Giants ride momentum of Wilmer Flores’ big night into clash vs. A’s

MLB: Athletics at San Francisco GiantsMay 16, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Wilmer Flores (41) flashes a heart gesture to someone in the stands after running out his third home run of the game against the Athletics during the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Giants manager Bob Melvin will find himself in an unusual position as he ponders his starting lineup for Saturday night’s rematch with the Athletics in San Francisco.

What do you do with a guy who hit three home runs in the previous night?

That’s what Wilmer Flores did in the series opener, smacking a grand slam, a three-run blast and a solo shot to account for eight of the Giants’ runs in a 9-1 triumph.

Flores will begin play Saturday as the major-league co-leader in RBIs, having caught New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge with his career-best performance Friday.

Asked afterward if he’d found himself a new guy to hit behind leadoff man Heliot Ramos, Melvin admitted he’s not sure.

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” he said with some uncertainty.

Flores has batted in every lineup spot except leadoff this season. Friday’s start in the second position was just his third of the season.

He’s had a majority of his at-bats in the No. 5 (21 starts) and No. 8 spots (13 starts), the latter having been his usual home against right-handed pitchers like Luis Severino (1-4, 4.70 ERA), the Athletics’ scheduled starter on Saturday.

“I don’t know that anybody could have predicted this,” Melvin said of a season in which Flores, coming off an aborted 2024 due to a right-knee injury, leads the Giants in RBI and home runs with 10.

Melvin said the club has been searching for a new No. 2 hitter after Willy Adames hit just .217 there in 41 starts this season.

“He’s done some pretty good damage there,” Melvin said of Flores, whose grand slam Friday came off A’s left-hander JP Sears. “It just seemed natural (to slot Flores second against the lefty).”

Severino has dominated his lifetime matchups with Flores, holding him hitless in seven at-bats with three strikeouts.

The 31-year-old has made just two career starts against the Giants, going 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA while allowing just seven hits in 13 innings with 11 strikeouts.

Severino will be attempting to snap an A’s pitching slump. Their starters have allowed 14 runs and 18 hits in 11 innings over the last three games, which the A’s have lost 9-3, 19-2 and 9-1.

A poor showing by Osvaldo Bido in Los Angeles on Thursday got him demoted to the minors, a decision A’s manager Mark Kotsay surprisingly explained as having been impacted by the club’s competitive start this season.

“Last season, we were a lot more patient in making moves like this,” said Kotsay, whose club improved by 19 wins last year, setting up a potential postseason pursuit this year. “This season, our mindset is different.”

Right-hander Landen Roupp (2-3, 4.95) is scheduled to start the rematch for the Giants. He has never faced the A’s in his two-year, major league career.

The Giants have lost Roupp’s last three starts, in which he’s allowed eight earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

Related Posts

Jimmy Haslam, Browns celebrate $600M stadium funding in state budget

Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns managing and principal partner Jimmy Haslam before the game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images A new home for the Dawg Pound…

Read more

D-backs end 4-game skid with late rally against Giants

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Geraldo Perdomo (2) tags out San Francisco Giants base runner Dominic Smith (7) at Chase Field on June 30, 2025. Alek Thomas had three hits and scored…

Read more

LeBron James Opts In With Lakers, But Trade Speculation Swirls as Title Hopes Fade

LeBron James opted in with the Lakers, a one-year deal for his record 23rd season that pays more than $52 million for what would be his eighth year in Los…

Read more

Orioles’ Trevor Rogers eyes 2nd win in a week vs. Rangers

Jun 23, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Trevor Rogers (28) greeted by catcher Chandler Tromp (41) after pitching eight full innings against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park…

Read more

White Sox take series from Giants in Jonathan Cannon’s return

Jun 29, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jonathan Cannon (48) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory…

Read more

Jake Paul downs Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr. in unaminous decision

Jun 28, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Jake Paul leaves the ring following his victory against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Jake Paul…

Read more

Leave a Reply