Familiar formula dooms Giants to defeat in Kansas City as skid reaches four games

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The inning-opening walk-hit batter combo is such a San Francisco Giants' specialty this year that it's nearly predictable. 

Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium, that brand of trouble tripped up what to that point was a very good outing from Tyler Mahle, who could be dealt away in the next two weeks if there is interest. Said walk-hit batter, though, helped the Royals to take the lead in the sixth and send the Giants to their fourth loss in a row, 3-2, and they've dropped the series to last-place Kansas City. The Giants' 9-17 interleague record is the worst in baseball. 

Without their top hitter, Luis Arraez, in the lineup, San Francisco's offense was minimal - the team couldn't get to the number manager Tony Vitello mentions as the minimum he wants to see - four runs, enough for a fighting chance for a win. The team hasn't gotten to that total in any of the four losses in the first five games on this trip, and Vitello didn't use Arraez to pinch hit with a man on in the ninth; had Christian Koss, left in the on-deck circle when the game ended, come to the plate, Vitello planned to use Arraez at that point. 

Vitello also wants his team to play with more abandon, less overthinking, less caution. 

"I think it's commendable but it's not the best approach for us - from Day 1, I think we've played like we have everything to lose and that's understandable," Vitello said. "This is  one of the most, if not the most, proud organizations in the major leagues. We've got a lot of talent on the roster but I think somewhere along the line, we're a little late to the party on flipping that switch a little bit.

"You're not playing like you have nothing to lose because you don't care. If you were in the locker room (Monday) night, you can feel the care in the air, but I think a little bit more of a loose and a little bit more carefree approach could benefit us."

Along those lines, and with all younger non-regulars involved, there were some interesting and positive things for the Giants on Tuesday night, including the way in which they scored their two runs. Before the game, Vitello was asked about his club going 12-for-12 on stolen-base attempts this month and said that he'd like to see even more aggressiveness on the bases and elsewhere. 

"A couple of the team leaders spoke up today in the offensive meeting about, ‘Don't be afraid to wait for the coaches to initiate anything, whether you see an opportunity for a bunt or an opportunity to run or anything like that - don't be afraid to try and create,'" he said. "I'm all for becoming more hyped up, overhype the four number, attack that four number, and if it means doing something creative on offense, I'm all for it."

Stolen bases have been called from the bench even for unexpected runners - Bryce Eldridge, Daniel Susac on this trip - and while not everyone has the green light, Vitello is comfortable with pretty much anyone going when there's a clear spot to do so, even if he holds his breath when it's Eldridge, he said with a laugh. 

With that in mind, some aggressive running Tuesday needs highlighting. Jesus Rodriguez, scored from second on Drew Gilbert's single to right in the fifth, just beating out a 102 mph throw by Jac Caglianone with a terrific swing slightly to the outside of the plate and a face-first slide. Gilbert moved to third on Christian Koss' single to center - and Koss, with a huge jump, forced a throwing error at second base on Heliot Ramos' grounder to short to allow Gilbert to score. 

Rodriguez then provided a nice sacrifice bunt, on his own initiative, to get the potential tying run into scoring position with one out in the seventh, but nothing came of it. 

Mahle, with scouts from several teams looking for pitching including the Phillies and Yankees in attendance, allowed one run through five, on a solo homer by Carter Jensen. Mahle struck out four after going back to throwing from the stretch in order to avoid the sort of issue that occurred in his previous outing, when he failed to declare if he was throwing from the stretch or windup with a runner at third, which had cost him a strikeout and got Vitello ejected. 

But with the Giants up 2-1, Mahle handed out two free bases by walking Caglianone and then hitting Salvatore Perez and was lifted. 

"He went back to his old windup, which I'm a fan of, and he looked good as he has the last couple times out," Vitello said. "It's just unfortunate a couple of free bases there to end it."

"It wasn't like I was making bad pitches, you know?" Mahle said. "I just walked a guy and hit a guy, and then got taken out. It sucks, but that's life." 

Sam Hentges came on and gave up an RBI single by Vinnie Pasquantino and hit a batter before striking out another. Keaton Winn supplanted Hentges and gave up Nick Loftin's game-deciding single. 

 "Sam's been pretty good as of late, getting us out of trouble," Vitello said. "At the end of the day, the inning was the difference-maker, but for us to get out of there with two runs with how everything transpired was pretty good."

The team's frustrations were evident, especially in several at-bats by shortstop Willy Adames, who was unhappy with a check-swing strike OK'd by first-base umpire Malachai Moore in his first at-bat and then a non-catcher's interference call in his third. 

"My best guess from the video replay they were showing on the board was maybe there wasn't a good view of the bat hitting the catcher's mitt," Vitello said. "The check swing got the whole dugout defending his case, and I believe next year will be the year where that's automated."

Caglianone left the game in the fifth with shoulder soreness after the big throw to the plate that nearly got Rodriguez. 

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