Tony Vitello stood barefoot at the postgame podium, his shoes somewhere in the San Diego night, soaked from the beer shower his players gave him after the Giants’ 3-2 victory over the Padres. It wasn’t just any win, it was his first as a professional manager, and his team made sure he felt the full weight of the moment.

After three brutal losses to the Yankees to start the season, the questions about Buster Posey’s decision to hire a college coach directly to the majors had been relentless. But on Monday night, Vitello silenced the doubters with a textbook managerial performance that leaned heavily on pitching dominance. The Giants’ first win of the season came from exactly the kind of effort that builds championship-caliber teams: strong arms and smart lineup decisions.

Vitello stood the entire game on the second step between the dugout and the fans, close enough to offer encouragement to his players with an “attaboy” here and there. He wasn’t your typical manager leaning casually on the railing. This was someone who wanted to be present for every moment, every decision, every shift in momentum. That energy paid dividends, especially in the sixth inning when Luis Arráez turned a double play on Manny Machado to help pitcher Landen Roupp’s scoreless streak continue.

The pitching was genuinely impressive. Roupp threw six scoreless innings in what Vitello called “warrior mode”. Matt Gage and Keaton Winn each retired the side in order in the seventh and eighth innings, with Winn striking out every batter he faced. Even though Ryan Walker gave up a two-run homer in the ninth, he got the job done when it mattered most.

What really mattered, though, was the reaction in the clubhouse. Matt Chapman spoke during the celebration, acknowledging that the team could now move forward without people questioning whether Vitello deserved the job. Even softer personalities like Jerar Encarnación, who hasn’t played yet, stepped up to show support. Willy Adames, who’d been one of the first players to build a relationship with the new manager, shared meaningful words that clearly touched Vitello.

The beer shower came next, along with a ride in a laundry cart. Vitello joked that the last time he was in a cart was at Kmart, and “it wasn’t a good thing to be in the cart”. Tonight was different. Tonight, he was celebrating something he’d worked toward for over two decades in college baseball.

The Giants are now 1-3, but the vibe around the team has shifted. Vitello’s calm demeanor after the final out, methodically shaking hands with his coaching staff, including a particularly meaningful handshake with Ron Washington, showed a manager who understands that one win doesn’t change everything. But it changes something. It builds momentum. It proves the experiment might actually work.

Vitello headed back to his office already thinking about the next game, his barefoot victory lap complete. Victory number one was in the books, and with it came the confidence that this team is ready to compete.