© Kelley L Cox | 2020 Sep 24
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Brandon Belt is feeling “a little bit better,” came the report from Gabe Kapler, but the ailment that has held him out of camp thus far sounds deeply unpleasant.
Kapler, who has said the illness is not related to COVID-19, said Belt was “wiped out.”
“He continues to improve, but he’s still lacking some energy, so that’s where we are with him,” Kapler said after the Giants’ 1-1, six-inning tie with the Rangers at Surprise Stadium on Monday.
Belt has not been seen at Giants camp since position players reported last week for a first full-squad workout last Monday. There is plenty of time for the 32-year-old to catch up, but his health obviously has to come first. Kapler said there is no target date for him to begin workouts.
Without the first baseman, Darin Ruf, Wilmer Flores and prospect Logan Wyatt have seen time at first base. If the ailment continues, Tommy La Stella, who’s a lefty like Belt, would be an obvious option at first.
There was an announced attendance of 1,810 fans at the Giants’ second Cactus League game and first on the road. Their spring home, Scottsdale Stadium, is targeting 750-1,000 per game during the pandemic.
Assistant coach Alyssa Nakken saw more time as first-base coach, replacing Antoan Richardson in the later innings.
Joey Bart is off to a nice start, going 2-for-2 Monday with singles to center and right field.
“It’s certainly reason for optimism to see him attack pitches that he can drive and then use the opposite field in the way that he did,” Kapler said of Bart, who also received praise from starter Nick Tropeano.
The Giants were being shut out until the sixth — the last inning — when non-roster invite Jason Krizan, with two strikes and two outs, launched an RBI double to left-center.
For a second straight game, all of the Giants on the field stood during the national anthem, including Mike Yastrzemski, who knelt last year. Kapler explained Sunday why he will be standing from now.
Here’s the Giants’ lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Dodgers at Scottsdale Stadium, in which Logan Webb will be the starting pitcher:
1. Donovan Solano, 2B
2. Buster Posey, C
3. Alex Dickerson, LF
4. Wilmer Flores, 1B
5. Darin Ruf, DH
6. LaMonte Wade Jr., RF
7. Mauricio Dubón, CF
8. Jason Vosler, 3B
9. Marco Luciano, SS