Matt Chapman helps preserve Giants' 3-2 win over Angels with ugly but effective defensive play

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Matt Chapman rarely feels panicked on defense — you don’t win five Gold Glove Awards and two Platinum Glove Awards by showing any fear in the field.

But that’s exactly what the San Francisco Giants third baseman felt in the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday night when, with a runner on first base, one out and the Giants leading the Los Angeles Angels by a run, Logan O’Hoppe swung at a 3-0 pitch from Ryan Walker and sent a ground ball to third.

“I got set up a little late because I was trying to fix this divot that was out there by third base,” Chapman said after the Giants’ 3-2 victory. “Walker came set super fast, so I was kind of back-pedaling. I honestly didn’t think he would swing at the 3-0 pitch. Then he swung, and it was hit right at me, so I think that kind of caused a little panic.”

Chapman, who hit a two-run home run to give San Francisco a first-inning lead it would not relinquish, stumbled as he broke for the potential double-play grounder, which was hit to his left.

Chapman fell to his knees, fielded the ball cleanly and, still on his knees, made a long throw to first that barely beat O’Hoppe to keep the potential winning run off base.

“It was not that fun,” Chapman said of the sinking feeling he had when he stumbled and fell to the ground. “I’ll just call timeout the next time and tell (Walker) to step off instead of trying to take a guess that he’s not gonna swing at a pitch. Luckily I was able to save it, but that could have been ugly.”

Walker got Mike Trout, who hit solo homers in the fourth and sixth innings, to fly to the wall in left-center for the first out of the ninth before giving up a single to Jorge Soler, who was replaced by pinch runner Tim Anderson.

Anderson took second on O’Hoppe’s grounder. Walker then got Nolan Schanuel to fly out to left to end the game, preserving the win for right-hander Landen Roupp, who gave up two runs and five hits, striking out a career-high nine, and walking one in seven innings to improve to 2-1.

“Nobody makes that play,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said of Chapman. “It looks like a double-play ball off the bat, and then all of a sudden, you’re hoping to get one.

“I don’t know how he pulled that one out of his hat to be able to get a throw across the diamond for an out, which was huge. (Otherwise), there are two runners on base, one out and a different complexion to the inning.”

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San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman (26) and shortstop Willy Adames celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman throws the ball to first base during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least 41 young men have died as a result of circumcision procedures as part of traditional initiation activities in South Africa in November and December, authorities said Tuesday.

Traditional initiation is a rite of passage into manhood for young men that is practiced annually by various ethic groups in Africa, including parts of South Africa. Among them are the Xhosa, Ndebele, Sotho and Venda communities.

Traditionally, young men are isolated at initiation schools where they are taught cultural values and responsibilities as they become adults. The circumcision part of the initiation results every year in the deaths of some initiates, forcing the government to intervene through legislation.

The laws force initiation schools to be registered with authorities, but this has not stopped the proliferation of illegal initiation schools where many of the deaths are reported.

Parents are expected to pay for their children to be accepted into the initiation school for the prescribed period, which for some is a financial motivation to start an unregistered initiation school.

Initiation periods typically run during winter (June-July) and summer (November-December) school holidays.

South Africa's Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa told local broadcasters Tuesday that 41 initiates died during this year's summer initiation. He blamed negligence on the part of both the initiation schools, including registered ones, and parents for not adhering to safety standards and medical advice.

Hlabisa said some of the unproven advice often given to the young men is to avoid drinking water in order to heal faster.

“There is negligence in terms of meeting health standards in some of the initiation schools. If you take your child to an initiation school, you never make a follow-up, you do not monitor, you do not go there to see whether the child does drink water, you are placing your child at risk,” he said.

Eastern Cape province has been identified as a hot spot for the death of initiates, totaling 21 so far.

Hlabisa said 41 people have been arrested in relation to illegal initiation schools, including parents who had supplied wrong ages for their children to be admitted.

Only children who are 16 years and above may be admitted to initiation school with parental consent, according to South African law.

Traditional initiation is widely practiced in African communities, with the return of the initiates often characterized by joyful, cultural celebrations.

FILE - Xhosa boys stand in a field during traditional Xhosa male circumcision ceremonies into manhood in Qunu, South Africa, on Saturday, June 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File)