For himself and for the team.
When Jorge Soler came up to bat with the bases loaded and no outs in the 10th inning of Monday’s game between the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, I thought it was the most poetic person who could be at the plate. Soler has struggled miserably in scoring situations this year, what better way to end that drought than with a walk off?
Instead, Soler bounced into a fielder’s choice, and I quickly learned that I was wrong. He wasn’t the most poetic option to come up and get the game-winning hit in that situation. It was actually the person who followed, and who succeeded: Austin Slater.
There’s been no disguising Slater’s disappointing season. We can wave some of it off due to a small sample size and sporadic playing time, but we can’t hide how rough it has been. So who better than Slater to play the hero?
Slater did exactly that, getting the winning hit — nearly a grand slam — against a right-handed pitcher no less, after coming up short while pinch-hitting against a lefty earlier in the game. And while it was huge for the team, you could easily make the case that it was even bigger for the player.
“Definitely lifted a big weight off my shoulders.”
Austin Slater on his game-winning hit tonight pic.twitter.com/isCGZouNEV
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 11, 2024
The team’s trust in Slater has not waned, and moments like Monday’s remind us why. And it certainly wasn’t lost on the team how much the big hit meant, and how much it might jumpstart the season for Slater.
“That was huge.”
BoMel on the significance of Slater’s walk-off hit after a slow start this season pic.twitter.com/Bk0srSpTao
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 11, 2024
Here’s to more big moments, Slater.
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants host the Astros again tonight at 6:45 p.m. PT.