'No room for error': Two homers costly for Stripling

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants’ starting rotation has been on a roll as of late, but right-hander Ross Stripling couldn’t keep that momentum going on Sunday afternoon.

Stripling gave up five runs on seven hits over five innings in a 7-3 loss to the Brewers at Oracle Park, which snapped the Giants’ four-game winning streak and kept the club from completing its first sweep of the year.

The bulk of the damage allowed by Stripling came via the long ball, as he surrendered two-run homers to William Contreras and Willy Adames that caused his ERA to rise to 6.66 over six appearances this year. Stripling gave up 12 home runs over 134 1/3 innings with the Blue Jays in 2022, but he’s already permitted eight over 25 2/3 innings this year.

The 33-year-old veteran isn’t missing as many bats this year, as he entered Sunday with a 26.5 percent chase rate, down from 37 percent in 2022. Stripling’s changeup has also been hit harder thus far -- opposing batters entered Sunday hitting .296 off the pitch, compared to .203 last year.

“Probably a step back in crispness,” Stripling said. “I still feel like I battled and made some good pitches. I think what we’re seeing so far is like no room for error so far with me. Both of my walks score. My worst changeup gets hit for a homer. My worst slider gets hit for a homer, which I’m used to. As a command guy and not a stuff guy, I know I’ve got to hit corners and throw to their weaknesses and stuff. But it definitely feels more [pronounced] this season than normal.”

San Francisco’s starters rank fourth in the Majors with a 3.32 ERA, but the club hasn’t gotten much out of Stripling or left-hander Sean Manaea (7.33 ERA), both of whom signed identical two-year, $25 million deals over the offseason.

Stripling has toggled between the rotation and the bullpen, though he made his third consecutive start in place of the injured Alex Wood (left hamstring strain) on Sunday. After a 1-2-3 first inning, Stripling was forced to labor during a 30-pitch second, which began with a leadoff walk to Rowdy Tellez, followed by a two-run shot to left field by Contreras.

The Brewers went ahead, 3-2, on Adames’ sacrifice fly in the third before padding their lead with another rally off Stripling in the fifth. Jesse Winker drew a two-out walk to once again set the table for Adames, who followed with the 100th home run of his career.

“Bummed with the way it finished,” Stripling said. “I feel like I’ve had a couple of those, where I’m really close to finishing a decent outing, and it just kind of gets away from me at the end. I really need to buckle down in those situations and get one more out. Then we’re still in the game, and who knows how that one finishes, versus a three-run deficit, which is much harder to overcome.”

The Giants are 1-6 in games in which Stripling has pitched, making it likely that he’ll be bumped from the rotation once Wood is ready to come off the injured list. Wood, who posted a 1.80 ERA over his first three outings, made his first rehab start with Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits over 3 2/3 innings while throwing 46 pitches.

Despite Stripling's tough start to the year, manager Gabe Kapler expressed confidence in his ability to rebound and get back on track for the Giants.

“We’re counting on Strip, and we believe in him,” Kapler said. “Obviously a major acquisition for us. Really excellent track record of success suppressing home runs, throwing strikes, being in count leverage. The net of Strip’s season right now, I don’t think it’s any secret, it’s just not where he wants to be. We want to support him as he gets right, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”

The Giants tied the game, 2-2, behind back-to-back RBI singles from Brett Wisely and LaMonte Wade Jr. in the second, but they didn’t score again until Thairo Estrada launched his sixth home run of the year -- a solo shot to left off Devin Williams -- in the bottom of the ninth. The Giants outhit the Brewers 13-12 but they went only 3-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men stranded.

“Those are opportunities we need to capitalize on as much as possible,” Kapler said. “It’s always disappointing when those rallies are cut short. We have been able more recently to capitalize on some of those and get some big knocks. Today we weren’t able to deliver the knockout blow.”