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Reporting from ORACLE PARK
Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander was dealing on the mound for five innings on a cold night in the Bay. But the usually reliable Giants bullpen bungled a disastrous eighth, leading to a 3–1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates that puts San Francisco (54-54) at risk of being swept at home for a second straight series.
The downfall began with reliever Tyler Rogers (L, 4–3, 1.80 ERA) on the mound. After Nick Gonzalez singled to lead off the eighth, Tommy Pham rolled a soft grounder down the third base line that Rogers couldn’t field cleanly. He charged but bobbled the ball, losing a potential out.
The Pirates (46-62) followed with what seemed a routine Ke’Bryan Hayes grounder to second baseman Casey Schmitt. However, newcomer Rafael Devers ranged too far from first base, leaving the bag uncovered. Rogers hustled to cover, but Schmitt’s throw arrived unexpectedly, flying past Rogers and hitting Hayes to keep the bases loaded.
The go-ahead run scored when former Giant Joey Bart dropped an RBI single into left to make it 2–1. Liover Peguero then grounded out to drive in another run, sealing the 3-1 Pittsburgh lead.
Rogers and Verlander were not available postgame. Reliever Ryan Walker, who tossed a scoreless seventh before the collapse, said it was just a tough spell:
“It sucks to see that happen, but baseball is baseball. He [Rogers] is the most consistent guy I have ever seen in my life. Stuff like tonight, you move on. Next day, come out and be dominant. No one is giving up on anything.”
The Giants managed just two hits and have now lost five straight games overall and six straight at Oracle Park. Pirates closer Dennis Santana (3–2, S 6) pitched a clean ninth to end it.
Verlander, the savvy veteran, earned a no-decision (ND, 1–8, 4.53 ERA) despite a composed performance. He held Pittsburgh to six hits over five innings, striking out seven and walking one.
Giants manager Bob Melvin said:
The last two times Justin has pitched well. … There have been periods where he has pitched well and he had nothing to show for it and this was another game. But the breaking ball was good. Just not enough support tonight.”
San Francisco struck first in the bottom of the fourth when shortstop Willy Adames belted his 16th home run, a solo shot to make it 1–0. Adames has been a rare bright spot, batting .341 with seven homers in July. But the Pirates answered in the fifth when Liover Peguero launched his first career homer off the three-time Cy Young winner, tying the game 1–1.
After relievers Joey Lucchesi and Ryan Walker pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh, Rogers’ eighth-inning missteps proved fatal.
Melvin added:
“We have addressed the team, team meetings, and all kinds of meetings. … It’s about going out there and fighting a little harder and winning a game. And showing more resolve, which we have shown this year, we just have not done it here recently.”
Since May, Verlander’s ERA had been drifting upward, entering Tuesday’s game with a 6.48 mark for the month of July and a 1.92 WHIP. But he looked sharp against Pittsburgh, giving the Giants every chance to win.
They came into the night still searching for their first series win since beating the Phillies on July 9.
On Monday, Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen continued his climb up the franchise leaderboards with career homer No. 329, making him third all-time in Pirates history with 245 homers in black and gold. He went 1-for-2 against Verlander on Tuesday, entering the game with a lifetime .125 average and six strikeouts in 24 career at-bats against the right-hander.
With their fifth straight loss, the Giants fell to .500 for the first time since March. They now sit in third place in the NL West and are in danger of slipping further out of playoff contention.
While another blockbuster move like the Devers trade seems unlikely, a smaller deal to bring in a veteran arm or bat before the trade deadline might provide a much-needed spark.
San Francisco hasn’t won at home since July 11 and has little time to regroup. They’re back on the field Wednesday afternoon in a quick turnaround that could determine whether they leave this series with any momentum – or simply more questions.
Up Next
The Giants will try to avoid the sweep in a 12:45 p.m. finale on Wednesday. Ace Logan Webb (9–8, 3.38 ERA) takes the mound against Pirates right-hander Mike Burrows (1–3, 4.15 ERA) as San Francisco looks for its first win at home since July 11.
