LOS ANGELES — Rafael Devers had three hits in 10 at-bats when the Giants visited the Tampa Bay Rays at the end of the last trip, which was promising, but hardly a definitive sign that he was back to being one of the game’s most dangerous left-handed hitters. But in the middle of that series, there was a subtle signal.
Devers fouled a pitch off during one of the losses and then smirked at the pitcher. He is someone who doesn’t let outsiders into his world — even after Monday’s big game at Dodger Stadium, he turned down interview requests — but in that moment, it was clear that he felt more like his old self.
A week later, Devers seems fully back. And the Giants are in much better shape because of it.
Devers reached base four times Monday in a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and got the scoring started with his third home run in five games. The Giants have won three of four, but are still just 17-24. It’s a lot easier to feel optimistic, though, when you have your best hitters pulling most of the rope, and right now it seems that they’re coming around.
Devers was joined by Willy Adames, who drove in three runs, and Heliot Ramos, who reached base three times and had two RBI. Matt Chapman is still searching, but the heart of the lineup looks much more dangerous than it did even a few days ago, and Devers is leading that charge.
“The lineup, you know, feeds off him a little bit,” manager Tony Vitello said. “I think it’s unfair to put too much responsibility on someone’s shoulders or ask them to be who they’re not. I don’t think Rafi is ever going to be like a direct-traffic guy, like a point guard or quarterback, but he really is a team leader for a lot of reasons, and one is just like when he’s vibing it’s impossible not to be in the same mood that he is.
“He’s fun to be around. He’s comedic, and then he also wants to win. And he kind of has that mojo or vibe going right now, and I think other guys kind of fall in line with it. So the swing in the bat was good, but I also appreciate that part of it.”
The Giants broke the game open against a wild reliever in the ninth, but it was tied at three heading into the seventh. With one out, Jung Hoo Lee, Luis Arraez and Casey Schmitt singled. Devers, who was swinging through belt-high fastballs for all of April, took a steady stream of four-seamers from Alex Vesia and drew a go-ahead walk. Adames added two huge runs with a single to right.
The Giants are 3-1 against the Dodgers this season, but tougher tests are ahead. They missed Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller while taking a weekend series from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and inconsistent right-hander Roki Sasaki was waiting when they arrived in L.A. on Monday.
On Tuesday night, it’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto. After that, it’s Shohei Ohtani, who is in such a deep slump that he might sit the final two games of this series as a hitter, but also carries a 0.97 ERA through six starts.
Vitello said Bryce Eldridge, the subject of just about all of Monday’s pregame conversation, will start Tuesday either at first base or DH. The other spot will belong to Devers, who was the DH on Monday and led a balanced attack for a team that has been desperately searching for more days like this one.
“Overall, the at-bats were really good,” Vitello said. “And Rafi kind of led the way.”
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