SAN FRANCISCO –– On Thursday night, the San Francisco Giants, in yet another close ballgame, managed to grab a win over the visiting Colorado Rockies. Despite the effort of Rockies starter Jon Gray, allowing only one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija proved himself dominant yet again, holding the Rockies scoreless, and allowing only three hits with seven strikeouts.
The sole run scored in the game, however, came off the bat of Giants newcomer Kevin Pillar, who has been a bolt of lightning for the club in this young season. First pitch swinging, Pillar shot a fastball into left-center field. Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond gave chase, but the ball sailed into the bleachers, and gave the Giants the go-ahead run.
After the game, Samardzija talked about what Pillar has meant to the team, and how his home-run in the bottom of the seventh, which gave Samardzija his first win of the season, made him feel in the dugout.
“I was pretty excited,” Samardzija said smiling. “He’s been great for us. What he brings to this team, you don’t even know if he goes ‘0-for’, he doesn’t care because of his energy and how much he loves to play baseball. It’s really infectious throughout the team, and I love playing with him out there.”
Pillar shined in a big moment, but Samardzija says that’s business as usual.
“It was a great addition for the squad, and he plays like that all the time. It’s big moments all the time, so you can tell that’s just his love for the game, and like I said, we’re really lucky to have him.”
Samardzija, along with the rest of the San Francisco Giants, hope Pillar can keep the magic coming as they head into the second game of a four game series with Colorado on Friday night.