The San Francisco Giants could not protect a narrow lead against the Houston Astros on Monday.
The San Francisco Giants opened their series against the Houston Astros with a 6-3 loss on Monday in extra innings at Oracle Park in San Francisco.
The Giants have now lost three straight games after falling in the 10th inning to Houston.
Taking the lead
After falling behind in the top of the first inning, the Giants were able to string together runs in the fourth and fifth to take a 2-1 lead.
After Willy Adames struck out to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning, Bryce Eldridge doubled, Rafael Devers drew a walk and Osleivis Basabe hit an RBI single to get San Francisco on the board. In the bottom of the fifth, Jung Hoo Lee delivered a solo home run to give the Giants the lead.
It was Lee’s ninth home run of the season, and San Francisco was now in control. But it did not last long as Cam Smith hit a home run off Giants reliever Sam Hentges to tie the game in the top of the seventh.
San Francisco had another response in the bottom of the inning when Drew Gilbert hit a leadoff solo home run to take the lead, but the Astros would not go away.
A tough finish
In the top of the ninth, Houston struck again when Giants reliever Dylan Smith gave up a one-out walk to Christian Walker. Smith was able to get a second out, but things got worse thereafter.
Smith committed a wild pitch, which allowed Astros’ pinch-runner Nick Allen to advance to second base. Then, Smith gave up an RBI single that tied the game once again.
The Giants went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, which sent the game to extras, and Houston made them pay for it.
In the top of the 10th, Jason Foley replaced Smith on the mound, and he gave up a leadoff walk to LaMonte Wade Jr. before allowing an RBI single off the bat of Jeremy Pena. Shortly after, Isaac Paredes hit a two-RBI double off Foley to cap off a three-run 10th for the Astros.
At that point, the Giants were trailing 6-3, and it was too great a deficit to overcome. In the bottom of the 10th, San Francisco went down in order again, sealing Houston’s win.
Monday’s contest was another example of a game the Giants could have, and should have, won. Yet it was just another footnote in a forgettable season. San Francisco is now 49-70.
