SF Giants’ offense silenced as Ohtani pitches in rivalry for first time

SAN FRANCISCO — Following Friday night’s 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, shortstop Willy Adames assessed that there were “too many Dodgers fans here.” Starting pitcher Logan Webb made a similar remark.

“Maybe tomorrow we get some San Francisco fans,” Adames said.

Dodgers fans didn’t take over Oracle Park on Saturday afternoon. Their presence, however, was impossible to ignore. Especially the sea of blue and white that filled the bleachers. With the Giants losing to the Dodgers, 2-1, as Shohei Ohtani pitched in the rivalry for the first time and Los Angeles snapped its seven-game losing streak, those opposing fans had a chance to talk their talk.

“It’s been (a lot of) white and blue, for sure,” said left fielder Heliot Ramos. “I hope the fans come out this last game tomorrow — Giants fans.”

The breadth of Ohtani’s two-way talents have been on display over the last two days.

On Friday, Ohtani logged his first career Splash Hit by sending a cutter from Logan Webb into McCovey Cove. On Saturday, Ohtani went 0-for-4 at the plate but tossed three scoreless innings with four strikeouts, touching as high as 99.9 mph with his four-seam fastball. Including his time with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani has allowed one run in 15 innings (0.60 ERA) against San Francisco.

“He was just attacking everybody,” Ramos said. “His fastball looked pretty good. He was flowing on the mound. I feel like that was the main thing: He was attacking everybody and he was making his pitches.”

Landen Roupp made pitches of his own, turning in a quality start in his final appearance of the first half by two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts.

For Roupp, Saturday’s outing represented a rebound after he allowed six earned runs over 1 2/3 innings during his last against the Dodgers as the Giants were blown out in Los Angeles. Roupp was so dissatisfied with his first outing against the Dodgers that he deviated from routine and didn’t watch any film from that start.

“I just had full control of everything,” Roupp said. “Last outing at Dodger Stadium, kind of really just didn’t have a feel for anything. Today, I was a little different and I was able to get through six.”

In five starts since that L.A. outing, Roupp has allowed five earned runs over 26 1/3 innings (1.71 ERA) with 26 strikeouts. Roupp will go into the break with a 3.27 ERA over 96 1/3 innings, firmly establishing himself as the No. 3 starter in the Giants’ rotation behind Logan Webb and Robbie Ray.

“This team’s good enough to be in the playoffs, and I want to be pitching in the playoffs,” Roupp said.

“I feel like he looks more sure about himself,” Ramos said. “He looks better. He looks confident. He looks like he belongs. He pitched a great game. I feel bad that we couldn’t have his back today, but he’s looked better and better every time he pitches.”

As well as Roupp pitched, the right-hander got saddled with the loss as San Francisco’s offense was silenced by Ohtani and Emmet Sheehan, who allowed one run over 4 1/3 innings of bulk relief.

San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) sits after tossing the...San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) sits after tossing the ball towards second against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) walks back...San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) walks back to the dugout after pitching against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing (68) lays on the ground...Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing (68) lays on the ground after diving for a foul ball which is caught by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman (25) against San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) strikes out against...San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee (51) strikes out against Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tanner Scott (66) in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out against San...Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out against San Francisco Giants’ Joey Lucchesi (57) in the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) smiles after hitting a...San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) smiles after hitting a sacrifice fly to score San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey (14) against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (10) fields a ground ball...San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt (10) fields a ground ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Tyler Rogers (71) pitches against the Los...San Francisco Giants’ Tyler Rogers (71) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants Joey Lucchesi (57) celebrates after striking out...San Francisco Giants Joey Lucchesi (57) celebrates after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) in the seventh inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey (14) scores from a sacrifice...San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey (14) scores from a sacrifice fly by San Francisco Giants’ Rafael Devers (16) against Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodger fans cheer for Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei...Los Angeles Dodger fans cheer for Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) during a game against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds waves to the crowd...Former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds waves to the crowd before a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing (68) smiles at Los Angeles...Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing (68) smiles at Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman (25) after a foul ball is caught against San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds waves to the crowd...Former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds waves to the crowd before a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Form San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds signs autographs before a...Form San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds signs autographs before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sits next to former...Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sits next to former San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds before a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 16San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames (2) sits after tossing the ball towards second against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Expand

Following Mike Yastrzemski’s third-inning single off Ohtani, the Giants didn’t have another hit until Patrick Bailey singled off Sheehan with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Following Bailey’s single, Yastrzemski walked and Heliot Ramos singled to load the bases. Sheehan’s afternoon was over, and with the Giants trailing, 2-0, left-hander Alex Vesia entered to face the heart of San Francisco’s order.

Rafael Devers trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly to deep right-center field, setting the stage for Matt Chapman with runners at the corners and two outs. That one run would be all that San Francisco got as Chapman hit into an inning-ending force out.

That one run would be all that San Francisco got, period.

“We had a couple of chances, and we didn’t come through in those,” said manager Bob Melvin. “We weren’t great early in the game, but you have to give their pitchers some credit. They both pitched pretty well.”

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Published on July 12, 2025 15:17
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