Giants' Rafael Devers apologized to Tony Vitello for reaction - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — Giants first baseman Rafael Devers apologized to manager Tony Vitello and said his actions at first base in the ninth inning of San Francisco's one-run loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday are being «blown out of proportion.»

Vitello backed his player, calling it a «nonissue.»

After drawing a leadoff walk Sunday in Miami, Devers waved off pinch runner Jonah Cox and gestured angrily toward the dugout when the rookie came out. When first-base umpire Nate Tomlinson made the substitution official, Devers covered his face with his helmet and yelled into it. Upon reaching the dugout, he avoided a backslap from bench coach Jayce Tingler and headed directly for the clubhouse.

Devers, who rarely speaks to the media, did not speak to reporters after Sunday's game. On Tuesday, before the Giants played the Athletics at Oracle Park, Devers said the confusion arose because he believed Vitello was removing him from the game because of a lingering hamstring issue, which he said is no longer a problem.

«I think it was a misunderstanding,» Devers said through an interpreter. «I thought the hamstring was the reason he was taking me out of the game.»

Cox, a rookie with less than a month of big league experience, is one of the faster players in the majors. He did not attempt to steal second base, and the game ended when Willy Adames hit into a double play.

The loss completed a three-game sweep for the Marlins and dropped the Giants to 15 games under .500, the second-worst record in the National League.

Buster Posey, the Giants' vice president of baseball operations, said Tuesday, «We're all prone to have missteps at times.»

Posey said he had not spoken to Devers, but added, «You could tell he's frustrated. Look, the way the