OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- The San Francisco Giants ate their postgame meal in an eerie silence, the defending World Series champions' playoff hopes all but over.
San Francisco was eliminated from wild-card contention Friday night, losing to Sonny Gray and the Oakland Athletics 5-4 and helping send the Chicago Cubs into the postseason for the first time since 2008.
There's a daunting task ahead, too. The Giants trail the NL-West leading Dodgers by eight games with nine to go, and the defending division champs visit AT&T Park for four games next week.