San Francisco Giants Endure Four-Game Losing Streak Amid NL West Struggles

The San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Rays, both struggling teams desperate for wins, began a crucial interleague series with the Giants facing a severe slump, having lost 13 of 14 games at home and scoring only five runs in their last five losses. The Giants, now 10 games back in the NL West and tied for third, have been plagued by poor performances, including a recent 11-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, where defensive miscues and ineffective pitching fueled their downfall. Despite their struggles, the Giants have hope in the return of pitcher Landen Roupp, who has been a top performer this month prior to injury. The Padres have dominated the Giants recently, sweeping a series with strong pitching and timely hitting, including home runs from Jose Iglesias and Jackson Merrill in a 5-1 victory. Giants players and management express frustration and confusion over their ongoing poor form, noting the contrast between their road and home performances. Both teams are now fighting to stay in playoff contention, with the Rays trying to climb out of fourth place in the AL East and the Giants trying to close the gap in the wild-card race.