Devers' defensive growing pains on display SF Giants drop series to Mets

Justice delos Santos, The Mercury News on Jul 27, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

SAN FRANCISCO — There were always going to be growing pains for Rafael Devers at first base. Before Tuesday, he’d never played the position in the majors or minors. His first two games went smoothly enough, but on Saturday night at Oracle Park, the learning curve was on full display.

Devers committed an error and several miscues in his third career game at first base as the San Francisco Giants lost 2-1 to the New York Mets, one of which set the stage for New York’s Mark Vientos to hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth. For Devers, nights like Saturday night are to be expected as he continues to learn the intricacies of a brand-new position.

“I’m glad that he got a bunch of balls today,” said manager Bob Melvin. “The more he gets like that and the more in between plays and plays where he’s got to make a decision — whether it’s covering first or going to get the ball — all those things are going to be good for him at the end of the day.

“I know a couple didn’t look great, but again, it didn’t cost us and I think the more experience he gets over there, the better he’s going to look. I really did like the fact that he got a bunch of different plays tonight.”

Devers’ most crucial mistake of the evening occurred in the top of the sixth when the Mets had runners on first and second with one out. Brett Baty hit a grounder to Devers, who turned to fire to second base to start a double play but fumbled the exchange. Instead of getting the force out at second, Devers could only record the sure out at first.

That misplay immediately bit the Giants. Now with runners on second and third with two outs, Vientos pulled a double into the left-field corner that drove home two runs, gave the Mets a 2-1 lead and knocked Robbie Ray out of the ballgame. Those were the only two runs that Ray allowed over 5 2/3 innings of work.

“We had a chance, but again, those are things that are going to happen during a game,” Devers said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “Unfortunately, they got the hit that gave them the runs.”

Added Melvin: “Sometimes, if you haven’t had that before, the runner’s in your way or you can’t get a clean transfer — it’s a different glove on his hand — there’s a lot to learn over there. He’ll figure it out after a while. From my view, I didn’t see what he was looking at there. Look, it’s not easy. It’s going to be a little bit of a learning curve for him.”

Devers’ inability to get the runner at second was one of several miscues he had on Friday night.

In the top of the fourth, Devers helped set the table for the Mets to load the bases with no outs. With runners on second and third, New York’s Baty hit a slow roller to the infield’s right side. The ball was closer to Ray than Devers, but Devers initially charged the ball hard before reversing to cover first. Devers wasn’t in proper position once Ray fielded the ball and Baty beat out an infield single to load the bases.

Two batters later, Devers avenged the mistake. After Ray struck out Vientos, Devers made a nifty pick to complete an inning-ending 5-3 double play.

In the top of the fifth, Devers bobbled Brandon Nimmo’s grounder, then kicked the ball around before recovering to grab the ball, step on the base and record the out. Devers laughed at himself as he walked back to the position.

“You have to enjoy the game,” Devers said. “You have to learn here and there, but the most important thing is just enjoy the game.”

Devers’ only official error of the night occurred in the seventh when he muffed a hard-hit grounder from Juan Soto, his first official error of the night.

“My responsibility is to improve at that (part of the) game,” Devers said. “I think that day in and day out, as I practice, I will get better.”

Added Ray: “It’s not an easy thing to do — go from third base to DH to first base. He’s kind of learning in on the fly. He’s giving his max effort out there, for sure.”

Devers’ adventurous night at first could’ve been relegated to an afterthought if the Giants won the game, but the offense finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position on Saturday after going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position on Friday.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Mets’ Pete Alonso made a leaping catch to rob Patrick Bailey of a game-tying base hit.