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

Justice delos Santos, The Mercury News on Jul 8, 2026

Published in Baseball

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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.

“There wasn’t a lot of hard contact, but there also was really comfortable swings,” said manager Tony Vitello. “They were kind of sitting on that deal there. Sinker was middle a lot, if you were going to criticize anything there. Kind of piled up on him a little too quick.”

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.

Houser became the first Giants pitcher to record at least 5 2/3 no-hit innings of relief since Jim Barr on Sept. 11, 1971. Vitello responded that “any conversation is open” when asked if Houser, who has a 1.29 ERA out of the bullpen, could return to the rotation.

“Saving the bullpen is obviously a huge key,” Houser said. “I think a confidence builder for him. He’s been throwing with some attitude. The changeup has been really good. Had guys beating the ball into the ground. He was outstanding.

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.

“I was taking some peeks up at the scoreboard on some of the exit velos, and I felt like I was getting the soft contact, trying to force the early outs,” said McDonald, who owns a 6.53 ERA over his last seven starts. “They’re a team that likes to swing and be on the attack. They found the holes and just kind of spiraled into them and gaining the momentum and stringing a bunch together. It’s unfortunate, but onto the next.”

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.

Right fielder Heliot Ramos followed up Monday’s two-homer game with a two-hit game out of the leadoff spot. Ramos has a hit in eight of his last nine games since returning from the injured list, posting a .333 batting average with four home runs and eight RBIs during this stretch.

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.