Why Willy Adames' walk-off hit in the home opener is so unique in SF Giants franchise history

Willy Adames lined a walk-off single to plate Luis Matos and Tyler Fitzgerald to give the SF Giants a 10-9 win over the Seattle Mariners. It was only the fourth time in franchise history that a player has tallied a walk-off in his first home game, per Sarah Langs of MLB.Com.

Why Willy Adames' walk-off hit in the home opener is so unique in SF Giants franchise history

The veteran shortstop signed the largest contract in franchise history in the offseason, and there are lofty expectations that come with that. He scuffled a bit to start the year. Perhaps, he was pressing too much at the plate to make a positive first impression with the club.

The right-handed bat has typically had a knack for the clutch hit. During his career, he has registered a .263/.365/.495 line with 45 home runs and 331 RBI in 986 plate appearances with runners in scoring position. Front offices tend to view clutch hitting as volatile, and there might be some truth to that.

That said, in the very early going, there is a sense that Adames will come through with runners in scoring position. Too often, that hit eluded the Giants last season, and was one of the many reasons that led to a disappointing 80-win year.

On Friday, Adames came to the plate with two runners on base in the 11th inning. He already had recorded two hits with an RBI in six at-bats. He lined the first pitch he saw from Carlos Vargas to right field. The ball was not hit all that hard, which is probably a good thing.

Matos scored from third base with ease. With two outs, Fitzgerald was running on contact and ran through Matt Williams' stop sign to score the winning run. Speed puts pressure on the defense.

In his first game at home in a Giants uniform, Adames quickly displayed his knack for hitting with runners in scoring position. It was just the fourth time in franchise history that a Giants hitter has registered a walk-off hit in their first home game with the team.

Langs notes that Rey Sánchez (1998), Fran Healy (1971), and Moe Solomon (1923) were the other three to do it. If you had guessed those three names, we will need to connect to discuss this week's lottery numbers.

Anyways, I cannot say I remember Healy or Solomon doing it, but I was at the game in 1998 when Sánchez did it. I remember him being a good, scrappy middle infielder. He put up a .285 batting average in 339 plate appearances during his lone season with San Francisco. He put together a pretty nice and long career.

Anyways, Giants fans hope that Adames' first impression at Oracle Park is a sign of good things to come.