SAN FRANCISCO — For Nick Hundley to even experience an at-bat, the six Giants batters preceding him had to extend the game. After seven consecutive scoreless innings, it didn’t seem likely.
The Giants trailed 5-3 entering the ninth inning, with Austin Slater pinch-hitting in the No. 9 hole to start off the rally. Hundley, the eventual hero in San Francisco’s 6-5 walkoff win, envisioned the scenario in which he would get the opportunity to hit.
“Quick University of Arizona math on my part,” Hundley joked, “I knew that if I come up, I come up with two outs, bases loaded, if the game is not tied. I am (hitting) seventh (in the inning), so that was my mindset from the first pitch of the inning: to get ready for a two-out bases loaded situation.”
The circumstances weren’t likely. But Hundley prepared, hitting batting practice during the top of the ninth inning.
The scenario he played in his head came to fruition. With two outs and a runner on first, Buster Posey worked a 10-pitch count to a walk. Evan Longoria blooped a single into left field, scoring Slater and cutting the San Diego lead to 5-4. Brandon Belt was next up with runners on first and third. He exhausted his at-bat to six pitches, ultimately leading to a walk.
“Obviously, it was nice to get in a situation where everybody in front of you was absolutely grinding out at-bats, not giving up,” Hundley said. “In that situation, it’s my job to come through.”
That left Hundley in the ultimate clutch situation: bottom of the ninth, down one run with two outs. He forced a 1-0 count before roping a 93 mile-per-hour fastball into left field, scoring the two runs that sealed the victory.
“It’s my job to have a clear mindset going into the at-bat,” Hundley said. “Have a clear approach, have a clear mindset, so I can go out and do my job.”