The Giants were swept by the Yankees to open the season and scored one run in their first three games
San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman, second from left, Harrison Bader, and manager Tony Vitello , among others, look on as Heliot Ramos bats against the New York Yankees in the ninth inning of their Opening Night MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif.
, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The Giants lost 7–0 in Vitello’s MLB debut as manager. to begin Vitello’s managerial tenure, but outclassed in every facet of the game. The offense, in particular, was a lowlight, totaling just one run and 12 hits over their first three games of the season. “These first three games haven’t gone the way that we wanted to, but that’s how baseball goes,” said shortstop Willy Adames. “Obviously, we don’t want to start the season like that, but we have a new series, new day to start fresh and start rolling.” Vitello, for good reason, is a curiosity in the baseball industry. He’s the first of his kind, going straight from college to the pros, and a leap of that magnitude brings with it enhanced attention as to how he runs his team. Vitello’s first three games should be taken with a grain of salt, but what most stood out against New York is that Vitello almost went the entire series without utilizing his bench.. He went through the first eight innings on Saturday with just his starters as well, but finally called on a non-starter in the bottom of the ninth inning of Saturday’s 3-1 loss when he had Jared Oliva pinch-run for Adames. Adames appeared somewhat surprised when Oliva jogged out to replace him, saying postgame that he couldn’t remember ever being pulled for a pinch runner, but the move made strategic sense. While Adames has above-average speed, Oliva is by far the Giants’ fastest position player. The move is also noteworthy because Vitello showed a willingness to remove one of the Giants’ foundational players in favor of someone who gives San Francisco a better chance at winning the game in a specific scenario. It’s exactly the type of tough decisions that Vitello will have to make if he and the Giants are going to succeed. On the flip side, Vitello’s decision to pull Adames followed another decision to stick with a starter in the bottom of the seventh. With the Yankees’ left-handed specialist Tim Hill on the mound, Vitello opted to keep the left-handed hitting Jung Hoo Lee in the ballgame instead of calling on a pinch-hitter. Lee had a career .599 OPS entering play, and Hill held left-handed hitters to a .444 OPS last season. Jerar Encarnacion, among others, was available, but Vitello stuck with Lee, who struck out looking. There’s an argument to be made that keeping Lee in the game was the right move since there were two outs in the inning with no one on base in a two-run deficit. What’s most notable, though, is that Vitello replied that there was no consideration to going to his bench, which is composed strictly of right-handed hitters. “No, not at all. is our guy,” Vitello said. “I think those guys had gotten a previous look at Hill. Obviously he’s really tough, but Arráez was able to get to him and some guys in spring training, with a good approach, were able to have success against him.” There was another move that stung Vitello on Saturday, and that was the decision to let a left-handed reliever go after the best hitter in the game. Lefty Ryan Borucki entered in the top of the fifth to handle a pocket of left-handed hitters — a pocket that had Aaron Judge baked in between. Borucki retired the first two left-handed batters he faced, striking out Austin Wells and getting Trent Grisham to fly out. When Judge rolled to the plate with the left-handed hitting Cody Bellinger on deck, it would’ve made sense if Vitello ordered Borucki to pitch around the three-time MVP. Vitello made no such order. Borucki elevated a cutter and Judge sent it over the left-field fence, hitting the top of an ambulance. “If we go back in time, now that we know the result, we would ,” Vitello said. “That was a consideration. We didn’t do it, and he made us pay, which is why he’s pretty good. He’s more than pretty good.” Vitello didn’t get an opportunity to deploy his bullpen in a late-game situation with a lead to protect , but the early returns from the relievers are reason for encouragement. With off days on Thursday and Sunday, Vitello aggressively deployed his bullpen and used all eight relievers at least once. Over 12 2/3 innings, San Francisco’s bullpen allowed just two runs and totaled 13 strikeouts. Soon enough, Vitello will have opportunities to figure out the best configuration of relievers for protecting leads in the seventh, eighth and ninth. Along with all that occurred between the lines, Vitello had his first interesting postgame moment when he shouldered part of the blame for the Giants’ first two losses of the season. Vitello referred to how he made an impassioned “fire and brimstone” speech days before the game, one that he believes resulted in emotions running “a little too high.”More than just Forever Giants have gone through San Francisco to CooperstownSF Giants flat again in Opening Day loss, shut out in second straight game to open season“We’re all major league players. I think that we can handle it,” said left-hander Robbie Ray. “We can handle the ups and downs. It’s just one of those things that has happened the first two games. It’s not ideal. Like I said, you got 160 games left, so what are you going to do with it?” “It’s the start of the season,” said Heliot Ramos on Friday. “We just have to get going. We just have to try to keep executing and play our game.” The Giants didn’t execute in San Francisco. In San Diego, they’ll have three more opportunities to get Vitello his first major league win.Savannah Guthrie's 'Today' interview sparks backstage power struggles, tensionsDear Abby: If I can't see the baby, then I want my money backDear Abby: The bride admitted to me that the wedding was a shamMiss Manners: They won't even set a menu until the guests arrive
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
theScore Bet bonus code NPNEWS: Get a bet reset up to $1,000 for Yankees vs. GiantsNew bettors can use theScoreBet bonus code NPNEWS for a bet reset up to $1,000 welcome offer at the sportsbook for Yankees vs. Giants.
Read more »
Judge clobbers 2-run homer to lead Yankees in 2nd straight shutout over Giants, 3-0Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer in the sixth to end an 0-for-7 start to his season after the two-time reigning AL MVP had a strike call overturned by the automated system earlier in that same at-bat when he challenged, and the New York Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0.
Read more »
Judge's Homer Leads Yankees to Victory Over GiantsAaron Judge's two-run homer broke a scoreless tie in the sixth inning, propelling the New York Yankees to a 3-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. The win, fueled by Judge's impactful hit and a strong pitching performance, saw the Giants shut out for a second consecutive game to start the season.
Read more »
Giants Tie Franchise Shutout Record Before Finally Scoring First Run of SeasonThe San Francisco Giants finally broke the ice on scoring a run this season but not before tying a franchise record.
Read more »
Former Tennessee Coach Tony Vitello Starts MLB Career on the Wrong FootTony Vitello and the San Francisco Giants have started their season off on the wrong foot.
Read more »
Giants Shut Out in First Two Games, Judge Hits Home Run in Loss to YankeesThe San Francisco Giants, under new manager Tony Vitello, were shut out in their first two games against the New York Yankees. Aaron Judge hit a home run, but the Giants struggled offensively, marking a historic scoreless start. Automated ball-strike calls were frequently overturned. The Giants had not announced a starter for their series opener Monday at San Diego.
Read more »