After a bumpy start to the season, the San Francisco Giants finally appear to be on the right track.
The Giants, who managed to score just one run while losing their first three games en route to a 3-8 start, have bounced back to score 17 runs during their current three-game win streak. They’ll try to make it four in a row on Saturday at Baltimore with ace right-hander Logan Webb (1-1, 5.00 ERA) on the mound.
San Francisco clubbed 12 hits in a 6-3 victory in Friday’s series opener, including home runs by Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee. DH Casey Schmitt, who had just two extra-base hits in 25 at-bats coming into the contest, went 3-for-5 with three doubles, two runs scored and an RBI — the first Giant since Donovan Solano on July 30, 2020 to belt three doubles in a game.
“I think it can do a lot for us,” Schmitt said of his team’s winning streak. “This group, we’ve been really good about not putting too much pressure on ourselves and just going out and playing and getting things to fall in line. … We’re just playing baseball and having fun.”
The Giants got another strong start from Landen Roupp, who allowed one run on five hits over six innings while striking out four.
A key point in the game came in the bottom of the third inning. Adames had put the Giants ahead, 1-0, with a home run in the top half of the inning, but Gunnar Henderson walked and went to third on a double by Adley Rutschman in the bottom half. Roupp got out of the jam by striking out Baltimore’s marquee free agent signing, Pete Alonso, to end the threat.
San Francisco then came right back to increase its lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Schmitt led off with a double and scored on a single by Heliot Ramos, who later scored on a double by Adames.
Alonso, a five-time All-Star with the New York Mets who signed a five-year, $155 million free agent contract with the Orioles in December, is batting just .176 with one home run and three RBIs so far for his new team. He is just 2-for-28 (.071) with no homers, one RBI and 10 strikeouts over his last seven games.
“Yeah, it stinks, first couple of weeks, not performing up to my standards,” Alonso said. “You can work hard, you can try, but that’s not why I’m here. I’m here to win. And I expect more out of myself, and I know other people do as well. So it’s frustrating.
“I feel bad. A lot of people believe in me, and I believe in myself, but I’m not delivering results. I will. I just haven’t, but I will.”
Webb is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against Baltimore. This will be his second start at Camden Yards. He picked up a no decision in his first in 2024, allowing three runs on four hits over five innings while striking out eight.
Baltimore, which had a three-game win streak snapped with Friday’s loss, will counter with veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-2, 14.21 ERA).
Bassitt is 4-2 with a 3.91 ERA in eight career starts against San Francisco. He has won his last three starts against the Giants, including a 4-0 win in his last start while with Toronto on July 18 last season when he struck out five over 6 1/3 shutout innings.
–Field Level Media
