San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb wasn’t shocked by what unfolded between Rockies starter Kyle Freeland and Rafael Devers on Tuesday night.
Freeland was tossed from the game in the first inning after barking at Devers, who lingered out of the box to admire his two-run blast to right field. The homer came just eight pitches in and helped set the tone for a 7-4 Giants win — Colorado’s 100th loss of the year.
Freeland viewed the moment as blatant disrespect.
“I just found it extremely disrespectful to show me up like that in the first inning after hitting a home run, standing there watching it, taking your sweet time getting down to first base,” Freeland said.
Giants manager Bob Melvin pushed back: “Guys these days are doing a lot worse than what ‘Rafi’ did, watching home runs.”
Devers himself seemed puzzled by the reaction.
“I don’t know why he got like that. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Devers said through an interpreter. “That’s the same thing I always do when I hit a home run.”
Freeland disagreed, insisting his frustration came down to both the act and its timing.
“I’ve been in this league for quite some time, and I know [Devers] has as well. I just find that extremely disrespectful and felt that I needed to let him know about that,” Freeland said. “If it’s a big moment late in the game? Sure. But in the first inning, eight pitches in? I don’t get that.”
For Webb, Freeland’s reaction didn’t come as a surprise.
“I mean, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before with that guy,” Webb said postgame. “Just kinda runs his mouth a lot. Rafi got him good.”
SCHAEFFER: FREELAND’S EJECTION “HURTS THE BALLCLUB”
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer admitted he didn’t catch exactly what Rafael Devers did, but he made it clear the outcome was costly for the Rockies.
“Free’s been around a long time, and I’m sure he felt disrespected. He reacted the way he thought he needed to,” Schaeffer said. “But when your starter doesn’t record an out in the first inning and gets tossed, that really hurts the team. He knows that.”
For Kyle Freeland, standing up for himself outweighed letting the moment pass.
“It’s hard, because in that first-inning situation, you want to keep your composure,” Freeland said. “But being shown up like that, I felt I had to say something to Devers — to let him know I didn’t appreciate it, especially in my home park.”
Still, his decision left Colorado in a bind.
Antonio Senzatela, recently moved to the bullpen after taking a league-high 15 losses, came in and steadied the game with 4 2/3 innings of work, giving up just one run on a solo homer.
“Senza was outstanding. He’s the hero tonight,” Schaeffer said.
Freeland agreed: “I put the bullpen in a terrible spot by getting tossed after only eight pitches, but Senza really picked us up, saving the ‘pen by eating those innings.”
Be the first to comment