PITTSBURGH - Ken Giles wanted to go after the batter. Friday night, the pitcher said, was the best he had felt in a while. The call from the dugout was to intentionally walk Pedro Alvarez in the eighth inning of an eventual 1-0 loss to the Pirates. Giles became incensed.
"I'm just out there competing. I don't like to give freebies," Giles said before Saturday's game. "I understand the situation of the game. I just don't like giving freebies. That's about it. I want someone to beat me. My emotions just got the best of me."
Catcher Cameron Rupp walked to the mound to calm Giles down.