Giants come back to take down Dodgers in 10th inning

Andrew Baggarly - MercuryNews

The Chicago Cubs, World Series champions? Heck, why not?

Nothing in baseball is impossible anymore. Not after what Bengie Molina did in the sixth inning Friday night.

For the first time in the grand history of this game, a player hit a home run — without actually scoring a run.

It doesn't take a degree in astrophysics to understand how that happened in the Giants' 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. But it definitely requires a sense of humor.

There was plenty of that, and good cheer, after Omar Vizquel hit a two-out double and Dave Roberts snuck a ground ball into right field for a game-winning single at AT&T Park.

The comeback victory ensured the Commissioner's office won't have to hear the Giants' protest over one of the strangest plays in baseball history.

Molina's home run trot never began. He stopped at first base with an apparent single after his deep drive off right-hander Scott Proctor hit where the bricks intersect with the green, metal roof of the right field arcade.

As pinch runner Emmanuel Burriss ran onto the field to replace Molina, Vizquel, who was sitting in the dugout, told Bochy that he heard the ball strike metal.

''Omar and his bionic ears,'' Bochy said."I don't know how he heard it.''

According to the AT&T Park ground rules, a ball that strikes the roof is a home run. Bochy immediately requested an instant replay challenge and told crew chief Bill Welke that he didn't want Burriss in the game.

"I told Bill, `I don't want to make this move. We want to review this,' '' Bochy said.

Umpires emerged from the tunnel after a brief delay, Welke signaled a two-run home run, and Burriss laughed uproariously as first base coach Roberto Kelly gave him a push to round the bases. Molina watched from the dugout with look of disbelief, perhaps unsure if he should come out to circle the bases himself or congratulate Burriss for a homer that the rookie didn't hit.

"Good swing,'' Molina told Burriss.

"It was hilarious,'' Burriss said."I asked Roberto, `Do I run? Does Bengie come back out? I was like, `All right, all right, I'll take it.' I'm not a home run hitter, so I'll take the slowest trot in history.''

Molina's shot tied the score two innings after former Giant Jeff Kent blew a farewell kiss with his own two-run homer. Official scorer Michael Duca consulted with the Elias Sports Bureau and confirmed that Molina would be credited with a home run but Burriss would be credited with the run scored. And Molina got credit for driving in two runs, even though they scored when he technically wasn't in the game.

Bochy said the home run call should have nullified the pinch-running move; he filed a protest when Welke wouldn't let him reinsert Molina.

"He doesn't get another bite at that,'' Welke said."We know the rules. Once a pinch runner touches a base, he's in the game whether he's put in or not. "... All we have is the rules. This was a learning experience.''

Major League Baseball began using instant replay Aug. 27 to review boundary calls on home runs. The system has been used seven times and led to two reversals; the other came Sept. 19, when Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena was awarded a home run instead of a double.

The Giants forced extra innings when catcher Steve Holm's sacrifice fly scored Eugenio Velez in the ninth.

Comment: Prior to Friday's game, the Giants announce Bengie Molina as the winner of the Willie Mac Award...the most inspirational Giant for the second consecutive year.