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Marlon Franco RHP- 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 7.15.

What an amazing line for Josuar Gonzalez.  He's missed some time due to a nagging hammy but he's been really, really good when he's played.

DSL:  Giants Black beat Giants Orange 7-2(7 innings).

Djean Macares CF- 1 for 2, 2B, 2 BB, SB(17).  BA= .272.

Franco Willias LF- 1 for 3, HBP, 3 SB(21).  BA= .347.

Keiberg Camacaro SS- 2 for 4, HR(5), SB(19).  BA= .321.

Diego Alambarrio C- 2 for 4.  BA= .247.

Jose Valdez CF- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .256.

Yeison Oviedo 3B- 1 for 2, 2 BB, SB(6).  BA= .346.

Jonathan Valle SS- 1 for 2, 2B, BB, SB(11).  BA= .163.

Santiago Guerrero LHP- 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.59.

Brayan Cabello RHP- 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 1.37.

Game Wrap 7/21/2026: Royals 3 Giants 2

After scoring 3 runs in each of the prior 2 games and losing all 3, the Giants tried something different:  Scoring 2 runs.  They still lost.  Key Lines:

Tyler Mahle RHP- 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 5.31.  Mahle pitched better than the line looks.  He got through 5 innings allowing just a solo HR by Carter Jensen C but then came out for the 6'th inning and walked the leadoff batter and hit the second.  That brought in Sam Hentges LHP to face the lefty batting Vinnie Pasquantino 1B who tied the game with a single.  Hentges then hit another batter to put runners at first and third with no outs.  Hentges struck out the next batter, then gave way to Keaton Winn RHP who gave up a single to drive in the go-ahead run.  Both of those runs were charged to Mahle.  

Meanwhile, the Giants scored their only 2 runs in the 5'th inning on a 2-out double by Jesus Rodriguez C, an RBI single by Drew Gilbert CF, a single by Christian Koss 2B to put runners at the corners.  The second run scored on a throwing error on a fielder's choice by Tyler Tolbert SS which was probably caused by Koss' speed and hustle forcing Tolbert to hurry his throw.

While it probably did not affect the outcome of the game, the 7'th inning saw another apparent managing error by Tony Vitello.  With a runner at 2B and 1 out, the Royals brought in Matt Strahm LHP to face Drew Gilbert.  A quick check of Drew Gilbert's splits shows he was 1 for 28 against LHP's and Vitello had the RH batting Daniel Susac on the bench and also Luis Arraez who is batting .316 against LHP's.  He also had Grant McCray on the bench who could take over for Gilbert in CF and he had Drew Cavanaugh who could catch if something happened to Jesus Rodriguez later in the game.  So, with all scenario's accounted for, instead of pinch-hitting one of those two batters for Gilbert, Tony let Gilbert bat with predictable results.   

The Giants are now 1-4 since the All-Star Break.  They have lost 4 games in a row in which they scored 3 runs or less in all 4 losses.  The have lost the first two series after the break.  Was Luis Arraez held out of the game because of a possible impending trade?  

Landen Roupp RHP tries to be the stopper in a day game facing Seth Lugo RHP who comes in with an ERA of 4.39 and is historically tough on the Giants.  

Oh, and one more thing:  I don't think it's fair that the Giants have to face a Cy Young Award contender every single game.

Down on the Farm: 7/20/2026

 ACL:  Rockies crushed the Giants 12-7(6 innings):

Luis Hernandez SS- 2 or 3, 2B, BB, SB(6).  BA= .298.

Yohendry Sanchez C- 2 for 3, 2 2B, BB.  BA= .322.

Reminder to not sleep on Yohendry Sanchez who got a bigger signing bonus than Jhonny Level in 2024.

DSL:  Giants Black topped Arizona Red 8-7.

Franco Willias LF- 2 for 4, BB, SB(18).  BA= .347.

Djean Macares CF- 2 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .268.

Keiberg Camacaro SS- 1 for 3, HR(4), BB, SB(18).  BA= .314.

Dennys Riera 3B- 2 for 5.  BA= .327.

Diego Villegas 1B- 2 for 5.  BA= .248.

DSL:  Giants Orange crushed Arizona Black 9-4(7 innings).

Jose Valdez CF- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .254.

Yeison Oviedo SS- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .343.

Brandon Vasquez RF- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .321.

Yoxander Benitez 2B- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .279.

Jose Trevizo RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 3.58.

Jhon Leon RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.60.

Game Wrap 7/20/2026: Royals 4 Giants 3

Willy Adames tied the score at 3 with a dramatic opposite-field home run in the top of the 9'th inning only to make a mental mistake by not anticipating a throw to 2B on a sac bunt in the bottom of the 9'th leading to a walk-off win for the Royals.  Key Lines:  

Heliot Ramos LF- 1 for 4, HR(9).  BA= .276.  Ramos hit a monster oppo-field home run in the 4'th inning to give the Giants a short-lived lead.  Doesn't he still have the only splash hit by a RH batter at Oracle Park?

Willy Adames SS- 1 for 4, HR(18).  BA= .228.  Adames' HR was not as long as Heliot's but it drove in Jung-Hoo Lee RF ahead of him to tie the game.  

Daniel Susac C- 2 for 3, 2B, SB(2).  BA= .264.  Nice game for Susac. Unfortunately he did not figure into the scoring. He did make a nice tag at the plate to complete a double play on a potential sac fly.  

Trevor McDonald RHP- 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.12.  McDonald lost his slider somewhere around the second inning and was throwing only sinkers.  Was that due to an injury?  As he completed his warmup for the 5'th inning he appeared to flinch and raise his left shoulder like maybe he was trying to stretch out a muscle in his left side.  After some gestures toward the dugout he appeared to wave the trainer out with his glove.  After some discussion with the trainer and Tony Vitello, he walked off the field and J. T. Brubaker RHP was summoned

J. T. Brubaker RHP- 2.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.74.  Brubaker is eligible for free agency after this season so should be available for trade before the deadline.  I am sure he has some value as a multi-inning reliever for some contending team.  

Caleb Kilian RHP- 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 4.81.  This one was not really his fault.  The leadoff batter, Josh Rojas slapped one just inside the 3B line and was held to a single but Heliot Ramos' quickly getting to the ball.  Adames fateful failure to get to the 2B bag on a sac bunt attempt put runners at first and second with no outs.  A flyball out advanced Rojas to 3B and a safety squeeze that Bryce Eldridge bobbled drove in the walk-off winning run.

The Giants scored 3 runs for the third game in a row losing all three.  This was the 25'th game they have scored exactly 3 runs.  Not sure what their W-L is for those 25 games but I believe it's underwater.

Tyler Mahle RHP tries to break the 3-game losing streak tomorrow evening against Luinder Avila RHP who comes in with an ERA of 5.08.

I came across a Youtube video of a Dave Flemming interview from this morning's Murph and Mac Show on KNBR.  Although he did not call out anyone in management by name, he was rather blunt and pointed in his assessment of the current state of the team and what needs to be done at the trade deadline.  I thought his comments about the Giants approach to building a pitching staff compared to the rest of the league were eyebrow-raising to say the least.

Down on the Farm: 7/19/2026

 AAA:  Sacramento River Cats defeated the Albuquerque Isotopes 5-1.

Scott Bandura RF- 3 for 5,  2B.  BA= .282.

Parks Harber 3B- 2 for 5.  BA= .333.

Turner Hill CF- 2 for 4, SB(19).  BA= .328.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 4.15.

Carson Seymour RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.89.

It's hard to understand why Whisenhunt is still pitching in AAA.  Maybe the trade deadline will clear a way for him to join the Giants rotation.

AA:  Erie Seawolves doubled up the Richmond Flying Squirrels 10-5.

Trevor Cohen CF- 2 for 5.  BA= .133.

Gavin Kilen SS- 2 for 5.  BA= .308.

Dakota Jordan RF- 2 for 5.  BA= .333.

Diego Velasquez 2B- 2 for 4.  BA= .296.

Logan Martin RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.69.

A+:  Hillsboro Hops buried the Eugene Emeralds 12-2.

Carlos Gutierrez LF- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .265.

Walker Martin 3B- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(12).  BA= .230.

Brayan Palencia RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 6.51.

A:  Stockton Ports topped the San Jose Giants 6-3.

Lorenzo Meola SS- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(11).  BA= .264.

Dario Reynoso 3B- 2 for 3, 2B, BB, SB(16).  BA= .294.

Short season/rookie leagues were idle on Sunday as usual.

Game Wrap 7/19/2026: Mariners 6 Giants 3

A familiar mix of not starting pitching, not enough hitting, defensive mistakes and failure of the bullpen to stop the bleeding, in other words a failure in all phases of the game, led to another disheartening loss of the game and the series to the Mariners.  Key Lines:

Bryce Eldridge DH- 1 for 3, HR(10), BB, SB(1), R, RBI.  BA= .275.  Eldridge homered to CF off a 98 MPH FB from Logan Gilbert in the first inning.  He became the first 21 yo Giants player since Jack Clark to hit at least 10 HR's and is on track to beat Clark's record of 13 HR in 1977.  Orlando Cepeda hit 27 as a 21 yo in 1959. 

Casey Schmitt 3B- 1 for 4, SB(9), R.  BA= .278.  Schmitt singled, stole a base and scored in the first inning but then committed 2 fielding errors leading to 2 unearned runs and adding to Robbie Ray's pitch count.

Robbie Ray LHP- 4 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.33.  Ray did not have his best command but he also had to battle the above described defensive breakdowns which added to his pitch count.  He allowed singles to the first two batters in the 5'th inning and one scored when Sam Hentges LHP got a GIDP which tied the game.  

Adrian Houser RHP- 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HR.  ERA= 5.10.  Houser entered a tie game and failed to hold the line.  Of course, the lineup also failed to add any runs.  

The Giants move on to Kansas City with Trevor McDonald RHP facing the ageless Michael Wacha RHP who comes in with an ERA of 3.77.  

It seemed to me the Giants have scored exactly 3 runs in a lot of game this season so I decided to tally it up.  Here is the distribution:

0 Runs- 9

1 Run- 10

2 Runs- 15

3 Runs- 24

4 Runs- 5

5 Runs-7

6-9 Runs- 20

10+ Runs- 8.  

So yes, 3 runs is the mode and median of their run distribution even though their average is 4.11.  Even 4.11 is in the bottom third of the league. So, anyone saying that pitching is the problem, not hitting, is not accurate.  This team does not score enough runs and to much of their run average comes from a handful of blowout games in which they score 10 or more.

Down on the Farm: 7/18/2026

 AAA:  Albuquerque Isotoped blasted the Sacramento River Cats 11-7.

Scott Bandura CF- 3 for 3, 2B, 2 BB.  BA= .273.

Parks Harber 3B- 1 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .286.

Bo Davidson RF- 2 for 5.  BA= .500.

Will Brennan LF- 2 for 5, 2B, SB(5).  BA= .337.

Dayson Croes 1B- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .262.

Zach Morgan C- 1 for 4, HR(1), SF.  BA= .222.

Wilkin Ramos RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.96.

Ryan Walker RHP- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.00.

The new kids are doing well.  Will Ryan Walker get another MLB look?

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels topped the Erie Seawolves 7-6.

Gavin Kilen SS- 1 for 5, 2B.  BA= .250.

Dakota Jordan CF- 1 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .286.

Charlie Szykowny DH- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .248.

Ty Hanchey C- 3 for 5.  BA= .264.

Zane Zielinski 2B- 2 for 4, BB.  BA= .211.

Charlie McDaniel LHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 5.18.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds defeated the Hillsboro Hops 3-1.

Carlos Gutierrez LF- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .261.

Jakob Christian 1B- 1 for 1, HR(9), 2 BB.  BA= .256.

Jacob Bresnahan LHP- 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 2.92.

Mauricio Estrella RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 1.42.

Ryan Slater RHP- 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K's, Save(4).  ERA= 3.98.

A:  San Jose Giants beat the Stockton Ports 6-2.

Jose Ramos 2B- 2 for 5, 3B.  BA= .258.

Lorenzo Meola SS- 3 for 5, 2 2B, SB(12).  BA= .261.

Oliver Tejada LF- 1 for 3, 2B, HBP.  BA= .239.

Jordan Gottesman LHP- 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 4.29.

This was Gottesman's best start since June 3.

ACL:  Angels crushed the Giants 13-2(Completion of suspended game).

Luis Hernandez 3B- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .292.

Rayner Arias DH- 1 for 3, HR(3).  BA= .182.

Argenis Cayama RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.00.

ACL:  Angels outscored the Giants 10-6(7 innings).

Luis Hernandez DH- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .293.

Fernando Gonzalez C- 2 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .500.

Rayner Arias LF/RF- 1 for 3, HR(4), BB.  BA= .196.

2 HR's in one day for Rayner Arias. Is he starting to find a little traction?  That would be a big development for the Giant farm system.

DSL was idle for their All-Star break.