Davis nearly loses homer for missing plate

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers left fielder Khris Davis had to wait out a replay review in Monday's 8-4 loss to the Giants after his first-inning home run was nullified because the plate umpire ruled he didn't touch home. Three minutes and 15 seconds later, Davis got his home run back.

Davis had connected against Giants starter Tim Lincecum for a homer to right field that by all appearances gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead at Miller Park. But the Giants appealed at home plate, where umpire Will Little called Davis out, ruling he'd missed home plate after circling the bases. The Brewers challenged that ruling, and the call was overturned after a review.

"It was close. It was really close," Brewers manager Craig Counsell conceded.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy agreed, but supported such calls being eligible for replay review.

"It was so close. I want to have that option," Bochy said. "Even though you're right there, there's a human error factor."

Had the umpires ruled he missed the plate, it would have been scored as a triple and an out at home plate, with Lincecum getting an assist and catcher Andrew Susac a putout.

Video: SF@MIL: Davis homers, leads to appeal and review

"That was odd. I've certainly never been a part of that and I've played baseball for a long time," Ryan Braun said. "It was really close. It was really hard to tell. It looked like it could have gone either way. ... Hopefully it's a good lesson for all of us. If there's a celebration, let's start the celebration after we touch home plate."

Davis was more careful two innings later, when he hit another solo homer off Lincecum for the second multi-homer game of Davis' career and first since 2013. This time, he stepped square on home plate, drawing a cheer from the Memorial Day crowd at Miller Park.

Video: SF@MIL: Davis goes yard a second time

After the Brewers surrendered seven runs in the sixth inning and lost, Davis had little to say about his odd day at the plate.

Asked about the strange sequence in the first inning, Davis said, "It's not about me, it's about the team."

Video: SF@MIL: Counsell on Giants challenging Davis' homer

And asked what he was thinking as he approached home plate after the second home run, he said, "I was thinking it's about the team."

The team has lost five of its last six games. At 16-30, the Brewers have reached 30 losses in 46 or fewer games for only the fourth time in franchise history.

"I think about being the best teammate I can be," Davis said. "Guys are struggling, but try to put a smile on everyone's face and remind them this game is fun, even through a struggle. It doesn't last forever."