SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ bullpen might seem to be functioning well, yet something feels a bit off, especially when facing the Rockies.
On Friday night, they were on the verge of securing their second relief-led win against a struggling Rockies team. However, disaster struck yet again, leading to a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat, marking their sixth loss while holding a lead after eight innings.
Dylan Smith, who contributed to the team’s earlier collapse against Colorado, delivered one of the most impressive innings by a Giants reliever this season. He managed to escape a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the sixth, and he looked to redeem himself in his first start.
With Rafael Devers giving the Giants a slim lead late in the inning, and Keaton Wynn alongside Sam Hentges throwing two scoreless frames in his return from an elbow strain, it seemed like a positive story was unfolding for one of the league’s most inconsistent bullpens.
Then, with a 2-1 lead needing just three outs, manager Tony Vitello called on Caleb Killian for his 11th save opportunity, but he couldn’t deliver.
The first three hitters Killian faced reached base, and by the time Eric Miller exited the inning, the score had flipped to a 4-2 disadvantage for the Giants.
The loss carried an extra sting with a flicker of hope in the ninth. Rockies closer Jordan Romano walked three batters, allowing Devers to earn his third RBI of the night. Yet, confusion set in when center fielder Cole Carrig appeared to catch a line drive from Casey Schmidt, leading to a perplexing situation with Grant McCray on second and Arraez on first with no outs.
“I was frozen when I saw the hit. It looked like he laid out for it, and I didn’t believe he caught it, but the second base umpire didn’t call it,” McCray recounted. “I panicked and returned to my base, asking what the call was, and he just stood there, completely still.”
If Carrig had dropped the ball, it might’ve resulted in an out, and if he’d allowed it to fall, the Giants could have potentially capitalized. A key decision from the first-base umpire reversed the catch call, giving all runners base.
Bryce Eldridge, who had a walk-off grand slam earlier, had a shot to help the team but fell short. Juan Mejia, filling in for Romano, grounded out on the first pitch, though he saved the game with a key defensive play.
In the end, it was just another bizarre chapter in what’s been a surprising season, stretching the game to over three and a half hours, with much of that time taken up by the chaotic conclusion.
Smith had faced a tough scenario earlier with no outs and the bases loaded in the sixth, but he managed to keep his composure. He struck out Tyler Freeman with a slider, battled back from a 2-0 count against Willi Castro, and benefited from solid glove work by Luis Arraez, tipping a ground ball off Mickey Moniak’s bat for three outs.
Unfortunately for Killian, he put himself in a dire situation he couldn’t manage. With three failed save attempts in 11 opportunities, his recent appearances have been troubling; he’s allowed nine earned runs in six outings, leading to an unsettling rise in his ERA from 2.97 to 4.74.
Last week, Giants relievers managed to restrict the Rockies to just a single run and one base over seven innings during the latter part of the series, until Smith’s misstep led to a late-game loss of 7-6.
What It Means
The Giants likely regretted not capitalizing on early scoring chances.
The Rockies intentionally walked Devers to face Willie Adames and left Drew Gilbert stranded at third after he was held back on a shallow hit to left field. Luis Arraez, testing Rigg’s excellent arm, was thrown out, fluffing what could have been a rally in the third with bases loaded.
This adds to the team’s disappointment, marking their fifth defeat in eight games against lower-ranked pitchers in the National League West. They’ve lost to the Rockies just as many times this season as they have over the past two combined (21-5).
Who Is Hot
Devers played a pivotal role, contributing to all of the Giants’ runs. He hit his 19th home run in the second inning, putting the Giants ahead, and finished 3-for-3 with an intentional walk and a sacrifice fly.
His solo shot to right field marked his 17th home run in 58 games, a significant improvement since he was only on pace for 14 earlier this season.
If he manages to hit another extra-base hit in the next couple of games, he’ll be the first Giants player since Barry Bonds to enter the All-Star break with at least 20 home runs.
Who Is Not
Ray has been consistent in limiting runs, allowing three or fewer in six of his last seven starts, which brought his ERA down to 3.38—the best in the rotation. Still, his journey to this point raised eyebrows.
He walked six batters, including the initial three he faced in the sixth inning, and shockingly, came close to matching his season-high of seven on May 24.
His strike-throwing struggles were evident, landing only 53 of 100 pitches in the strike zone, but he ultimately managed to find his rhythm.
The walk by Killian ended up being most damaging to the team.
To The Next
Tyler Mahle will be looking for his second five-inning complete game in four starts since recovering from a hamstring strain. In his last outing, he allowed four runs (three earned) in just 4 1/3 innings against the Rockies, before the Giants managed to tie at 6-4 before the bullpen faltered.
