SF Giants benefit from controversial scoring change in Monday's 3-1 loss

The SF Giants were the beneficiary of a controversial scoring change on Monday night. Wilmer Flores reached base via an error, which was later changed to a hit, ending Kansas City Royals starter Kris Bubic's no-hit bid.

SF Giants benefit from controversial scoring change in Monday's 3-1 loss

The Giants might be happy if they never see Bubic on the mound again. The southpaw pitcher has posted a 1.33 ERA across 20.1 frames in his career against San Francisco.

Bubic put together a solid outing early in the 2023 season, completing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts against the Giants. He made only one more appearance that year before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

On Monday night, the Giants' lineup had no answer for Bubic. They have struggled badly against left-handed pitching this season, and it was more of the same on Monday night.

The 27-year-old pitcher completed 5.2 no-hit innings before Wilmer Flores came to the plate. Flores reached base after hitting a ground ball toward second base. Second baseman Michael Massey slipped while attempting to field the ball, and it went through to the outfield. The initial ruling on the play was an error by Massey.

At that point, Bubic retired the very next hitter. His no-hitter was still intact, or so he thought. In the seventh inning, the ruling was changed to a hit, ending Bubic's no-hit bid while he was sitting on the bench.

Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area provided the recording of the play.

It is tough to give an error to a fielder when he slips trying to field the ball. However, it also looks like Massey may have overrun it. The ball does deflect off his glove and into the outfield.

I can understand the reasoning behind the scoring change. It was not necessarily a misplay. Perhaps, it is not too dissimilar to when an outfielder loses the ball in the sun. It is hard to rule that an error. I just hate to see a no-hit bid end on a technicality like that, even if the Giants were on the losing side of it.

This is more of a general observation, but it does feel like the scoring is a little too conservative when assigning errors this season. I have seen several players when a ball bounces off a Giants player's glove, yet it is still ruled a hit. If the ball hits your glove and you do not make the play, it should be an error with a few exceptions. Massey's misplay is a little different. What did you think of the scoring change?