Rookie infielder David Villar hit a two-run, bases-loaded single and led the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th inning of the home finale on Sunday at Oracle Park.
The Giants’ playoff chances were also boosted by the win, which improved their record to 80-79. They still have three games remaining against the San Diego Padres, who clinched a National League Wild Card berth on Sunday.
“That’s a good note for us heading into San Diego,” Villar said. “We want to take those three games as well”.
To begin the seventh inning, outfielder Austin “AC” Slater hit a home run for San Francisco and broke a 1-1 tie. The third baseman, Evan “Longo” Longoria, provided a sacrifice fly and was hit on the hand while fielding a ball that was likely a double play.
Longoria will have X-rays and will most likely miss the Padres series as a result of the incident. If Villar hadn’t already swept the game in the spot ahead of him, he’d be replaced by a pinch hitter.
Villar part of the Giants’ future
Villar did not start for the Giants on Sunday, but he came in to pinch-hit for center fielder Joc Pederson in the eighth inning and stayed to play first base.
“Get something good to hit,” Villar said. “Battling the shadows, it was going to go longer into the at-bat, so I wanted to get my best swing off on the first pitch and try to do something to keep the ball off the ground”.
“Luckily, it squeaked through the six-hole. I was trying to get the ball up in the air, but I was fortunate to be able to get that walk-off for us”.
Manager Gabe Kapler referred to Villar as “a really important piece of our future,” expressing the Giants’ confidence in his ability to develop into an impact player in the future.
Villar hit 34 home runs between Triple-A Sacramento and San Francisco this season, garnering him the River Cats’ Offensive Player of the Year and MVP after posting a 1.022 OPS in 84 Triple-A games.
“I think there’s a lot of good things we saw today and throughout the season,” the 25-year-old said. “Head over to San Diego, try to take these three games and head into the offseason happy”.
The transition to the Majors has not been easy for him, Villar only hit 218 with a.733 OPS in 49 big league games, but the Giants have been pleased with his development thus far.
Sunday’s game
After coming from behind twice to tie the game, the D-Backs took a 3-2 lead in the 10th inning. Pitcher Jharel Cotton (4-2) got Arizona’s catcher Carson Kelly to pop up a bunt to start the inning. D-Backs center fielder Daulton Varsho scored on Jake McCarthy’s third hit, a single to right, to break a 2-2 tie.
Cotton struck out Arizona’s infielder Josh Rojas and retired first baseman, Pav Smith, on a flyball with two runners in scoring position to prevent the D-Backs from extending their lead.
Right-handed pitcher Taylor Widener (0-1) gave up a walk to leadoff second baseman hitter Wilmer “Catire” Flores before J.D. Davis’ infield single loaded the bases with nobody out in the 10th.
Widener’s first pitch was grounded through the hole into left field and bringing an automatic score from runner Mike Yastrzemski from third. Third-base coach Mark Hallberg then took a chance by waving Flores home as catcher Kelly couldn’t handle Corbin Carroll’s throw.
“It was a very aggressive send,” Kapler said. “Mark has been excellent, for the most part, at third base. That was an especially aggressive send. It worked out in our favor, and obviously, that makes everything feel good”.