Posey, Belt mum on tiff

ST. LOUIS — Catcher Buster Posey and first baseman Brandon Belt declined Sunday to explain an incident between them in the final moments of Saturday night’s 3-1 victory over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

With the Giants an out away from securing the 13-inning victory, Fox TV cameras caught Posey hollering at Belt after Stephen Piscotty stole second base. Posey appeared to be upset that Belt did not hold Piscotty close to the bag before the theft, despite Posey’s signal for Belt to do so. Fox color man A.J. Pierzynski, a retired catcher, noted it on the telecast.

After Matt Carpenter flied out to end the game, Belt gave Posey an icy stare in the handshake line, after which Posey apparently turned to say something to the first baseman.

“What happened between us is just going to stay on the field,” Posey said after Sunday’s 8-3 loss. “I’m not going to talk about that in the media. It’s something we’ll handle together.”

Belt responded similarly, saying, “Nothing really happened. Stuff happens on the field. It’s between us.”

This was not the first time the cameras caught Posey expressing displeasure with Belt.

On May 3 in Los Angeles, the Giants and Dodgers were tied 1-1 in the 10th inning at a time when the Giants were struggling nightly to score. Belt had walked and taken second on Hunter Pence’s single before Posey singled to center.

Third-base coach Phil Nevin held Belt at third (amid some dispute whether Belt slowed during his advance). When Posey got to first base and saw that Belt had not scored, he was agitated. Even amateur lip readers could decipher Posey’s words, which were not complimentary toward the first baseman.

Posey had a brief, animated discussion with Nevin in the dugout after the half-inning. The Giants won that game with three runs in the 11th inning. Briefly: Manager Bruce Bochy said does not expect Pence (left hamstring strain) to return in the upcoming four-game series in Chicago, saying, “I would be surprised if he plays.” Pence is eligible to return from the disabled list Tuesday. … Neither the Cardinals nor Giants have swept a series of at least three games between them since a 2001 Giants sweep at AT&T Park. The Giants have not swept a series in St. Louis since 1998. … Brandon Crawford homered for the first time since April 14. Eduardo Nuñez hit his second in four games.