​SAN FRANCISCO — In a first half that had more rough moments than bright spots, it’s worth noting when the Giants’ rookie manager gets one right. Tony Vitello did exactly that on Sunday afternoon, guiding a faltering group into the All-Star break on a modest but real winning streak. He made a pair of bold calls that paid off and helped clinch a 3-1 victory, delivering a glimmer of momentum as the break arrived.
His ballgame management drew some eyebrows. Vitello pulled Trevor McDonald after seven efficient innings, a sign that he wasn’t letting the performance of his starter go to waste on a day when the bullpen’s reliability would be tested. He also stayed away from pinch-running for Rafael Devers, who represented the go-ahead run, a decision that seemed risky given the situation but ultimately proved prudent.
The Giants’ bullpen did its part, keeping the Rockies off the board and allowing McDonald’s early run to stand as the difference for most of the game. The decisive sequence began with Devers drawing a walk in the eighth inning off Antonio Senzatela, setting the stage for a rally that would lift San Francisco to a lead they would not relinquish. Up to that point, San Francisco had managed just a single run against what was pitched as the worst staff in the majors, making McDonald’s seven-inning stint even more valuable. He allowed only one other baserunner after an opening leadoff hit, finishing with a 73-pitch effort and a rare, complete performance from a Giants starter this season.
The bullpen question lingered as Keaton Winn started the eighth, and a two-out walk nearly derailed the plan. Vitello went to Erik Miller to counter the left-handed advantage against Mickey Moniak, turning to Miller to finish the inning with a strikeout. The sequence underscored Vitello’s willingness to trust his bullpen in crucial moments, a hallmark of his approach as he tries to stabilize a shaky staff.
Devers’s decision to keep his bat in the lineup rather than chase a potential pinch-runner scenario also paid dividends. With the game tied to the eighth, the Giants were able to align their resources without risking Devers’s ability to contribute at the plate in the later frames. The plan unfolded successfully when Eldridge lined a single that Devers turned into a crucial first-to-third advancement, and Grant McCray came on as a pinch-runner to cover the distance after Eldridge was lifted.
McCray’s speed became a game-changer. He took off on Senzatela’s first pitch to Willy Adames, slipping into motion as Hunter Goodman’s throw to second skipped into center field. The error didn’t cost San Francisco anything, and Devers sprinted home on the misplay, with McCray advancing to third on the miscue before scoring himself on a subsequent play. The sequence snapped the deadlock and gave the Giants the insurance run they needed, producing a 3-1 win.
San Francisco ended the first half on a high note, taking three of four from the Rockies, and moving to within 13 games of .500 as they approached the break. It wasn’t a flawless performance by any stretch, but the combination of efficient starting pitching, timely offense, and well-timed bullpen decisions offered a small, hopeful snapshot for a team hopeful that the season’s second half might bring more consistent results. The late-inning maneuvering, the strategic choices around Devers, and the speed on the basepaths all added up to a victory that felt earned and, at least for the moment, meaningful as the club hits the All-Star break.