SF Giants’ rookie Bericoto walks off A’s with HR after Devers’ tying shot

SAN FRANCISCO — Victor Bericoto allowed himself to savor the moment.

He held the follow-through. He backtracked out of the box. He admired his work. This home run, a 445-foot blast that delivered a walk-off win, was just the second of his career. Still, as Oracle Park collectively erupted, this rookie embodied the swagger like a veteran who’d homered on cold San Francisco nights for his whole career.

Bericoto has barely played during his month in the majors. He hadn’t started in exactly two weeks. When Tony Vitello finally wrote his name into the starting lineup, Bericoto orchestrated a night that showcased the breadth of his talent.

“I want to thank the manager for having faith in me and giving me the opportunity to start today,” Bericoto said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros following the team’s 2-1 win over the A’s. “Every time I show up to the ballpark, I get ready as if I’m going to start, so I’m very happy to be able to get the opportunity to play today.”

“He’s just very hitter-ish,” Vitello said. “He looks like Bryce (Eldridge). He looks imposing at the plate. That counts for something to the opponent.”

Bericoto conducted a television interview following the walk-off but he was unable to answer additional questions in the clubhouse as he tried to communicate with friends and family after a pair of 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck his native Venezuela.

San Francisco (33-46) entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 1-0, the only run of the game courtesy of a solo homer by Max Muncy (not to be confused with the Dodgers’ Max Muncy). Enter, Rafael Devers, who tied the game up at one apiece with a solo homer. Vitello joked postgame that the Giants planned to use a pinch-runner for Devers if he reached first base, alluding to Sunday’s viral fiasco.

After Devers tied the game, Bericoto sent everyone home with the biggest swing of his young career. Oracle Park’s spacious dimensions and San Francisco’s chilly climate have suppressed home runs for more than two decades, but this was a true no-doubt blast that cleared the left-center field fence by plenty of feet.

If Vitello had any doubt that the ball was leaving the yard, that doubt was eliminated by the confidence of his bench coach Jayce Tingler.

“Jayce was next to me, and he yelled, ‘He did it’ as loud as he can into my ear, so I didn’t really have any doubt,” Vitello said.

That blast wasn’t the only time on Wednesday that the rookie showed off his physical tools. In the top of the fifth, Bericoto unfurled a flat-footed 92.7 mph throw to the plate to complete a bizarre inning-ending 4-7-2 double play.

With one out and runners on first and second, the Athletics’ Lawrence Butler smashed a line drive at second baseman Casey Schmitt, who speared the ball and quickly fired a throw to shortstop Willy Adames for a potential inning-ending double play. Schmitt’s throw, though, was wide and rolled into foul territory. Jacob Wilson, the runner on second, was off to the races.

Wilson scrambled back to his feet after diving headfirst into second, then bolted for third base. Third base coach Bobby Crosby frenetically waved him home, and Wilson hit the turn hard. With Wilson barely a third of the way home, Bericoto fired a laser to the plate with no momentum that arrived in plenty of time. Wilson valiantly tried to dodge catcher Eric Haase, but the veteran applied the tag to end the inning.

“I was just trying to back up the plate and be ready,” Bericoto said. “When I got the ball I was just concentrating to make sure I made the perfect throw.”

Thanks in part to Bericoto’s throw, Tyler Mahle turned in one of his best outings of the season after missing three weeks due to a left hamstring strain, tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts to two walks.

Mahle retired the first nine batters he faced before walking leadoff man Henry Bolte to begin the top of the fourth, but quickly negated the free pass by inducing a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of star first baseman Nick Kurtz.

“He sure made it hard on the coaching staff, that’s the best way to compliment him,” Vitello said. “I didn’t think we were going to get there to that spot to where his p

The Giants, barring an improbable blistering run, will be sellers at this year’s Aug. 3 trade deadline. Second baseman Luis Arraez and starter Robbie Ray are the team’s most obvious trade candidates, but Mahle could garner his own interest if he puts together a good month.

Mahle, 31, has had a poor year overall since joining the Giants on a one-year, $10 million deal, posting a 5.49 ERA and 4.69 FIP over 12 starts. Still, the right-hander has a track record of being fairly effective when healthy, posting a 3.62 ERA and 3.76 FIP over 80 starts from 2021-2025. That résumé, combined with a good stretch, could be enough for a team to inquire about his services.

Worth noting

Relievers Sam Hentges and Ryan Walker made their first appearances back at Oracle Park since the Pride Night controversy became a national story. Neither reliever was met with much reaction.

Up next

Landen Roupp (5-7, 4.15 ERA) will make his first start at Oracle Park since June 12, the night he wrote a Bible verse on the team’s Pride Night caps and kickstarted a saga that’s garnered national headlines.