PITTSBURGH -- In an otherwise unremarkable 1-0, 13-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates late Friday night, the lasting memory for the Phillies was the heated exchange reliever Ken Giles had with manager Ryne Sandberg and pitching coach Bob McClure.
Giles pitched a scoreless eighth for the Phillies and kept the game tied 0-0.
But he became incensed when, after committing a throwing error to move Josh Harrison to second on his infield hit, the dugout called for Giles to intentionally walk power-hitting first baseman Pedro Alvarez with two outs.
Giles was visibly displeased on the mound. McClure and catcher Cameron Rupp took separate mound visits in attempts to calm Giles before facing Alvarez.
Giles addressed his confrontation with Sandberg and McClure Saturday afternoon before the Phils continued their series with the Pirates.
“I'm just out there to compete,” Giles said. “I don't like giving freebies. I understand the situation of the game. I just don't like giving freebies.”
After walking Alvarez, Giles walked Francisco Cervelli to load the bases. He fell behind 3-0 before striking Jordy Mercer out to end the inning.
MLB
On his way back to the dugout, Giles gestured toward the Phillies' bench and then engaged in a heated discussion with his coaches upon his return.
“We're players too,” Giles said. “We're all the same. We have the same mentality. He understands, and I also have to understand the situation and his position, as well.”
Giles said he felt like he had some of his best stuff in a while. At the end of it all, his desire to compete controlled the moment.
“That's about it,” Giles said. “My emotions just got the best of me.”
But as Sandberg said after Friday’s game, everything was taken care of and is “fine.”
"We settled that right after the game,” Giles said. “Everything's buried in the dirt. Nothing to worry about.
“It's never going to happen again.”