The Giants got another strong start from one of their young pitchers Saturday afternoon against the San Diego Padres, as rookie Andrew Suarez delivered 5.2 innings of one-run ball.
And unlike in Friday’s game, they were able to take advantage of it, providing late run support and bullpen help to secure a 5-3 win.
The Padres struck first when Hunter Renfroe’s deep fly ball to left-center just barely cleared the AT&T Park wall for a solo home run to put the Padres up 1-0. Left fielder Alen Hanson and center fielder Gorkys Hernandez both jumped at the wall in pursuit of the ball, but it was just out of their reach.
Brandon Crawford countered in the frame with a run-scoring triple to right that just missed clearing the fence and driving himself in as well. Crawford did reach third on the hit. Pablo Sandoval and Joe Panik each had an opportunity to drive him in, but were unable to do so.
So Crawford added on himself in the sixth, plating both Hanson and Brandon Belt with a double to left-center. Hernandez added an insurance run in the eighth with a double to left-center, which scored Nick Hundley from first.
Suarez left in the sixth inning with runners on second and first and two out. Reyes Moronta relieved him, and induced a fly ball to left-center which Gorkys Hernandez ran down to end the threat.
The Giants added another run in the eighth when Crawford doubled for his third extra-base hit of the game, moved to third on a Pablo Sandoval groundout, and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Austin Slater, who was called up from Triple-A Sacramento for Saturday’s game.