San Francisco Giants: The Biggest Moments From Departed Giants
Oct 4, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit (52) pitches in the 12th inning against the Washington Nationals in game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit:
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Yusmeiro Petit, in his three seasons plus one game as a Giant, was never a premier guy on the pitching staff, but he almost always came through when the chips were down. In 2013, he came one strike shy of throwing the 24th perfect game in major league history as an injury replacement in the rotation. In 2014, he set a big league record by retiring 46 batters successively over the span of eight outings. But his biggest moment as a Giant came on October 4th, 2014.
In the second game of the National League Division Series, the Giants and the Washington Nationals were deadlocked at one run apiece heading into the 12th inning. To start that dozenth frame, manager Bruce Bochy dug deep into his bullpen, calling on Petit to be his seventh pitcher of the night, and the game’s 13th overall. Petit started shakily, allowing a four-pitch leadoff walk to Ian Desmond, but would bounce back by getting young phenom Bryce Harper to fly out to deep center field, and striking out Wilson Ramos. After an intentional walk to former Giant Nate Schierholtz, Danny Espinosa lined out to Brandon Crawford to end the threat.
Using his signature short arm delivery, tight curveball, deceptive changeup, and a fastball that cracked 90 miles per hour just four times, Petit lulled the Nationals’ lineup to sleep, which was appropriate considering the game didn’t end until just past midnight on the east coast. Over the next five innings, Petit allowed one hit (a two-out single to Jayson Werth in the 13th inning), one walk (with two outs to Denard Span in the 15th), and struck out six while shutting out a strong Nationals’ lineup. He matched zeroes with three Washington relievers until the 18th inning.
When Brandon Belt launched his famous Bat Drop home run into the Nation’s Capital night in the top of the 18th, he gave the Giants a 2-1 lead that would eventually be the final score, and gave Petit a well-earned win. In six shutout innings during the biggest outing of his career, Petit threw 80 pitches (the second-most as a reliever in his career), and struck out seven. After the walk to Span in the 15th, Petit retired the final seven batters he faced in order.
San Francisco took a 2-0 series lead over the Nationals with that win, and would go on to take the series in four games. They would subsequently beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the Championship Series and the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. Without Petit’s contributions in game two, the series could have changed completely, and the Giants may not have earned another championship. After being baffled by Petit on October 4th, the Nats must be happy to have him on their side.
Next: Juan Perez