In an unexpected turn of events, San Francisco Giants’ closer Camilo Doval experienced a rare setback during a tight contest against the San Diego Padres, resulting in a 3-2 defeat for the Giants on Tuesday night at Oracle Park. Doval had a stellar run, going almost two months without allowing earned runs, but the Padres managed to break through in the ninth inning, marking his first blown save since reclaiming the closer role.
Manager Bob Melvin expressed confidence in Doval, noting, “We feel great every time he’s in the game. He’s had quite a run.” However, after holding the Padres scoreless for eight innings, Doval faced a challenging situation when he walked back-to-back batters, leading to Manny Machado’s clutch hit that tied the game.
Prior to this hiccup, Doval had been on an impressive streak, not conceding an earned run over 21 outings, totaling 20 2/3 innings. His ability to effectively close games was recognized when the Giants appointed him as the closer amidst Ryan Walker’s struggles. Doval initially thrived in this role, securing four-out saves in his first two opportunities.
The game was tightly contested, with the Giants taking an early lead thanks to Heliot Ramos’ two-run homer in the third inning. However, offensive struggles haunted San Francisco, as they have now failed to score more than four runs in 16 consecutive games, a point Melvin underscored when he said, “We have to be able to score more runs than that.”
Meanwhile, the Giants made a roster adjustment prior to the game, placing right-hander Jordan Hicks on the 15-day injured list due to toe inflammation and recalling reliever Sean Hjelle, who has been performing well in Triple-A with a 2.97 ERA.
On the injury front, veteran pitcher Justin Verlander made strides in his recovery from a right pectoral strain, completing his second bullpen session and reporting positive feelings about the progress.
Despite the tough loss, the Giants’ pitching staff, particularly the promising performance from Landen Roupp, who pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, offers hope for future games. The team remains optimistic that with offensive adjustments and key players returning, they can turn their season around.
This moment emphasizes the unpredictable nature of sports; even the most reliable players have off nights. As the Giants look ahead, they will seek to not only rely on their pitching but also invigorate their offense for upcoming games.