It’s not why the Giants lost, but it sure is a tough way to end it.
With a runner on first, two outs and the Giants holding onto their playoff lives down a run, Wilmer Flores was called out on a questionable check-swing. The call ended San Francisco’s season, and ensured the Dodgers would move onto the NLCS. The call was not made by the home plate umpire, but rather by the first base ump upon appeal.
“Super tough. You don’t want the game to end that way,” manager Gabe Kapler said postgame. “There are other reasons we didn’t win tonight’s baseball game,” he concluded.
Adding insult to injury, it’s the second season in a row the Giants’ season has ended on a terrible call. In 2020, their playoff hopes were dashed on the final day with a questionable strike three call to Austin Slater by home plate umpire Rob Drake. The call ended a brutal day for Drake, one that cost the Giants 1.68 runs.
“It didn’t look like he went,” Ruf said of Thursday’s game-ending call. “A check swing earlier in the year helped us, too. It’s kind of funny how it comes down to those two events.”