Giants Stumble in Series Opener Against Orioles

San Francisco drops first game of three-city road trip with 6-2 loss in Baltimore

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:25pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fractured, multi-angle view of a baseball game, with the players and field breaking down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the Giants' orange and black and the Orioles' black and orange colors.The Giants' road woes continue as they struggle to find their footing against a scrappy Orioles squad.Washington Today

The San Francisco Giants fell behind early and were unable to recover, losing 6-2 to the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a three-game series. Left-hander Cade Povich kept the Giants' bats quiet for most of the game, while the Orioles capitalized on some timely hits to build a lead the Giants couldn't overcome.

Why it matters

The Giants were looking to build on a recent three-game win streak, but this loss drops them to 6-10 on the season. The road trip through Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Washington will be an important test as the Giants try to get their season back on track.

The details

Orioles starter Cade Povich, pitching on his 26th birthday, held the Giants scoreless through the first 4.2 innings before Giants catcher Daniel Susac drove in Casey Schmitt with a single in the 5th. The Orioles jumped out to an early lead on a first-inning home run by Samuel Basallo and added four more runs in the 6th inning to pull away. Giants starter Adrian Houser took the loss, allowing 4 earned runs in 4.2 innings of work.

  • The Giants' three-city road trip began with this loss to the Orioles on April 12, 2026.
  • Cade Povich was making his first start of the 2026 season for the Orioles.

The players

Cade Povich

The Orioles' starting pitcher, who held the Giants scoreless for 6.2 innings on his 26th birthday.

Adrian Houser

The Giants' starting pitcher, who took the loss after allowing 4 earned runs in 4.2 innings.

Samuel Basallo

The Orioles' outfielder, who hit a first-inning home run to give Baltimore an early lead.

Daniel Susac

The Giants' catcher, who drove in the team's only run with a 5th inning single.

Casey Schmitt

The Giants' infielder, who hit a solo home run in the 9th inning.

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What they’re saying

“Whatever momentum the Giants gained with their recent upswing has dissipated.”

— Jerry McDonald, Author

What’s next

The Giants have an off day on Monday before resuming their road trip with a three-game series in Cincinnati and then another in Washington.

The takeaway

This loss drops the Giants to 6-10 on the season, and the upcoming road trip through Cincinnati and Washington will be an important test as they try to get their season back on track after a disappointing start.