Giants grab series from Reds on Schmitt walk-off double
San Francisco Giants shortstop Casey Schmitt,right, hits a winning ground rule double against the Cincinnati Reds during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 12, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
2024.05.12 – Giants’ shortstop Casey Schmitt hit a walk-off double in the 10th inning and the San Francisco Giants grab the series from the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Sunday.
After the Reds failed to score in the top of the 10th off Giants reliever Luke Jackson (1-1), Schmitt’s first hit of the season was a two-out ground-rule double to left-center field off Emilio Pagan (2-3), scoring automatic runner Luis Matos. He had been 0 for 11 after being recalled on Friday from Triple-A Sacramento.
“Just see something I can hit, and let it rip,” said Schmitt, whose mom was in the stands on Mother’s Day. “Not trying to do too much.”
The Giants’ concern now turns to Jung Hoo Lee, who strained his left shoulder in the first inning while leaping for a double by Jeimer Candelario that cleared the bases and gave the Reds an early 3-0 lead. Lee’s arm hit the wall as he jumped for the ball that hit the top of the right-center field wall, and he grabbed at it in immediate discomfort.
Lee, who signed a six-year, $113 million deal with the Giants in the offseason, walked off the field with a trainer holding his left wrist after sitting in the outfield dirt for a couple of minutes.
2024.05.12 (Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
San Francisco Giants’ Casey Schmitt, left center, celebrates with team mates after a winning ground rule double against the Cincinnati Reds during the 10th inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 12, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
2024.05.12 (Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
2024.05.12 (Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants) See Full Highlights
“Not great,” Manager Bob Melvin said when asked how Lee was doing after the game.
Melvin described Lee’s shoulder as “separated,” though a Giants spokesperson later clarified the injury as a “dislocated” shoulder. Lee will get an MRI on Monday.
When he hit the wall and went down and didn’t get up, I didn’t have a great feeling about it,” Melvin said.
The Giants had six hits in the fifth to rally from the 3-0 deficit, including a two-run homer by LaMonte Wade Jr. to tie the game. Heliot Ramos gave the Giants the lead with an RBI single, and then scored on an infield hit by Blake Sabol when Elly De La Cruz’s throw skipped past first and down the right-field line.
2024.05.12 – Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
San Francisco Giants’ Heliot Ramos, right, celebrates with Casey Schmitt, left, after scoring against the Cincinnati Reds during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 12, 2024, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
2024.05.12 – Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
2024.05.12 – Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
The series win was carried partially by the young group up from Triple-A Sacramento. Ramos — called up for an injured Jorge Soler — made a catch over his shoulder in left field with a runner at first in the eighth inning, adding to his two-hit, RBI game. He went 4-for-12 with a walk in the three-game series.
“It’s really cool to have all these guys here,” Schmitt said. “No one wants to see anyone get hurt, but that’s how baseball happens sometimes. It’s cool to see a lot of guys here, and it’s a lot of fun to be part of it.”
Mike Ford evened the score at 5-5 for Cincinnati with a solo homer in the eighth after the Reds trimmed the deficit to a run in the seventh.
Giants starter Kyle Harrison pitched four scoreless frames after Candelario’s first-inning double. San Francisco has won each of Harrison’s last six starts. The Giants took two out of three against the Reds.
“That guy -Lee- leaves it all out there, and I have so much respect for him,” Harrison said. “Hopefully, he’s alright. The guy’s just a gamer. He’s going for that ball and he comes up with it most of the time too, which is awesome.”
The Giants were hit with a slew of bad injury news on Sunday, losing their seventh position player in the last nine days. After placing outfielder Michael Conforto (right hamstring strain) on the 10-day injured list before the game, the Giants scratched catcher Patrick Bailey — who had just come off the seven-day concussion IL on Saturday — with a viral illness minutes before first pitch and then saw Lee leave the game.
“It’s resilience; that’s Giants baseball for as long as I remember,” Harrison said. “Just try to keep the team in the ballgame. The bats came around with Schmitty with the walk-off.”
2024.05.12 – Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
Jung Hoo Lee #51, center of the San Francisco Giants exits the field on the top of the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park on May 12, 2024 in San Francisco, California.Kavin Mistry/Getty Images
2024.05.12 – Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
2024.05.12 – Cincinnati Reds vs. SF Giants (NBC Sports post recap)
The Giants were already without slugger Jorge Soler, shortstop Nick Ahmed, catcher Tom Murphy and outfielder Austin Slater with injuries.
“It’s great to win a game when you have a lot of bad news during the course of it,” manager Bob Melvin said. “A lot of younger guys are getting opportunities, like we talked about before the game, and (they) came through. That’s huge for Schmitty right there. A lot of subtle things played into this one, too.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: LHP Alex Young (back) was expected to make his fourth rehab appearance on Sunday with Triple-A Louisville. Manager David Bell said Young is “doing great” but will need more time to build up. … Outfielder and leadoff hitter TJ Friedl suffered a right thumb contusion after being hit by Harrison’s first pitch of the game, and will see a doctor on Monday. He remained in the game to run the bases, but was replaced in center field by Will Benson in the second inning. … Bell himself had to leave the game with a “stomach issue,” according to Benavides, who filled in as manager.
Giants: Luis Matos was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to take Conforto’s roster spot. … Wilmer Flores filled Bailey’s position in the lineup as designated hitter. … Tyler Fitzgerald took over center field for Lee.
UP NEXT
Reds: Graham Ashcraft (3-2, 3.86 ERA) will start for the Reds at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday to begin a three-game set.
Giants: Jordan Hicks (3-1, 2.30 ERA) pitches for the Giants on Monday when they begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at home.
RELATED: Giants grab Pirates’ series with back-to-back homers
RELATED: See below – SF Giants 2014 World Series Champions
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
SF Giants 2014 World Series Champions