Devers' 1B era begins smoothly as SF ends 6-game skid

ATLANTA -- Perhaps starting slugger Rafael Devers at first base for the first time in his career was the shakeup the Giants needed to steer things in the right direction.

Devers went 2-for-5 with a double and RBI single as the Giants routed the Braves 9-0 to snap their season-long six-game losing streak on Tuesday night at Truist Park.

"I felt very comfortable [playing first base],” Devers said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I’ve been practicing for a while. It’s really good that I was able to get out there, but most importantly we won the game.”

Devers, whom the Giants acquired in a shocking blockbuster trade with the Red Sox on June 15, clashed with Boston's front office early this season when he publicly discussed his refusal to play the position.

The 28-year-old Devers had spent the majority of his nine-year career at the hot corner heading into this season, but Boston's signing of Gold Glove Award-winning third baseman Alex Bregman last winter signaled the club's intention to move Devers, an inferior defensive third baseman to Bregman, off third base.

Devers thinks his offense is improved when he plays in the field.

"It keeps me active and it keeps my head out of just thinking of the next at-bat,” Devers said. “I’m the kind of player who likes to be active and likes to be on the field. I’d rather be on the field than be in the cage hitting all the time.”

Devers said it took a couple of innings to settle in at first, but once he did, he was comfortable.

"[I was] a little bit anxious and a little bit nervous for a couple of innings, but after that I felt comfortable,” Devers said. “It’s [going to] take a while for me to get adjusted, but that’s normal.”

Devers did not have a ball hit in his direction at first base, but he did record four putouts on throws from second baseman Casey Schmitt and shortstop Willy Adames.

"That’s usually what happens in a game, but I was ready,” Devers said. “Anything that came toward me, I was ready to stop it and make an out.”

"You still [have to move around], you have to read the card, you have PitchCom going on and you have to hold guys on first base,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “He didn’t get any ground balls, but he got some plays over there. Every game that he’s over there he gets more acclimated.”

The Giants scored at least nine runs for the first time since June 22 -- a 9-5 win over the Red Sox -- as they scored four runs in the second and four in the seventh. Wilmer Flores, who was in the lineup as a designated hitter as part of the Giants’ plan, broke the game open with a three-run homer in the seventh.

"[Flores], his numbers [as a designated hitter] have been really good,” Melvin said. “He hits another home run tonight. It’s good to be able to get him off his feet.”

Since the trade, which netted the Red Sox two big league pitchers and a pair of prospects, Devers had exclusively served as the Giants' designated hitter, hitting .219 with a .333 OBP and two homers in 29 games.

"There’s not much difference,” Devers said. “I think third base is a lot harder, but that’s why I’m practicing and that’s why I’m working every single day to get my grounders out there just to get adjusted to playing first base.”

He's also using his own first-base mitt.

"It’s my own glove,” Devers said. “I ordered it the second day I arrived [in] San Francisco.”

Devers has been dealing with a disk injury in his lower back and some groin discomfort, but Melvin was confident pregame Tuesday that the slugger can play in the field. Devers said the All-Star break played an important role in his recovery and ability to play in the field.

"It was very important to have those days off,” Devers said. “I was able to rest. Not just me but the rest of the team. We took advantage of it.”

Devers will not be the everyday first baseman, however.

“We’ll take it easy for a little bit,” Melvin said. “He won't play [first] for the day game tomorrow and then we have an off-day. Then we’ll see what the schedule looks like when we get home. He’ll DH tomorrow.”