Bericoto walk off homer propels Giants over A's 2-1

SAN FRANCISCO — It was a bittersweet moment for San Francisco Giants left fielder Victor Bericoto.

His walk off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Giants a dramatic come from behind 2-1 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday evening at Oracle Park.

However, Bericoto was not in a mood to celebrate in the clubhouse after the game. His home country of Venezuela was rocked by two earthquakes on Wednesday; one had a magnitude of 7.5 while the other measured 7.2. Bericoto was trying to reach family and friends to check in on their well-being after his game winning blast of 445 feet to left centerfield earned the Giants the first two games of the series against their Interstate rivals.

As of this writing, news reports have at least 32 people dead with over 700 injuries with many building that collapsed in the fallout of the earthquakes.

San Francisco was shutout for the first eight innings of the game. Rafeal Devers set up Bericoto's heroics when he led off the ninth inning with a lead off home run to centerfield that sent the Oracle Park buzzing. After Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee flied out and extra innings on the table, Bericoto drilled an Elvis Alvarado hanging breaking ball deep into the bleachers for his first walk off home run of his career.

Tyler Mahle had a good performance in his first start since coming off of the injured list. Mahle gave up only two hits in five and two-thirds shutout innings with just two walks and four strikeouts. It was one of Mahle's best starts of the season as he has had an up and down season before going on the IL. Mahle was able to keep the Athletic hitters off balanced as he was able to pinpoint his spots around the plate.

It was a pitcher's duel on this crisp, windy evening. Athletics starting pitcher Gage Jump threw five shutout innings only giving up three hits with just one walk while striking out nine Giants hitters. San Francisco had no answer for Jump as his command was on full force for manager Mark Kotsay.

Athletics infielder Max Muncy broke open the goose eggs with a solo homer run off of Giants reliever Dylan Smith in the top of the eighth innings with a deep shot to right centerfield. It looked like one run was going to be enough for the team playing in West Sacramento until Alvarado's blown save in the ninth.

Jung Hoo Lee, whose country of South Korea lost to South Africa in group play of the FIFA World Cup earlier in the evening, continued his hitting tear with a 2-for-4 performance and until the two home runs in the ninth inning, had the hardest hit ball of the night when he roped a double off of the right field wall in the second inning.

Erik Miller relieved Smith in the ninth and recorded the final three out of the inning to earn his first win of the season.

The Athletics have a lost a season worst four games in a row and their six walk-off losses are tied for the second most in the league. They are 2-10 against the Giants in their last 12 meetings dating back to August 18, 2024. The Giants 25 walk-off wins since the start of the 2024 season is second behind only Seattle's 27.

San Francisco goes for the sweep tomorrow afternoon at 12:45. The probable starting pitchers are Landon Roupp and Jeffery Springs.