John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Wilmer Flores’ first instinct was a good one. His second instinct was strong, though. And when instincts are literally pulling you in opposite directions, well.
“It was indecision,” Flores said simply and accurately.
There was a runner on first with one out in the top of the ninth inning of a 7-3 game when Robbie Grossman bounced a ball toward Flores at first. He took a step toward the bag — and then thought better, or at least thought differently. He said he believed he was closer to the bag, so he stopped.
He spun and threw to Brandon Crawford at second, who apparently thought Flores had touched first. Crawford took his foot off the base and instead went for a tag, which was late.
The same player who raked, who went 4-for-5, temporarily looked as if he were new to baseball. And it helped lead to a Giants loss that players — and history — will remember.
The Giants had won their past 2,133 games when leading by five-or-more runs in the ninth or later, according to Stats LLC. They can begin anew tomorrow in their quest for 2,134.
It was their first loss when leading by five-plus runs in the ninth or later since June 25, 1929, vs. Brooklyn. If you remember that one, we hope you share the memories with your great grandkids.
Trevor Gott, who already had allowed one homer, loaded the bases for Stephen Piscotty, who turned a certain Giants victory into a backbreaker, 8-7 in 10 innings on Friday at Oracle Park. The Giants have proven they are resilient. They will have to also prove they have the memory of a fish.
“I should’ve just stepped on first base,” a dejected Flores said over Zoom after the unthinkable had happened.
Flores’ bat has been as advertised, but his glove, arm and now head have been issues through the season’s first 21 games. The Giants moved him off third base, and then second base and have been saying his best position is first. And yet, in an ideal world, he wouldn’t have been on the bag in the late innings.
On another night, Gabe Kapler would have inserted Brandon Belt, who records at least one out on that play, in as a defensive substitution. But Belt has a left calf that was “taking some time to warm up” and the same right heel that has plagued him is still nagging. He was an emergency pinch-hitter in the 10th, but Kapler wanted to find ways to keep him off his feet.
Kapler wanted to keep his relievers off their feet, too. Which is why he summoned Gott in a game that the Giants had a five-run lead. They were about to face the heart of the A’s lineup, and he imagined that if he brought in Jarlin Garcia or Tyler Rogers, they could get into trouble that would necessitate Gott anyway.
“How can we use one pitcher there?” Kapler asked himself, and wound up with the pitcher who allowed five runs in 23 pitches.
What had been a surefire win — with credit spread around from Evan Longoria to Hunter Pence to Johnny Cueto — became a gut-wrenching loss in extra innings with blame attributed to, well, pick your fallguy.
Flores has.
“There’s not much to talk about. That was on me,” Flores said. “I should have just stepped on first instead of making things harder.”