KANSAS CITY
Even when the Giants seemed to be on track, there was hardly any room for mistakes, especially with just two bunts leading to chaos.
That was the scene on a steamy Monday night at Kauffman Stadium. Willie Adames pulled off a stunning feat, tying the game with two outs in the ninth inning, but the San Francisco team faced yet another gut-wrenching defeat.
In the bottom of the ninth, after a questionable call from catcher Daniel Susac attempting to catch the first baserunner on one of the two sacrifice bunts, everything unraveled. Adames fell out of position, not aiming for second base without a clear reason.
Ultimately, the Giants docked a 4-3 walk-off loss to the Royals—one of only four teams trailing them in the league standings.
Manager Tony Vitello voiced his discontent: “Whatever the outcome, we don’t like it.”
He didn’t critique Susac’s decision to target the initial runner or Adames’ mistake in covering second base. Adames was close to the bag, yet his stance was off, allowing Josh Rojas, who had led off the inning with a single, to score effortlessly.
Rojas didn’t even need to slide, slowing down well before reaching base, while Adames hadn’t positioned himself for a tag at second.
After the game, both players discussed the miscommunication with infield coach Ron Washington, who emphasized that the error lay with both players. Susac should have gone for the first out, and Adames should have held his ground at second until a decision was made.
Suzak, who recorded two of the Giants’ six hits, admitted he “couldn’t tell from home” that Adames was out. “I just threw it… Now that I think about it, I guess I should have gone for the first out. You live and learn. I wanted to take a chance,” he reflected.
The game concluded quickly after just two batters; Nick Loftin bunted, and Rojas delivered the final hit at third base. Bryce Eldridge approached the ball, which appeared to be drifting foul down the first base line, and attempted a backhand catch with his glove. Unfortunately, his six-foot-seven frame didn’t bend enough to secure it.
The ball rolled free, Rojas crossed home plate, and his teammates surged out of the dugout to celebrate a seemingly elusive victory.
“It was a tricky hop for Bryce,” Susak noted. “It was one of those that might have been foul, but if he picks it up, he’s three steps out.”
“We discussed it. It was a tough play, but these things happen. A mistake leads to another, and it’s something we must address.”
Suzak had pitched effectively earlier, with Drew Gilbert making a fantastic play to home plate, keeping the score at zero by stopping Lane Thomas from scoring with a sacrifice fly in the second inning.
The catcher considered that pitch as “the best I’ve thrown from the outfield this year,” while Vitello commended him for managing the one-hopper and executing the tag smoothly.
This set the stage for the Giants to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with Heriot Ramos’ impressive 430-foot solo shot to right field. Yet, after taking the lead, San Francisco couldn’t extend it and ended up trailing, unable to regain the edge.
With their backs against the wall, Adames blasted his 18th home run of the season, his third in four games, narrowing the score to three. This was the second consecutive save for Royals closer Alex Lang, who gave up a home run with two outs in the ninth inning.
What It Means
With 100 games officially played and only 62 remaining, this season is shaping up to be one of the worst in Giants history, both pre- and post-move to San Francisco.
With 42 wins and 58 losses, they join a group of just ten teams in the franchise’s 143-year history to reach this level of defeats at the 100-game mark—16 games below .500, marking a season low.
To avoid sliding further under .500, the Giants need a win on Tuesday, as this record is one of the worst in the West Coast era since 2017.
Who Is Hot
If you blink, you might miss it.
Just a day after Bryce Eldridge, who isn’t exactly speedy, stole second for the first time, catcher Daniel Susak stepped up. Unlike Eldridge, Susak drew a throw during his own stolen base attempt and dove headfirst in front of the tag, securing a second stolen base.
Looking to boost their base running aggressiveness, the Giants, who had entered Sunday with one of the lowest stolen base counts in the majors, seemed to be pushing the limits, even with their slower runners.
Susak’s steal was the 12th instance of the Giants running without a pitch this July.
In just 15 games this month, they matched their previous total of stolen bases, achieving 12 over 18 attempts in 26 June games. They had won 27 out of 39 at the start of July.
Who Is Not?
Trevor McDonald didn’t last long, leaving the mound after just one inning following discomfort in his elbow, which started after Ramos’ home run.
McDonald hit a 440-foot blast in the fourth inning to push the score to 3-1 after Salvador Perez hit the second baserunner of the game.
However, McDonald’s health was a more pressing concern post-game. He was scheduled for an MRI, and the outlook didn’t seem promising, especially since teammate Tristan Beck was already hospitalized in San Francisco.
The young right-hander felt unease while warming up with his slider in the fifth inning, which led him to call for the training staff. Teammates gave him support on the mound before JT Brubaker stepped in.
To The Next
The Giants continue their series against the Royals on Tuesday at 4:40 p.m. PT, with Tyler Mahle making his first start of the second half against Ruinder Avila.
