Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Gabe Kapler tried to avoid the same defensive deficiency that had plagued the Giants a night prior.
But what he found was a roster deficiency instead.
Searching for defensive help in Saturday’s eighth inning, the manager inserted Brandon Crawford at shortstop, which pushed Mauricio Dubon to center, which pushed Mike Yastrzemski to left. Brandon Belt went to first a night after he had remained on the bench, and a crucial Wilmer Flores mental mistake may have cost the Giants a game.
What Kapler did not touch was right field, where Hunter Pence remained. Austin Slater (flexor strain) is not throwing, and the only other option was Alex Dickerson, who would pinch-hit in the ninth.
Of course, the lack of right-field help was exploited quickly, when Tony Kemp looped a ball that Pence misjudged in the nightmare ninth. It wound up a double, and three batters later Mark Canha would turn a Giants victory into a Giants defeat.
The Giants have a hole that Jaylin Davis’ or Steven Duggar’s glove could fill. But it does not sound as if that’s imminent.
A possible defensive addition “is always a discussion,” Kapler said before Sunday’s series finale with the A’s at Oracle Park. Davis, whom the club has been so high on publicly, “is progressing, and I think that’s still a work in progress right now.”
In 12 plate appearances before being demoted, the 26-year-old struck out six times, though he did homer once.
“I think for Jaylin the key is more contact,” Kapler said of a slugger who’s been trying to find his rhythm in Sacramento. “It’s more connecting with the baseball in the zone. When he does that, he’s going to be a major leaguer. He just hasn’t demonstrated that yet to date, the ability to consistently put the ball in play. When he puts it in play, it’s with authority. There’s still a lot of swing-and-miss here.”
Kapler was going to try to stay away from Trevor Gott, Tyler Rogers and Tony Watson, who all have pitched back to back.
He again insisted he has faith in Gott, who has collapsed the past two days. The two talked before Sunday’s game and Kapler said mentally, Gott is doing OK.
“He and I had a really good conversation today,” Kapler said. “His stuff is there, he’s performed in the past. Have a lot of confidence in Trevor.”
Slater returned to Saturday’s lineup at DH and still is not throwing. But he came out of the game feeling well, Kapler said, and the outfielder is available to pinch-hit or -run Sunday.
Drew Smyly (left index finger strain) threw from 120 feet with his regular grip Saturday.
“Earlier he was using a modified grip to protect his finger, and now he’s using a regular grip,” Kapler said. “So he’s just taking it step by step.”
The Giants played “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before the game as MLB celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues.
For “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Mike Yastrzemski, Chadwick Tromp and Mauricio Dubon took a knee.