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Reporting from ORACLE PARK
Don’t call it a comeback, but the San Francisco Giants were still playing for something meaningful in what was the final Orange Friday night of 2025 at Oracle Park.
To start fan appreciation weekend against the Colorado Rockies — and in honor of Hall of Famer Willie McCovey — the Giants honored shortstop Willy Adames as the 2025 Willie Mac Award winner. The award recognizes the team’s most inspirational player as voted by teammates, coaches and staff. Adames punctuated the moment with a two-run homer in the first inning, his 29th of the year, for a 2-0 lead.
Giants Manager Bob Melvin said of Adames:
“He reminded me of Milwaukee. He has a little flair for the dramatic. You can tell he was nervous to get that award with all those guys out there. He got it in his first year here and if you look at the numbers it means a lot to this franchise. And what Willie McCovey means to this team is a pretty cool award that everybody looks forward to and he deserves it.”
Melvin added:
“He’s one away from a big number. He was inspired with that first at-bat and hits a home run for us and gives us the lead. It was a pretty ‘feel good’ day for him.”
Adames said:
“It’s an honor. It’s really special for me. The respect I have for my teammates, the team, the people around me, it really means a lot.”
That was only half the show. Rookie Trevor McDonald (W, 1-0, 3.60 ERA) earned his first major league win, striking out 10 over seven innings while allowing three runs and no walks on 89 pitches. The 22-year-old right-hander kept the Rockies in check long enough for the offense to build a cushion.
The Giants (79-81) added on in the second when Jung Hoo Lee tripled, Grant McCray walked and Heliot Ramos unloaded a 439-foot homer to left-center, his 21st, to make it 5-0.
Colorado (43-117) struck back in the fifth. After two singles and a pair of wild pitches, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar blasted a three-run homer to center, his ninth, trimming the lead to 5-3.
San Francisco answered immediately. Adames was hit by a pitch, Chapman singled him to third, and Bryce Eldridge lifted a sacrifice fly to right to restore the lead at 6-3.
That was all McDonald and the bullpen needed. Ryan Walker struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 17th save. The Giants struck out 13 Rockies overall in their 79th of the season.
Up Next
The Giants go for No. 80 on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. when veteran Justin Verlander (3-11, 3.88 ERA) makes his 555th career appearance — and possibly his final start for San Francisco. He’ll face Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland (5-16, 5.00 ERA).
