SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants found a much-needed spark on Friday night, riding a trio of early offensive explosions to a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park. The win, just their second in the last seven games, provided a welcome reprieve for a club that had plummeted to a season-low 19 games below .500, a depth not seen since the end of the 2017 campaign.

Rafael Devers got the scoring started in emphatic fashion. After the Tigers had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Dillon Dingler's RBI groundout, Devers stepped to the plate against Detroit starter Keider Montero and crushed a two-run homer to left-center, flipping the score in San Francisco's favor. It was the kind of quick response the Giants have often lacked during a difficult season.

An inning later, the Giants extended their lead. With runners on base, Jung Hoo Lee lined a single to right field, driving in two more runs to make it 4-1. Lee, who has been a steady presence in the lineup, continued to deliver in key moments. The early outburst set the tone for a night that would ultimately belong to the Giants' bullpen.

Willy Adames added to the lead in the fifth inning with a solo home run off Montero, pushing the advantage to 5-2. It was Adames' 20th homer of the season, and it gave the Giants a comfortable cushion that their relief corps would protect.

Adrian Houser emerged as the unsung hero. Entering the game as a reliever after opener JT Brubaker, Houser allowed just one run on six hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked one, earning his first win in 13 overall appearances and five starts since May 17, when he beat the Athletics on the road. For a pitcher who had struggled to find his footing, it was a crucial performance. Houser's work stabilized the game after the Tigers had clawed back within a run on Zach McKinstry's RBI single in the second.

The Tigers, who had been on a tear offensively, were held in check the rest of the way. Detroit had won five of its previous six games and had scored 76 runs over its last eight contests, but the Giants' bullpen quieted their bats. Dylan Smith, San Francisco's fifth pitcher, recorded the final three outs, allowing a two-out walk in the ninth before securing his second save of the season.

For the Giants, the victory was more than just a box score win. It came on the heels of a 2-5 road trip that had dropped the team to 19 games below .500 for the first time since the 2017 season, when they finished 34 games under. The club began a season-long nine-game homestand hoping to build momentum and salvage a disappointing campaign.

Before the game, the Giants paid tribute to legendary broadcaster Mike Krukow, who at 74 announced this week that the 2026 season would be his last in the booth after nearly four decades of calling games. Krukow received a warm ovation from the crowd, a reminder of the deep connection between the team and its longtime voice.

Looking ahead, the Tigers were scheduled to start right-hander Jackson Jobe on Saturday in his season debut, while the Giants were set to counter with right-hander Landen Roupp (7-10, 4.34 ERA). The series continues with both teams eyeing different goals: Detroit aims to keep its postseason hopes alive, while San Francisco seeks to build on a rare win and play spoiler.

In a game defined by power, patience, and a bullpen that held firm, the Giants reminded themselves what it looks like to win. For one night, at least, the struggles were put on hold.