A rookie called up less than six weeks ago hit a walk-off grand slam Wednesday to cap one of the more stunning comebacks in recent MLB memory. Bryce Eldridge drove a Mitchell Parker slider into the right-field bleachers at Oracle Park, lifting the San Francisco Giants to an 11-10 win over the Washington Nationals after trailing 9-1 entering the eighth inning.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Giants were down 10-6 going into the bottom of the ninth. They still needed four runs. Luis Arraez and Matt Chapman hit leadoff doubles. Rafael Devers drew a walk. Then Eldridge stepped in with the bases loaded and no outs.
Parker had replaced Gabe Varland, who left without retiring a batter after allowing the two doubles and the walk. Parker immediately gave up a single to Jung Hoo Lee to load the bases before Eldridge came to the plate. The first two pitches were sliders that missed. The third was a slider over the plate. Eldridge did not miss it.
The ball landed just short of McCovey Cove.
The comeback started in the eighth. Chapman hit a leadoff home run for San Francisco's second run of the game. A Rafael Devers blast, two walks, a double, an RBI groundout, and a wild pitch later, the Giants had pulled within 9-6. Nationals reliever Paxton Schultz did not record an out in the frame and was charged with five earned runs on four hits, three walks, and two home runs allowed. Washington added a run in the top of the ninth to push the lead back to four, but it was not enough.
Eldridge was mobbed by teammates after crossing home plate. He did not downplay the moment when speaking with reporters afterward.
"I want to be the face of this franchise," Eldridge said, per NBC Sports Bay Area. "I want to be in that moment. I want to be that guy, so it was pretty special."
Eldridge was the 20th-ranked prospect in all of baseball when the Giants called him up on May 3. Entering Wednesday, he was slashing .300/.385/.500 with three home runs and eight RBI in 27 games. The grand slam was the loudest moment yet of what has been a strong early run in the big leagues for the 20-year-old first baseman.
