Following Wotus's pregame ejection, Giants fall to Diamondbacks in Game 1 of doubleheader

Justice delos Santos, The Mercury News on Aug 29, 2026

Published in Baseball

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SAN FRANCISCO — If there was any doubt about whether there’d be any hard feelings from last night, that question was answered before the first pitch of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Ron Wotus, the long-time coach and current special assistant to baseball operations, was ejected by crew chief Alan Porter following a contentious lineup card exchange before the San Francisco Giants’ 7-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1.

Wotus became the third Giant ejected from a ballgame in the last 24 hours. Manager Tony Vitello and starter Logan Webb were both ejected after the top of the third inning of Friday night’s 10-6 loss. For Webb, it was the first ejection of his career.

“If I was going to try and get personal, I would’ve went to the third-base umpire. It was his call. I wasn’t looking to get personal, but it got personal real quick,” Vitello said on Friday.

“I don’t know what I can or cannot say without me getting in trouble,” Webb said on Friday.

Vitello was also ejected on Wednesday in addition to Friday. On both occasions, Vitello was given a very short leash before being tossed. When Vitello was asked on Friday if he’s felt disrespected, he responded, “I don’t need any respect. I haven’t earned it as much as some of those guys.”

“It’s his first year. I know when I was a rookie, I was told by older players to not talk back, especially to older umpires. Maybe it’s something similar in that way. He’s a manager for a big-league baseball team. I don’t think he should be treated any different way,” Webb said.

Wotus will be allowed to return to the dugout for Game 2.

Wotus’s ejection, his first since July 23, 2011, robbed him of an opportunity to watch rookie left-hander Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson, who allowed two runs over six-plus innings in his Oracle Park debut.

Wilkinson, making his third career start, began his afternoon with six shutout innings before walking Gabriel Moreno and Geraldo Perdomo to start the seventh, the first two walks of his major-league career. As he walked off the field, a frustrated Wilkinson received a resounding standing ovation for his efforts.

Those cheers of admiration soon turned to boos of vitriol.

Ryan Walker, Wilkinson’s replacement, walked Tim Tawa to load the bases, then served up a pinch-hit grand slam to Lars Nootbaar that landed in McCovey Cove on the fly. Walker remained in the game to finish the inning and was fiercely booed as he walked off the field.

The good vibes temporarily returned in the top of the eighth inning when left-hander Seth Lonsway, called up on Saturday morning, entered to make his major-league debut.

Lonsway started his career on a high note by striking out the Diamondbacks’ Ildemaro Vargas, who flailed at strike three and lost his bat. The 27-year-old finished his first game having allowed three runs (two earned) over two innings.

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