PITTSBURGH — Ken Giles sat on a dugout bench as his manager and pitching coach yelled in his face. The emotionally charged pitcher barked back after the eighth inning of Friday night’s 1-0 extra-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
Giles had loaded the bases in the eighth inning on his own error and a pair of walks, one of which was intentional. He appeared to seethe throughout the inning. Pitching coach Bob McClure visited the mound. Catcher Cameron Rupp made his own trek to calm down the pitcher before they intentionally walked Pedro Alvarez. Giles bulged his eyes and pointed to his cheek as Rupp wrapped his arm around him.