The San Francisco Giants completed a thrilling comeback victory on Saturday, overcoming a large deficit to beat the San Diego Padres, 8-7.
It was a great day forJae-gyun Hwang, the 29-year-old Korean import in his first big league camp. Earlier on Saturday, he was named the Barney Nugent award winner, given to the player who is the best performer in his first major league Spring Training as voted on by his teammates and coaches. He capped the day off with a walk-off basehit, blooping aCarlos Fisherfastball that barely dropped in in front of center fielderAllen Cordoba.
The final rally had Spring Training written all over it. The Giants overcame a 7-1 deficit to enter the ninth inning tied, andJustin Ruggianoled off the final frame with a four-pitch walk. The next batter,Rando Moreno, laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher threw to second base and everyone was safe.Austin Slaterwas hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, loading the bases and allowing Hwang to be the hero.
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Hwang has made quite the impression in his first taste of big league action. He’s hitting .308 in Cactus League play with four home runs and 11 RBI, both totals ranking him second on the team.
He also played first base on Saturday, something he hasn’t done this spring, and looked fine playing there. He was in the outfield on Friday, and got turned around on a flyball in the ninth inning. After the game, Hwangsaidthat if he goes to Triple-A, he wants to work on his defense, including in the outfield.
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The Giants’ bullpen hasn’t exactly been stellar this spring, but they were a key component to the team’s comeback win on Saturday. After starterChris Strattonwas hit around for seven runs in three innings, the pitchers after him combined for six shutout innings while allowing only two baserunners and striking out eight. The first man out of the pen wasJose Flores, over from minor league camp, but the next five were either already locked in to jobs or competing for opening day roster spots.
New closerMark Melanconwas back on the mound for the first time since returning from the WBC, and it was more of the same. Melancon went through the fifth inning without a hitch, retiring all three batters he faced while featuring the best curveball he’s thrown this spring. He is still rocking a 0.00 ERA.
George Kontosfollowed, striking out the side in order in his inning of work. So far this spring, Kontos has struck out 15 batters in 10 inning, well above his career mark of 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings.
Josh Osich, competing for a spot withWill Smithon the shelf, went through the seventh inning cleanly, striking out a pair of batters.Cory Gearrin‘s eighth inning was also a three-up, three-down affair. In the ninth,Neil Ramirezallowed a leadoff single but worked through the trouble, finishing the inning with a strikeout, blowing a fastball right byLuis Sardinas.
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The Giants picked up eight extra-base hits on Saturday, calming concerns about the team’s recent lack of offense for a little while.Gorkys HernandezandNick Hundley, both of whom figure to be on the opening day bench, each smacked two doubles while Justin Ruggiano added a two-bagger as well.Joe Panik, coming out of a recent mini-slump, crushed a triple off the wall in right-center field.
Next: Giants Notes 3/24: Span, Samardzija, Belt
There were also two home runs on the day, coming from recent WBC returneesBrandon CrawfordandBuster Posey. It was the first of the spring for both, although Posey hit two home runs while playing for the US team.
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