SAN FRANCISCO — Minutes before first pitch, the Giants made a meaningful tweak to their starting lineup.
Heliot Ramos and Willy Adames were originally slated to hit first and second, respectively, but they swapped places in the lineup right before taking the field. Adames would bat leadoff, and Ramos would hit second.
The intent was obvious. Adames entered the afternoon with 29 homers, one shy of becoming the first Giant to hit 30 homers in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004. Batting leadoff, then, would maximize his chances to hit the milestone homer.
One at-bat — one pitch — is all he needed. Adames sent the very first pitch he saw from the Colorado Rockies’ McCade Brown over the center-field fence, officially ending a drought that had gone on for more than two decades.
The solo shot also marked the first career leadoff home run of Adames’ career, as well as the third time he’s eclipsed 30 homers in a single season.
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Adames, who joined the Giants on a seven-year, $182 million deal in the offseason, entered the Giants’ three-game set against the Rockies needing two homers to reach No. 30. On Friday, moments after being named the 2025 Willie Mac Award winner, Adames hit his 29th home run in his first at-bat of the night.
Rafael Devers achieved a milestone of his own when he stepped to the plate in the bottom of the first, becoming the first player since Justin Mourneau in 2008 to play 163 games in a single season. Devers entered the day with 34 home runs, but he did not count towards breaking the 30-homer drought since 15 of his home runs were with the Boston Red Sox.