SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants looked like they would be buried Wednesday after allowing the Nationals to build an eight-run lead by the seventh inning. Against all odds, they managed to come alive late and pull off their biggest comeback win of the year.
With San Francisco down three runs, rookie Bryce Eldridge launched an “ultimate grand slam” to help the Giants rally for a wild 11-10 walk-off win over the Nationals in Wednesday afternoon’s series finale at Oracle Park.
Eldridge's first career grand slam was also just the second walk-off slam in Giants history when coming to the plate facing a three-run deficit, joining Bobby Thomson on June 16, 1952, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Eldridge, at 21 years and 233 days old, is the youngest player in MLB history to hit a walk-off grand slam, surpassing Roberto Clemente (21 years, 342 days) on July 25, 1956.
The Giants trailed, 10-6, entering the bottom of the ninth, but they cut the deficit to three behind an RBI double from Matt Chapman, who finished 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three RBIs.
Rafael Devers then walked and Jung Hoo Lee singled to load the bases for Eldridge, who crushed a 2-0 slider from Washington left-hander Mitchell Parker over the right-field wall to cap the stunning win and prevent the Giants from being swept at home.
The Giants are the first team to win when trailing by eight or more runs entering the eighth inning since Cleveland on May 25, 2009, and they are just the sixth team to do so in the Divisional Era (since 1969).
And it was just the second win in Giants history when trailing by eight or more runs entering the eighth inning, joining their 10-8 win (after trailing 8-0 going into the eighth) at Pittsburgh on Sept. 8, 1947.