John B. Pizzi’s favorite San Francisco Giants player is Joe Panik, a second baseman known for flashing his leather.

But it was the 10-year-old Pizzi, a Little Leaguer from San Anselmo, who showed off his glove during the Giants’ 4-2 win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Park, protecting his father’s face in the process.

In the bottom of the second inning, Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford, a left-handed batter, hit a chopper foul behind him, on the right side of the infield. The ball bounced over the fence and Pizzi, who was wearing a Giants World Series cap, extended his Wilson A2000 to catch the ball inches in front of the face of his father, who wasn’t watching the play, but rather looking to his left.

“I turned around and showed him my mitt with ball and he started laughing,” said the younger Pizzi, who goes by John B. “I said, ‘I saved your life.’”

The Pizzis are not season-ticket holders, buying the front-row seats online before the game.

“He probably at least saved me some dental work or a broken jaw,” said John Pizzi, who is John B.’s father.

After the play, a smiling John B. was showered with cheers and high-fives from those around him.

“I didn’t exactly see it coming until it bounced,” he said. “I put my glove in front of my dad’s face because that’s where I tracked it to. It came kind of fast, but not too hard. It was a well-hit ball.”

His father has had to set the record straight numerous times since replays of the catch were in heavy rotation in the Bay Area as well as national network highlight shows.

“I’ve been accused of looking at some beautiful young lady,” said Pizzi, referencing a one-liner broadcaster Duane Kuiper cracked on the air moments after his son flashed the leather. “But the reality is, we had just ordered food and it was delivered. The lady was leaving and I turned to try to give her a tip.”

John and his wife Margaret moved to Marin from New York in 2004. John B. was born at Marin General Hospital and attends Brookside Elementary.

“Everyone I know has been talking to me about the play,” said John B., who plays in West Marin Little League and for Future Prospects Baseball, a travel team in San Rafael.

The Pizzis’ answering machine and email in-boxes have been full since the play. John B. was interviewed for a video and story that appeared on MLB.com moments after his catch.

“He’s had a lot fun with it, teasing me a bit,” his dad said. “It was a pretty good grab.”