Rafael Devers’ three-run homer in the third landed in Citi Field’s upper deck
Rafael Devers’ three-run homer in the third landed in Citi Field’s upper deck
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NEW YORK — Rafael Devers had every right to admire his work.
Devers has seldom looked the part of a three-time All-Star since joining the Giants in mid-June. He has shown that talent in spurts, but that’s all that it’s been: spurts, amid a much-discussed change in position and nagging injuries. San Francisco’s slim chances of making the playoffs hinge on Devers’ ability to carry an offense.
On Sunday, Devers did just that. He turned on a fastball from Frankie Montas and sent it to the fourth row of Citi Field’s upper deck, a three-run blast that would’ve easily landed in McCovey Cove if it were a home game. Devers’ 20th home run of the season was the highlight of his three-hit, four-RBI day and the Giants’ 12-4 win over the New York Mets, carrying San Francisco (56-56) to a much-needed series win after selling at Thursday’s trade deadline.
“A game like this is basically showing I’m finally getting my timing,” Devers said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I haven’t been performing very well, but baseball is giving me the opportunity to show my talent and show what I’m capable of.”
“I’ve seen it on the other side many times,” added manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s not a foreign feeling. … You think about how this guy, when he gets hot, he’s the type of guy that can carry a team.”
Devers was far from the only standout in the Giants’ well-rounded win, a rarity in recent weeks. Rookie left-hander Carson Whisenhunt allowed two runs (one earned) over 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts in his second start en route to earning his first major-league win, while Jung Hoo Lee had four hits, two runs, a walk and a steal.
Whisenhunt’s teammates bombarded with a shower of beer as is custom in baseball following a pitcher’s first win. Along with the beer, Whisenhunt noted there was some milk and applesauce involved.
“Everybody was screaming, congratulating me,” Whisenhunt said. “Then, the beer shower. So that was fun.”
Whisenhunt’s first inning against the Mets on Sunday mirrored his first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday as the left-hander allowed a solo home run to Francisco Lindor. Two batters in, the Giants trailed by a run.
In the top of the third, the Giants put up a four-spot against Montas with a combination of power and speed.
Lee led off the inning with a single, stole second base, then advanced to third when the throw from catcher Francisco Alvarez rolled away from Lindor. Patrick Bailey drove in Lee with a single, tying the game. Soon enough, Devers broke that tie.
With Heliot Ramos on first and Bailey on second, Montas fired an 0-1 fastball that was supposed to be elevated. Instead, Montas left the fastball down. Devers sent the mistake to the upper deck, and the Giants had a 4-1 lead.
The Giants continued padding their lead in the top of the fourth, putting up a three runs with RBIs from Bailey, Ramos and Devers. That run support was more than enough for Whisenhunt, who neutralized the Mets’ potent offense the rest of the way.
Whisenhunt’s afternoon ended at 75 pitches with one on and one out in the top of the sixth, and Melvin called upon new reliever José Buttó to face slugger Pete Alonso. Buttó needed just one pitch to induce an inning-ending double play against his former team, showing emotion as he walked back to the third-base dugout.
“I thought it was good, to be able to go out in the sixth against a lineup like that,” Melvin said of Whisenhunt. “He only gave up three hits. His fastball, he spotted a lot better, which is going to be really important for him.”
With the game already in hand, the Giants put the game on ice with a five-run frame. Dominic Smith continued terrorizing his former team after driving in the winning run on Friday and homering on Saturday by driving home two with a single. One pitch later, Casey Schmitt blasted a three-run homer over the left-field wall to give the Giants a double-digit lead.
The Mets scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth when Alvarez singled off Ryan Walker, but it made no difference.
Next up is a three-game set in Pittsburgh on the Giants’ way back west. They open that series against the Pirates — who swept them at Oracle Park last week — Monday at 3:40 p.m. with Justin Verlander (1-8, 4.53 ERA) on the mound. Pittsburgh has not named a Monday starter yet.
“Two out of three on the road — it’s good for us,” Melvin said. “Even though every loss now feels like it’s the end of the world, but we put ourselves in that position. So, to be able to come back here and start the road after an awful homestead and win two out of three feels a lot better.”
Birdsong shows encouraging signs with Triple-A Sacramento
Hayden Birdsong made his second start since being optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, allowing four runs and two homers over 4 1/3 innings. Given Birdsong’s command issues before being optioned, the most significant part of Birdsong’s outing was that he only walked one batter and threw 51 of his 83 pitches (61.4%) for strikes.
Worth noting
- Right-hander Carson Ragsdale, who was designated for assignment last week, was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. Additionally, right-hander Sean Hjelle cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento.