Harrison Bader went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Saturday at 12:15 p.m. ET, but it was not enough to lift the Giants past the Athletics in a loss. The outfielder has now collected hits in each of his last three games since returning from injury.
The performance offered a small step forward for Bader, who had been batting.159 through 18 games with three home runs, five RBI and six runs scored. He remained one of several underperforming options in a Giants lineup that has struggled to find consistent production for manager Tony Vitello.
Bader’s line against the Athletics stood out because it added both contact and power in the same game, something the Giants have not gotten often enough from the bottom and middle of their order. The homer was his third of the season through 18 games, and the hit streak suggests he may be settling back in after his injury layoff.
Still, the larger problem has not gone away. One swing can change the feel of a game, but it does not erase a season line that leaves Bader far below league-average production, or a lineup that has been piecing together offense from too many uneven bats. For the Giants, the question is whether this is the start of a recovery or just one bright night in a difficult stretch.
