Atlanta, USA In his first defensive appearance as a starter in Major League Baseball, Dominican
Rafael Devers responded firmly at the plate and in defense, propelling the
San Francisco Giants to a resounding victory of
9-0 over the
Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday night.
Devers, aligned for the first time at first base after nine seasons at third base, went
2-5, including a double and a run-scoring single. Although he didn’t make any direct outs, he effectively fulfilled his role by safely receiving several key throws from his infield teammates.
This performance marked a significant change for the former Red Sox player, who had previously expressed his opposition to leaving third base. However, the signing of
Alex Bregman by Boston in the winter break made the team’s intention to move Devers defensively clear, which eventually led to his trade to the Giants on June 15th.
Since his arrival in San Francisco, Devers had only been used as a designated hitter, while dealing with lower back and groin discomfort. But manager Bob Melvin decided to put him at first base, convinced that his recovery is progressing. “He’s going to have to learn on the go… but he wants to be on the field,” the strategist stated.
The Giants’ offense exploded with two four-run attacks in the second and seventh innings. Venezuelan
Wilmer Flores extended the lead with a three-run homer. It was the first time since June 22 that San Francisco scored at least nine runs in a game.
Although Melvin pointed out that Devers will not be the first baseman every day, he admitted that the team envisions him as a stable future option at the position.
With this victory, the Giants broke a streak of six consecutive losses, the worst of their campaign.
