SAN FRANCISCO -- Willy Adames was playing about as far up the middle as is allowed under the new rules regarding shifts. The Giants shortstop was positioned perfectly.

When the ball left Jake Cronenworth's bat at 61 mph, Adames took a couple of steps toward the bag. In his mind, he scrolled through all the different ways he might be able to turn an inning-ending double play. There was an obvious first choice: Scoop the ball on one hop, race to tag second, and then make a strong throw to first.

"Hell yeah," Adames said later. "It was a double-play ball. It was a jam shot. You could have turned a double play in any direction."

Adames never got the chance.

Cronenworth's soft liner hit second base and ricocheted into the outfield, scoring two runs. By the end of the inning, the Giants trai

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