SF Giants sweep split doubleheader behind three homers, Whisenhunt's strong season debut

The Giants won Game 1 of Wednesday’s weather-induced split doubleheader, thanks to three homers from the offense and an excellent outing from a left-handed pitcher. That formula worked so well that they stuck with it for Game 2.

Behind a trifecta of homers from Bryce Eldridge, Luis Arraez and Willy Adames, and five solid innings from rookie Carson Whisenhunt, the Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-5 to sweep Wednesday’s quasi split doubleheader and win their third game in a row.

“It was a good day at the ballpark for us,” manager Tony Vitello told reporters in Atlanta. “I thought our guys’ effort was phenomenal. There’s no way to downgrade it.”

If San Francisco wins Thursday, it would be the team’s first sweep this season, and would give the Giants their first four-game winning streak in 2026.

The Giants, though, found themselves on the verge of blowing a five-run lead in the bottom of the ninth when left-handed reliever Matt Gage allowed three runs, and the Braves brought the tying run to the plate. But right-hander Tristan Beck recorded the game’s final two outs to pick up his fifth career save.

Whisenhunt, called up to be the 27th man for the second game, impressed in his season debut, allowing two runs over five-plus innings with two walks to two strikeouts. The rookie left-hander pitched five scoreless innings to start his night but was pulled after allowing three straight singles in the bottom of the sixth.

“I thought he was outstanding,” Vitello said. “He put on a clinic for how to handle traffic. There weren’t very many moments in the game where it was easy, where he just breezed. There was some guys on base. Some guys had to make some plays behind him. To come in on a flight and all that stuff, I’m sure he’s not the first guy to do it the way that he did it, but I think it’s pretty commendable how he pitched on the road against a great team, but then you add in all the circumstances too.”

Vitello said Whisenhunt will likely be sent back down to Triple-A Sacramento, but expects him back with the team at some point. If the Giants trade veteran left-hander Robbie Ray at the Aug. 3 deadline, as expected, Whisenhunt is a clear candidate to take his spot in the rotation.

“I just think he’s got the ability to be at this level,” Vitello said. “He’s young and he’s working his way through some things and we’ve some guys who are capable in that role too, but it wasn’t just about how he did today. You see the incline of improvement. He’ll have more days like this.”

Whisenhunt told reporters in Atlanta he found out he’d be pitching against the Braves on Tuesday night around 9 p.m. local time during Triple-A Sacramento’s game in Oklahoma City. The lefty slept around 2 a.m., then woke up around 4 a.m. for a 7 a.m. flight. He landed in Atlanta around 10 a.m., slept for about two hours, then drove to the ballpark for his start.

“I felt really good,” said Whisenhunt, who had a 3.65 ERA over 69 innings with the River Cats. “Obviously, not the best it could’ve been, but for what I had to work with there, I felt solid.”

Eldridge expanded his on-base streak to 22 games by hitting his sixth home run of the season, a 406-foot blast that cleared the center field fence. He joins Hall of Famer Willie McCovey as the only Giant rookies age 21 or younger to have an on-base streak that long.

Through 33 games, Eldridge is posting a .963 OPS, which would be tied with four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani for the best in the National League, if the rookie had played enough games to qualify.

Eldridge’s solo shot immediately followed a no-doubt blast from, surprisingly, Arraez. The second baseman’s two-run blast wasn’t just his third home run of the season, but his first outside of Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Adames’ solo homer, his second of the day after homering in Game 1, was his 13th of the season.

Up next

Right-hander Landen Roupp is slated to start on Thursday and make his first appearance since generating nationwide controversy by writing a Bible verse on the Giants’ Pride Night caps.

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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 7:36 PM.