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The Giants could have used some levity Friday night, in what was a record-setting 18-2 loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That’s what Mike Krukow said as the record-setting loss approached it’s denouement. The 18 runs allowed in Oracle Park were the most ever allowed to an opposing team at the stadium since its opening in 2000.
Sandoval came off the bench in the top of the seventh inning at third base in a double switch defensive move along with Derek Holland who had the terrible task of taking over on the mound as the Giants trailed 14-2. Holland allowed four runs, all unearned, due to a Donovan Solano error which cost a run and was promptly followed with a three-run Diamondbacks home run.
Why was Sandoval not put on the bump, for a chance at some fun and lightheartedness in a game, which, from the Giants’ perspective, lacked any semblance of that?
For Bruce Bochy, it was simple.
According to Kerry Crowley of The Mercury News, Bochy said he didn’t want to put Sandoval on the mound because he’s planning to start him at third base on Saturday.
“I wasn’t going to pitch him because he’s going to start at third base tomorrow,” Bochy said.