SF Giants fail to record season’s first three-game sweep, drop series finale to Angels

SAN FRANCISCO — If there was any ambiguity as to whether the Giants would be sellers, Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels provided the latest confirmation.

It’s not just the fact that San Francisco lost, which drops the team’s record to 44-61, the third-worst record in the National League. It’s the fact that the Giants are still searching for their first sweep of the season. And with the Aug. 3 trade deadline roughly a week away, they remain the only team in the majors that has yet to break out the brooms.

The Giants entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 4-1, but Luis Arraez brought them within two with a two-out, two-run double off the right-field wall. That set the table for Heliot Ramos, who struck out looking to end the ballgame. The game-ending strike was out of the zone, but the Giants were out of challenges and Ramos was hung out to dry.

Rookie left-hander Carson Whisenhunt took the loss as he allowed four runs over five innings and surrendered two home runs, but he impressed by totaling career-highs in strikeouts (seven) and whiffs (18). Whisenhunt generated 15 whiffs with his changeup, which eclipses Johnny Cueto (14) for the most by a Giant during the Statcast era.

The Angels took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when former Giant Jorge Soler drove in Mike Trout on a groundout, then expanded their lead to 4-0 in the fourth on a solo homer by Soler and a two-run shot by Jo Adell. San Francisco scored its lone run of the game in the fifth when Luis Arraez beat out a potential inning-ending double play thanks to a throwing error by shortstop Zach Neto.

Worth noting

Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee got the day off after being hit in the elbow by a four-seam fastball yesterday. Lee’s elbow guard protected him from being hit directly on the bone, but manager Tony Vitello said there was still some lingering soreness.

Additionally, outfielder Jonah Cox, who is currently on the injured list with a left oblique strain, is getting close to starting a rehab assignment.

Up next

The Giants will begin a three-game set on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers, who own the second-best record in the majors (66-39) right behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (67-39). Tyler Mahle, Landen Roupp and Logan Webb are scheduled to start, in that order.