SAN FRANCISCO — If there was any ambiguity as to whether the Giants would be sellers, Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels provided the latest confirmation.

It’s not just the fact that San Francisco lost, which drops the team’s record to 44-61, the third-worst record in the National League. It’s the fact that the Giants are still searching for their first sweep of the season. And with the Aug. 3 trade deadline roughly a week away, they remain the only team in the majors that has yet to break out the brooms.

“I think overall, this was a good series,” said manager Tony Vitello. “It’s just really hard to say that based off the very end there.”

The Giants trailed for effectively the entire game but positioned themselves to win in walk-off fashion with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

Trailing 4-1, Luis Arraez brought San Francisco within one with a two-out, two-run double off the right-field wall. That set the table for Heliot Ramos, who struck out looking to end the ballgame.

The game-ending strike was out of the zone, but the Giants were out of challenges and Ramos was hung out to dry. Earlier that inning, Willy Adames used the team’s final challenge on a 3-0 pitch that nicked the outside part of the zone, leaving Ramos without the robo umps at a crucial moment.

“At the moment, you want a guy to do whatever he’s got to do to get on base,” Vitello said.

Rookie left-hander Carson Whisenhunt took the loss as he allowed four runs over five innings and surrendered two home runs, but he impressed by totaling career-highs in strikeouts (seven) and whiffs (18). Whisenhunt generated 15 whiffs with his changeup, which eclipses Johnny Cueto (14) for the most by a Giant during the Statcast era.

“Overall, it was good to see him back,” Vitello said. “Really looked sharp at the start of things as far as some of the pitches he threw to the first couple of hitters. Overall, a solid outing.”

The Angels took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when former Giant Jorge Soler drove in Mike Trout on a groundout, then expanded their lead to 4-0 in the fourth on a solo homer by Soler and a two-run shot by Jo Adell. San Francisco scored its lone run of the game in the fifth when Luis Arraez beat out a potential inning-ending double play thanks to a throwing error by shortstop Zach Neto.

“The pitch to Soler, not where I wanted it,” Whisenhunt said. “Obviously, not trying to leave the fastball middle there. But the changeup [to Adell], I thought was a good pitch. I think moving forward, just kind of knowing I can go to the sinker or slider after that, too.”

“You got some big dudes over there, so if you’re willing to attack, you’re probably going to pay the price at some point, but you’d rather they be solos as opposed to accumulating into a three-run inning,” Vitello said.

Worth noting

Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee got the day off after being hit in the elbow by a four-seam fastball yesterday. Lee’s elbow guard protected him from being hit directly on the bone, but manager Tony Vitello said there was still some lingering soreness.

Additionally, outfielder Jonah Cox, who is currently on the injured list with a left oblique strain, is getting close to starting a rehab assignment.

Up next

The Giants will begin a three-game set on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers, who own the second-best record in the majors (66-39) right behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (67-39). Tyler Mahle, Landen Roupp and Logan Webb are scheduled to start, in that order.