Brandon Hicks Drives In 3 As San Francisco Giants Split Squad Beats Dodgers 3-2
By Phil Watson
Mar 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Hicks (14) hits a two run home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Hicks belted a two-run homer in the second inning and later worked a bases-loaded walk in the top of the eighth to give a San Francisco Giants split squad a 3-2 lead and the bullpen made it stand up in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Sunday.
After the Dodgers tied it up with a run in the seventh, the Giants (7-4) bounced right back to reclaim the lead in the eighth. Guillermo Quiroz looped a one-out single to left and Blake Miller advanced pinch-runner Kelby Tomlinson to third with a line single to left. Ydwin Villegas hit a comebacker to pitcher Red Patterson, who threw to third to try to catch Tomlinson. Tomlinson broke for the plate and Brendan Harris threw him out, with Miller and Villegas winding up at second and third.
Pinch-hitter Tyler LaTorre walked to load the bases and Patterson (0-1) then issued a pass to Hicks to put San Francisco back on top.
Brett Bochy ran into some trouble in the bottom of the eighth, giving up a hit and a pair of walks to load the bases, but Jean Machi struck out Drew Butera to end the threat.
Machi worked a 1-2-3 ninth and picked up a four-out save, his third save of the spring. Juan Gutierrez (1-0) got the win after recording the final out of the seventh.
Edwin Escobar started for the Giants and allowed a run on one hit with four walks in three innings. And Jason Berken worked three scoreless frames, allowing two hits and striking out two. Dan Runzler was touched for a run and two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning, striking out one.
The Dodgers (4-6) scored first in the bottom of the first inning. Chone Figgins walked and stole second and came around to score on a comebacker to Escobar. Brandon Belt’s throw to try and nab Figgins was wild, but the run wound up being earned when the next batter, Yasiel Puig, rifled a double to left.
San Francisco came back with two in the top of the second off reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, doing all of the damage with two outs.
Joaquin Arias blooped a single to right field and Hicks followed with his first homer of the spring to right field.
Los Angeles tied it in the seventh when Runzler issued a bases loaded walk to Butera.
The Giants had eight hits on the day. Tyler Graham had the other extra base hit for San Francisco with a double in the second.
The Giants are set to host the Chicago Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium at 1:05 p.m. Pacific on Monday.