How poor offense, defensive miscues cost Giants in series-finale loss to Pirates
On "Giants Postgame Live," Bonta Hill and Rich Aurilia break down San Francisco's 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday at PNC Park.
How poor offense, defensive miscues cost Giants in series-finale loss to Pirates originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
What a performance by the Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff, limiting the Giants to just two hits.
They scored two runs there in the top of the seventh inning to make it a game, but the Pirates win the rubber match and the series.
They beat the Giants today five to two at P&T Park, as the Giants will head to Queens to take on the Mets this weekend.
But a downer for the Giants, as the bats were rolling through the first couple games of this series.
But today, again, just two measly hits, just one through the first six innings, as we welcome everybody to tell you all the Giants Postgame Live.
All-Star shortstop Rich Aurilia, I am Bante Hill.
And how's it done there?
Blake Tidwell doesn't start off right in the bottom of the first inning.
The Pirates score two, and really, the Giants gave the Pirates some runs today, 'cause they didn't really hit the ball hard today.
Yeah, you know, Blake Tidwell, a rough start today, to the game.
He kind of rebounded a little bit, but you know, you, you have to You can't walk five guys in five innings, and you can't throw 49 out of your 95 pitches or strikes.
Yep.
So that just tells you right there the command was off.
Didn't get hit around hard, just- just the command was off.
He hit, hit a batter to, to score a run.
Um- Right.
Right there, he walks O'Neill Cruz- Yeah who'll walk in a run.
Next batter he hits right there.
Yeah.
Boom, it's two-nothing, and the Pirates only have to swing the bat.
Exactly.
I mean, you, you, you basically s- sent a couple guys up in the first, and then next thing you know, you're down two-nothing.
So, you know, again, rough day game after a night game.
Short night of sleep.
But Giants offense today literally had an infield hit, and then a pinch hit double by Jung Hoo Lee, and that was it.
Five walks, but only four times did they get up with guys in scoring position, only had one hit.
Yeah, no doubt.
I- through the first six innings, it was a sleepy game for the Giants there.
As you mentioned, the infield single by Drew Gilbert, then they get some things going to the top of the seventh.
But let's continue on with the Pirates, because they score two more in the sixth inning.
And in a game like today, it felt like a four-nothing lead, a four-nothing deficit, too much to overcome, Richie.
Yeah, especially, you know, you're still in the game at this point, but here you see San Martn just throwing a ball away on a bunt, on a sac bunt, just giving them another run.
Games like this that are getaway day games, like, y- you lose games like this because of mistakes usually.
Right.
Because guys are on lack of sleep, not playing great, but, you know, it just, it just wasn't meant to be today for this Giants club.
And, you know, I- this one falls on the, on the offense- Yeah if you, if you're gonna ask me.
'Cause y- you gotta muster up more than two hits against this Pirates staff.
And in a game like today, you need clean defense, and that's something that's hasn't been there for the Giants all season long here in 2026.
The clean defense there, where you see, San Martn throws, throws it away.
Mm-hmm.
Bryce Eldridge doesn't wanna get in the way of the runner.
That could be an injury waiting to happen.
You- they beat out the double play there to score another run.
So on a day where you're tired- Yeah you're sleepy, it's getaway day, at least your defense has to tighten up.
