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SAN FRANCISCO – There was very little crying in the Giants clubhouse Tuesday night despite the epic ninth inning meltdown. None, in fact, except for one man who had his face buried in his hands as he sat silently and wept at his locker.

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Kawakami: The Giants’ blown series and season Santiago Casilla, the poster boy for the Giants’ bullpen failures in 2016, didn’t even make the poster in the final flameout. The Giants used five pitchers to face seven Chicago Cubs hitters in a four-run ninth and all the club’s primary closer could do was watch in agony and horror as San Francisco blew a 5-2 lead and was eliminated with a 6-5 Game 4 loss.

As the fateful inning unfolded, Casilla kept waiting for the nod to go warm up, but it never came. Nobody talked to him. He wasn’t even considered to pitch. And it hurt him badly.

“Never,” he said. “I’m a pitcher. I’m part of the bullpen. I know I have had some bad moments in September and during the season, but I have good numbers in the playoffs and I know I can pitch in that situation. I know I can pitch in the big leagues.”

Casilla saved 31 games for the Giants this season, good enough for sixth best in the National League, but he also had nine blown saves, most in the N.L. and tied for the most in baseball. Manager Bruce Bochy gave him numerous opportunities to redeem himself over the course of the year, but essentially pulled the plug on Casilla after a string of September failures culminating with a 3-2 loss to St. Louis in which the right-hander coughed up a 2-1 lead with a walk and a hit.

In the wake of that particular failure, the crowd booed Bochy for his choice of Casilla as much as the pitcher himself. Casilla made just three more appearances the rest of the season after that game, none of them in high-pressure situations.

San Francisco Giants' Trevor Brown (14) hugs San Francisco Giants' Conor Gillaspie (21) in dugout after being eliminated by the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

The Chicago Cubs celebrate their 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on the pitcher mound to win Game 4 of the National League Division Series and the series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

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San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey (28) leaves the dugout after the Giants lost 6-5 to the Chicago Cubs in Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)



Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group The Chicago Cubs celebrate their 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants to win Game 4 of the National League Division Series and the series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez (9) leaves the field after their 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants to win Game 4 of the National League Division Series and the series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Derek Law (64) heads to the dugout after being pulled from the game by San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy during their game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)



Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez (9) celebrates after tagging out San Francisco Giants' Denard Span (2) while Span was trying to steal second base in the third inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Joe Panik (12) and San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt (9) with players head to the dugout after losing 6-5 and being eliminated by the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Conor Gillaspie (21) kneels during a pitching change during their game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti, San Francisco Giants' Sergio Romo (54) and San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey (28) meet on the pitchers mound during their game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Javier Lopez (49) gives the ball to San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy as he gets pulled from game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants fans Kat Dominguez and Alex Hanchorn, of San Francisco, react at Pete's Tavern as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Giants 6-5 in the National League Division Series Game 4 in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)



Chicago Cubs' Ben Zobrist (18) scores the tying run as he celebrates with Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo (44) against the San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey (28) in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

Chicago Cubs' Willson Contreras (40) celebrates his single which scored two runs, including the tying run, against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo (44) and Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant (17), center, celebrate with Chicago Cubs' Ben Zobrist (18) as the team ties the game against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants' Hunter Strickland (60) reacts after the Chicago Cubs take a 6-5 lead in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Conor Gillaspie (21) scratches his head during a pitching change during their game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) throws against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants' Hunter Pence (8) reacts after flying-out to end the third inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward (22) scores the go-ahead run off of a single by Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez (9) during their game against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) celebrates after striking-out Chicago Cubs' Dexter Fowler (24) to end the top of the eighth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey (28) heads back to home plate after the Chicago Cubs scored two runs, including the tying run, in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez (9) hits an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants which scored the go-ahead run, Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward (22), against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Derek Law (64) gives the ball back to San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy as he is pulled from the game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants fan Tiffany Dejillo, of San Jose, reacts at Pete's Tavern as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Giants 6-5 in the National League Division Series Game 4 in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

The Chicago Cubs fans celebrate the Cubs' 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants to win Game 4 of the National League Division Series and the series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward (22) celebrates after scoring the go-ahead run against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants' Brandon Belt (9) walks off the field after he struck out swinging as Chicago Cubs' David Ross (3) celebrates their 6-5 win in Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy watches the final outs of their game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Chicago Cubs fan Roger Kallerud, of San Jose, and San Francisco Giants fans Marc Cadiente and Tiffany Dejillo, also of San Jose, from left, react at Pete's Tavern as the Cubs defeated the Giants 6-5 in the National League Division Series Game 4 in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)



The Chicago Cubs celebrate their 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants to win Game 4 of the National League Division Series and the series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Dusk settles on AT&T Park and McCovey Cove as the San Francisco Giants play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series Game 4 in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

A statue of former San Francisco Giants' Juan Marichal is silhouetted as the moon rises during the National League Division Series Game 4 against the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) reacts at the end of sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs in of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Conor Gillaspie (21) sits alone after the Giants lost 6-5 against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

The San Francisco Giants dugout, including San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40), top left, watch the final out of the game against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)



Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey (41) reacts after giving up a single, to San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) which scored a run in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) throws against the Chicago Cubs in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants fans paddle in McCovey Cove as the Giants play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series Game 4 at AT&T park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants' Joe Panik (12) throws to first base to complete a double play after tagging Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo (44) out at second base on a hit by Chicago Cubs' Addison Russell (27) in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Hunter Pence (8) heads home to score a run on a single by San Francisco Giants' Conor Gillaspie (21) during their game against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Denard Span (2) celebrates his lead-off double against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)



San Francisco Giants' Gregor Blanco (7) can only watch as baseball fans catch a home run ball hit by Chicago Cubs' David Ross (3) in the third inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Denard Span (2) celebrates after hitting a double against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) throws against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)



Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green get ready to throw the first pitch before Game 4 against the Chicago Cubs in Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey (41) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants hats are for sale on the sidewalk as the Giants prepare to play the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series Game 4 at AT&T park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)



Casilla, who didn’t even look up from his chair as catcher Buster Posey and general manager Bobby Evans passed by his locker to console him, definitely was right about one thing. His postseason resume as a Giant has been impressive: just two earned runs in 19 2/3 innings in 25 career postseason outings and four saves, all of those achieved during the 2014 World Series run. His playoff ERA was 0.92, and he once put together of 20 consecutive scoreless appearances.

But in this series, he made just one appearance and threw two-thirds of an inning in a 5-2 Game 2 loss.

Casilla, 36, won three World Series rings with the Giants but is well aware his future is now unclear.

“I’m a free agent, so I don’t know,” he said. “I’m just going to wait and see what happens.”

Casilla felt his horrible September was an aberration, and that Bochy was wrong in losing faith in him completely, particularly once the playoffs started. Considering his experience and record of past success, he felt he deserved more consideration to at least pitch in certain situations, if not the ninth inning.

“I never had that moment before during five years here,” he said. “I had a little struggle. But everybody (in the bullpen) has had their bad moments. I think they forgot all the great moments I’ve had here. I’ve pitched a lot in the playoffs and done my job. I know I am a good pitcher.”