WEST SACRAMENTO -- Casey Schmitt showed off his power to all fields at Sutter Health Park on Saturday night.
Schmitt opened the scoring with a solo shot to left field in the first inning and then added a two-run blast that hit off the foul pole in right field in the fifth, collecting his second career multihomer game in the Giants’ 6-4 win over the A’s.
“I wasn’t really trying to hit a homer. I was just trying to hit a line drive,” said Schmitt, who also homered twice against the Dodgers on Oct. 1, 2023. “I was able to get two in the air.
“I think it’s just being in a good spot and keeping it simple. I got out there a little earlier with [hitting coach] Hunter [Mense] to work on some stuff. Just working on things and keeping this pretty simple.”
Schmitt finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs to back a stellar start from right-hander Trevor McDonald, who gave up one run over 6 2/3 innings to help the Giants (19-27) snap their three-game losing streak and even this three-game series with their former crossbay rivals.
“Overall, it was a well-played game, and Casey did lead the way,” manager Tony Vitello said.
Schmitt, 27, leads San Francisco with eight home runs, 21 RBIs and an .878 OPS this season, emerging as the most consistent bat in the Giants’ offensively challenged lineup.
The Giants were held to only four runs over their three-game skid, but they came alive for 14 hits on Saturday, with Willy Adames (3-for-5, two RBIs), Rafael Devers (2-for-5) and Drew Gilbert (2-for-5) also contributing multihit efforts.
Adames’ productive night helped make up for some lapses on the basepaths, as he ended up running into two outs, which was far from ideal considering he also forgot how many outs there were in a loss at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
Still, Vitello said he didn’t mind Adames’ aggressive approach Saturday.
“As long as guys have a plan and they’re convicted in how they want to execute their plan and you see them running full speed, it’s hard to gripe too much about that,” Vitello said.
Matt Chapman, who entered the game mired in a miserable 6-for-61 (.098) slump over his last 17 games, came through with a much-needed hit as well, lining an RBI double down the left-field line that extended the Giants' lead to 6-1 in the top of the seventh.
“At some point, you do need that carrot at the end of the stick or that outcome to go your way,” Vitello said. “The one over third base was one where you can just get a little reward, get a little sense of relief. As much as these guys are pros, they’re still human beings. You do need that a little bit.”
The A’s pulled within two on Brent Rooker’s three-run bomb off Caleb Kilian in the bottom of the eighth, but the Giants managed to shut the door after left-hander Matt Gage worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his first career big league save.
It’s been an eventful series for Schmitt, who also made his first career appearance in left field on Friday after Heliot Ramos was forced to exit the game in the sixth inning with a right quad injury.
Schmitt is an infielder by trade, but he’s made most of his starts at designated hitter this year since the Giants already have Chapman, Adames, Devers and Luis Arraez holding down the four starting spots on the dirt. Schmitt could end up seeing more time in the corner outfield now that Ramos is expected to be out for several weeks, which could make him an even more valuable piece for Vitello moving forward.
“I’ve been shagging a lot and taking reads and stuff, so we’ll see how it goes,” Schmitt said. “I got in there yesterday but I didn’t get any balls. We’ll see how it goes. I feel like I can do a good job out there.”
McDonald was inserted into the Giants’ rotation to fill in for the injured Logan Webb, but he’s built a compelling case to stick around once Webb rejoins the roster. McDonald, 25, is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 19 innings in three starts for the Giants this year, which could earn him a longer look in the rotation or the bullpen.
“I feel good so far,” McDonald said. “I’m just trying to stack them up. I’m thankful for the opportunity and blessed, so I’m just trying to make the most of it.”