Game Wrap 9/20/2026: Dodgers 3 Giants 1

The Giants lineup was not able to support a 5-inning, scoreless start by Matt Wilkinson and once again the Dodgers broke through against the bullpen to complete a series sweep.  Key Lines:

Jonah Cox 2B- 0 for 3, BB, SB(14), R.  BA= .281.  Cox continues to create runs at the top of the order with his speed.  He walked to lead off the game, stole 2B and scored on Victor Bericoto's(DH) single. Cox has to play every day and bat leadoff next year, has to!  Jung Hoo Lee RF had the only other hit in the game for the Giants and exited the game after fouling a pitch off into his groin area.  Ouch!

Matt Wilkinson LHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 3.65.  This was Wilkinson's best start  and it comes after a pair of scoreless relief appearances.  He should be in the mix either a rotation or long relief role next season.

More sad news for Giants fans as Duane Kuiper announced he has throat cancer and has started treatment.  He plans to be in the booth with Mike Krukow for Kruk's last game as a commentator.  Kuip hopes to be back next season.  Wish both of them the best but it seems pretty clear that a whole era of Giants broadcasting is coming to a close.

The Giants return home for their final homestand with Blade Tidwell RHP taking the mound tomorrow evening Zebby Matthews RHP who comes in with a 4.74 ERA.  Hmm....I wish the Giants had a player named Zebby.

Down on the Farm: 9/19/2026

 AAA:  Reno Aces defeated the Sacramento River Cats 7-4.

Bo Davidson LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .307.

Will Brennan CF- 2 for 3, 2B, SF.  BA= .302.

Eddys Leonard DH- 1 for 4, HR(6).  BA= .210.

Joe Whitman LHP- 5.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.74.

Braxton Roxby RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.78.

Not much to say here.  Final game of the season today.  River Cats are not in the Championship series.  

Game Wrap 9/19/2026: Dodgers 10 Giants 4

A big game by Victor Bericoto was not enough to overcome a relentless Dodger attack on the Giants beleaguered young pitching staff.  

Victor Bericoto DH- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(5), BB 2 R, 2 RBI.  BA= .253.  Bericoto has less than 100 PA's on the season due to prolonged absence on the IL.  That's to bad because this season turned into the perfect opportunity to impress management for a bigger role next season.  He does have one thing going for him which is the Giants need to balance out their suddenly lefty-heavy lineup.  Impressive peformance against Tarik Skubal LHP even if Skubal is a lefty.

Jung Hoo Lee RF- 2 for 4, 2B, RBI.  BA= .276.  Lee's numbers collapsed in September.  Is he starting to break out of it?

Yunior Marte RHP- 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 2 K's, 7/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.66.  Marte held the Dodgers to 1 run in each of the first 4 innings.  OK, that's not great pitching but the score was still tied going to the bottom of the 5'th.  Marte got two quick outs on a GIDP by Max Muncy but then went single, walk to the next two batters and Tony Vitello brought in Philip Abner to face left-batting Josue DePaula.  Yes, THAT Philip Abner!  DePaula walked.  Tommy Edman singled to drive in 2 and Miguel Rojas singled to drive in another with Turner Hill getting the third out on a throw to the plate to nail the trailing runner.  

Duncan Davitt RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 4/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 2.08.  Davitt may be a savvy waiver wire claim.  He has a few more games to prove he should stay on the 40-man roster through the winter with a chance to win a bullpen spot in the spring.

Matt Wilkinson LHP gets another chance to start today against TBD.  

Down on the Farm: 9/18/2026

AAA:  Reno Aces defeated the Sacramento River Cats 6-4.

Darren Baker LF- 1 for 4, SB(5).  BA= .261.

Bo Davidson RF- 3 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .303.

Aeverson Arteaga SS- 1 for 3, 3B, Sac.  BA= .249.

Sam Hentges LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 1.93.

 

Bo Davidson is THE guy at this level right now.  He'll be added to the 40-man roster, before rosters are set this fall.  The only question is whether he will be added before the season ends to get into a few MLB games.

AAA is the only minor league level still playing.

Game Wrap 9/18/2026: Dodgers 8 Giants 2

Another late-inning disaster turned a close game into a route.  Key Lines:

Jung Hoo Lee RF- 1 for 4, HR(10).  BA= .274.  Lee was so good in the middle of the season. Unfortunately despite this HR, he is batting .143 over his last 7 games, .155 over his last 15 and .200 over his last 30.

Scott Bandura DH- 1 for 2, SB(1), R.  BA= .250.  Bandura scored the Giants second run after a single, SB and a 2-out single by Jonah Cox 2B/CF  The SB as a weapon?  What a concept!

Cesar Perdomo LHP- 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 3.72.  Considering he was facing the Dodgers in Dodger Stadium, this is a pretty good line.  Perdomo allowed 3 singles in the 5'th inning but had 2 outs with runners at first and second when Tony Vitello replaced him with Jason Foley RHP.  Dave Roberts countered with.....Max Muncy!  Not sure I like that matchup but I aws following on Gameday and it looked like Perdomo's velocity was down a couple of ticks so maybe that's what Vitello and the coaches were looking at?

Philip Abner LHP- 1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 2 K's, 4 HR.  ERA= 7.23.  Tasked with keeping it close in the bottom of the 8'th inning, Abner gave up 4 home runs, 4!  I thought that might be some kind of record but I looked it up and apparently not.  5 HR's in one inning is the record and it's been done many times.  My friend texted me and asked who Abner is.  I said some random waiver claim.  Next!  

It doesn't get any easier tomorrow evening as TBD faces Tarik Skubal LHP who may be the best pitcher in MLB and comes in with a 2.70 ERA.

Down on the Farm: 9/17/2026

AAA:  Sacramento River Cats shut out the Reno Aces 3-0.

Bo Davidson RF- 1 for 4, HR(10), 3 RBI.  BA= .294.

Victor Bericoto DH- 3 for 4. BA= .288.

Will Bednar RHP- 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 6.33.

Wilkin Ramos RHP- 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.07.

Cristian Alvarado RHP- 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 6.35.

R. J. Dabovich RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 2.45.

Eric Cerantola RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's, Save(6).  ERA= 4.12.

Bo Davidson's second game back from foot injury from foul ball.  He's 1 for 8 over the two games but drove in all 3 of the 'Cats runs with a homer in this one.  Bullpen with a combined shut out.

AA:  Erie Seawolves defeated the Richmond Flying Squirrels 5-3.

Kaeden Kent DH- 1 for 3, HR, BB, 3 RBI.  

Jackson Flora RHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  

Jacob Bresnahan LHP- 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K's. 

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

Kaeden Kent drove in all 3 Squirrels runs with a homer.  Jackson Flora with two dominant innings.  Jacob Bresnahan feel apart in his 4'th inning of work.  Squirrels lose the best of 3 Division Series 2 games to 0.  Very nice season for the much maligned Giants AA squad despite a lot of roster movement over the season.

Down on the Farm: 9/16/2026

 AAA:  Reno Aces edged out the Sacramento River Cats 3-2.

Parks Harber 3B- 2 for 4, 3B.  BA= .271.

Trystan Vrieling RHP- 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 9.68.

Braxton Roxby RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.88.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels had an off day in their best of 3 EL division series. They trail the Erie Seawolves 1 game to 0.

A:  Lake Elsinore Storm overwhelmed the San Jose Giants 13-2.

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 1 for 4, 2B, BB, 2 SB, 2 E.  

Lorenzo Meola 2B- 2 for 4.

Jeremiah Jenkins 1B- 2 for 4, 2B, BB.

Dario Reynoso 3B- 3 for 4, SB.

SJ Giants fall short in the Cal League Championship Series losing 2 game to 1.  All 3 games had lopsided scores.  So what went wrong?  1.  Anything can happen in a short series.  2.  The Giants were primarily a hitting team all season with probably the weakest pitching I remember them having and I've followed them for 20 years.  Pitching tends to dominate in postseason play.  3.  Many of the top players for the regular season moved up to A+ before the postseason.  Overall it was a great season for SJ Giants hitters and a disappointing one for the pitchers.