SF Giants make wrong kind of history in fifth straight loss to Diamondbacks
SAN FRANCISCO - Ketel Marte is roughly three inches shorter and 40-something pounds lighter compared to Andres Galarraga during his playing days. On a chilly Tuesday night at Oracle Park, Marte’s moonshot to Big Cat territory was the defining image of the Giants’ 7-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
San Francisco, which matches its season-low of 11 games under .500, has dropped five straight games against Arizona, the first time the team has ever lost its first five games against the Diamondbacks to begin the year.
Marte has absolutely tormented the Giants over the last week-and-change. Over these first five games, Marte has gone 11-for-22 against San Francisco’s pitching staff with three homers, one being of the walk-off variety.
“I would steal the words of Bruce Bochy and say he’s been a tough out for everyone his whole career,” said manager Tony Vitello. “I realize those numbers (this series) are a little bit higher, but you could say five games, you don’t maybe get as big of a sample size. I think the bigger sample size is the one to look at. He’s a really good player.”
The loss wasn’t for a lack of firepower on the Giants’ end as Casey Schmitt, Eric Haase and Willy Adames all homered, the fifth time this year that San Francisco has hit three homers in a single game. Schmitt’s homer was his 12th of the season, matching the season-high he set last season before the calendar flipped to June.
Rookie Bryce Eldridge got his first career start against a traditional left-handed starter in Eduardo Rodriguez and put together several solid at-bats. Eldridge doubled off Rodriguez in the second, his first major league hit against a lefty, but his most impressive swing of the night happened in the fourth when he sent a 409-foot fly ball to Triples Alley.
Unfortunately for Eldridge, Oracle Park was the only ballpark in the majors where his deep drive wouldn’t have been a home run. Right fielder Corbin Carroll tracked down the fly ball, and Eldridge jogged back to the dugout having been Oracle’d for the first time in his career. Eldridge said that he’ll “probably lose sleep over that tonight.”
Eldridge is far from the last player who will lose out on a home run because of Oracle Park’s spacious dimensions. On Monday, for example, Rafael Devers hit a 397-foot double to nearly the exact same spot as Eldridge’s flyout that would’ve been a home run at any other venue.
“I knew what I was getting into,” Eldridge said. “It’s the first thing people told me when I signed with San Francisco is you’re going to get a couple taken there. My agent, Tucker Ward, I opened my phone after the game and he was like, ‘Your first time getting Oracle’d, congratulations.’ It’s tough, but there’s nothing you can do about it except keep going, put your head down and keep working.”
Right-hander Tyler Mahle surrendered a homer and allowed three runs over five innings with three walks to three strikeouts.
Through 11 starts, Mahle’s 6.04 ERA is the worst mark in the majors among all qualified starters. With Logan Webb set to return from the injured list on Friday, the Giants will soon have to decide whether they keep Mahle in the rotation.
“I threw the ball okay. I think where we lost it was we take the lead in the first, then I go out and give up three (in the second),” Mahle said. “It kind of switched up all the momentum onto their side. The offense tried to battle back, but it is what it is. If I go out there and put a shutdown inning together, we probably win the game just because we had a lot of momentum.”
While Adames hit his seventh homer of the season, the shortstop committed his MLB-leading 10th error in the top of the sixth that contributed to an unearned run. Adames made a diving stop to his left on a grounder by Nolan Arenado, but fired a short throw that first baseman Rafael Devers couldn’t pick.
Rookie outfielder Victor Bericoto recorded the first hit of his major league career, pulling a grounder into left field in the bottom of the fifth. Bericoto was a standout during spring training and won the Barney Nugent Award, hitting .419 with three homers and 14 RBIs.
“I’m very happy for him,” Eldridge said. “We played a good bit together in the minor leagues. I had a smile on my face for him. He’s an amazing guy and I loved playing with him. He’s a great ballplayer. So, I was definitely fired up for him. It’s a very cool moment.”
Up next
Rookie right-hander Trevor McDonald (2-1, 4.76 ERA) will take the ball for the Giants on Wednesday afternoon as the team tries to avoid being swept and fall a season-high 12 games below .500. Right-hander Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.27 ERA) will pitch opposite of McDonald.
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 9:43 PM.