Denard Span had a roller coaster of a night in Saturday’s 12-9 loss to the Phillies.
He got the party started early — first pitch early — when he lined the first pitch he saw from Phillies starter Jerad Eickoff off the wall in right-center, resulting in his first career inside-the-park home rub.
“I didn’t see them misplay the ball,” Span said after the game. “I was coming around second, I heard the crowd getting super excited and I saw Phil (Nevin) with a lot of energy waving me so I was like ‘alright, here we go, got to turn on the jets and make it home.’ I thought maybe I was going to have to slide, but I saw Hunter (Pence) holding me up so I slowed down a little bit.”
“I was excited,” he added. “First pitch of the game, inside the park home run — you can’t write that any better for a leadoff hitter to set the energy, set the tone. First pitch of the game, score a run, that might be more exciting than a leadoff home run over the fence.”
He tacked on two more RBI in the second inning, courtesy of a two-run single with the bases-loaded.
But Span’s play turned sour when he misplayed a fly ball in center after losing it in the twilight. Instead, it felt for a double and kicked off a fierce, seven-run inning for the Phillies — and the ultimate demise for the Giants.
“I lost the ball in the twilight. I saw the ball go up, went back on it really good and then as soon as it got to it’s highest point I couldn’t tell you where it was. I didn’t see it until it bounced right in front of me.”
It was an unorthodox night to say the least for the Giants, especially Span.
“I’m not perfect. That fly ball — it could happen to anybody,” he added. “I tried to stick in there as long as I could but I had no idea where that ball was.”
