What we learned as Giants can’t find clutch hit in frustrating loss to Athletics

WEST SACRAMENTO – The Giants’ offense looked better after two sullen days in Southern California. Only problem was that their former Bay Area rivals managed the hits that mattered.On a night when Luis Arraez homered for the first time this season while Harrison Bader also connected for the second time since coming off the injured list earlier this week, San Francisco couldn’t manage much else. Luis Arráez goes yard for the first time this season pic.twitter.com/oerxptS7f1 — SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 16, 2026 Bader bomb pic.twitter.com/k95e34K78x — SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 16, 2026 The end result was a 5-2 loss that extended the Giants’ skid to three straight and six of 10. Not the type of stuff that will inspire postseason hopes, either.San Francisco began the game strong enough, with the offense mounting mini threats in each of the first two innings while starting pitcher Tyler Mahle effectively worked around some early traffic.Then came the fifth inning, when it all blew up. The A’s batted around, had six hits and scored four runs, three coming on Nick Kurtz’s home run...