Basabe has big night but SF Giants lose on Padres’ walk-off

SAN DIEGO — Less than half an hour before first pitch on Saturday, the Giants announced that second baseman Luis Arraez had been scratched from the starting lineup. His omission from the field wasn’t due to a trade, though. At least not yet.

Arraez, according to the Giants, went through pregame warmups and “felt a little bit of cramping.” On Friday, Arraez departed early due to the same issue. With the trade deadline approaching, there was no reason for San Francisco to risk further injury. So, for just the ninth time this year, Arraez’s name wasn’t in the starting lineup. He was replaced by Osleivis Basabe, who hit his first homer in nearly three years and roped a game-tying double off Mason Miller.

Soon enough, Arraez’s absence will become the norm.

The Giants’ 6-5 walk-off loss to the San Diego Padres on Saturday night at Petco Park served as a primer of what’s to come after Monday’s trade deadline. Arraez, who leads the majors in batting average, will likely be gone. The same could be said for Robbie Ray. Tyler Mahle, who allowed five runs over 5 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts, could be traded away, too.

San Francisco’s roster will look considerably different in two days. The only looming question is to what degree.

“Just a precautionary deal from our end with pregame going down and still kind of feeling that cramping deal a little bit from last night,” said manager Tony Vitello, who anticipates that Arraez will play on Sunday. “So, more of a precautionary move.”

Jake Cronenworth’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning off reliever Dylan Smith happened roughly 30 seconds after multiple publications reported that two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants, meanwhile, were handed their ninth walk-off loss of the season to drop their record to 47-64, the latest affirmation that they will be sellers.

Starting in Arraez’s place was Basabe, who has spent more time with the club than originally anticipated due to Matt Chapman’s lingering abdominal strain. Basabe, who hasn’t started in the majors in roughly three years, turned the opportunity into the most impactful game of his career.

With the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, Basabe turned on a 102.9 mph four-seam fastball from Mason Miller and one-hopped the left-field wall to tie the game at five apiece. Basabe’s double generated an exit velocity of 109.6 mph, the hardest-hit ball that Miller has allowed all season.

“[My approach was] just to make good contact, try not to take big swings,” Basabe said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I know that he throws really hard, and just wanted to concentrate on making solid contact.”

Basabe’s game-tying double was his second impactful swing of the night, the first being a two-run home run off Walker Buehler that landed in the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. building. For Basabe, it was his first homer since hitting his first career home run on Aug. 22, 2023. Basabe’s four RBIs on the night matched his career high.

“It hasn’t been easy,” Basabe said. “It’s been a long road coming back. Now that I have the opportunity, it felt really good to finally hit [a home run].”

Nate Furman, whose contract was selected when Jesús Rodríguez landed on the injured list, made his debut as a defensive replacement.

Up next

The Giants will play their final game before the trade deadline at 1:10 p.m. Landen Roupp (7-9, 4.12 ERA) will get the start against the Padres’ Michael King (6-7, 3.38 ERA).