The San Francisco Giants are making history this season. Just not the good kind.
On Friday night, they did something no MLB team has ever done before the All-Star break. They blew a ninth-inning lead and lost for the eighth time this season. That’s the most in baseball history since the All-Star Game started in 1933, according to OptaSTATS. The Colorado Rockies beat them 4-3 after the Giants took a 2-1 lead into the top of the ninth.
It’s one thing to lose close games. It’s another to lose them the same agonizing way over and over. The Giants have made a habit of it, and fans are letting them hear it.
Another Late Lead, Another Loss
San Francisco carried a one-run lead into the ninth inning against the worst team in the NL West. Then the bullpen gave up three runs. The Rockies, who are dead last in the division, improved to 39-55 with the win. Colorado had only come back from a deficit after eight innings three times all season before Friday, according to MLB.com.
Giants fans at home have been booing this team. After this one, those boos probably got louder.
The Giants nearly pulled off a comeback of their own in the bottom of the ninth. They loaded the bases. But the Rockies got the final three outs to close it out.
“We take pride in our defense,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “The guys showed up for sure. Good pitching overall. And we played good defense.”
Vitello’s Rough First Year
First-year manager Tony Vitello came to San Francisco after a successful run in college baseball. But this season has been a disaster. The Giants are 39-55, fourth in the division, and more than 20 games back of first place. Rumors are already swirling that Vitello won’t be back after this season. The team hasn’t confirmed anything, but the chatter is everywhere.
Vitello’s tenure has been marked by blown leads and frustrated fans. Friday was just the latest example. The Giants have now lost six of their last 10 games.
These two teams play again on Saturday. The Rockies are bad. But somehow, the Giants keep finding ways to lose to them.
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