He no-hit them twice, after all.
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The Padres are 5-2 in their last 7 during game 2 of a series and 4-1 in Cashners last 5 starts with 15 or more days of rest. He pumped his fists and shouted after escaping an eighth inning jam with runners on the corners, the only rally the Padres could muster that night. For the third time, he went the distance. The Giants have won nine of his first 10 starts in orange and black. The 33-year-old right-hander was to make the first of five planned rehab appearances for Triple-A Sacramento on Monday night with an eye toward rejoining the Giants in Atlanta next week.
For the second straight game, Johnny Cueto threw a complete game for the Giants. “I just hollered down at Javy and he went up (to the clubhouse) and got it”.
“There’s always a chance”, said Belt, who was running hard from first base. “There’s nothing more you can ask from him”.
Bochy exchanged texts with Pirates pitcher and former Giant Ryan Vogelsong, who was going into surgery to fix facial fractures he sustained when hit by a pitch Monday. Back in 1980, Ed Whitson beat the Expos and Vida Blue followed with a gem against the Mets.
With Brandon Belt on first, Pence softly looped a ball that kept traveling, landing between Padres second baseman Alexi Amarista and right fielder Matt Kemp.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto reacts after throwing San Diego Padres’ Brett Wallace out at first base during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Monday, May 23, 2016.
Cueto is the first Giant to pitch three complete game victories against one team in a season since 1978, when Bob Knepper did it to the Pirates and Ed Halicki did it to the Astros and Expos.
The Giants led 1-0 at the time on Denard Span’s RBI single, and they would tack on a pair in the sixth. James Shields starts for the other side. “It’s just a joy to play with him”. It usually plays to the hitters’ advantage to get a second look.
Through five innings, Cueto had recorded 11 ground ball outs and one in the air. For what it’s worth, Samardzija could also be included in the conversation as one of the best signings of the winter too. That was two starts after the Giants roughed him up for six runs? three earned? and four hits with four walks in 2 2/3 innings of the 13-9 loss last month.
Add in the massive deals that the likes of struggling stars Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Chris Davis received, and the Giants have to feel good about what they’ve seen out of Cueto so far. They’re a good team. “That’s my ball. It was easier for me coming in”. Pence missed his third consecutive game and shut down his pregame batting practice after a few swings.
We re all concerned, Bochy said. The Padres outfielders were playing no-doubles.
Cueto appeared headed for a no-decision before Pence’s game-ending hit.
“It found a way to wiggle in there”, Pence said.
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San Francisco Giants’ Sergio Romo pitches against Los Angeles Dodgers in 8th inning during Major League Baseball game at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, April 10, 2016. He allowed eight base hits in that start and walked one batter while striking out one.
