So my mind was to go look for a fastball, maybe something close to my body, and thank God he threw me one. “I know he has a very good fastball and a slider. “First of all, I have never faced that pitcher,” Solano said postgame. The five-year major leaguer had also never gone deep in the Coliseum. It was the first time he’d ever faced Puk, and he only saw one pitch. Solano’s eighth-inning blast, a 101.6 mph exit velocity shot to left field, was his first career pinch-hit homer in 203 plate appearances.

Well, maybe it should’ve surprised them more. “Certainly doesn’t surprise any of us in the dugout that Donovan was able to jump on that pitch.” “The power stroke hasn’t shown up quite as much this year, but we know it’s still in there,” Kapler said of Solano. Per Baseball Savant, he’s in the 22nd percentile in hard-hits this season. He’d only hit five home runs entering Sunday, tied with backup catcher Curt Casali and Mauricio Dubon for 10th-most on the ballclub. Solano, an infielder that doesn’t play every day, hadn’t gone yard in about three weeks - since Aug. In this case, the main character is also quite the improbable protagonist. History, as they say, is written by the victors. Solano’s home run - as well as Wade’s the day before - made the Giants the first ever team to hit come-from-behind, go-ahead, pinch-hit homers in the eighth inning or later on consecutive days. Donovan Solano subbed out LaMonte Wade Jr. OAKLAND - After Darin Ruf grounded out to lead off the top of the eighth inning Sunday against the Oakland Athletics, the Giants, trailing 1-0, had a 12.5% win probability.Īt this point, you probably know the rest.Īustin Slater battled back from a 1-2 count for a walk.

Donovan solano