Game Wrap 8/24/2026: Giants 5 Reds 0

This game appeared to be a mismatch on paper and not in the Giants favor, but Drew Gilbert and Rafael Devers led an early attack on a heretofore dominant SP and the bullpen picked up an injured Carson Whisenhunt for a wire-to-wire shutout win.  Key Lines:

Drew Gilbert CF- 2 for 4, 2 2B, 2 R.  BA= .239.  Gilbert's first double leading off the bottom of the first inning would have been a home run in any other ballpark but bounced into the seats near the apex of Triples Alley for a ground rule double.  Gilbert was around 2B on on his way to third when he saw it go into the stands.  Despite the 2 hits, Gilbert is batting just .200 over his last 7 games.

Rafael Devers 1B- 2 for 4, HR(27), 2 R, 3 RBI.  BA= .243.  Devers followed Gilbert's doubles with a single and a 3-run home run.  He also scored on Turner Hill LF's first inning double, the 4'th consecutive hit off Chase Burns RHP.  Jung Hoo Lee DH was thrown out trying to give Hill 2 RBI's on the hit.  Despite his 2 hits, Devers is also batting just .200 over his last 7 games.

Christian Koss SS- 2 for 4, R.  BA= .214.  It looks like Christian Koss is now the starting SS, at least until Willy Adames gets back from the IL.  Koss has shown repeatedly the ablility to find traction when he gets regular plate appearances.  He is batting .273 over his last 7 games and .269 over his last 15.

Carson Whisenhunt LHP- 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 6.49.  Whisenhunt looked like he was pitching a nice bounceback game until he came up holding his arm at an odd angle and shaking his hand like he had a stinger or his hand was numb.  He did not throw another pitch and later was reported to have left with elbow pain.  Not good!  

Jason Foley RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.46.  Foley was the first reliever to stand in the gap for Whiz and looked dominant with 3 K's out of 4 batters faced.  

Ryan Walker RHP- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 6.99.  He's baaaack!  Walker looks like he's bulked up a little and looked more like his old self that originally won the Closer role.  Let's see if he can keep it up.  

Carson Seymour RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 4.96.  Seymour has a 1.50 ERA in 12 IP over his last 7 appearances.

Adrian Houser RHP is listed as the SP for the Giants this evening facing Brady Singer RHP who comes in with a 4.72 ERA.

Down on the Farm:

The full season leagues were idle as usual on Mondays. 

DSL:  Giants Black lost to Padres Gold 5-3(Game 1 of Semifinals).

Joniel Hernandez SS(17 yo)- 1 for 4, HR.  

Randry De Leon RHP- 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K's. 

Brayan Cabello RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's. 

Joniel Hernandez continues to provide reasons to be excited for his and the Giants future.

Down on the Farm: 8/23/2026

 AAA: Tacoma Rainiers defeated the Sacramento River Cats 3-1.

Scott Bandura RF- 2 for 4, 2B, SB(20).  BA= .321.

Bo Davidson LF- 0 for 2, 2 BB, SB(5).  BA= .305.

Seth Lonsway LHP- 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2 K's, 10/3 GO/AO.  ERA= 6.00.

Cristian Alvarado RHP(9.95), Philip Abner LHP(4.98) and Eric Cerantola RHP(5.25) pitched a scoreless inning each.

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels outlasted the Chesapeake Baysox 6-5(10 innings).

Sabin Ceballos 1B- 2 for 5, SB(9).  BA= .219.

Lisbel Diaz DH- 1 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .167.

Maui Ahuna 2B- 1 for 3, BB, SF, 3 SB(27).  BA= .229.

A+:  Eugene Emeralds topped the Vancouver Canadians 6-5.

Jhonny Level SS- 1 for 3, 2B, HBP.  BA= .313.

Zander Darby 2B- 2 for 4, HR(18), SB(9).  BA= .279.

Damian Bravo CF- 2 for 4, HR(4).  BA= .348.

Hunter Dryden RHP- 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, 8/3 GO/AO.  ERA= 4.55.

A:  San Jose Giants shut out the Lake Elsinore Storm 5-0.

Peyton Bonds CF- 2 for 5.  BA= .222.

Tanner Mally 2B- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .373.

Oliver Tejada LF- 1 for 3, HR(6), BB.  BA= .211.

Keyner Martinez RHP- 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 5.10.

Hopefully this is the first of many mentions for Peyton Bonds in Down on the Farm.  Good to see both Argenis Cayama and Keyner Martinez turn in dominant appearances as the 2026 minor league season winds down.

DSL:  DSL had the day off.  It looks like Giants Black made it out of Pool Play into the Semifinals and are playing as I write this.

Game Wrap 8/23/2026: Red Sox 5 Giants 4

Matt Wilkinson's honeymoon phase as a rookie in Major League Baseball did not last long as he was cuffed around for 4 runs and didn't make it out of the 4'th inning.  The Giants resulting loss was compounded by two injuries of undetermined seriousness.  Key Lines:

Willy Adames SS- 1 for 3, R.  BA= .230.  The Giants jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with Adames scoring the second run from 2B on a groundball single to LF by Victor Bericoto LF.  Adames appeared to injury himself on the slide into home and was later removed after appearing to be in pain again after striking out in the 5'th inning.  He will undergo an MRI on his left elbow.  Bericoto later appeared to hurt his knee after a fan interference call on a foul ball he was trying to catch along the 3B line seats.  He will undergo an MRI too.

Bryce Eldridge 1B- 2 for 4, RBI.  BA= .252.  Eldridge drove in the Giants first run of the game in the first inning with a line drive single to RF.  

Jonah Cox CF- 2 for 4, HR(2), R, RBI.  BA= .255.  Cox broke out of a strikeout streak with a HR off a major league pitcher(his first MLB HR came off a position player who was pitching late in a game) to lead off the 2'nd inning.  

Matt Wilkinson LHP- 3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 6.35.  Wilkinson's FB is nothing to write home about at best and by the 4'th inning he was struggling to break 89 MPH with it.  You are not going to have long term success in today's MLB with a sub-90 MPH FB.  

The Giants limp home beat up in more ways than one and must get back after it tomorrow evening against The Reds and Chase Burns RHP who comes in with a 14-2 record and a 1.51 ERA.  The Giants SP is TBD.

Down on the Farm: 8/22/2026

 AAA:  Tacoma Rainiers outscored the Sacramento River Cats 15-11.

Nate Furman 2B- 3 for 6, 2B.  BA= .293.

Scott Bandura CF- 4 for 5, 2B, SB(19).  BA= .319.

Parks Harber 3B- 3 for 6, 2 2B.  BA= .306.

Bo Davidson RF- 1 for 5, 2B, BB.  BA= .310.

Shay Whitcomb SS- 1 for 5, HR(10).  BA= .273.

Diego Velasquez 1B- 1 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .267.

Adrian Sugastey C- 1 for 3, 2 BB.  BA= .310.

AA: Chesapeake Baysox edged out the Richmond Flying Squirrels 4-3.

Charlie Szykowny RF- 2 for 4, SB(11).  BA= .255.

Jancel Villaroel C- 1 for 3, HR(2), BB.  BA= .194.

Jean Carlos Sio 2B- 2 for 3, BB, SB(8).  BA= .237.

A+:  Vancouver Canadians buried the Eugene Emeralds 9-3.

Jhonny Level SS- 2 for 5, 2B.  BA= .313.

Damian Bravo DH- 2 for 4, HR(3), SB(2).  BA= .316.

Hayden Jatczak 1B- 2 for 4.  BA= .244.

Dalton Wentz 2B- 2 for 4, 2B.  BA= .286.

Matt Dunaway RHP- 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 4.44.

Dalton Wentz was the Giants 17'th round draft pick this year.  He's a switch-hitter.  A+ is an aggressive placement.  Might be based on organizational need.

A:  San Jose Giants defeated the Lake Elsinore Storm 6-3.

Josuar Gonzalez SS- 4 for 5, 2B, 2 SB(7).  BA= .379.

Luke Nixon 2B- 0 for 2, 2 BB.  BA= .000.

Oliver Tejada LF- 2 for 4.  BA= .208.

Dylan Carter RHP- 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 5.28.

Hayden Wynja LHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.96.

Luke Nixon was the Giants 5'th round draft pick this year.  I know A level is already an aggressive placement for Young Josuar Gonzalez but he's so thoroughly dominating it I think it's time to give him a preview of A+ ball in the waning days of the season to let him see the pitching at that level and work on how to attack it during the offseason.  

DSL:  Giants Black crushed Royals Ventura 15-1(Postseason round 3 of pool play).

Joniel Hernandez SS(17 yo)- 2 for 5, HR, BB, SB.

Keiberg Camacaro 2B- 2 for 4, HR.

Alessandro Duran 1B- 2 for 3, 2B, 3B, BB, SF. 

Diego Villegas DH- 1 for 4, HR, SF.  

Nicky Lopez LF/3B- 1 for 3, BB, SF, SB.  BA= .333

Luis Hernandez RHP- 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K's.  

Super excited about what we've seen from Joniel Hernandez since he came over in the Robbie Ray trade with the Padres.

Game Wrap 8/22/2026: Red Sox 3 Giants 2

Another bullpen failure in the 9'th inning ruined an excellent bounce back start by Blade Tidwell.  Key Lines:

The Giants run output consisted of solo HR's by Willy Adames SS(21) and Andrew Knizner C(1) in the first and third innings respectively.

Blade Tidwell RHP- 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K's.  ERA= 3.58.  Tidwell follows up his worst appearance with his best which seems like a good predictor of future success.  He has now made 3 good starts out of 4.  Since the #1 goal of the remainder of this season is finding pieces for next year's rotation, that's the big takeaway from this game.  The loss itself is almost a non-factor.  

Dylan Smith RHP- 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.96.  The line does not do Smith justice.  He entered the game in the 8'th inning with no outs and runners at first and second.  He allowed a soft single that loaded the bases but then went K, K fly out to maintain the shut out.  He walked the leadoff batter in the 9'th and was replaced by Sam Hentges LHP who went HBP, force out(2B), LD single, LD double, IBB to tie the score.  The next batter grounded one to Bryce Eldridge 1B who threw home for the force out except the throw pulled Knizner's foot off home plate and the walk-off run scored.  I understand patience is a virtue for a manager but I'm in line with Baseballjeff1 on Bluesky who said it's past time to try a different reliever in situations where inherited runners are involved(paraphrase).  

Matt Wilkinson LHP gets the start in the series finale facing Jake Bennett LHP who comes in with a 3.46 ERA.  Is Wilkinson going out there as a SP or an Opener for Adrian Houser?  I think it's too soon for Houser's turn in the rotation.

Down on the Farm: 8/21/2026

AAA:  Tacoma Rainiers topped the Sacramento River Cats 6-5.

Scott Bandura DH- 3 for 5, 2B.  BA= .311.

Bo Davidson LF- 3 for 5, 2B, HR(6).  BA= .315.

Will Brennan RF- 2 for 4.  BA= .315.

Adrian Sugastey C- 1 for 4, HR(3).  BA= .309.

Joe Whitman LHP- 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K's.  ERA= 4.85.

Ryan Walker RHP- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 1.63.

Bo Davidson has 25 total HR's this season with an outside shot at 30.  Who was the last Giants prospect to hit 30 HR's in a season?  Scott Bandura has 11 HR's but 28 doubles and 4 triples to go with them.  A Quality Start by Joe Whitman.  Is he the next SP up?

 

AA:  Richmond Flying Squirrels edged out the Chesapeake Baysox 4-3.

Dayson Croes 2B- 3 for 4.  BA= .250.

Charlie Szykowny 3B- 1 for 2, HR(14), 2 BB.  BA= .252.

Lisbel Diaz RF- 1 for 4, HR(1).  BA= .176.

Jack Choate LHP- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K's.  ERA= 3.12.

Tyler Vogel RHP- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, Save(15).  BA= 3.20.

Lisbel Diaz joins Bo Davidson in the 25 HR club across 4 teams.

A+: Vancouver Canadians outlasted the Eugene Emeralds 12-10(10 innings).

Jhonny Level SS- 4 for 5, 2B, SF, 3 SB(12).  BA= .311.

Cam Maldonado RF- 2 for 4, 2 2B, BB, SF, SB(3).  BA= .302.

Walker Martin 3B- 2 for 6, 2B, SB(16).  BA= .232.

Daniel Rogers C- 3 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .256.

Jose Ramos 2B- 3 for 5, HR(1), 3 SB(10).  BA= .297.

Marty Gair RHP- 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.59.

What a season Jhonny Level is having!  Across 2 levels he is batting .317 with 17 HR and 23 SB's plus 33 doubles and 3 triples.  

A:  San Jose Giants crushed the Lake Elsinore Storm 21-2.

Josuar Gonzalez DH- 2 for 4, 3 BB.  BA= .354.

Lorenzo Meola SS- 4 for 6, 2B, BB.  BA= .272.

Dario Reynoso 3B- 3 for 6, 2 2B, HR(13), BB.  BA= .272.

Jeremiah Jenkins 1B- 1 for 4, HR(13), BB, SF.  BA= .241.

Angel Guzman RF- 3 for 5, BB.  BA= .262.

Oliver Tejada LF- 2 for 5, HR(5).  BA= .198.

Broedy Poppell CF- 3 for 4, 3B, 2 HR(8), BB.  BA= .244.

Jordan Gottesman LHP- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 4.07.

Samir Chires RHP- 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 2.14.

Either the SJ Giants are really, really good or the Lake Elsinore Storm is really, really bad.  This was the fourth blowout win for the Giants on the week.

DSL:  Blue Jays Blue outscored Giants Orange 8-5(Postseason Game 2 of Pool Play.

Israel Alphonse SS(17 yo)- 1 for 4, HR.

Jose Treviso RHP(18 yo)- 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K's.  

Not sure exactly how this pool play works in the DSL postseason but based on last season I would say losing a game probably all but eliminates Giants Orange.

Game Wrap 8/21/2026: Red Sox 6 Giants 4

Logan Webb's night fell apart in front of our eyes in the third inning as the Red Sox put up a 5-spot and a Giants comeback fell short.  Key Lines:

Drew Gilbert CF- 2 for 3, HR(7).  BA= .241.  Gilbert singled to lead off the game then followed Christian Koss 3B 2-out double in the 4'th inning with a HR.  Rafael Devers DH followed Gilbert with his 26'th HR to cut the Red Sox lead to 5-4.  The Giants never got closer than that the rest of the night.  Gilbert's hits came against Sonny Gray RHP.  He was replaced by Jonah Cox PH/CF to face a parade of LHP's.  Cox struck out twice and now has 8 K's in a row over his last 3 games.  It's a small sample but 8 K's in a row is a lot.

Logan Webb RHP- 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 2 K's, 2 HBP, 3/1 GO/AO.  ERA= 3.75.  Webb allowed 3 baserunners in the first two innings so he was not exactly sharp from the beginning.  still, I wasn't too worried when Willson Contreras came up in with 2 on and 2 out in the third inning.  I did think Wilyer Abreu's single just ahead of Contreras looked awfully fat, like a batting practice pitch.  Then Contreras absolutely unloaded on a changeup at the bottom of the strike zone but center-cut.  It might still be in the air out there somewhere in Boston, 116 MPH, estimated distance 452 ft.  What followed was single, single, HBP, walk, HBP and Webb's night was done.  

My two thoughts as I watched this unfold was either he's tipping his pitches or hurt.  He did throw one fastball at almost 94 MPH but was sitting just 90-91 by the second HBP the command was non-existent so I am a bit worried about an injury.  In his postgame comments, Sergio Romo made the point that Webb threw a lot of changeups to RH batters with movement  into the batter rather than away and appeared to be overthrowing in the latter part of the inning.  No matter the cause, it was an ugly scene.  I felt bad for Webby.  

Blade Tidwell RHP tries to come back from his last disaster start this evening facing Patrick Sandoval LHP who comes in with an ERA of 4.76.