Wilmer Flores home run isn't enough in SF Giants 7-3 loss to Atlanta
The SF Giants lost their second consecutive game on Saturday, losing to Atlanta 7-3 in another blowout loss. Giants opener Ryan Walker matched up against Atlanta’s top left-handed starter Max Fried. Walker went 1.2 innings, giving up one run and striking out three. San Francisco has had plenty of success this season with bullpen games, and they relied on veteran southpaw Sean Manaea to cover bulk inning, but it did not stop Atlanta’s offense from scoring seven runs and cruising past the Giants.
Atlanta 3B Austin Riley slides against SF Giants C Patrick Bailey on August 26, 2023.
Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
Wilmer Flores provided the Giants only runs on the day against Fried with a two-run homer off the three-time Gold Glove award winner to left center in the third inning, tying the game. The second pitch Flores saw was hit 409 feet out with an exit velocity of 103.8 mph. It was his team-leading 19th home run of the season and tied his single-season career high, which he set last year. Flores has never hit 20 home runs in a season.
But those runs were far from enough against the best team in the National League. Atlanta's Austin Riley and Orlando Arcia hit solo shots to give Atlanta the lead. Then, Atlanta scored three more runs to blow the game open in the top of the eighth inning against Jakob Junis.
Manaea was the Giants best pitcher on the afternoon, continuing to be fairly effective as a reliever. He went 3.2 innings and struck out five, although he did allow two hits and two walks plagued him in the third as it led a run to score. Riley’s go-ahead solo shot off Manaea in the fifth all but did the Giants in.
Fried’s six inning performance was enough to keep the Giants to two runs. He gave up six hits and walked two, striking out eight, showcasing himself as one of Atlanta’s strong pitchers along with Spencer Strider, who outdueled the Giants’ Logan Webb last night.
The Giants did get one more run across the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning against reliever A.J. Minter. Heliot Ramos (Giants Top 30 Prospect) reached base on a single and stole second base (although it was ruled defensive indifference). Then, another rookie, Wade Meckler (Giants Top 22 Prospect) singled to bring Ramos in to score.
Now 66-63 on the season, the SF Giants are 1.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs for the third (and final) National League Wild Card. They will look to avoid a sweep on Sunday night. Neither team announced a probable starting pitcher for the game, and Kapler confirmed prior to the game that top pitching prospect Kyle Harrison (Giants Top 4 Prospect) will not pitch until next week against the Reds.
