SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy cited a little-known statistic Monday to explain the three-run comebacker that helped his club defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-1.
"We call them RTIs -- runs thrown in," Bochy said.
With the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning of a scoreless contest, the Giants received plenty of help from the D-backs -- in the form of two throwing errors -- to open the scoring.
Giants starter Matt Moore hit a weak ground ball toward first base. D-backs starter Taijuan Walker pounced on the ball about halfway up the line. His throw skipped past catcher Jeff Mathis as Brandon Crawford scored.
Mathis noticed Joe Panik charging home from second base and flung a throw to Walker, who covered home. But Walker rushed his tag, allowing Panik to score.
The ball eluded Walker and trickled up the line, where first baseman Paul Goldschmidt barehanded it and fired to Walker, who was still standing at home plate. Jarrett Parker, who began his journey at first base, beat Walker's tag with a headfirst slide.
It all began with Walker's throw, which he essentially spiked by flinging the ball at Mathis' feet.
"I think I just tried to make a play that wasn't there," Walker said, "instead of just getting the out and having two outs and they just score one there and get the next hitter. I just tried to do too much. That one was on me. I wanted to get a double play there. I just have to shake it off and get ready for the next one."
Watching from second base as Moore tapped his grounder, Panik sensed that events could develop in the Giants' favor.
"When the pitcher's going towards the line and trying to fire across his body, it's never an easy play," Panik said.
Said Mathis, "I wish I was yelling at [Walker] to go to first, but obviously him wanting to make a play, he got to the ball really quick. We just weren't able to make a good throw there. And same way coming back, I didn't make the best of throws to him. Not the way you draw it up."
Nobody could have drawn up Parker's 270-foot trip on a ball hit 30 or 40 feet.
"That shows his speed and baseball intellect," Panik said.
Actually, Parker's baserunning logic was based on Panik's actions.
"In that moment, I was watching the ball," Parker said. "I didn't have time to look at the third-base coach [Phil Nevin] in that situation, so I was reacting to what I saw. I round second and after that I watch Joe. Once I make sure he's going home, I round third hard."