McDonald surrenders career-worst eight runs as SF Giants fall to Blue Jays

SAN FRANCISCO — Trevor McDonald wasn’t fooling the Toronto Blue Jays. Not in the slightest.

It was reflected in the eight runs he allowed, the most he’s surrendered in a single game in his young career. It was reflected in the 11 hits he allowed, which were also the most he’s given up in an outing. It was reflected in his inability to record a single strikeout. All told, McDonald recorded just seven outs, setting the stage for the Giants’ 9-3 loss on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

McDonald took the mound on Tuesday fresh off one of the best starts of his career. Last Wednesday, McDonald allowed just one hit over six shutout innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Blue Jays, by contrast, racked up the hits early and often.

Following a scoreless first, McDonald allowed three runs in the second on a three-run homer by Toronto’s light-hitting Jonatan Clase, who entered play with a career .309 slugging percentage. If Clase’s home run in the second was an uppercut, then Toronto’s offense in the third was a barrage of jabs.

McDonald faced seven batters in the third, recording just one out and allowing six singles. Of those six singles, four had exit velocities under 90 mph, while two were under 80 mph. Following the sixth and final hit, manager Tony Vitello ended McDonald’s night and went to his bullpen.

Starting opposite of McDonald was rookie right-hander Spencer Miles, whom the Giants (38-53) neglected to protect ahead of last year’s Rule 5 Draft.

Miles had only pitched 14 2/3 innings in the minors due to injuries when Toronto swooped in and acquired him from San Francisco last winter. The 25-year-old showed why the Blue Jays were willing to take the gamble, allowing two runs over four innings, bringing his ERA to 2.95 over 58 innings.

Given the state of the Giants’ pitching staff, it’s not hard to imagine Miles having a role on this team if they chose to protect him.

With McDonald recording just seven outs, Vitello called on right-hander Adrian Houser to provide length and save the bullpen. Houser did more than just eat innings, holding Toronto scoreless over 5 2/3 no-hit innings with five strikeouts to one walk.

Up next

Logan Webb (5-6, 3.66 ERA) will take the mound against the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease (5-4, 2.79 ERA) in a battle of aces as the Giants look to take the rubber match.