Giants' Rafael Devers expresses frustration with pinch-run decision amid one-run loss to Marlins
The San Francisco Giants were attempting to rally down one run in the top of the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins on Sunday when Rafael Devers reached first base on a walk.
Giants manager Tony Vitello was about to pinch-run for Devers in hopes of adding speed on the bases to tie the game. Jonah Cox ran toward first while Devers tried to shoo him away. Devers pleaded from first base to stay in the game while Cox was caught in the middle of the ordeal.
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Devers walked back to the dugout in a huff.
Jung Hoo Lee, the next Giants batter, flied out and then Willy Adames grounded into a double play. The Marlins secured the 2-1 win.
Vitello seemed to understand Devers’ reasoning for wanting to stay in the game but also knew that Devers was battling some leg soreness. He said that once he made the decision to have Cox come into the game, there was no turning back.
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"So, just going with what our best effort is to win the game," the first-year MLB manager said, via MLB.com. "Obviously, you'd like to get Jonah to go get it back, you know, he's relatively quick to the plate, but on a double, going with our best chance to be able to score."
Vitello said he didn’t think the situation warranted another conversation with Devers outside of their daily chats.
San Francisco fell to 31-46 with the loss. Miami improved to 40-38.
The Giants acquired Devers in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox last season, but seem willing to part ways with him before this year’s trade deadline.
Multiple reports indicated last week that the Giants were exploring the possibility of a fire sale making Devers, Adames and Matt Chapman available.
Devers is hitting .238 with 11 home runs and a majors-leading 23 doubles.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.