SAN FRANCISCO — With the game on the line, there’s no one the Giants would rather have on the mound than closer Will Smith.
At the plate? They’ll take Smith, too.
In his eighth major league season, Smith stepped into the box for the first time out of necessity on Sunday night against the Phillies. What followed was the defining highlight of the Giants’ season to date.
The hard-throwing left-hander stood in the right-handed batter’s box and took a hack at a Nick Pivetta fastball. His bat found the ball and sent it curving just inside the right field foul line for a two-run double that stands as the most improbable moment of the pitcher’s –or slugger’s– career.