Hunter Pence’s Presence is Being Felt Already
He’s baaaaaack! On Saturday, the San Francisco Giants, and the fanbase, welcomed back their motivational speaker, their emotional leader, their right fielder, Hunter Pence. And it could not have come at a better time.
The Giants’ offense was scuffling. There was no consistency, and it seemed like they were missing something. And they were missing something, or someone, rather. Pence had been sidelined with a fracture in his forearm, and he was chomping at the bit to get back.
His rehab was going well, much better than planned, and as a result, the team announced that their six-foot-four Energizer Bunny would return on Saturday, the third game of a four-game set with the Cincinnati Reds. Suddenly, all was right in the world.
The reaction was overwhelming. Pence’s return was the best news the Giants and their fans could have received. And the lineup reacted in the best way possible.
More from Golden Gate Sports
- Raiders: Rookie stock report following Week 3 performance
- 49ers sign new long snapper amidst a flurry of roster moves
- Oakland Athletics win Game 2 of Wild Card round with late-inning drama
- 49ers: George Kittle and Deebo Samuel cleared to return to practice
- 49ers expected to place DE Dee Ford on injured reserve
The Giants’ offensive outbursts began before Pence even donned a uniform for the first time in the regular season. On Friday, the announcement was made that Pence would return the following day, and as if invigorated by the news, the lineup exploded for 10 runs against the Reds, their first double-digit scoring output of the year.
Brandon Belt, who had been red hot on the 10-game homestand prior, and turned ice cold to start the road trip, responded particularly well. In his first at-bat Friday, Belt mashed a three-run home run, ending his 30-game homerless drought to start the 2015 season. He followed that up with two more hits, including a double and RBI single.
On Saturday, Pence made his actual return, and the offense was pumping at full force again. Belt continued his hot streak with his second home run in his first at-bat, and the next batter was none other than Pence. Pence wasted no time in proving that his text message to manager Bruce Bochy, calling himself a “ridiculous weapon”, was 100 percent true.
Pence crushed a 1-2 pitch into center field, flying over the head of Reds’ center fielder Brennan Boesch, and Pence cruised into second with a double, acting like he’d never been on the shelf. Brandon Crawford followed that up a single, and Pence scored from second, showing no ill effects in his speed and baserunning from his long layoff.
Pence singled his next time up, and scored from first on a double in the gap by Crawford. Everything about Pence looked as it did before: his unusual swing, his weird running gait, his intense, crazy-eyed stare were all the same.
More from San Francisco Giants
- Thank you SF Giants for a fun, wild, surprising 2020 season
- SF Giants lose in heartbreaking fashion and miss 2020 MLB playoffs
- SF Giants: Mike Yastrzemski named 2020 Willie Mac Award recipient
- SF Giants: Chadwick Tromp placed on IL with shoulder strain
- SF Giants: Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners postponed
In his third trip to the plate, Pence worked a work, showing he had a good grasp of the strike zone. He wouldn’t have to hustle around the bases, as he was able to jog home as Crawford smashed a grand slam.
The Giants scored 11 times on Saturday, topping the season-high of 10 they posted the night before. The two contests marked the first time the Giants had scored in the double-digits in consecutive games since August 3rd and 4th, 2012, when they scored 16 times, followed by 11 against the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field.
In usual Pence manner, he didn’t slow down on Sunday. In his first at-bat, Pence singled, hustled to second on a potential force-play, then scored on a double by Gregor Blanco. His second plate appearance is what would really get people excited, though.
In the third inning, against Reds’ starter Anthony DeSclafani, Pence drilled a first-pitch slider into the left field bleachers for a two-run home run, his first of the season. The ball got out of the park so fast that Giants’ play-by-play announcer Duane Kuiper didn’t even have time to give it his signature home run call.
The Giants scored nine times on Sunday, bringing their three-day total to 30 runs. The last time they scored at least 30 times in a three-day span was between August 31st and September 2nd last year, when they scored 15 against the Milwaukee Brewers, then put up nine and 12 against the Rockies.
Pence doesn’t need to continue to hit .444 to keep the Giants’ offense moving. That, in all likelihood, will not happen, but Pence’s biggest contribution comes from his non-stop energy. His infectiously good attitude raises the moral of everyone around him, and that is where his biggest contributions lie.
Sure, having a big power threat like Pence back in the middle of the lineup is pretty huge for the team as well. He will drive in runs, he will score runs, and he will hit some out of the park, but as long as Pence’s contagious energy continues, the Giants will be well off.
The goal for the Giants without Pence was to stay afloat in the National League West, and hang around the .500 mark. They did exactly that during his absence, as they were 18-18 when Pence returned. Now they are two games over .500 for the first time since they were 3-1 after the fourth game of the year.
One guy doesn’t win championships. One guy can win games, but the entire team needs to contribute to win championships. Sometimes, one guy can motivate the others around him to be better. Pence is that kind of guy. He will make the Giants better, and he will make his teammates better, too.