Reliever Zack Littell and manager Gabe Kapler exchanged words — and stares — in the eighth inning when Kapler lifted Littell from Monday’s game.
The tense interaction extended into the dugout, where Kapler brought Littell to the tunnel to the batting cages for a 1-on-1 chat.
Meanwhile, Scott Alexander relieved Littell to face lefty Matt Olson, who flew out. Alexander then recorded the save in a 3-2 Giants win.
After the game, Kapler and Littell explained that the reliever wanted to finish the inning.
“Zack wanted to stay in that game,” Kapler told reporters postgame. “Obviously he’s a competitor and wanted to finish that inning. I think it was just his wanting me to know that he wanted to finish that inning. There’s obviously a way to do that. Zack knows that. We discussed it. He knows that when I come out to get the ball, he just needs to get the ball, he just needs to put the ball in my hand and we’ll talk about anything later.”
Kapler told reporters that he didn’t want to delve into details of their tunnel conversation.
Littell and Kapler also met in the manager’s office afterwards, Littell told reporters. The reliever apologized for his conduct, he said, and struck a remorseful tone with the media.
“It’s a learning experience, and going forward, it’s something I won’t let happen again,” Littell told reporters.
Littell didn’t have a particularly strong case to stay in the game. He allowed a double, walk and two singles to turn a 3-0 lead to a one-run edge. A fresher Alexander was a better option to face Olson, the left-handed slugger.
“I just said I wanted Olson,” Littell told reporters. “Not that I pitched well enough to deserve that at all. I think any guy out there is going to want to finish an inning they started. That’s all it was, just frustration that I didn’t get through that. Not by any means frustration toward him, just frustrated with myself.”
Littell has pitched well since returning from the injured list, making scoreless appearances in nine of 12 games before Monday. He has a 5.08 ERA on the season after he let his emotions get the best of him Monday.