Photo credit: Chris Mezzavilla
SAN FRANCISCO — Friday was the most emotional home opener at Oracle Park in recent memory. The pregame ceremonies featured an extended standing ovation for manager Bruce Bochy, coaching his last opening day as Giants manager. It also featured tributes to the late Peter Magowan and Willie McCovey, two club legends who passed away during the offseason.
The game, however, wasn’t nearly as dramatic. The Giants lost 5-2 as their struggling offense lived up to its lowly billing, unable to muster a single run vs. Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, he of a 5.26 career ERA. Giants starter Dereck Rodriguez also had a rough time, giving up four first-inning runs just 20 pitches into the game.
The first came via a Brandon Lowe double, knocking in Ji-Man Choi, who doubled during the previous at-bat. Back-to-back solo homers from Yandy Diaz and Kevin Kiermaier followed.
Rodriguez was solid for the remainder of his outing, giving up just three more hits, all singles, before being pulled in the sixth inning. He struck out five in 5 and 1/3 innings without issuing a walk. The Rays struck again in the seventh, when Austin Meadows doubled off Giants’ reliever Nick Vincent to score Michael Perez from second.
Though the disastrous first inning defined the game, the Giants offense woke up briefly in the bottom of the seventh. Newcomer Kevin Pillar scored San Francisco’s first run, heading home from second on a Pablo Sandoval double. Steven Duggar followed that up with a double of his own, to cut the Rays lead to 5-2.
Pillar played the role of goat in the eighth inning, however, hitting into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. The at-bat was especially painful considering the Giants had them loaded with no outs earlier in the inning. Pillar’s double play was preceded by Gerardo Parra striking out looking.
The Giants squandered another prime opportunity in the bottom of the ninth vs. Rays’ flame-throwing closer Jose Alvarado. This time, the Giants were unable to score a run with runners on first and second and no outs. Duggar’s fielders choice moved the runners to second and third, but a Brandon Belt strikeout and Evan Longoria flyout followed.
Longoria went hitless in the first game against his former team, going 0-for-5. Buster Posey was the only Giant with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a single and a double.
The Giants now sit at 2-6 through their first eight games of the season. Jeff Samardzija takes the hill for the Giants on Saturday.