Rookies Bryce Eldridge and Carson Whisenhunt lead the Giants past the Astros, 4-1

By: The Associated Press Posted: 11:45 PM CDT Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bryce Eldridge homered, fellow rookie Carson Whisenhunt pitched 5 2/3 innings after working out of two early bases-loaded jams and the San Francisco Giants beat the Houston Astros 4-1 on Tuesday night.

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Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch from Whisenhunt (3-3) to load the bases with one out in the first. Altuve stayed in the game but did not return for the bottom of the second inning with what the team said was a left foot contusion.

Christian Walker popped out to short right field for the second out, and Nelson Velázquez grounded out to third in his first at-bat with the Astros after being claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown (58) throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Houston loaded the bases with nobody out in the second, but managed only a sacrifice fly by Yordan Alvarez for a 1-0 lead.

Rafael Devers drew a walk off Hunter Brown (3-2) and took second on a wild pitch to start the bottom of the inning. Drew Gilbert’s one-out single tied it.

Gilbert walked after a successful ABS challenge with one out in the fourth and advanced on a groundout before scoring on rookie Drew Cavanaugh’s go-ahead single.

Eldridge hit his 12th homer with one out in the fifth for a 3-1 advantage.

Cavanaugh had a two-out single off Enyel De Los Santos in the sixth and rookie Christian Koss doubled for a 4-1 lead.

Whisenhunt allowed a run on four hits with three walks and retired 11 in a row at one point. He left after a two-out walk in the sixth, matching his longest outing through six starts this season and 11 overall. He threw 55 of his 96 pitches in the first two innings.

Carson Seymour pitched two scoreless innings, Reiver Sanmartin got the final out in the eighth, and JT Brubaker pitched the ninth for his second career save.

Brown pitched five innings and yielded three runs on five hits and three walks.

Houston (61-60) rallied to beat San Francisco (50-70) in Monday’s opener 6-3 in 10 innings.