SAN FRANCISCO -- Taking matters into his own hands, or more accurately, his legs, Alen Hanson ended the Giants' offensive futility in Monday night's 2-1, extra-inning victory over the Cubs by scoring from first base on a pickoff play gone bad.
Having forced out Pablo Sandoval, Hanson was aboard with one out and San Francisco trailing, 1-0, when Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks attempted a pickoff. The throw eluded first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who was charged with an error. As the ball skittered away from the pursuing Cubs, Hansen sped to third, then headed home as Javier Baez retrieved the ball near the Cubs bullpen.
"I turned around at second base and [looked at] the third-base coach [Ron Wotus] that called me to come over to third," Hanson said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. "I figured I could score from third as long as [Baez] didn't make a perfect throw."
Hanson dove headfirst toward the plate and beat catcher Willson Contreras' tag to score the tying run.