PITTSBURGH -- In the eighth inning of the Phillies' 1-0 loss to the Pirates Friday, tempers flared when reliever Ken Giles engaged in heated conversation with manager Ryne Sandberg and pitching coach Bob McClure.
Giles committed a throwing error that allowed Josh Harrison to move to second after an infield hit with two outs in the inning. The right-hander was then instructed from the dugout to intentionally walk Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez with Francisco Cervelli on deck.
Giles became demonstrative on the mound and expressed his displeasure. Both McClure and catcher Cameron Rupp took trips to the mound in attempts to calm him down.
After walking Alvarez, Giles walked Cervelli on five pitches to load the bases. He fell behind 3-0 to Jordy Mercer before striking him out.
On the way back to the dugout, Giles gestured with his throwing arm in frustration, which prompted the confrontation between himself and McClure and Sandberg.
"There was some frustration and some game situation," Sandberg said after the eventual 13-inning loss (see Instant Replay). "[We] talked about some game situations."
The situation in question was likely the call to intentionally put Alvarez on, who Giles likely wanted to pitch to.
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"There was some communication about some strategy," Sandberg said. "But I thought he threw well."
Alvarez, hitting just .239 this season but also possessing game-changing power, was a hitter Giles seemingly thought he could retire to end the inning based on his reaction to the decision. Sandberg didn't want to risk a mistake to Alvarez, who hit a ball clear out of PNC Park beyond the right-field seats earlier this week.
Giles was not made available after the game, but Sandberg made no more of the incident.
"Everything’s taken care of in-house," Sandberg said. "Everything’s fine."
But in a 0-0 game, the coaching staff didn't take too kindly to Giles' ill-timed antics.
"I do like to have players with emotions," Sandberg said. "There’s a time and a place and a situation to show that."