The San Francisco Giants suffered a stunning collapse, squandering a six-run lead in the ninth inning to endure a heartbreaking loss. Lee Jung-hoo, sidelined after being hit by a pitch, watched the team’s meltdown from the dugout.
On Thursday, at Oracle Corporation Park in San Francisco, California, the Giants were cruising with a 9-3 lead against the Cincinnati Reds in the 2026 Major League Baseball home game. However, a disastrous ninth inning saw them surrender seven runs, resulting in a gut-wrenching 10-9 defeat.
The loss snapped the Giants’ three-game winning streak, dropping their record to 54-79 and leaving them mired in fourth place in the National League West.
San Francisco seemed to have the game in hand after belting three homers, but their bullpen imploded in the final frame.
Spencer Bivens, who had pitched the eighth, started to unravel when Hector Rodriguez took him deep for a solo shot.
Bivens then loaded the bases without recording an out, prompting his removal. Dylan Smith, summoned in relief, immediately served up a grand slam to Eugenio Suarez.
Clinging to a 9-8 lead, the Giants inexplicably stuck with Smith, a decision that would prove disastrous.
Smith allowed back-to-back hits, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Jose Trevino then knotted the game with a sacrifice fly before Tyler Stephenson delivered the knockout blow with a go-ahead single.
Only after surrendering the lead did San Francisco finally make another pitching change. Rayber Sanmartin stopped the bleeding, but the damage was done, and Cincinnati had seized control.
The Giants went down quietly in their last at-bat, unable to mount a comeback.
Lee Jung-hoo, who took a pitch off his body the previous day, was held out of the lineup. Manager Tony Biancolana had hinted at possibly using Lee as a pinch-hitter, but ultimately decided to rest him for the next game.
Shay Whitcomb, of Korean descent, started at second base and batted ninth, going 2-for-4 with a homer, two run batted ins (RBIs), and two runs scored. However, his solid performance was overshadowed by the team’s collapse.
The Giants will look to rebound as they host a four-game set against the Lizzona Diamondbacks starting on August 28.