SAN FRANCISCO — For the first time since he was traded to the Giants, Rafael Devers didn’t appear in a game, and Tony Vitello never really considered getting him involved. Even as the Giants crept back in the eighth inning, Vitello stuck to his plan to give Devers — who had appeared in 309 consecutive games in Boston and San Francisco — a full day of rest. But with the way these Giants are now built, that didn’t mean there was a gaping hole in the heart of the lineup.
With the St. Louis Cardinals holding a five-run lead and two on in the eighth, right-hander Cade Winquest went 2-0 on Turner Hill. Those who were left at Oracle Park on the hottest day of the year started to buzz.
There’s a different feeling when you realize that the bases are about to be loaded for a star, and it’s one the Giants have experienced several times this year with Devers. With Eldridge, there’s the same low rumble, which is part of what makes their long-term partnership so appealing.
When Winquest walked Hill ahead of Eldridge, the sound got even louder. All of a sudden a 6-1 game didn’t seem lost.