SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants made a late lineup switch prior to their regular-season finale against the Rockies, moving Willy Adames into the leadoff spot to maximize his chances of ending the club’s long-lived 30-homer drought.
Adames responded by crushing the very first pitch he saw from right-hander McCade Brown over the center-field wall, becoming the first Giant to hit 30 homers in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004.
It was the first career leadoff homer for Adames, who became only the second shortstop in Giants history to record a 30-homer season, joining Rich Aurilia in 2001 (37).
The Giants’ 21-year spell without a 30-homer hitter had been the longest active streak in the Majors. Every other team had at least six such seasons from 2005-24 and at least one from 2019-24.
Adames hit his 28th home run of the season on Sept. 9, but his chances of reaching 30 appeared to take a hit after he went 14 games without going deep. Still, the 30-year-old managed to reach the elusive benchmark by homering twice in the Giants’ final three games of the year.
