NEW YORK -- The Giants hoped their blockbuster trade for Rafael Devers would make a statement and put them in a prime position to make a serious playoff push in the second half.
But Devers’ arrival didn’t provide the immediate spark San Francisco was looking for. The Giants entered Sunday only 14-25 since the three-time All-Star debuted with the club on June 17, a stunning tailspin that ultimately prompted the club to pivot to selling at the Trade Deadline.
The Giants now face an uphill battle to climb back into the National League Wild Card race, but they aren’t writing themselves off yet, especially if they continue to get the type of production from Devers that they saw on Sunday afternoon.
Devers went 3-for-4 and mashed a three-run go-ahead home run to lead San Francisco to a 12-4 win that secured a series victory over the Mets at Citi Field.
The Giants got contributions from up and down their roster, with a resurgent Jung Hoo Lee delivering his first career four-hit game, Casey Schmitt launching another three-run homer in the ninth and rookie left-hander Carson Whisenhunt allowing two runs (one earned) over 5 1/3 innings to earn his first Major League win.
After taking two of three from the Mets -- the same team that swept them at Oracle Park July 25-27 -- the Giants are now back up to .500 (56-56) as they head to Pittsburgh for the second leg of this six-game East Coast swing.
“It was a very important series for us, especially after not playing well at home,” Devers said in Spanish. “This series gives us a lot of motivation. They swept us at home, so taking the series on the road is something that can inspire us a little bit.”
The win brought San Francisco to within 6 games of the postseason, but Devers said he believes the team still has enough talent to stay in the hunt down the stretch.
“We just have to win all the series,” Devers said. “That’s something that motivates us. I think we just have to keep playing the way we did here. We just have to keep getting better and see what happens.”
Devers entered Sunday slashing an underwhelming .219/.322/.363 over his first 39 games for San Francisco, but he broke out by unloading on a middle-middle fastball from New York right-hander Frankie Montas in the third inning, crushing it into the upper deck in right field for a titanic three-run shot that snapped a 1-1 tie and put the Giants ahead for good.
“I’ve seen it from the other side many times,” manager Bob Melvin said of Devers’ power. “It’s not a foreign feeling. Just to have a day like he did today, and really kind of recently, he’s been swinging the bat a lot better. You think about how this guy, when he gets hot, he’s the type of guy that can carry a team.”
The 28-year-old Devers added an RBI single in the fourth to cap another three-run rally and then smoked a 107.5 mph drive off the left-field wall in the seventh, though he was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.
“I think I just need to find my timing,” Devers said. “I've been here for a while now. I’ve been a little disappointed that I haven’t been contributing to the team as much. I need to get better at that.”
The Giants’ offensive outburst resulted in plenty of run support for Whisenhunt, who was making his second start since he was promoted from Triple-A Sacramento last week. San Francisco’s No. 3 prospect surrendered a solo shot to Francisco Lindor in the first inning, but he didn’t allow another hit until Jeff McNeil singled to lead off the fifth.
McNeil advanced to third on Francisco Alvarez’s double to right field and then sprinted home to score an unearned run when outfielder Grant McCray’s errant throw got past both Schmitt and shortstop Willy Adames. Whisenhunt returned to the mound in the sixth and issued a leadoff walk to Lindor before coaxing a popout from Juan Soto to cap his efficient 75-pitch outing.
“He was spotting his fastball today and using his offspeed, too,” Melvin said. “All of a sudden, he was getting swings and misses with his changeup. It’s a big game for us to have to try to win a series, and he was right at the forefront of it.”
After walking off the field, Whisenhunt was rewarded with a high-five from Justin Verlander and a postgame beer shower from his teammates.
“Everybody was screaming and congratulating me and everything,” Whisenhunt said. “There was some applesauce and some milk thrown in there, but no mustard or ketchup or anything, thank the Lord.”