Doval records rare blown save as SF Giants fall to Padres in 10 innings

Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News on Jun 5, 2025

Published in Baseball

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SAN FRANCISCO — Camilo Doval is human.

Doval allowed his first two earned runs in nearly two months and blew his first save since re-entering the closer role as the Giants fell to the San Diego Padres, 3-2, in 10 innings on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

“We feel great every time he’s in the game. He’s had quite a run,” said manager Bob Melvin. “We shut them down for eight innings, they score two in the ninth. Ball off the end of the bat is a hit, but it’s a good at-bat by Manny (Machado). It’s the walks, I think, that got him the most.”

For Doval, the outing was a rare misstep in what has been an otherwise resurgent season.

On April 7, Doval took a loss as he allowed two earned runs to the Cincinnati Reds. His ERA through six games stood at 5.06. From there, Doval went on the best run of his career.

Doval, a one-time All-Star, didn’t allow an earned run over his next 21 outings (20 2/3 innings), the longest such streak of his career. With Ryan Walker struggling to replicate last season’s dominance, Melvin anointed Doval as the team’s new closer during their three-city road trip. Doval converted his first two opportunities back in the closer role, recording a pair of four-out saves against the Marlins in Miami. His first opportunity back in San Francisco would not be so successful.

The right-hander got out two of the first three batters he faced, but a pair of back-to-back walks to Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez loaded the bases for the perpetually dangerous Manny Machado. With the count at 1-1, Doval tossed a slider below the zone. Machado chased and flipped it into left field.

Brandon Lockridge, who started the rally with a one-out single, easily scored from third, and Tatis beat Heliot Ramos’ all-out throw to the plate, tying the game at two apiece. Doval limited further damage, but the lead was lost. The Giants couldn’t score in the bottom of the ninth, and the ballgame went to extras.

Jake Cronenworth pushed across the go-ahead run against Spencer Bivens in the top of the 10th with a broken bat single to drive in Jackson Merrill, giving the Padres a 3-2 lead. The Giants put a runner on third with one out in the bottom of the frame but Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee hit into back-to-back groundouts to end the ballgame.

“Things like that are going to happen,” said Landen Roupp, who pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to 3.18. “Just an unfortunate ending tonight. We want him in the ninth, and that’s going to happen. Just looking forward to seeing him get back out there and continue to throw the ball well.”

San Francisco may not have needed Doval at all tonight if the offense broke its cold spell and put more runs on the board.

Heliot Ramos gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run shot to center field, a drive he admired for several seconds before flipping his bat and beginning to jog the bases. It was a much-needed swing after San Francisco was shut out on Monday night, but Ramos’ 11th home run was the extent of the offense.

The Giants have now gone 16 consecutive games without scoring more than four runs in a single game. During this stretch, they’re 14-for-105 (.133) with runners in scoring position.

“We have to be able to score more runs than that,” Melvin said. “At the time, the two-run homer after what we went through last night feels good — Roupp’s pitching well — but we have to add on more runs like that. We can’t just say leave it up to the pitching and shut them out. It’s something that’s been a problem for a while now. It’s another game where we don’t score enough runs and put a lot of pressure on the pitching again.”

Hicks hits injured list, Hjelle recalled

Prior to Tuesday night’s game, the Giants placed right-hander Jordan Hicks on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 2) with right great toe inflammation.

In a corresponding move, the Giants recalled right-handed reliever Sean Hjelle from Triple-A Sacramento.

Hicks, 28, sustained the injury during his most recent appearance against the Miami Marlins on June 1, where he walked three batters and recorded one out.

“You could see him get a little frustrated with the mound. That was more he was feeling his toe,” said manager Bob Melvin.

Hjelle, 28, posted a 2.97 ERA with 32 strikeouts over 30 1/3 innings for Sacramento.

Verlander throws second bullpen

Justin Verlander (right pectoral strain) threw his second bullpen since hitting the 15-day injured list on May 22 (retroactive to May 19).

“It was a lot better today,” Melvin said. “He felt great. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”

The next step is for Verlander to throw to hitters, though Melvin said he was unsure what day Verlander would do so. Melvin didn’t have an exact pitch count but said Verlander threw “a lot.”

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