Bader's second grand slam of week snaps SF Giants' four-game losing streak
SAN FRANCISCO - If the Giants had to name a standout performer from Saturday’s 10-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox, they wouldn’t have any shortage of deserving candidates.
The most obvious choice would be center fielder Harrison Bader, who hit his second grand slam in a week. There’s also rookie Bryce Eldridge, who reached base three times in a game for the first time in his career. Casey Schmitt, making another start in left field, became the first Giant to reach 10 homers this season. Willy Adames hit his sixth homer of the year, as well.
Bader, Eldridge, Schmitt and Adames all played important roles in snapping San Francisco’s four-game losing streak. The real MVP, however, was an entity about 93 million miles from Earth: the Sun. And, to a large extent, Chicago third baseman Miguel Vargas, who lost two battles with the brightness and paved the way for Bader’s game-changing grand slam.
“You always say in this game things will even out,” said Giants manager Tony Vitello. “I do think it’s at least factual to state there’s been more of those against us than for us. So, whether they’re breaks or guys grinding out at-bats or creating opportunities, it doesn’t really matter.
“I think the scoreboard was a byproduct of a good adjustment by the guys in a short amount of time, putting last night’s game in their back pocket or recycle bin, whatever you want to call it, and kind of going all in today. And it showed up, fortunately, on the scoreboard.”
Both of Vargas’ losing battles with the sun happened with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Schmitt had already homered in the frame, giving the Giants a 5-3 lead, but if Vargas had caught either of the two pop flies in his direction, the latter four runs of the Giants’ (21-31) six-run uprising would never have happened.
Following Schmitt’s no-doubt, two-run homer, third baseman Matt Chapman hit what looked like an inning-ending pop out just beyond the infield dirt in shallow left field. Vargas and shortstop Colson Montgomery both converged, and Vargas helplessly stabbed at the ball as it dropped to the grass. Chapman, who reached base three times on the afternoon, legged out a double.
Rookie Daniel Susac and Eldridge followed Chapman’s double by drawing walks to load the bases. But Vargas was offered a chance at redemption to end the inning when Bader hit a pop up in foul territory between third and home. Again, the sun won.
Vargas completely lost sight of the baseball, covering his head as the ball landed less than a foot to his right in foul territory. He picked up the ball with disgust and flung it out of play.
Two pitches later, Bader sent Oracle Park into a frenzy. Bader hit a grand slam with the help of atypically strong winds last Sunday, but the third grand slam of his career was earned, a 425-foot blast that cleared the center field fence.
“When it popped up, I was like, ‘I missed it. It’s all good, on to the next at-bat,'” Bader said. “But then it dropped. I just tried to stay within myself and I guess not miss the next one if it showed up. … It’s not often you get a second opportunity within an at-bat at this level. I think just realizing there’s another opportunity just like there would’ve been my next at-bat and take the same approach.”
“I think that’s a big turning point for us,” said right-hander Adrian Houser, who allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts to no walks. “Being able to come through in those moments like that is a big step in the right direction, and hopefully, we can continue that.”
Bader has provided instant offense since coming off the injured list on May 11, hitting four homers and posting a .958 OPS over his last 10 games. Before hitting the injured list, by contrast, Bader was slashing .115/.145/.192 with two extra-base hits (one double, one homer) over his first 15 games as a Giant as he dealt with a nagging hamstring ailment dating back to spring training.
“Obviously, you have to be healthy at this level to perform and to execute how you want to,” Bader said. “With my swing, I need to be athletic and healthy. So, now that I definitely feel that way, I think I can go out there and be the version of myself I know I can be.”
Bader and Schmitt had the loudest swings of the afternoon, but the most impressive at-bat of the day belonged to Eldridge, who worked an 11-pitch at-bat against Chicago’s Erik Fedde before pulling a 109.3 mph single into right field.
“Just mature, but I think he’s shown that as a person, so why wouldn’t it follow on the physical end of things?” Vitello said. “Especially with the reps he’s been getting. I thought really mature and well-balanced at-bats for him, and he seems to be kind of making adjustments, too, on some things that just make everything a more high percentage at-bat.”
Following the win, Schmitt, Bader and right fielder Drew Gilbert re-created the Hingle McCringleberry skit from Key & Peele. When Bader was asked whose idea it was, he responded that he had “no idea what you’re talking about.”
Up next
Left-hander Robbie Ray (3-6, 4.28 ERA) will take the mound on Sunday afternoon against the White Sox’s fellow lefty Noah Schultz (2-3, 4.93 ERA) as the Giants try to take the rubber match.
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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 4:13 PM.