Wilkinson makes debut as Giants edge Guardians 1-0
Victor Bericoto’s RBI single secured a narrow victory for San Francisco, while Matt Wilkinson pitched two innings in his first major league appearance against the team that drafted him.
The San Francisco Giants defeated the Cleveland Guardians 1-0 on Wednesday night, securing their second 1-0 victory of the season. The decisive run came in the fourth inning when Victor Bericoto hit an RBI single to score Rafael Devers. Devers advanced to third base with two outs before Bericoto’s sharp grounder bounced away from diving shortstop Brayan Rocchio toward the left field line.
Matt Wilkinson made his major league debut as an opener, pitching two innings and allowing one hit. The 23-year-old left-hander was called up from Triple-A Sacramento for the game, which marked his first appearance against the Cleveland Guardians, the team that selected him in the 10th round of the 2023 amateur draft. Wilkinson was acquired from Cleveland a little more than three months prior, at a time when the Guardians were chasing an American League wild card spot.
Wilkinson’s debut carries historical significance for the franchise, as he is the Giants’ first Canadian-born pitcher to make his big league debut as a starter since Tip O’Neill for the New York Gothams in 1883. He faced seven batters during his outing, providing a crucial start for the San Francisco bullpen.
Adrian Houser followed Wilkinson on the mound, pitching five innings while allowing four hits and two walks. The right-hander struck out three batters, finishing with a record of 3-8. Dylan Smith closed the game, recording his third save of the season by striking out five batters over the final two innings.
On the offensive side, Willy Adames contributed three singles for the Giants, while Jung Hoo Lee added a single and a double. The Guardians’ lineup struggled to convert opportunities, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight runners on base.
Cleveland starter Parker Messick tied his career high with 10 strikeouts while allowing six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He finished with a record of 9-8. Angel Martínez and Angel Genao each recorded two hits for the Guardians. The series concludes Thursday with Giants right-hander Landen Roupp facing Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams.
