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.

Game Wrap 5/20/2026: D'Backs 6 Giants 3

This was a close, interesting game until Geraldo Perdomo's 2-run double off Tyler Mahle in the 5'th inning sealed the Giants fate in losing the game and the series sweep.  Key Lines:

Casey Schmitt LF- 1 for 4, HR(9), R, RBI.  BA= .293.  Schmitt gave the Giants an early lead with a solo HR in the first inning.  Significant he started the game in LF.  That's where he should play every day, at least until Heliot Ramos gets back from the IL while Bryce Eldridge DH's every day(more on that later). 

Matt Chapman 3B- 2 for 4, 2 R.  BA= .226.  If you are looking for rays of hope, Chapman is 6 for 20 over his last 5 games.

Bryce Eldridge 1 for 4, 2B, RBI.  BA= .156.  Eldridge doubled in the Giants second run. He hit two other balls that left the bat at over 100 MPH.  He did not strike out.  This on the heels of a 2-hit game on Monday and bafflingly sitting on the bench on Tuesday.  IMO, Eldridge just took away any excuses for not playing him every day.  Remember the Belt Wars?  We now have the Eldridge Wars and isn't it interesting how similar Eldridge looks like The Captain when he's standing at home plate?  This time the war is not between different factions of the fanbase. It's between the fanbase and Giants management as each excuse for him not playing regularly rolls out.  First it was Tony Vitello saying the strategy was to use Eldridge as a "threat" off the bench and his willingness to accept a more limited role made his(Vitello's) job easier.  Sorry for bringing up this name, but that reminds me of when the coach of the Buffalo Bills used OJ Simpson as a "decoy".  The fan and analyst outrage reached the national news media and Eldridge started the next game but then sat the game after his 2-hit game. Then Mike Krukow waded into the controversy by saying he understood why Eldridge wasn't playing because he just didn't look ready to his eye.  Once again the reaction was swift with fans wondering why, if he isn't ready, he is not playing every day in AAA?  Now with 3 hits in his last two game, I am sure fans are locked and loaded waiting to see if he starts Friday night.  Stay tuned for the next battle of the Eldridge Wars! At this point, this team has absolutely nothing to lose by letting him play and learn at the MLB level.

Tyler Mahle RHP- 5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 6 K's.  ERA= 6.10.  It's not unusual for good starting pitchers to be slow out of the gate, but veteran SP's are supposed to be able to right the ship and limit the damage enough to give their team a chance to win in the middle and later innings.  This is doubly true if they get some early run support. Giving up runs at a rate of 6 per 9 innings is not getting that done.  Mahle may survive in the rotation until Logan Webb RHP gets back from the IL but if Trevor McDonald RHP is the odd man out then, the fanbase reaction may look the Eldridge Wars look like a skirmish by comparison.

Keaton Winn RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 2.11.

Sam Hentges LHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Joel Peguero RHP- 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.29.  Another bit of a baffler is why would you use and overworked Keaton Winn in this game and why weren't Hentges and/or Peguero used in Tuesday's game?  

The Loss drops the Giants 10 games below .500 with 4 games to go before the 1/3 mark of the season.  Willy Adames thinks the Giants have a playoff-caliber roster and if they keep grinding, there is plenty of time left to make it.  I looked up on Google AI how many times teams made the postseason after falling 10 game below .500. It's actually happened a surprising number of times so Adames may be right, but at this point the Giants show no signs of turning this around.  

The White Sox are up next and they are coming in hot with three players with double-digit home runs.  Trevor McDonald RHP gets the start for the Giants facing Davis Martin RHP who comes in with a a 6-1 record and a 1.61 ERA.

Down on the Farm: 5/19/2026

Sacramento River Cats outscored the Sugarland Space Cowboys 11-6.

Nate Furman 2B- 2 for 4, HR(3), Sac.  BA= .264.

Buddy Kennedy 3B- 1 for 3, HR(5), BB, HBP.  BA= .317.

Victor Bericoto RF- 2 for 5, 2 HR(6).  BA= .302.

Jake Holton 1B- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(4).  BA= .230.

Reiver Sanmartin LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K.  ERA= 0.00.

Tristan Beck RHP- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.82.

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

Free Victor Bericoto!  Sanmartin is on a rehab assignment.  Tristan Beck made two solid appearances in a brief MLB call up, admittedly in lower leverage situations.  He has 5 consecutive scoreless appearances totaling 9 innings between AAA and MLB.  Wilkin Ramos having a strong AAA season.

AA:  Binghampton Rumble Ponies out hit the Richmond Flying Squirrels 10-7.

Jonah Cox CF- 2 for 5, HR(6), SB(21).  BA= .419.

Parks Harber LF- 1 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .326.

Charlie Szykowny 1B- 3 for 4, 3B, HR(4).  BA= .297.

How long does Jonah Cox need to keep this up before we decide he is too good for AA?  Note Parks Harber playing LF.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds edged out the Hillsboro Hops 2-1.

Zander Darby 2B- 1 for 3, BB.  BA= .355.

Jean Carlos Sio SS- 1 for 3.  BA= .417.

Tyler Switalski LHP- 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K's, 6/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.25.

Niko Mazza RHP- 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 2.08.

A:  San Jose Giants destroyed the Stockton Ports 17-4.

Jhonny Level SS- 3 for 6, 2 HR(7).  BA= .327.

Hayden Jatczak 1B- 2 for 5, 2 2B.  BA= .283.

Junior Barajas C- 3 for 5.  BA= .298.

Cam Maldonado RF- 0 for 2, 2 BB, SB(13).  BA= .292.

Lorenzo Meola 2B- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(4), BB.  BA= .232.

Dario Reynoso 3B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA- .297.

Andy Polanco CF- 3 for 5, SB(14).  BA= .277.

Jose Astudillo LF- 1 for 5.  BA= .362.

Keyner Martinez RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K's, 6/2 GO/AO.  ERA= 5.34.

Mauricio Estrella RHP- 2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 3.52.

Jhonny Level's bat had cooled off a bit but he came roaring back with 2 HR's in this game.

ACL:  Giants were idle.  

Game Wrap 5/19/2026: D'Backs 5 Giants 3

The Giants were one out away from winning a very well-played game when another old nemesis, Ketel Marte, hit a walk-off, 3-run home run in another bullpen failure.  Key Lines:

Rafael Devers 1B- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(6), R, RBI.  BA= .246.  Devers bat is officially alive.  He hit the first of back-to-back HR's in the Giants 3-run 2'nd inning.  He also made several outstanding defensive plays at 1B and looked like he was having fun out there.

Willy Adames 1 for 3, HR(5), BB, R, RBI.  BA= .240.  Adames shook off the hand injury from Monday's game to hit the back side of B2B home runs.  He also made some sparkling defensive plays.  I did see him shaking his right hand during an AB though.  

Daniel Susac C- 2 for 3, 2B, BB, RBI.  BA= .412.  Susac continues to hit while using all fields.  His catcher's interference call put the go-ahead run on base ahead of Marte's walk-off HR, but he also threw out a base-stealer on a strike out/throw out double play in the 2'nd inning.    

Landen Roupp RHP- 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, 9/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.27.  Nice bounce back start for Roupp after a couple of subpar outings.  He was helped by strong defense and 3 double plays, one on the aforementioned strikeout/throw out and another with Keaton Winn, who inherited two runners from Roupp in the 7'th.  

Keaton Winn RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 2.21.  Winn did a great job of getting over to cover 1B on an outstanding GIDP including a classic first baseman's stretch.  The play started with the bases loaded and it looked like Arraez was going to be lucky to get a force out, but Adames unloaded a strong throw and Winn's stretch completed the inning ending out on the back end.

Caleb Killian RHP- 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 2.53.  Not sure where to start on this one.  After getting the last out of the 8'th inning, Kilian came back out for the 9'th to try for a 4-out Save.  Ildemaro Vargas dug out a knuckle curve at the shoe tops for a lead off single.  On the broadcast, Krukow said Kilian should have bounced the pitch.  Kilian got two outs but Vargas advanced to 2B on catcher indifference, a play I hate in that situation.  Ryan Waldeschmidt then reached on a catcher's interference on what should have been strike two.  

Tony Vitello then decided to bring in Matt Gage LHP to face the switch-hitting Marte, except that Marte is historically a better hitter from the right side.  Marte also dug out a low pitch that maybe was intended to be a back-foot slider that caught too much air?  It also seems curious to me that Gage's first two pitches were changeup-slider.  

So many questions here:  Was it bad luck, poor execution or poor decision making?  Were the pitches called by Susac or from the dugout?  What was the thought process in bringing in a lefty to face an extremely dangerous hitter who is historically better from the right side?  

The Giants season from hell marches on.  It's now up to Tyler Mahle RHP to salvage one win out of the series and a split of the 10-game road trip facing another long time Giants nemesis, Merrill Kelly RHP in an afternoon game.