SF Giants' Adames back in lineup following Wednesday's baserunning mistake
LOS ANGELES - Shortstop Willy Adames was in the starting lineup for Thursday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers after forgetting how many outs there were during Wednesday’s 4-0 loss, leading to an inning-ending double play.
“I want to win the game today is why he’s in the lineup,” said manager Tony Vitello.
Vitello said Adames was the first player to arrive at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, adding that he had a conversation with Adames about the baserunning gaffe. Per Vitello, Adames held himself accountable to the team for the mistake.
With right-hander Landen Roupp on the mound, Vitello also wanted Adames at short to field the best defense behind the sinkerballer.
Vitello said he mentioned to Adames, “When the ball’s put in play today, we need to be able to win the game.”
“It’s obviously a mistake that he doesn’t want to make, and like ones I’ve made or other guys have made, you’d love to go back in time and redo it, but you can’t do that,” Vitello said. “So, most of our conversation today was a little bit of reviewing that and getting on the same page with what happened. But a lot of it, or the majority of it, was about what we got to do to win today’s game.”
With one out in the top of the seventh, Drew Gilbert hit a fly ball that Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages caught at the left-center field warning track. Adames, the runner on second, was rounding third when Pages made the catch, and Los Angeles doubled off Adames at second in plenty of time.
"I lost track of the outs," Adames said on Wednesday. "A mistake on the read, too. Obviously, it's a mistake that can't happen in the game. That mistake is probably the most ashamed that I would feel in a game. I know that that can't happen. It was my fault. That's on me."
Adames, who’s 10-for-27 (.370) in his last six games, was seen talking with Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts right before his baserunning mistake. Adames didn’t attribute the mental error to his small talk with Betts, saying he often chats with opposing players.
"If it was because of that, then I would make mistakes every two days,” Adames said. “It's just my fault. It's something that can't happen. There's no excuses for it.”
When asked if he would prefer that Adames chatted less with opponents, Vitello provided a thoughtful response, effectively saying there needs to be a balance.
Vitello referred to himself as “old school” and in favor of “Ron Washington style baseball.” That said, Vitello referenced the Rays’ Junior Caminero and the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson as two players who were cordial with the Giants yet clearly wanted to win.
“I’m old school. I can’t speak because I haven’t played in the big leagues,” Vitello said. “These guys have a huge amount of respect for each other. They have relationships, but I’m on the Ron Washington side of the fence is the safest way for me to say it. I’m sure I got enough enemies, I don’t need to create anymore.
“I think that’s a debate that would be fun for someone to write about, or for people to have, or old-school people and new-school people to have. I think the biggest thing is when the ball is put in play, you got to be trying to win the game as best as possible, no matter who you are or what you said to somebody.”
Several Giants trending towards return from injured list
Left-hander Erik Miller (low back strain) made his second rehab appearance on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless inning with Single-A San Jose with two strikeouts.
Miller, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 4 (retroactive to May 1), is on track to be activated from the injured list on Saturday when he’s eligible.
Rookie catcher Daniel Susac, who is currently rehabbing from right elbow ulnar neuritis, could be activated on Friday ahead of the Giants’ three-game series against the Athletics in Sacramento.
Right-hander Logan Webb, currently rehabbing from right knee bursitis, has thrown in back-to-back. Webb is trending towards returning on May 21 when he is eligible.
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