New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea #59 throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
SAN FRANCISCO — This is not what the Giants anticipated every fifth day when they signed Blake Snell.
Week after week, the Giants’ worst days have been the ones on which their $62 million free-agent prize was scheduled to start. Scratched and placed on the injured list before first pitch Wednesday, the pattern only continued in an 8-2 loss to the Mets and Sean Manaea.
“As we sit here right now, it hasn’t been our best day,” manager Bob Melvin said afterward.
Watching from the dugout after being diagnosed with a strained adductor, Snell bore no blame for the mess that transpired on the field. The Giants reverted to their worst tendencies, stranding runners and running into outs, and their first game of reliever roulette went south quickly.
“It just got away from us a little bit,” Melvin said. “Next thing you know it’s an uphill battle.”
The loss prevented the Giants (12-14) from climbing back to .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the season or securing their first sweep. Besides a four-game skid after they evened their record to 2-2, the Giants have not won or lost more than two in a row through their first 26 games.
By the time Manaea exited midway through the fifth inning, the Giants had cycled through two bulk arms who put them in a 6-0 hole.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle #64 reacts as New York Mets’ Tyrone Taylor #15 rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Sean Hjelle was bitten twice by the home run ball for three runs, and Landen Roupp allowed the deficit to balloon by another three runs.
Recalled before first pitch to take Snell’s roster spot, Roupp was one strike away from a 1-2-3 fifth inning, but Pete Alonso sent a line drive that tailed away from Thairo Estrada and under his glove for a base hit. Roupp walked the next batter and before he struck out Harrison Bader for the third out, three runs had scored.
With Roupp and Erik Miller taking down 2⅓ innings, the Giants have gotten 99⅓ innings from rookie pitchers this season, almost 30 more than the next-closest team (Cubs, 71 ⅓). The rookies, however, have combined for a 5.62 ERA.
“That’s been a problem,” Melvin said. “We give up too many runs in games where we’re not using key guys. Those guys just have to pitch better.”
The eight runs allowed by the mixture of Giants relievers still equaled the fewest the club has allowed on any of Snell’s scheduled start days. Counting the bullpen game that filled in for him Wednesday and Daulton Jefferies’ spot start in the fourth game of the season, the Giants fell to 0-5 in those contests. They have been outscored 55-12, amounting to a 10.47 ERA from their pitchers, compared to a 3.39 mark in all of the Giants’ 21 other games this season.
“Hopefully (Snell) comes off the IL and pitches better than he had before,” Melvin said. “We talked about what a tough spring it was for him, really no spring. April’s not his best month to begin with. There’s nothing we can do about it now except try to patch it up and pitch better on that turn.”
San Francisco Giants’ Tyler Fitzgerald #49 is congratulated by manager Bob Melvin after hitting a solo home run off New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett #75 in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Manaea opted out of his contract in San Francisco after last season and secured a spot in the Mets’ rotation — plus a few more million and the ability to opt out again — though he didn’t exactly leave the Giants yearning for his services, even with the pregame development of Snell hitting the IL.
The Samoan southpaw — as large as ever, though with considerably less hair — held the Giants scoreless on a handful of hits but put four batters on base via walks and ran three-ball counts to another five hitters. He required 101 pitches to fall an out shy of completing five innings, but the Giants were unable to crack him.
“That might’ve been one of the best worst games I’ve ever had in my life,” Manaea told reporters in the visitors’ clubhouse.
Loading the bases with nobody out in the second, the Giants failed to get anything out of the situation when the bottom three hitters in their lineup couldn’t make a productive out, let alone a deliver a timely hit, and the next inning ran themselves into an out after the first two men reached base.
Stealing second after a leadoff walk, Austin Slater was promptly picked off when Manaea caught him leaning toward third.
The Giants went hitless in seven tries with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 men on base. They only got on the board after chasing Manaea from the game, when Tyler Fitzgerald lined a solo shot off reliever Reed Garrett, his first home run of the season.
San Francisco Giants’ Tyler Fitzgerald #49 hits a solo home run off New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett #75 in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Notable
Thairo Estrada left the game in the sixth inning with left hamstring tightness, but Melvin said the move was precautionary. “He wanted to stay in the game, but we wanted to be proactive,” Melvin said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow. He’s going to come in and get some treatment.”
Mitch White, from San Jose, made his team debut in the ninth inning, walking the first batter he faced and issuing a two-run home run to Francisco Lindor, the second of the game from the Mets shortstop.
Up next
The Giants will enjoy only their second day off at home Thursday before welcoming the Pirates for three games to close their longest home stand of the season. Kyle Harrison (2-1, 5.00), Jordan Hicks (2-0, 1.61) and Keaton Winn (2-3, 3.54) are lined up to start the series, which will also mark Joey Bart’s return to San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Walker #74 throws against the New York Mets in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants left fielder Michael Conforto #8 catches a fly ball hit by New York Mets’ Brett Baty #22in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Pete Alonso #20 on the ground after being hit by a pitch thrown by San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Walker #74 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea #59 throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Nick Ahmed #16 takes a strike thrown by New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea #59 in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. He ended up flying out. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants second baseman Thairo Estrada #39 throws out New York Mets’ second base Jeff McNeil #1 at first base in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Brandon Nimmo #9 slides safely back to first base during a pick-off attempt in the third inning of their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle #64 throws against the New York Mets in the second inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor #12 hits a two-run home run off San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle #64 in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Landen Roupp #65 throws against the New York Mets in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor #12 celebrates his two-run home run with Brett Baty #22 in the third inning of their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ third base Matt Chapman #26 makes a throwing error to first base on a hit by New York Mets’ Harrison Bader #44 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Tyrone Taylor #15 and Harrison Bader #44 celebrate Taylor’s solo home run off San Francisco Giants pitcher Sean Hjelle #64 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Erik Miller #68 throws against the New York Mets in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea #59 is taken out in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Brett Baty #22 is congratulated by teammates after scoring on an RBI double by Tyrone Taylor #15 in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Pete Alonso #20 grounds out into a double play in the seventh inning of their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants shortstop Nick Ahmed #16 completes a double play to first base as New York Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor #12 is forced out at second base in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor #12 smiles after San Francisco Giants shortstop Nick Ahmed #16 completed a double play to first base, getting Pete Alonso #20 out in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Tyler Fitzgerald #49 celebrates his solo home run off New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett #75 in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Michael Conforto #8 hits a double off New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett #75 in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Taylor Rogers #33 throws against the New York Mets in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee #51 hits the ground after a tight pitch by New York Mets relief pitcher Adam Ottavino #0 in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor #12 hits a home run off San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Mitch White #54 in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. It was Lindor’s second home run of the game. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Mitch White #54 throws against the New York Mets in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Mitch White #54 reacts as New York Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor #12 rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the ninth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. It was Lindor’s second home run of the game. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Díaz #39 and catcher Tomás Nido #3 celebrate their 8-2 MLB win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor #12 and Harrison Bader #44 celebrate their 8-2 MLB win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Jeff McNeil #1 hits an RBI single off San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Landen Roupp #65 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Tyrone Taylor #15 celebrates with teammates after scoring on an RBI single by Jeff McNeil #1 off San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Landen Roupp #65 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor #12 and Brett Baty #22 celebrate their 8-2 MLB win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
