Giants Shine with Home Runs in Doubleheader

ATLANTA — The Giants had a fantastic day on Wednesday, hitting so many home runs that even Luis Arraez got in on the action, likely aided by the Braves’ cozy ballpark.

This marked just the third instance this season where a second baseman cleared the fences with a hit that wasn’t a fluke, and notably, this was the first time it happened outside of the Athletics’ unusual home. It was just the beginning of a significant home run spree that led to the Giants’ dominance in the doubleheader.

“I wasn’t aware of the elevation here, so I think the ball carries a bit better,” noted first baseman Bryce Eldridge, who launched his seventh home run of the season during the first game at Trust Park.

And it’s no exaggeration.

The Giants smacked three home runs in the first game, claiming a 7-2 victory. In the second game, they had an incredible second inning, recording extra-base hits and finishing with a final score of 7-5.

“It was a good day at the ballpark for us,” said manager Tony Vitello, commending the team’s progress from their earlier doubleheader against the Phillies, where they unfortunately lost both games.

“Reflecting on our last experience, I think this is a bit of practice for what we hope to achieve this season. We’ve had good days in the past…You’ve got to give your best, no matter the situation.”

There was quite a moment when Willie Adams launched a two-out homer to left field in the second inning, followed by Arraez hitting a rare home run that ended up in the right field Chophouse.

Arraez took a moment in the batter’s box to look at his teammates in the dugout.

“We were making him do funny things because he was really showing off in the dugout,” Adams joked. “When he’s on, he’s on. When he hits, he hits.”

Following that, Eldridge belted a shot to center, marking the Giants’ first three-run inning this season and their second homer of the day.

Jung Hoo Lee and Rafael Devers also hit back-to-back homers in the first game.

Devers was a little more subdued in the second game, but he recorded his 23rd and 24th doubles of the season, setting an MLB record. This included a sliding single down the left field line when he assisted Arraez in extending the lead to 1-0.

Arraez achieved a season-high with four RBIs, capping off his performance with a two-run homer in the ninth inning, further boosting the Giants’ lead.

The Giants had already scored three runs before the initial Game 1 stoppage on Tuesday night. When play resumed on Wednesday, their collective six home runs contributed to eight of the twelve total runs scored throughout the day.

When it comes to hitting home runs in clusters, no one compares to Adames, who also homered in the first game. On Wednesday, five Giants hit homers, but Adames made a mark by hitting two that day.

Previously, Adames hit two in a single day but faced challenges, with 11 strikeouts in 31 at-bats and managing just one hit among them. Interestingly, four of his last five hits have gone beyond the fence.

“I’m not feeling my best right now,” Adames confessed. “We made some solid contacts, but it’s frustrating not to see any results. I hope to gain some momentum and end the first half positively.”

Meanwhile, the Braves struggled against Carson Whisenhunt, who was called up from Triple-A for a spot start in Game 2.

“I found him to be exceptional,” Vitello remarked. “He navigated through tough moments well, as there were very few easy innings.”

In his season debut, Whisenhunt managed to limit Atlanta to six hits, two walks, and only two runs over five innings. Both walks occurred early on, but he faced commendable challenges without allowing runs until the sixth.

“It felt really good,” Whisenhunt said, producing on roughly four hours of sleep. He is set to return to Triple-A Sacramento afterward. “I wasn’t at my best, but overall I felt solid working through it.”

While he may not secure a permanent position in the rotation just yet, Vitello has faith that Whisenhunt will be back at some point.

“He certainly has the potential to reach this level,” Vitello believed.

In the first game, Robbie Ray delivered a stellar performance, keeping Atlanta scoreless for over six innings, with strong relief pitching that limited the Braves to just two runs in the first 16 innings played that day.

Unfortunately, Matt Gage, who returned from the disabled list, couldn’t close out the game, only managing to get one out in the ninth, allowing a two-run homer that led to a sudden save opportunity for Tristan Beck.

Closer Caleb Killian struggled in what turned into a precarious situation after already being used earlier to clinch a five-run victory.

What It Means

The Braves entered this series with a substantial 17-and-a-half game lead over the Giants and boasted a staff ERA of 3.32, the best in MLB, second only to the Yankees.

Yet, the Giants paid little attention to that, finding themselves with a makeshift lineup as rookie J.R. Ritchie was on the mound for his sixth major league start. Unconventionally, San Francisco managed to snag three consecutive wins; they hadn’t strung four wins together all season long.

Who Is Hot

The Giants’ batting lineup has completely transformed from being the bottom feeders in terms of home runs until the first week of May.

In fact, they were the last team to reach the 20 home run mark on May 4th. Since then, they have hit 59, now tied for the most in the majors alongside the Nationals, after producing six more on Wednesday.

Additionally, their 122 wRC+ during that span leads the league, showing that their offensive surge isn’t just about power or favorable matchups.

Who Is Not?

Despite the Giants’ hitting prowess, catcher Daniel Susak has struggled.

He started behind the plate in the opening game of the doubleheader but went hitless, extending his streak to over 100 at-bats without a home run as a Rule 5 pick.

While Susak remains a reliable battery mate and consistent contact hitter, only a small fraction of his hits this season have been for extra bases. Since his return from the disabled list on May 15, his batting average stands at .221 with a .550 OPS, nearing the threshold of falling below .700 for the first time this year.

To the Next

With more rain anticipated on Thursday, both teams discussed the possibility of moving up the start time for the final game of the series, originally set for 7:15 p.m. ET. For now, Braves starter Martin Perez is lined up to face Landen Loup in his first start since Pride Night in San Francisco.