MIKE TAUCHMAN ROBS THE WALK-OFF ?
pic.twitter.com/w2hgqC3t8I— KNBR (@KNBR) May 29, 2021
LOS ANGELES — A game that involved trading three-run home runs in the eighth and ninth innings turned on a ball that crept over the fence but not for long.
Quite simply, if Mike Tauchman does not quickly range back to the wall, does not time his jump perfectly, does not stick his glove up over the left-field wall, does not get great extension with his long limbs and does not keep his composure as his body smacks against a chain-link fence, the resounding Giants victory would have been a deflating Giants loss.
Albert Pujols would have reached second — and then third, and then home. A Dodger Stadium overflowing with energy would have burst and then emptied, as the Giants returned to their clubhouse and wondered how the hell they are supposed to beat this team.
But Tauchman caught it. The trade pickup felt it in his webbing, collapsed back to the warning track and lay there for several moments before collecting himself and running back toward the Giants’ dugout. There was a 10th inning to play, after all.
“It’s probably the most fun play you can make as an outfielder,” said Tauchman, whose attitude, if not his play-of-the-year contender, was exemplified by the “Low Man Wins” hat he wore after the 8-5 victory. “You practice it as a little kid, like, over your chain-link fence in the backyard.
“The opportunities are so few and far between, when you get a chance on one, it’s pretty cool.”
He said it was “probably” the best of his career, but a robbery in Baltimore — believed to be of Pedro Severino in 2019 — is a close No. 2. The situation probably tilts in this one’s favor, though, as it helped provide the Giants another inning and enabled them to finally beat the Dodgers for the first time in five tries.
Gabe Kapler, Giants manager and former outfielder, rated it “very, very difficult” and “one of the better catches we’ve seen all season.”
They have not had a bigger catch all season, though.
After the catch, there was concern about his health, but he picked himself up and took an at-bat in the 10th. He said he’s “feeling great,” which might be an exaggeration.
“I think league-wide, they should probably think about not having chain-link fences anymore,” said Tauchman, whom the Giants brought in for Wandy Peralta. “I think there’s a safety issue there, personally, but I’m OK.”
Somehow, Buster Posey‘s 150th home run of his career, a three-run blast that broke a tie in the eighth inning against the Dodgers, his 10th of the year in just 34 games, feels forgotten about.
Tauchman’s catch and the Giants’ big 10th inning can have that effect.
Still, Posey stepped into a 96-mph fastball from tough righty Blake Treinen — whom he had entered 0-for-11 against in his career — and sent it over the left-field wall for a milestone and a Giants lead, which Austin Barnes would not allow to last.
“I think what’s most impressive is that he did it against Treinen,” Kapler said of his catcher, who was somewhat controversially out of the starting lineup in Thursday’s loss because the Giants are trying to ensure he gets rested. “Blake is a great major league reliever with pretty nasty stuff, and he’s particularly tough on right-handed hitters — and he’s particularly tough to get in the air against right-handed hitters. That was just a high-quality swing on a pitch that he was able to get up in the zone.”
Buried as well was the play of LaMonte Wade Jr. on both sides. Filling in for the injured Brandon Belt, Darin Ruf, Tommy La Stella and Wilmer Flores at first, Wade made a few excellent plays defensively, including a strong throw home to catch Chris Taylor and a diving play on a hot shot from Gavin Lux.
He also reached base four times in five plate appearances, with two walks, a hit by pitch and a go-ahead, roped single to right-center that brought in ghost runner Steven Duggar in the 10th.
Kapler called it a “phenomenal game” and praised his baserunning as well.
“He kind of plays a great all-around baseball game,” Kapler said. “And defensively, I think he shined tonight. It speaks to his preparation and his dedication to be ready for a moment like this.”
Was the clubhouse different after a win like that?
“It was an excited group,” Kapler said over Zoom. “I don’t know that it was different than some of the wins that we’ve had this season — most of the time we’re pretty up in there after wins, and tonight was no different.”