SF Giants’ Matt Chapman, Casey Schmitt clear air on tense moment

SAN DIEGO — There was no need for a professional lip reader to decipher the four words that Matt Chapman directed at Casey Schmitt.

During a fifth-inning mound visit, television cameras caught Chapman appearing to tell Schmitt to “catch the (expletive) ball” after Schmitt couldn’t reel in a high-but-catchable throw from Chapman. Following the Giants’ 7-1 loss to the Padres, Chapman and Schmitt said they smoothed things over and that there is no lingering issue.

“We’re all brothers here,” Chapman said. “Heat of the moment. I’ve already talked to Casey. It’s all good. I figured that people would try to make that a big deal, but it’s baseball and stuff happens. We all learn from it. We’ll move on. I already told him it was kind of heat of the moment and I just wanted to get those outs.”

“We’re trying to win games, obviously. I’m not mad about it or anything like that. It’s baseball,” Schmitt said.

The Giants’ two errors on Wednesday afternoon both involved Chapman making a throw on the run to Schmitt, who wasn’t able to make the catch and record the out cleanly.

In the first inning with a runner on first, the Padres’ Manny Machado pulled a chopper to Chapman, who charged hard and fired to first. The throw arrived in time, but Schmitt’s hand hit Machado and the ball rolled into shallow right field. Jackson Merrill, who took off from first on the pitch, scored the game’s first run. Schmitt was charged with an error.

“Looking back, I should’ve probably came off the bag to get that one just to make sure you keep the ball in the infield,” Schmitt said.

A similar play unfolded in the bottom of the fifth, one that prompted Chapman’s fiery words. With runners at the corners and two outs, San Diego’s Xander Bogaerts hit a slow roller at shortstop Willy Adames. Chapman had the better angle and momentum, so he cut in front of Adames and fired to Schmitt.

Chapman’s throw was catchable despite being a bit high, but Schmitt stretched too early and the ball deflected off the tip of his glove, allowing the game’s second run to score. This time, Chapman was assessed an error. When assessing the play, Schmitt said he stretched too early and described the error as “unacceptable.”

Pitching coach Justin Meccage visited starting pitcher Adrian Houser following Chapman’s error, and as the infielders met on the mound, Chapman delivered his pointed words to Schmitt.

“He was upset. He’s trying to win the game,” said manager Tony Vitello. “I think he was upset a couple of at-bats, too. We were close, as was he a couple of different times to getting on base, whether it’s ball four or squaring up pitches. Guys were on some pitches, or just weren’t quite on them enough. I think there was frustration from everybody throughout the day.”

Shortly after the incident, Chapman and Schmitt said they talked things over during the game.

“That’s my guy,” Schmitt said. “He’s always been in my corner, always helping me out with everything. It is what it is. He’s right: I should’ve caught the ball. We’re good. We’re men here. We’re trying to win games.”

“I got to make better throws, too, so it’s fine,” Chapman said. “I don’t think anybody’s going to put too much stock into it.”

Schmitt, 27, has spent time at all four infield positions but has far less experience at first base (24 games) compared to second base (91 games), third base (70 games) and shortstop (53 games). In fact, Schmitt didn’t play his first game at first base at the professional level until last year.

With Rafael Devers managing a hamstring ailment and top prospect Bryce Eldridge currently playing for Triple-A Sacramento, Schmitt has started at first base in each of San Francisco’s first six games of the season.

Luis Arraez has more experience at first base (263 games) than Schmitt, and with Devers currently limited to DH duties, the Giants’ best defensive lineup would be Schmitt at second and Arraez at first. That said, Arraez signed with the Giants under the pretense that they would allow him to play second base.

Vitello said postgame that Jerar Encarnacion, who made his season debut as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, is a possibility to start against the New York Mets’ left-handed David Peterson on Thursday. Daniel Susac, who made his major league debut on Wednesday as a defensive replacement, could start for Patrick Bailey as well.

“I’m as eager as anybody to get the guy up there,” Vitello said of Encarnacion. “I have confidence in him in any situation. I assume the opponent does not like Jerar being in the batter’s box as physical as he is. Any way we can get him in there would be great.”