Losing challenge benefits Giants in win over Dodgers

Generally speaking, losing a challenge is detrimental to a team. But in Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a lost challenge was the best thing to happen to the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants were close to winning the game in the top half of the ninth inning. But a misplayed ball from Heliot Ramos helped Andy Pages get a leadoff triple for the Dodgers. Pages then scored on a sacrifice fly from Jason Heyward, tying the game. Camilo Doval retired the next two hitters, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth inning tied 3-3.

San Francisco’s Luis Matos walked to lead the inning off. The next hitter, Brett Wisely, smoked the first pitch he saw down the first base line. The ball flew over the outstretched arm of Freddie Freeman but hooked into foul territory. The Giants, though weren’t entirely sure that Freeman didn’t touch the ball (which would have made it fair) and challenged the play. Replays confirmed, though, that the call in fact was correct.

Losing a challenge isn’t always a bad thing.

Part 1:

Brett Wisely lines a ball over Freddie Freeman that hooks into foul territory. The Giants challenge, thinking the ball might have hit Freeman’s glove.

Replays confirm it did not and it was correctly ruled a foul ball. pic.twitter.com/v38Ir4pQ1c

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 29, 2024

It was a foul ball and the Giants lost the challenge.

The lost challenge meant that Wisely continued his at-bat. Three pitches later, that was a good thing for San Francisco.

Wisely turned on a 1-2 pitch from Blake Treinen and launched it over the right field wall for a walk-off home run.

Part 2:

Later in the at-bat, Wisely drills a two-run walk-off homer. pic.twitter.com/uw9HhfffDj

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 29, 2024

[Photo Credit: NBC Sports Bay Area]