Following the San Francisco Giants’ win over the Philadelphia Phillies, manager Tony Vitello emphasized the importance of his bullpen in securing the win this afternoon. A central figure was Matt Gage, who earned his first career win and continued to build trust within the staff.

Vitello noted the respect Gage has earned within the clubhouse, saying, “He’s a guy from Day One, you can tell it was such a good hang…that presence kind of carries over into the game.”

He added that Gage’s versatility makes him a valuable option in any situation: “If he’s available, there’s a great chance he’s going to throw somewhere in there.”

The bullpen’s ability to handle high-leverage moments stood out. Erik Miller, who didn’t pitch the previous game, responded with urgency. “He looked determined… it was pretty impressive stuff out of him,” Vitello said.

Caleb Kilian also delivered in a tough matchup, reinforcing the manager’s confidence in his group: “A lot of those guys are going to have to come in in tough situations.”

Vitello also pointed to Tyler Mahle’s outing as a tone-setter. Despite working around walks, Mahle effectively navigated the Phillies lineup with a mix of stuff and awareness.

“If you’re going to walk guys, he kind of picked his spots well,” Vitello said. “He’s got good stuff, but he’s also kind of a hybrid… a location pitcher, too.”

Vitello praised Mahle’s feel for the game, adding, “I don’t know that he plays poker, but I’m willing to bet he’d be a good poker player. He can kind of play his hand.”

Offensively, the defining moment came from Rafael Devers, whose three-run home run broke open a tight contest. Vitello described the swing as both an emotional lift and a decisive turning point.

“It was massive because everybody sees his frustration,” Vitello said. “But everybody also knows what he’s capable of.”

He emphasized the respect Devers commands in the dugout, noting, “You get oohs and ahhs at almost every swing… everyone wants it for him bad.”

Vitello compared the home run to a momentum-shifting play in other sports: “It was like a huge hit in football or a big dunk in basketball — and then some.”

The Giants’ early schedule has tested the team, but Vitello believes the group is beginning to find its footing. After a difficult start, he pointed to improved mindset and clubhouse environment as signs of progress.

“We got too down when things didn’t go well,” Vitello admitted. “But it’s been the right environment… we’re starting to play pretty decent ball right now.”

Looking ahead, Vitello is optimistic about continued growth, particularly as the team heads out on the road. “There’s plenty of positives to look at, but we’ve got to hunt down the best version of ourselves,” he said.

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