SF Giants snap losing streak as Devers makes debut at first base
ATLANTA — Perhaps all the Giants needed was for Rafael Devers to do something he’s never done.
San Francisco (53-49) emphatically snapped its six-game losing streak with a 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at Truist Park as Devers made his professional debut at first base in what tied for the team’s largest margin of victory this season.
“They responded well,” said manager Bob Melvin. “We knew we had to play a much better game today. Last night was not one to be proud of. I think the guys had a little bit of an edge today.”
Along with getting two hits, two runs and an RBI, Devers recorded four putouts in four chances as a first baseman. Devers wasn’t tasked with doing anything too complex on the defensive end, though Melvin did point out that Devers had to hold runners on base, listen to the PitchCom and check his scouting card.
Casey Schmitt and Willy Adames each fielded a pair of grounders and made Devers’ life easy by delivering chest-high throw. Devers noted that he was using his own first baseman’s mitt, one that he ordered during his second day in San Francisco.
“I feel very comfortable,” Devers said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I’ve been practicing at it for a while, so it’s really good that I was able to get out there. But most important is that we won the games.”
The three-time All-Star performed well as a full-time designated hitter with the Boston Red Sox (.905 OPS) before his recent slump with the Giants (.681 OPS), but Devers believes he hits better when he’s playing the field.
“I’m the kind of player that likes to be active, likes to be on the field,” Devers said. “I’d rather be in the field than in the cage hitting all the time and just thinking about the next at-bat.”
Devers remains visibly hindered by back and groin ailments, but the recent All-Star break provided him with several much-needed days away from the game. The time away also provided Devers a mental respite following a whirlwind of a month, one where he was traded to the Giants from the Boston Red Sox, then played his old team just days later.
“I was able to take advantage,” Devers said. “I went back home to go visit family, go visit friends … and had to time to disengage from everything that happened and just move forward and concentrate on what I’m doing right now.”
Devers was far from the only player in the lineup who contributed to San Francisco’s rare offensive explosion. Wilmer Flores hit his 12th home run of the season — and his first since June 7 — as he drove in four runs. Schmitt sent a towering solo homer into the second deck in left field, his fifth home run of the season. Devers, Matt Chapman and Patrick Bailey each had two hits while Adames drew three walks.
On the mound, Landen Roupp tossed five scoreless innings with six strikeouts as he lowered his ERA on the season to 3.11. Roupp had to navigate several lengthy innings, throwing 20 pitches in the first and 27 pitches in the third, but he helped preserve the Giants’ bullpen after Hayden Birdsong failed to retire a single batter on Monday.
Roupp’s outing was all the more impressive given that Roupp said Tuesday in Atlanta was “probably one of the hottest games I’ve ever thrown in my life.”
The right-hander said it was difficult to breathe on a hot, humid southern night, one where the temperature at first pitch was 94 degrees. Roupp didn’t think his pitches were moving as much due to the humidity, but he was able to turn in five shutout innings regardless.
“He always pitches with a little bit of an edge, and with the way we’ve been playing, I think he was looking forward to getting the start,” Melvin said.
The Giants opened up the scoring with four runs in the top of the second. Chapman drove in the game’s first run on a triple that missed being a home run by inches, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Flores. Schmitt’s no-doubt solo homer and Heliot Ramos’ sacrifice fly expanded the lead to 4-0.
San Francisco grew its advantage to 5-0 in the fifth on Adames’ RBI single to drive home Devers, then landed a haymaker in the seventh to balloon its lead to 9-0. After Devers’ single knocked in Ramos — who ran through a stop sign but still scored — Flores elevated the game to blowout status with a towering three-run blast.
Despite opening up the road trip with four straight losses, the Giants can secure a happy flight back to the Bay Area as Justin Verlander takes the hill on Wednesday in search of his first victory with the black and orange.
