Look at him. He shouldn’t be good.
From our seats down the left-field line, we marveled at the batting stance of a man who will make more than $350 million for his ability to hit the baseball.
He settles into the left-handed batter’s box holding a bat high above his head, like an axe he’s about to drop on a log. His feet stand a world apart, his back foot toeing the chalk line while his front foot gets a head start toward first base.
As the pitch barrels down, the front foot comes up. Bat finds ball, even as it comes in at his ankles.
And that’s how Rafael Devers rocketed a grand slam into the arcade at 102 mph.
A game that was lost felt like a game that was won—or at least could be won. And in a season like this, that’s a win.
Up next: The Giants need only one win to stave off 100 losses. Perhaps it’ll come Saturday, when Cesar Perdomo (0-0, 0.90 ERA) squares off with Michael King (10-9, 3.00 ERA) at 1:05 pm. Kruk and Kuip on the call.