Giants’ losing streak hits San Francisco-era record

SAN FRANCISCO – The white flag went up, signaling surrender.

The Giants alerted their foes they meant no harm, having accepted their fate in late August. But the opposition, which comes in many forms in September, has yet to rest.

Twelve days ago, the Giants were a .500 club that had come to terms with the idea their season would end in disappointment. After suffering a 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves Wednesday, the Giants are in the midst of an 11game losing streak, the longest in the San Francisco era, which has quickly turned disappointment into disaster.

“It is really frustrating,” first baseman Brandon Belt said. “We’re coming to the field and we’re working our butts off every day and we’re doing what we can to win ballgames.”

Bay Area News Group/tns San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy argues with umpire Jeremie Rehab during the seventh inning of Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. The Giants’ 11-game losing streak is the longest in the San Francisco era.

In Belt’s case, doing what he could meant extending out to nab a sinker from shortstop Brandon Crawford in the top of the ninth. Belt nudged his back foot up to the side of the first base

bag, reaching his right arm forward to field Crawford’s throw before pinch-hitter Tyler Flowers stepped on the base.

A successful stretch would have sent the Giants to the dugout with a chance to walk off as winners. But as Belt collected the throw, first base umpire Jeremie Rehak declared that Belt did not maintain contact with the base as Crawford’s toss rattled into his glove.

A two-plus minute replay review could not confirm Rehak’s call, but it did uphold his initial ruling. Flowers was awarded an infield single and the game-winning RBI as former Giant Charlie Culberson crossed home plate.

“They feel like they’ve got to be 1,000 percent sure on it and if they’re not, they don’t overturn it,” Belt said. “I had one of them describe it to me as they have to be able to bet their house on it.”

An overturned replay review would not have halted the Giants’ longest losing streak since April 19-29, 1951, the year Bobby Thomson hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World.” To do that, the club needed to muster a hit with a runner on third and just one out.