Giants Nip Athletics in Extras after Pitchers’ Duel

Wilmer Flores of the Giants celebrating after drawing the winning walk against the Athletics

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

May 17, 2025

Giants 1, Athletics 0 (10 innings)

SAN FRANCISCO (May 17) — The Athletics must be tired of Wilmer Flores. A 10th-inning bases-loaded walk by Flores, after fouling off several Mason Miller pitches, gave the San Francisco Giants a 1–0 win over the Athletics. This came one night after Flores drove in eight of his team’s nine runs.

Athletics starting pitcher Luis Severino continued his streak of outstanding performances on the road after six scoreless innings. “I feel like if I only pitch on the road, I’d be freakin’ Cy Young,” Severino joked in reference to winning the coveted annual award. He added of his performance Saturday, “The mound was really comfortable. I felt like I was seven (feet tall) out there. It was really nice. … I feel really good. Feel like I was in control of the game all the time. I wasn’t trying to actually throw 100 out there, just trying to make my pitches.”

“Sevi did a great job,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “This was a start we needed out of him. Getting us through six innings (while allowing) no runs was an outstanding job. Gave us a chance to win the game.”

Athletics – Giants Game Summary

The only scoring came in the bottom of the tenth off Athletics closer Mason Miller. Willy Adames took second base as the automatic runner when the inning started. LaMonte Wade Jr. walked before Patrick Bailey advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Pitching

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Severino allowed only four hits and one walk, striking out five. He threw 96 pitches, with 67 being strikes, to 23 batters. After his previous appearance, Severino had mentioned the need to avoid walking the bottom third of the opposing lineup. He said that this was one of the positives from his outing Saturday. “I gave up a walk, but it was to a guy who’s been really hot (Flores). … That’s my goal this year, limit the walks and limit walks to the guys that I don’t have to walk.”

Athletics relievers Justin Sterner and Tyler Ferguson each had a scoreless appearance, Sterner in the seventh and eighth and Ferguson in the ninth. Sterner allowed a hit and a walk, striking out two. Ferguson pitched a 1-2-3 inning.

Several Scoring Chances

In the top of the first, the Athletics had a runner on second with two outs. The Athletics also had runners on first and second with nobody out in the second. In the fourth, they had runners on the corners with one out. It became runners on second and third after a two-out stolen base. And in the ninth, the automatic runner reached third with two outs for the top of the lineup. Jacob Wilson’s walk made it runners on the corners with two outs.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Did Not Convert the Scoring Chances

…but none of these scenarios produced runs. A grounder to third stranded the runner in the first. In the second, a lineout to center, a strikeout, and a grounder to second combined to waste the opportunity. After getting runners on the corners in the fourth, a popup to third and a strikeout squandered the scoring chance. And in the tenth, the leadoff hitter failed to get the bunt down, ultimately striking out. This kept the runner from advancing to third before there were two outs, instead advancing him on a grounder to second by Nick Kurtz.

Of the nine runners the Athletics left on base, five were in scoring position. The Athletics were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, but that hit did not produce a run.

This was the chief reason the Athletics lost the game, Kotsay said. “We offensively did not execute,” he said. “We didn’t get the job done in the 10th inning as well. Getting a bunt down there in the infield, then Kurtz’s ball most likely gets through the infield and we score a run there.”

Quick Hits

This was the second Athletics loss via shutout this season. It was also their second walk-off loss of 2025, the other coming against the Miami Marlins May 3. However, it was their first walk-off loss via base on balls since April 7, 2019 at the Houston Astros. It was also their first loss after holding their opponents scoreless through nine innings since August 15, 2018 versus the Seattle Mariners. … Severino has not allowed a home run in seven straight starts and has a 40 2/3-inning homerless streak. The streak is the second-longest active streak in the majors behind Kodai Senga of the New York Mets (43 1/3 innings).

Looking Ahead

Doval (3–1) earned the win, with Miller (0–2) taking the loss, both in relief.

The Athletics (22–24) and Giants (27–19) will conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon. Probable starters are lefty Jeffrey Springs (5–3, 4.27 ERA) for the Athletics and future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander (0–3, 4.31 ERA) for the Giants. First pitch will be at 1:05 pm Pacific.