Ya Gotta Love These Kids!

Sep 10, 2026 | 2026 Season, Latest Post

by
Geek Giant

Going into yesterday’s 7-6 win over the Cardinals at Willie Mays Field the Giants entered Wednesday as the only team in the Majors without a three-game sweep this year, but they finally got to bust out the brooms on their 147nd game of the season. (San Francisco also went 3-0 against the Braves at Truist Field, but that series wasn’t considered an official three-game sweep since the finale was postponed from June to August due to rain.)

This was a comeback for the ages, the young ages on the Giants roster that is. Beginning with Bryce Eldridge 2-4 with three runs batted in to give him 52 on the year and ending with contributions by Whitcomb, Cox, Cavanaugh and Gilbert the Giants came back from a 6-1 deficit with a six-run inning in the bottom of the eighth. There infield hits, soft hits through the infield and a bullet double by Lee that scored two runs to tie the game before Canavaugh’s double that scored Lee with what proved to be the winning run. That hit banged four inches from the top of the wall in center field. It was ripped.

Two rookie pitchers also recorded big milestones for the Giants on Wednesday. Left-hander Matt Wilkinson earned his first career win after working two scoreless innings in relief, and right-hander Trent Harris picked up his first career save after facing the minimum in the ninth.

Harris became the 12th different Giants pitcher to record a save this season, which is the most in franchise history since saves became an official stat in 1969.

One other notable fact about this game: it was the first contest that Rafael Devers did not play in this season. Giants Manager Tony Vitello had Devers on the bench as a possible pinch-hit option, but he wanted to give the 29-year-old slugger a full day of rest after he played in 309 consecutive games dating back to his time with the Red Sox. He decided to leave Whitcomb in to face Soriano and instantly saw his faith rewarded when Whitcomb drove a first-pitch fastball to center field for a go-ahead double that gave the Giants their first lead since the first inning.

It was an exciting win and showed off a couple things: Bryce Eldridge’s maturity as a hitter, Jonah Cox’s and Brad Gilbert’s speed, and some determination from the whole team. Suddenly the kids are all right and very athletic.

Giant starter Blade Tidwell had a rough outing, going four innings and allowing five runs, four earned. The Giants made three errors in the game. The Cardinals basically fell out of the playoff race with the sweep in San Francisco.

It was the first Major League Win for Tugboat Wilkinson. Congratulations to him and his family.

The Highlights