SF Giants Press Clips Saturday, April 15, 2017

San Francisco Chronicle Emotional night for Giants: Crawford, Marrero hit homers John Shea Brandon Crawford hit the ball over the left-field wall and ran the bases quicker than usual. He didn’t want to be on the field long. He didn’t want to break down. So he ran quickly and ducked into the dugout. The Giants beat the Rockies 8-2 at AT&T Park on an emotional Friday night for Crawford, the shortstop who has been grieving the recent death of his wife’s sister. Manager Bruce Bochy met with Crawford on Thursday and told him he could take a few days off. Crawford said he wanted to play. On the field, he thought, he could take a break from mourning. Then he hit a home run Friday. As he began to run, his thoughts quickly turned to Jennifer Pippin, a mother of two who died of an asthma attack. “I tried to get around the bases as fast as I could,” Crawford said in a quiet and mostly empty clubhouse long after the game. “That one was for Jenn. That one was for my sister-in-law.” Crawford got another hit, a run-scoring single during a four-run rally in the seventh inning, and played his usual brand of sparkling defense as Johnny Cueto improved his record to 3-0 on a 5-7 team. But the home run is what the Crawfords will remember. Brandon’s wife, Jalynne, tweeted shortly thereafter that her sister was screaming for Brandon in heaven and that it “brought tears to my eyes!!” Just before crossing the plate after hitting home runs, Crawford looks to the sky and points upward. He did it Friday in a “little extra special” moment. “Something like that,” Crawford said, “I think you know there’s somebody greater out there that’s looking over you. I know she was watching this game tonight, and I’m glad I was able to do something for her. “When she was at home, she was always watching every game. I’m sure she’s still watching down on us.”

Left field Chris Marrero also hit a home run, the first of his career. Marrero made the team out of spring training as a platoon player because of his power, having homered eight times in Arizona, but he had been 1-for-18 with seven strikeouts since the season opened. Bochy played Marrero against left-hander Tyler Anderson, and Marrero swung like it was mid-March and 90 degrees at Scottsdale Stadium, clobbering Anderson’s 2-2 changeup. The homer was Marrero’s first in 144 big-league at-bats dating to his days with the 2011 and 2013 Nationals. He’s 28, in his 12th professional season, and that homer made those 4,005 minor-league at-bats worthwhile. “You think about these moments when you’re first starting to play baseball,” Marrero said. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my career. I battled a little at the beginning of the season but never lost confidence in myself. I’m happy I could do it in front of the home fans. It’s definitely a moment I’ll never forget the rest of my life.” Marrero got the ball in a trade with a fan. “The fan wanted Dodger tickets,” he said. The Giants led 4-0 in the fourth inning. The Rockies scored twice in a fifth-inning rally, during which second baseman Joe Panik made a bases-loaded error. Cueto surrendered two runs and six hits in seven innings, and Derek Law and Cory Gearrin finished up. San Francisco Chronicle Buster Posey’s return: Tuesday’s realistic John Shea The Giants are open to activating Buster Posey on Tuesday in Kansas City, when he’s eligible to come off the concussion disabled list, but manager Bruce Bochy said it’ll happen only if the catcher is 100 percent. Bochy also said there’s no plan for Posey to move to first base for an extended time if he’s not ready to catch. “If he’s fine to catch, and I know he wants to catch, he’s going to catch,” Bochy said. “He’s going to play first (here and there), but no, I’m not going to punch him in as a first baseman right now. If all goes well, we’ll use him the way we’ve been using him.” Before Friday’s game, Posey played catch and long toss with head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner and took swings in the indoor cage in front of Groeschner and hitting coach Hensley Meulens. The plan is for Posey to do more on-field work Saturday and run the bases Sunday. If he’s activated Tuesday, he’ll likely serve as designated hitter.

“He’s starting to ramp up his baseball activities,” Bochy said. “He’s doing well right now. If he gets through the weekend, we’re on schedule, possibly.” Posey was beaned Monday and was put on the seven-day concussion disabled list Tuesday after experiencing concussion symptoms. “I’ll say this,” Bochy said, “he’s not going to come off unless he’s 100 percent. We’re not going to DH him thinking, ‘Well, he’s not quite 100 percent, so let’s DH him.’ “Even with that said, if he’s ready to go, the fact we are using a DH, it just makes sense to go ahead and go that route for a couple of days. It just gives us more time.” After the two-game series in Kansas City, the Giants are off Thursday and play in Denver on Friday. Asked whether he’s optimistic for Tuesday, Posey said, “I’m optimistic. I like to be optimistic. We’ll see. I’m taking it day by day.” On deck Saturday vs. Rockies 1:05 p.m. NBCSBA Chatwood (0-2) vs. Moore (1-1) Sunday vs. Rockies 1:05 p.m. NBCSBA Senzatela (1-0) vs. Samardzija (0-2) Monday Off Leading off Ex-manager to be honored: Former Giants manager Frank Robinson, a Hall of Fame outfielder, will be feted during the team’s African American Heritage Night on Sept. 13. Fans will receive Robinson bobbleheads.

San Jose Mercury News Brandon Crawford’s emotional home run highlights Giants victory Daniel Brown SAN FRANCISCO — After a death in the family, Brandon Crawford was asked if he wanted to sit Friday night out. Giants Manager Bruce Bochy approached the shortstop to see if he needed a longer break. Not a chance. “He wanted to play tonight,” Bochy said. Crawford promptly delivered a home run during an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park, then slowed and looked skyward as he reached home plate. This was no ordinary home run. It came a day after Crawford took time to mourn the death of his sister-in-law, Jennifer Pippin. Jalynne Crawford shared on social media that her oldest sister died Wednesday of an asthma attack. “I tried to get around the bases as fast as I could. That one was for Jenn,” Crawford said. “Something like that, it lets you know that there’s somebody greater out there that’s looking over you. “I know she was watching this game tonight and I was glad I could do something.” Jalynne took to Twitter immediately after Crawford’s home run Friday: “I know she’s screaming in heaven right now! His home run brought tears to my eyes.” Crawford’s homer, his second of the season, gave the Giants a 4-0 lead, an ample cushion for Johnny Cueto. The Giants right-hander pitched seven strong innings to improve to 6-0 over his past eight games against the Rockies. Chris Marrero added his own emotional home run, a milestone moment of his baseball odyssey. The Giants left fielder spent 11 seasons languishing in the minors, racking up 4,005 at-bats in places like Potomac, Hagerstown and Somerset. His reward for making the Giants opening day roster this season? Angry grumbling about the team’s lack of production in left field. But with one swing of the bat, Marrero made it worth the wait. His first major league home run came at age 28. Marrero didn’t hide his emotions. “You think about those moments when you start playing baseball,” he said. As for going around the bases, he added: “You think about every single thing. I thought about my family and everyone who helped me along the way. It was amazing.” Marrero’s home run gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in the second. The 400-foot blast, off left-hander Tyler Anderson, came in his 144th major league at-bat. He got the milestone baseball back, but it took some negotiating. “The fan wanted Dodgers tickets,” Marrero said with a laugh.

The early runs helped Cueto, who continued his mastery of Colorado. He entered the game with a 1.33 ERA and a .223 batting average against over his last seven starts against the Rockies. He ran into some trouble in the fifth, when second baseman Joe Panik botched a double-play ball. But Cueto rebounded one batter later by coaxing a grounder to short off the bat of D.J. LeMahieu, and this time the Giants converted a 6-4-3 double play. “Once I saw I had the lead, I knew I had to grind it, pitch and hold onto that lead,” he said. In all, Cueto allowed two runs on six hits, with one walk and six strikeouts. It was nice timing. The first 40,00 fans at AT&T Park on Saturday will receive a Johnny Cueto Shimmy Bobblehead. Cueto says he doesn’t have one yet. — Giants catcher Buster Posey played catch and took some swings before the game and remains on track to come off the 7-day disabled list when he’s eligible next Tuesday. “He’s doing well right now,” Manager Bruce Bochy said. Posey will “ramp up” his baseball activity over the weekend, Bochy said, including running the bases Sunday. If Posey makes it through the weekend tests without lingering concussion symptoms, he would be activated for the three-game road series against the Kansas City Royals. Even then, Posey would probably serve as the designated hitter. Bochy said the Giants will only activate Posey if he’s 100 percent, but added that it “just makes sense” to spare him the extra risk that would come with playing behind the plate. “It gives him three more extra days,” Bochy said. Posey left Monday’s game after being hit in the head by a pitch from Taijuan Walker of the Arizona Diamondbacks. — Rockies Manager Bud Black was ejected from the game in the top of the fifth inning after arguing with home plate Mike Everitt. Black was upset in the earlier innings when two balks were called on Anderson. — The Giants announced they will honor former manager Frank Robinson during African-American Night at AT&T Park on Sept. 23. The Hall of Famer will be saluted on the field before the Giants face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Robinson became baseball’s first African-American manager, with the Cleveland Indians, in 1975. He later managed in San Francisco from 1981-84. — Kerri Walsh Jennings, the three-time Olympic gold medalist volleyball player, got a nice ovation when introduced on the scoreboard. San Jose Mercury News Giants catcher Buster Posey on track in return from concussion symptoms — ‘He’s doing well right now’ Daniel Brown

SAN FRANCISCO — Giants catcher Buster Posey played catch and took some swings Friday as he remains on track to come off the 7-day disabled list when he’s eligible next Tuesday. “He’s doing well right now,” Manager Bruce Bochy said, a few hours before the Giants faced the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park. Posey will “ramp up” his baseball activity over the next few days, Bochy said, including running the bases Sunday. If Posey makes it through the weekend tests without lingering concussion symptoms, he would be activated for the two-game road series against the Kansas City Royals. Even then, Posey would probably serve as the designated hitter. Bochy said the Giants will only activate Posey if he’s 100 percent, but added that it “just makes sense” to spare him the extra risk that would come with playing behind the plate. “It gives him three more extra days,” Bochy said, accounting for the off-day on Thursday. Posey left Monday’s game after being hit in the head by a pitch from Taijuan Walker of the Arizona Diamondbacks. MLB.com Marrero hits unforgettable 1st big league homer Michael Wagaman SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants outfielder Chris Marrero paused at the plate for a brief moment, watching the ball as it sailed over the wall in left for his first career home run in Friday's 8-2 victory over the Rockies. After spending what felt like a lifetime in the Minors, Marrero wanted -- and deserved -- to let the moment sink in. "I've been through a lot of ups and downs in my career and it was a little battle at the beginning of the season, but I never lost confidence in myself," Marrero said. "I'm just happy that I could do it here in front of the fans. It's definitely going to be a moment I'm never going to forget for the rest of my life." On a night in which San Francisco broke out of its power slump at AT&T Park and matched its season high for scoring, Marrero's two-run home run off Colorado starter Tyler Anderson was the memorable hit of the game. The 400-foot blast in the second inning came not long after Anderson was called for the first of two balks and staked the Giants to an early lead they never relinquished. Admittedly, Marrero got choked up somewhat when he trotted out to left field the following inning and rightfully so. He had 4,005 at-bats in the Minors during his 12-year career and another 143 in the Majors before his big moment. "I got a little emotional out there," Marrero said. "You definitely think about it. I was just thinking about my family, everyone, everybody that's helped me get to this point."

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy wasn't surprised after watching Marrero during Spring Training. The 28-year-old led the ballclub with seven Cactus League home runs and was second in RBIs. When that spring success didn't transfer over to the regular season, Marrero admittedly began to press. Bochy, however, knew good things would eventually come. "This is a game that should do so much for his confidence," Bochy said. "This is more the man that we saw this spring. Nice piece of hitting with two strikes for that home run, a big home run that really got us going. He just looked like he saw the ball much better tonight. Slowed it down." Marrero had only one hit in 18 at-bats before homering off Anderson. He also singled in the fourth and flied out in the sixth before being replaced in the outfield by Gorkys Hernandez. "From the first at-bat I felt amazing," Marrero said. "You just have to keep believing in yourself and keep fighting. I put in the work this offseason. I put in the work to make this team. You just sometimes have to let it all happen and just believe in yourself." Marrero was able to get the milestone ball back, although the fan who caught it had an unusual request for trade bait. "The fan wanted Dodger tickets," Marrero said. And did he get them? "Of course," Marrero said with a grin. San Jose Mercury News Moore set to start on Jackie Robinson Day Michael Wagaman Colorado right-hander Tyler Chatwood will try to snap his winless streak Saturday afternoon against San Francisco while the Giants counter with lefty Matt Moore in the third game of this series between division rivals on Jackie Robinson Day. Chatwood (0-2) has given up four home runs this season and is coming off an outing against San Diego when he walked three and lasted 5 1/3 innings. The Rockies, though, are encouraged by what they've seen from the 27-year-old pitcher. "He's as good as he's been since he's been here," Colorado pitching coach Steve Foster said. "His curveball and his changeup are playing more of a role, so he's a true four-pitch pitcher now. He's just missed a few at the wrong time and gotten bad results." Chatwood pitched twice at AT&T Park last season and allowed one earned run in 13 innings. Moore (1-1) has been one of the Giants' best pitchers at home following a rough start to his San Francisco career after being acquired from Tampa Bay in a Trade Deadline deal last season.

The left-hander lost his first two starts at AT&T Park but is 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA since then (including postseason play), with one of the home wins coming against the Rockies on Sept. 27 when Moore fanned a career-high 11 batters. Things to know about this game • On the 70th anniversary of Robinson breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier, all players and on-field personnel across MLB will wear the now-retired No. 42. One jersey will be signed by each member of every club and auctioned live Saturday at MLB.com/42jersey, with proceeds benefitting the Jackie Robinson Foundation. • Chatwood had an 8-1 record away from Colorado last season with a 1.69 ERA. • Rockies closer Greg Holland was on the Giants' radar as a free agent in the offseason. San Francisco wanted to use Holland as a setup man for Mark Melancon but Colorado offered him the chance to close, so he took it. • With a right-hander pitching, Jarrett Parker will be back in left field for the Giants. Parker and Chris Marrero -- who started against lefty Tyler Anderson on Friday -- have been splitting time at the position. MLB.com Watch the Giants stage a four-run rally under a brilliant cellphone light show Matt Monagan The Giants were already up 4-2 on the Rockies in the bottom of the seventh inning of Friday's game at AT&T Park. They didn't necessarily need any more runs with Brandon Belt up at the plate and Denard Span on first, but it wouldn't hurt. And as Belt's at-bat rose to 10, 11, 12 pitches, Giants fans got more and more into the idea of a big rally. By the time Belt laced a line drive into the gap on the 13th pitch, the entire crowd had inexplicably, and quite beautifully, lit up the night with a chorus of cellphone lights: Quite distracting for reliever Jake McGee. But it made Span, who scored from first on Belt's double, look like a rock star coming off the stage as he crossed home plate. The light show reportedly continued during the Giants' entire four-run rally, helping them to an 8-2 win. We're also guessing the ballpark remained illuminated during AT&T's eighth-inning anthem: MLB.com Giants would like Posey to DH vs. Royals Michael Wagaman SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he expects Buster Posey to be the team's designated hitter during next week's series in Kansas City, provided the All-Star catcher is cleared to come off the seven-day concussion list.

Posey inched closer to that possibility when he hit off a tee and took some swings in the batting cage prior to Friday's game against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park. Bochy indicated the plan is to have Posey add more to his rehab by the weekend, including running the bases. "He's starting to ramp up his baseball activities," Bochy said. "He's doing well right now. If he gets through the weekend and we're on schedule, possibly. We have to get him through the weekend and see where we're at before we're ready that he's set to go in Kansas City." Posey was hit in the head by a 94 mph fastball from Arizona pitcher Taijuan Walker on Monday and placed on the disabled list the following day. He is eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday when the Giants open a two-game series against the Royals. Bochy had previously mentioned the possibility of using Posey as a designated hitter in Kansas City but would not commit to it. The San Francisco skipper now says it's a plan that makes sense but was adamant the Giants wouldn't do it unless Posey is fully recovered. "He's not going to come off unless he's 100 percent," Bochy said. "We're not going to DH him thinking that he's not quite 100 percent so let's DH him. Even with that said, if he's ready to go, the fact that we are using a DH just makes sense to go ahead and go that route for a couple days. "That just gives us more time. With the day off, and then we go to Colorado, it doesn't jump him right into it. It gives him three or four extra days." MLB.com Giants to honor HOFer Robinson before game.com Matt Kelly The Giants will honor Hall of Fame slugger and former team manager Frank Robinson during African-American Heritage Night on Sept. 13 at AT&T Park, the team announced Friday. Robinson, 81, is scheduled to be in attendance when he is honored on the field before the Giants host the Dodgers. All fans in attendance for that matchup will receive a free Robinson bobblehead. "As baseball prepares to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the day when legendary Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier, we are excited to announce that we will honor Frank who, like Jackie, blazed new trails for African-Americans in our game," Giants President and CEO Larry Baer said in an official statement. Robinson, who clubbed 586 home runs during his legendary career with the Reds, Orioles, Dodgers, Angels and Indians, became the first African-American manager in Major League Baseball with Cleveland in 1975. In 1981, Robinson became the first African-American to manage in both leagues when he was hired to skipper San Francisco. He was named UPI's Manager of the Year in 1982 and went on to lead the Giants on the field until 1984. Robinson went on to manage the Orioles before assisting then-Commissioner Bud Selig as a consultant and vice president for on-field operations. In 2002, Robinson returned to the dugout once more to manage the Montreal Expos and subsequently the Nationals after the franchise moved to Washington,

D.C. He was named Senior Adviser and Honorary President of the American League by Commissioner Rob Manfred in '15. NBC Sports Bay Area Marrero, Crawford Help Cueto Become First Pitcher To Three Wins Alex Pavlovic SAN FRANCISCO — Chris Marrero has been dressed early all week, smacking balls in the cage with hitting coaches, taking fly balls in left with instructor Cody Ross, and doing swing drills by himself on a patch of grass alongside the dugout. Marrero entered play Friday in a 1-for-18 slump to start the season, his first as a semi-regular in the big leagues. A 28-year-old veteran with more than 4,000 minor league plate appearances on his resume, Marrero admitted he was pressing. But he did not press to make changes. “Did I want to start the season this way? No,” he said. “But I tried not to change anything. How are you going to change if what you worked on in spring training worked?” That eight-homer spring earned a first opening day nod for Marrero. His first regular season homer doubled as the first of his big league career, and it gave Johnny Cueto a 2-0 lead that would only grow as the Giants pounded the Rockies 8-2. Cueto improved to 3-0 on the season and showed some of his trademark fire as he halted a mid-game rally that could have wiped away Marrero’s work. It was a night full of emotion for the Giants. Marrero was still trying to settle himself as he jogged out to left minutes after his blast to the bleachers. Brandon Crawford, who lost his sister-in-law this week, added a homer of his own, one he dedicated to Jennifer Pippin. There was little doubt Marrero would be in the lineup Friday against lefty Tyler Anderson. Manager Bruce Bochy has stuck by him during the early struggles. But Bochy wasn’t sure he would have his shortstop. The two spoke after Thursday’s game. Bochy told Crawford he could take a couple of days off. “He said, ‘I want to play,’” Bochy said. Crawford’s homer in the fourth rocketed out of the ballpark. As he always does, he pointed to the sky as he touched the plate. Crawford's wife, Jalynne, took to Twitter and wrote, "I know she's screaming in heaven right now! She would be so proud of that!!" AT&T Park shook and later it lit up. Fans took out their cell phones as Brandon Belt worked a 13-pitch at-bat in the seventh, culminating in a single. Belt saw 35 pitches in five at-bats, and his lone hit of the night kicked off a string of five straight singles that broke the game open. The sudden blowout allowed the Giants to relax a bit after a couple of stressful weeks. Derek Law and Cory Gearrin took it home, clinching a second straight 3-0 start for Cueto. He’s the first Giant to do that in back-to-back years since Rick Reuschel in 1988-89.

When the final pitch was thrown, Marrero went off in search of a baseball. The fan who caught his blast wanted just one thing: Dodgers tickets. Marrero took care of that on a night that he won’t forget. “You think about these moments when you first start playing baseball,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs in my career. It was a battle early in the season but I didn’t lose confidence. “This game is a grind, man. It’s tough mentally and physically. It’s tough to get out of a hole. You’ve got to believe in yourself and keep fighting.” NBC Sports Bay Area Down On The Farm: Giants Flexing Versatility With Top Prospects Alex Pavlovic Through 11 games this season, the Giants have used 14 different position players, including four left fielders (Jarrett Parker, Chris Marrero, Gorkys Hernandez, and Aaron Hill) and three third basemen in (Eduardo Nunez, Conor Gillaspie and Hill). It’s clear that Bruce Bochy values versatility on defense, and the Giants are making sure their top prospects are comfortable fielding multiple positions. Here’s a look at how three of the Giants’ top minor league hitters are being used defensively... Christian Arroyo, 21, Triple-A Sacramento River Cats 2017 stats: 7 G, .407/.448/.630, 11 H, 1 HR, 3 2B, 7 R, 5 RBI Positions: SS/3B/2B Defensive stats: SS (3 G, 29 Inn., 0 E), 2B (2 G, 16 Inn., 0 E), 3B (2 G, 14 Inn., 0 E) The Giants’ top hitting prospect has exceeded expectations in his first week of Triple-A ball. Arroyo is on a seven-game hitting streak and he belted his first home run of the season on Thursday. Many consider Arroyo to be the team's third baseman of the future, but by grooming him at multiple defensive positions, the team could make him a valuable piece for Bochy sooner than later. Jae-Gyun Hwang, 29, Triple-A Sacramento 2017 stats: 7 G, .280/.357/.400, 7 H, 1 3B, 1 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI Positions: 3B/1B/LF Defensive stats: 3B (3 G, 26 Inn., 0 E), 1B (2 G, 18 Inn., 1 E), LF (1 G, 8 Inn., 0 E) Hwang made his first career professional start in left field Thursday and caught all four balls hit his way. The bat-flipping internet sensation was a power-hitting star in Korea as a third baseman before signing a minor league deal with the Giants in the offseason. He showed his pop with five home runs in 27 spring training games.

Hwang also stood out to his teammates this spring with his hard work, winning the Barney Nugent Award. “Players love him, and the way he’s come out every day and the effort he puts in. He’s been inspiring with how hard he has gotten after it every day,” Bochy said on Hwang winning the award. Chris Shaw, 23, Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels 2017 stats: 8 G, .269/.387/.462, 7 H, 1 HR, 2 2B, 1 R, 6 RBI Positions: 1B/LF Defensive stats: 1B (4 G, 40 Inn., 1 E), LF (3 G, 26 Inn., 0 E) Shaw has major-league power. His bat will be his ticket to the bigs, but his ability to play a clean left field could also be key. Shaw didn't play one game in the outfield in his first two minor league seasons, but he did play right and left field while starring at Boston College. It’s still early in the process, but the Giants are still in search of a franchise left fielder. They've penciled in 10 different Opening Day left fielders in the past 10 seasons. Around The Horn — Veteran outfielder Drew Stubbs made his debut with the Sacramento River Cats on Thursday. He was used as the DH and went 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts. — Here’s video of Arroyo's first Triple-A home run. He hit three all of last season. That number is expected to go up this year. — Slade Heathcott is another interesting outfielder to watch. The former 2009 first-round draft pick of the Yankees is hitting .346/.414/.423 in eight games for the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Santa Rosa Press Democrat Johnny Cueto silences Rockies in Giants' 8-2 win Gideon Rubin SAN FRANCISCO — Johnny Cueto pitched seven effective innings, Brandon Crawford and Chris Marrero homered, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 8-2 on Friday night. Cueto (3-0) allowed two runs and six hits while winning his third consecutive start to begin the season. The right-hander struck out six and walked one. The Giants jumped in front on Marrero’s first career homer in the second, a drive to left off Tyler Anderson (1-2) after Eduardo Nunez walked with two out. It was Marrero’s 144th at-bat in a major league career that goes back to 2011.

The 28-year-old Marrero, a first-round pick by Washington in 2006, is in his 12th year in pro ball and logged 4,005 at-bats in the minors. He went 2 for 3 after going into Friday hitting .056. Anderson lasted just four innings. The left-hander allowed four runs and five hits, and also was charged with two balks — matching a franchise record. Crawford, who connected for his second homer in the fourth inning, was in the lineup for the first time since his sister-in-law’s death earlier this week. Both Rockies runs scored in the fifth after Tony Wolters knocked the ball out of Giants second baseman Joe Panik’s glove on his way to second on a grounder off Stephen Cardullo’s bat with the bases loaded. TRAINER’S ROOM Giants catcher Buster Posey is ramping up baseball activities, and all indications are he is on target to come off the seven-day disabled list for concussion symptoms Tuesday when the Giants open a series in Kansas City. Posey took swings off a tee and in a cage on Friday, and will start running the bases over the weekend. Posey is expected to be the Giants’ DH in the Royals series. He could play first base next weekend at Colorado. “We have to get him through the weekend and see where we’re at before we’re ready to announce that we’re set to go in Kansas City,” manager Bruce Bochy said. Sacramento Bee Opting to play through grief, Giants’ Crawford blasts homer: ‘That one was for Jenn’ Daniel Brown After a death in the family, Brandon Crawford was asked if he wanted to sit Friday night out. Giants Manager Bruce Bochy approached the shortstop to see if he needed a longer break. Not a chance. “He wanted to play tonight,” Bochy said. Crawford promptly delivered a home run during an 8-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park, then slowed and looked skyward as he reached home plate. This was no ordinary home run. It came a day after Crawford took time to mourn the death of his sister-in-law, Jennifer Pippin. Jalynne Crawford shared on social media that her oldest sister died Wednesday of an asthma attack. “I tried to get around the bases as fast as I could. That one was for Jenn,” Crawford said. “Something like that, it lets you know that there’s somebody greater out there that’s looking over you. “I know she was watching this game tonight and I was glad I could do something.”

Jalynne took to Twitter immediately after Crawford’s home run Friday: “I know she’s screaming in heaven right now! His home run brought tears to my eyes.” Crawford’s homer, his second of the season, gave the Giants a 4-0 lead, an ample cushion for Johnny Cueto. The Giants right-hander pitched seven strong innings to improve to 6-0 over his past eight games against the Rockies. Chris Marrero added his own emotional home run, a milestone moment of his baseball odyssey. The Giants left fielder spent 11 seasons languishing in the minors, racking up 4,005 at-bats in places like Potomac, Hagerstown and Somerset. His reward for making the Giants opening day roster this season? Angry grumbling about the team’s lack of production in left field. But with one swing of the bat, Marrero made it worth the wait. His first major league home run came at age 28. Marrero didn’t hide his emotions. “You think about those moments when you start playing baseball,” he said. As for going around the bases, he added: “You think about every single thing. I thought about my family and everyone who helped me along the way. It was amazing.” Marrero’s home run gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in the second. The 400-foot blast, off left-hander Tyler Anderson, came in his 144th major league at-bat. He got the milestone baseball back, but it took some negotiating. “The fan wanted Dodgers tickets,” Marrero said with a laugh. The early runs helped Cueto, who continued his mastery of Colorado. He entered the game with a 1.33 ERA and a .223 batting average against over his last seven starts against the Rockies. He ran into some trouble in the fifth, when second baseman Joe Panik botched a double-play ball. But Cueto rebounded one batter later by coaxing a grounder to short off the bat of D.J. LeMahieu, and this time the Giants converted a 6-4-3 double play. “Once I saw I had the lead, I knew I had to grind it, pitch and hold onto that lead,” he said. In all, Cueto allowed two runs on six hits, with one walk and six strikeouts. It was nice timing. The first 40,00 fans at AT&T Park on Saturday will receive a Johnny Cueto Shimmy Bobblehead. Cueto says he doesn’t have one yet. ▪ Giants catcher Buster Posey played catch and took some swings before the game and remains on track to come off the 7-day disabled list when he’s eligible next Tuesday. “He’s doing well right now,” Manager Bruce Bochy said. Posey will “ramp up” his baseball activity over the weekend, Bochy said, including running the bases Sunday. If Posey makes it through the weekend tests without lingering concussion symptoms, he would be activated for the three-game road series against the Kansas City Royals.

Even then, Posey would probably serve as the designated hitter. Bochy said the Giants will only activate Posey if he’s 100 percent, but added that it “just makes sense” to spare him the extra risk that would come with playing behind the plate. “It gives him three more extra days,” Bochy said. Posey left Monday’s game after being hit in the head by a pitch from Taijuan Walker of the Arizona Diamondbacks. SF Examiner ‘Fearless’ Núñez provides Giants with uncommon speed Karl Buscheck AT&T Park — Johnny Cueto couldn’t help but laugh when Eduardo Núñez was asked about the helmet that never seems to stay on his head. Sitting one locker from the San Francisco Giants’ co-ace, Núñez, his habitual smile plastered across his face, insisted that he sports the proper headwear. “It’s the right size,” Núñez said, as Cueto continued to chuckle. “I don’t know why I lose it.” “It’s funny I know. It does get annoying,” Núñez joked before trailing off mid-sentence into a laugh of his own. The gregarious Giant, who’s beginning his first full season with the club, has become a cult hero at Third and King, in part due to his habit of running out of his helmet. “It’s nice to have speed like that,” manager Bruce Bochy said of his swift third baseman. “He’s not just quick, but he’s a smart base runner, too.” Bochy has granted the 29-year-old Dominican a perpetual green light, and Núñez had already tallied five steals entering Friday night’s game. For the power-strapped Giants — the club was No. 28 in home runs a season ago — Núñez provides the offense with an indispensible extra dimension. Whenever Núñez reaches base, he’s one pitch from racing his way into scoring position. “A single can be a double with him,” Bochy explained. “Sometimes, he doesn’t go when the pitcher doesn’t give him a chance. So he doesn’t force the issue too often either, but he’s fearless. He will go when they know he’s going and he’s not afraid to go.” Núñez is as intrepid a thief as his boss suggests. Even when third base coach Phil Nevin attempts to put the brakes on in a less-than-ideal spot, Núñez says he can’t be reined in. During the ninth inning of the Giants’ 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night, Núñez — representing the tying run at first — took off even though everyone inside rain-soaked AT&T Park realized that was exactly what he was about to do.

“I don’t care if people know,” said Núñez, who stole the bag without incident. “I go anyway.” That bold approach served Núñez well during his breakout 2016 season, when he swiped 40 bases while splitting time with the Minnesota Twins and the Giants, becoming one of just five big leaguers to hit that mark. Asked if he knew who the last player was to steal 40 times in the Orange and Black, Núñez admitted he didn’t have a clue. Advised that the player now likes to hang out during the club’s batting practice, Núñez still drew a blank. Barry Bonds — way back in 1996. “Oh yeah? Shit.” Núñez said with a laugh. “*That’s a+ good list.” In 2017, Núñez doesn’t just plan to go for 40 — he’s ready to go flying right past that total. “My personal goal, like for anyone, is to win a championship,” Núñez said, before revealing his running-game objective. “I have a number in mind. I want to steal 60 or more bases,” Núñez said. “That’s my goal this year for stealing bases.” The bandit even has a plan mapped out for how to reach that lofty haul. “60 or more,” Núñez reiterated. “In my mind, 10 every month. That’s my goal. So, I don’t know if I can do, but I will try.” Last year, a 60-steal season would have given Núñez the second highest total in the majors. Already, in the opening weeks of the season, Bochy has been asked repeatedly how long he can keep such an ambitious and disruptive speedster stranded in the sixth spot in the lineup. The manager says he likes leading off with Denard Span — who’s already fought a hip injury — and plans to leave Núñez alone, for now. “If I have to tweak the lineup, if it needs a little tweaking to generate some offense, then I have to do it,” Bochy reasoned. Playing the part of the consummate professional, Núñez had no interest in complaining about where Bochy writes his name on the lineup card. “I don’t care,” Núñez said. “Where*ever+ the manager feels comfortable *putting me+, I don’t care. As long as I’m in the lineup *somewhere+, I try to help the team win.” With free-agency looming at season’s end, Núñez isn’t worrying about where he hits or where his helmet ends up. Instead, he’s adhering to his simple philosophy — to always be one pitch from advancing into scoring position. “That’s the goal,” Núñez said. “The closer you are to the plate, the better your possibility is to score.”

ESPN.com Brandon Crawford hits emotional home run after sister-in-law's sudden death Alex Tekip Brandon Crawford's solo home run on Friday night did more than just extend the San Francisco Giants' lead over the Colorado Rockies. It let him know that his sister-in-law was still with him and his family. Crawford's wife, Jalynne, shared on social media on Thursday that her sister, Jennifer Pippin, passed away due to an asthma attack. According to Jalynne Crawford, Pippin was a big Giants fan and never missed a game. The Giants shortstop wasn't in Thursday's starting lineup following his sister-in-law's death. According to the Mercury News and San Francisco Chronicle, manager Bruce Bochy told Crawford he could take more time off if he needed it, but Crawford said he wanted to play on Friday. Crawford's blast, his second of the season, gave the Giants a 4-0 lead in what would end up an 8-2 win over the Colorado Rockies. As Crawford approached home plate, he looked to the heavens and pointed his hands toward the sky. "I tried to get around the bases as fast as I could. That one was for Jenn," Crawford told reporters after the game. "Something like that, it lets you know that there's somebody greater out there that's looking over you.I know she was watching this game tonight, and I was glad I could do something. "When she was at home, she was always watching every game. I'm sure she's still watching down on us." Jalynne tweeted her reaction to her husband's home run right after it was hit. Later, Brandon shared an image of him looking up to the sky after the homer. The power of sports -- what a wonderful thing it can be in tough times. ESPN.com Cueto pitches 7 innings as Giants beat Rockies 8-2 Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants got Johnny Cueto some runs to work with, and the right-hander took over from there. Cueto pitched seven effective innings, Brandon Crawford and Chris Marrero homered, and the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 8-2 on Friday night. San Francisco led 4-0 after four innings. "Once I saw that I had that lead I told myself, `OK now I have to grind it, pitch and hold onto that lead," Cueto said through a translator.

Cueto (3-0) allowed two runs and six hits while winning his third straight start to begin the season. He struck out six and walked one. Cueto won his sixth straight decision against the Rockies. He was 5-0 with a 1.33 ERA over his previous seven starts against Colorado. The Giants jumped in front on Chris Marrero's first career homer in the second, a drive to left off Tyler Anderson (1-2) after Eduardo Nunez walked with two out. It was Marrero's 144th at-bat in a major league career that goes back to 2011. The 28-year-old Marrero, a first-round pick by Washington in 2006, is in his 12th year in pro ball and logged 4,005 at-bats in the minors. He went 2 for 3 after going into Friday hitting .056 (1 for 18). Anderson lasted just four innings. The left-hander allowed four runs and five hits, and also was charged with two balks -- matching a franchise record. "I think (Anderson) has to do a better job with all his emotions," Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "He was pitching a great game, somebody got on and he got the balk called. He got a little frustrated and left a pitch over the strike zone, and the guy hit a two-run shot." Rockies manager Bud Black was adamant that the balk calls weren't a factor in Anderson's game. "As far as it affecting his performance after the balks, I think that had nothing to do with it," Black said. Anderson wasn't so sure. "I'm definitely frustrated, I made a couple of bad pitches out there but I don't know if it's necessarily because of that," he said. Crawford, who connected for his second homer in the fourth inning, was in the lineup for the first time since traveling to Los Angeles to be with family after his sister-in-law's death earlier this week. TRAINER'S ROOM Rockies: RHP Jon Gray was placed on the disabled list with a broken left foot. He suffered the injury in the fourth inning of Thursday night's game. He is expected to miss at least a month. Gray missed time in spring training with a big toe injury on the same foot. ... OF Gerardo Parra was placed on three-day paternity leave. He traveled to Miami for the birth of his daughter. ... OF Raimel Tapia and RHP Shane Carle were called up from Triple-A Albuquerque. Giants: C Buster Posey is ramping up baseball activities, and all indications are he is on target to come off the seven-day disabled list for concussion symptoms on Tuesday when the Giants open a three-game series in Kansas City. Posey took swings off a tee and in a cage on Friday, and will start running the bases over the weekend. Posey is expected to be the Giants DH in the Royals series. He could play first base in next weekend's series at Colorado. "We have to get him through the weekend and see where we're at before we're ready to announce that we're set to go in Kansas City," manager Bruce Bochy said.

UP NEXT Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood is searching for his first win after going 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his first two starts. He was 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts against the Giants last season. Giants: LHP Matt Moore (1-1, 2.70 ERA) pitched eight innings of three-hit ball in Monday's home opener. He is 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last seven home starts going back to last season. CBS Sports Giants' Mike Morse: Set to join Single-A club Roto Wire Staff Morse (hamstring) is expected to leave extended spring training Sunday to join Single-A San Jose, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports. The veteran has been rehabbing from a hamstring injury that sidelined his chances of making the Giants' roster, but it appears he's ready to return to regular action. Morse is eventually expected to join Triple-A Sacramento once they return from their current road trip. The 35-year-old slugged two homers en route to a .258/.343/.516 slash line this spring, so there may be something left in the tank for a comeback attempt. CBS Sports Giants' Conor Gillaspie: Heads back to bench Roto Wire Staff Gillaspie is out of the lineup for Friday's game agaisnt the Rockies. With Brandon Crawford returning to the lineup, Eduardo Nunez will slide back over to third and send Gillaspie back to the bench. Gillaspie figures to continue seeing at-bats primarily as a pinch hitter and will only get starts when players like Crawford or Nunez need off days. CBS Sports Giants' Buster Posey: Continues to make progress, targeting Tuesday return Roto Wire Staff Posey (head) remains on track for a return from the disable once he's eligible on Tuesday, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The All-Star catcher continued to show progress Friday by throwing long toss earlier in the day and following it up with a batting practice session. Friday marks Posey's second straight day of physical activity after landing on the disabled list earlier in the week. Provided that Posey makes it through the weekend without any setbacks, he should draw back in during the Giants' series against the Royals. CBS Sports Giants' Brandon Crawford: Returns to lineup Friday Roto Wire Staff Crawford will be in the lineup Friday against Colorado, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The Giants have yet to release their lineup, but it has been confirmed that Crawford will indeed start for the Giants against Tyler Anderson and the Rockies. Crawford briefly left the team to tend to a family emergency, but was able to make a pinch hit appearance Thursday. It's still unclear whether Crawford will eventually head to the bereavement list, but for now, he will remain in the lineup. MLB Trade Rumors 5 Key Stories: 4/8/17 – 4/15/17 Charlie Wilmoth Here are five key stories from this week at MLBTR. James KaprielianYankees struggle with injuries. It was a bad week for the health of young Yankees players. Righty pitching prospect James Kaprielian will undergo Tommy John surgery next week, while catcher Gary Sanchez recently headed to the DL with a biceps strain. In happier Yankees news, lefty Jordan Montgomery made his big-league debut this week after winning a spot in the team’s rotation. Giants sign Melvin Upton Jr. The Giants agreed to a minor-league deal with Melvin Upton Jr., who eventually could bolster their struggling outfield. The Rays, meanwhile, did not pursue Upton, preferring to give opportunities to another veteran, Peter Bourjos. Orioles add relief help, deal international bonus spending rights. The Orioles made a series of small deals this week, bolstering their core of potential relief arms but inviting criticism for their approach to the international amateur market. First, they acquired Damien Magnifico from the Brewers for the rights to $885,300 in international bonus spending. They made a separate trade with the Brewers, sending another reliever, righty Oliver Drake, to Milwaukee for a player to be named or cash. They then nabbed lefty Paul Fry from the Mariners, but gave up another $198K in international bonus spending rights in the process. The moves continued the Orioles’ recent trend of acquiring potentially helpful pitching in minor transactions, but also continued a recent trend of seeming neglect of the international amateur free-agent market. Carlos Correa lays out conditions for extension. Astros phenom Carlos Correa’s agent said he would not consider a pre-free-agency extension, although Correa himself offered a somewhat different view, saying he would consider a deal if it was favorable financially. Correa also said he would no longer consider a deal once he hit arbitration, which he is set to do following the 2018 season. More minor moves. Other key minor transactions from this week: The Tigers signed first baseman James Loney to a minor-league deal; the Orioles re-signed outfielder Michael Bourn to a minor-league deal; the Dodgers acquired righty Joe Gunkel from Baltimore for a player to be named or cash; the Nationals re-signed righty Joe Nathan to a minor-league deal and designated veteran starter Jeremy Guthrie for assignment; the Braves signed righty Jason Motte to a minor-league deal; and the Blue Jays claimed infielder Ty Kelly from the Mets. Outfielder Brennan Boesch also appeared set to retire. MLB Trade Rumors West Notes: Dipoto, Richards, Cashner, Bush, Morse, Bradley Jeff Todd

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com provides an interesting interview with Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto that’s well worth a full read. The topics range from the impact of Statcast to Dipoto’s seemingly insatiable appetite for trades. Here’s more from the game’s western divisions: We checked in earlier tonight on Angels righty Garrett Richards, and there’s more news on that front. GM Billy Eppler says that the current concern is an ongoing lack of strength in Richards’s biceps, as Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports (Twitter links). Though cervical disc issues apparently aren’t at the root — an MRI came back clean — it seems that’ll need to be resolved before Richards can return to the hill. The Rangers will finally get a chance to see what they have in righty Andrew Cashner. He’s slated to make his first start for the team tomorrow, as Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Cashner, who signed a one-year make-good deal over the winter, was set back by biceps tendinitis in camp. There was other good news on the injury front for the Rangers. As Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes, key reliever Matt Bush could return to action as soon as this weekend. He has seemingly responded well to a cortisone shot in his shoulder, though the club is waiting a bit longer to make sure he’s pain free before putting him back on the rubber. Giants outfielder Michael Morse is nearly ready to take the field at Triple-A after rehabbing his hamstring, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports on Twitter. Indeed, Morse may be prepared for MLB action in just ten days, per the report. It’s unclear as yet what San Francisco’s plans are for the veteran, but he’d clearly represent an alternative to Chris Marrero if the club decides to make a change. Though Marrero has had a productive game tonight, including his first big league homer, he has struggled out of the gates. The Diamondbacks are still weighing just how to use Archie Bradley, who has shown resurgent form this year, as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. Bradley’s outstanding early work from the bullpen — no runs, ten strikeouts, and just two walks over 6 2/3 frames — has manager Torey Lovullo wondering how best to maximize the former top starting prospect. For now, it seems, Bradley is likely to continue working as a longman, but the skipper suggested that the young righty could begin to enter in higher-leverage spots. It’s worth noting that Bradley is now averaging 95.7 mph with his fastball after sitting just over 92 in his prior two MLB campaigns, though of course that’s probably aided in part by his move to a relief role. Fansided San Francisco Giants’ Top Hitting Prospect Arroyo Tearing Up AAA Sean Bialaszek After a rough 2016 season at Double-A Richmond, the San Francisco Giants’ top hitting prospect is off to a fantastic start to his first Triple-A season. Christian Arroyo, a natural shortstop tat is also playing second base and third base, is tearing the cover off the ball in the top level of the minor leagues for the Sacramento River Cats. In 2016, playing in the pitcher-friendly Eastern League, Arroyo didn’t have a normal season by his standards. He slashed .274/.316/.373, setting full-season career lows in all three categories, and hit just three home runs in 517 plate appearances. Arroyo did finish third in league with 36 doubles and had a

very respectable, 13.9 percent strikeout rate, proving that his lack of home run power and overall success was likely more due to the environment than the player. Arroyo continued to prove his prowess at the plate in Spring Training, a place in which he has had great success already in his young career. This season, he hit .250 but saw his average drop as his playing time also fell as veterans battled for roster spots. He hit a home run and drove in four runs, and put on one of the plate appearances of the spring in the Spring Training finale. After falling behind 0-2 against Oakland Athletics’ pitcher Raul Alcantara, Arroyo battled back, fouling off nine pitches and finally taking ball four on the 15th pitch. He was sent to Triple-A Sacramento to open the 2017 season, and the 89th-overall prospect (according to MLB.com) has put the down 2016 season behind him. He struck out in his first at-bat at the level, an at-bat that doesn’t actually count yet because the game was postponed later in the night and still needs to be finished, but he’s been on an upward trajectory since. In his first seven official Triple-A games, Arroyo has collected 11 hits in 27 at-bats, putting up a blazing hot .407 average. He’s tallied three doubles and five RBI, and on Thursday, he hit his first Triple-A home run, stroking a Greg Mahle delivery out of center field at Smith’s Park for a three-run shot in the eighth inning. Though Arroyo has been pegged as the team’s third baseman of the future, he has moved all around the infield so far in the young Triple-A season. That’s been the case for many of the team’s players, including Jae-gyun Hwang and Kelby Tomlinson, as the team tries to add some versatility to their résumés. If Arroyo keeps this kind of pace up, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the big leagues sooner rather than later. It’s also important to remember that Arroyo is not yet even 22 years old, and won’t hit that age until May 30th this year. He hasn’t yet faced a pitcher younger than he is, which probably won’t change soon as Arroyo is the eighth-youngest player in the Pacific Coast League. NEXT: Giants 3 Up, 3 Down: Back at Home The 2013 first-round pick is knocking on the door, and his teammate, fellow top Giants’ prospect and 2014 first-round pick Tyler Beede, isn’t far from the big leagues either. The next generation of young stars is coming, and it won’t be long before they’re both making their debuts. Fansided San Francisco Giants bats come alive in 8-2 win against Rockies Taylor Wirth After another offensive meltdown last night, the San Francisco Giants bats finally woke up as they beat the Rockies. Behind a great start from Johnny Cueto and some key hits, Giants look to gain momentum in the series this weekend. This game had plenty of pitching, hitting and most importantly, balks? The scoring got started in the bottom of the second with Eduardo Nunez at first base. Rockies pitcher Tyler Anderson made a pickoff move to first, but balked in the process. With Nunez moving to second on the balk, Chris Marrero would smash a home run to left for his first major league homerun. San Francisco Giants fans surely rejoiced at some power coming out of left field.

The Giants would make some noise the very next inning with a single from Denard Span, later brought in on a Hunter Pence base-hit. With an early 3-0 lead, Johnny Cueto was cruising right along through four shut-out innings. Giants started off the bottom half of the inning with a Brandon Crawford solo shot to left, his second homer of the season, extending the lead to 4-0. Chris Marrero would continue to swing the bat well, knocking a solid base hit to right field, making him 2-2 on the early night. Anderson would balk yet again, as he attempted a pickoff move on Marrero. The very next inning, Cueto would run into trouble as the Rockies strung together a couple hits and a walk to load the bases with one out. A couple runs would come home on a botched double play by Joe Panik, that would have ended the inning. Cueto gets out of the inning, with only two runs scoring, but the Giants lead only two runs now. The bottom of the seventh was anything but ordinary. The inning got started with a Panik strikeout, but was followed by a very impressive 10-pitch at bat from Johnny Cueto. Span would follow the strikeout with a walk, bringing Belt up to the plate. He would battle just as Cueto did, fouling off pitch after pitch before hitting an RBI double on the thirteenth pitch of the at bat. Following Belts impressive at-bat, Pence would knock him in on a single, adding to the Giants lead. Nick Hundley would keep the hit train moving with a single, as Crawford would follow with a single of his own, knocking in another run. And no the Giants were not done yet. Eduardo Nunez would knock in Hundley with yet another single, extending the lead to 8-2 Giants After the rough fifth inning, Cueto settled down and dominated over seven innings. His final line for the night is: 7IP, 6H, 2ER, 1BB, 6K’s as he earns his major league-leading third win of the year. A fun night at the yard for the Giants and their fans, as they picked up a much needed win. Some notes from todays games: The Giants offense is un-predictable. When everything is clicking, they’re one of the most fun teams to watch swing the bat. The randomness and quirky antics that the Giants are known for, make games so much more fun Johnny Cueto looks poised for another great season. If he keeps this up, he’ll almost certainly opt-out at the end of the year. The bullpen has been solid of late. With the Giants bats heating up, and the bullpen throwing well its a good sign of things to come for the struggling club. Finals for tonight game: Giants: 8, Rockies: 2 W: Cueto (3-0, 3.79 ERA) L: Anderson (1-2, 8.59 ERA) Day game tomorrow as Matt Moore looks to continue his success at AT&T Park, as he takes on Tyler Chatwood.

McCovey Chronicles Giants score early, often, beat Rockies 8-2 Grant Bisbee The Giants have played 12 games. In seven of these games, they’ve scored five runs or more. They’ve scored six or more in five of those 12 games. On Friday night, they kept adding on and adding on, scoring eight runs for the second time this season. It might be time to consider that the Giants aren’t so bad at hitting. That they might even be good. If we can use the it’s-still-early canard when things are going poorly, it applies after an eight-run game, too. If we watch two weeks of Padres-marinated losses, that will disabuse us of this notion. But if the Giants have had problems this year, it’s been more with timing than poor hitting. The Giants, well, they’re tied for the National League lead in runs scored now. That seems important. For all my hand-wringing about left field and runners in scoring position, the bigger problem has been with the pitching, which has allowed the second-most runs in the NL so far, even after tonight. That factlet up there about them being tied in runs scored seems impressive, until you realize they’re tied with the Diamondbacks, the team that they’ve played seven times. The Giants have given up a mess of runs. That also seems important. That’s where Johnny Cueto came in. If the Giants are going to be successful in 2017, they’ll need Cueto to make himself $200 million in the offseason. He was masterful until the hiccups, and then he was masterful through the hiccups, and he did it with an unflappable determination/flair/flairtermination that is impossible to appreciate enough. What he did isn’t a state of mind that you can pickle and keep in the root cellar for prospects of the future. The short description: With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, Cueto got three double plays. The only problem was that the first two double plays weren’t outs at all. Joe Panik dropped the first one on a nobody’s-fault collision that knocked the ball loose, and Eduardo Nuñez’s glove stayed high on a sharp two-hopper to third. I’m not going to call out young pitchers from Christmas past, but you can summon them at will. You know there are pitchers in Giants history who would have melted into a puddle of pitcher-like substance after the first botched double play, much less the second. Cueto got two batters to pound a baseball into the dirt, right at a fielder, only to have to keep pitching, keep grinding, keep pitching. He finally got the double play on the third try. It was one of the best pitching demonstrations in recent memory. You could see what he was trying to do. The hitters knew what he was trying to do. He still did it, and then he did it again. When that didn’t work, he did it again. The results were wrong, not what he was doing. What he was doing was perfect.

The box score reads seven innings pitched, two runs allowed, but it was much more than that. It was a pitcher who could manipulate the ball like a warlock, until he couldn’t. And when he couldn’t, he hacked and slashed his way through the vines, and then he hacked and slashed his way through the bad luck. He came out 3-0 on the other side. He deserves it. Congratulations to Chris Marrero, who hit his first major-league homer after 4,460 professional plate appearances. Dude’s ridden some buses. He’s had roommates who’ve talked in their sleep. He went from first-round draft pick to minor-league free agent. He earned this. For all the talk about Melvin Upton and Drew Stubbs, it’s worth remembering that a) Marrero has the same first-round pedigree as those two, b) is younger, and c) is already here, so we might as well root for him. If he’s more Justin Maxwell than Michael Morse, that’s fine, we’ll figure it out soon enough. Until then, it’s fun when the left fielders do something loud. This was an add-on game. There’s almost nothing better than an add-on game. You get the tense feeling of a close game for the first few innings, but none of the diarrhea of the close game for the last few innings. The first win of the season seemed like an add-on game, but then the Diamondbacks scored two runs in the next half-inning to stress everyone out. They did the same thing on Thursday night, with the Diamondbacks scoring one after the game was supposed to be out of reach. This was not one of those games. After the Rockies grounded into their third double play of the fifth inning, they never scored again. More than that, the Giants needed just 43 pitches to get through the next four innings, and they allowed just one baserunner. While they were adding on, the Rockies were remembering they were in San Francisco. That’s a good combination. (The Giants were 5-for-8 with runners in scoring position. I guarantee that’s going to screw me up when I’m looking through game logs to get some shocking, horrible 1-for-48 stats over a two-week stretch, but I’ll take it.) Brandon Crawford was playing with a heavy heart, and I hope his home run made a lot of people feel better. Baseball is good at that sometimes, and I hope this was one of those times. Uh, we’re going to have to go to the judges on this one. JUDGES: nah They said “maybe.” You heard it hear first. JUDGES: wait, that’s not what we But probably nah. It sure seems like The Wave with a lithium battery to me. Proceed with caution. Meanwhile, in the category of “this stat affirms my preconceived beliefs,” Alex Pavlovic chimes in with a great stat:

The add-on inning was the best example. Johnny Cueto (!) saw 10 pitches against Jake McGee, who looked thoroughly annoyed, which is only natural. Then Brandon Belt came up and saw 13 pitches before singling. It was that single that got McGee out of the game, and it was that at-bat that has him thinking, “Why can’t I finish batters off? What is wrong with me?” If that reads like psychological warfare, well, the Giants have about 375 games left against the Rockies this year, and they’re not as fortified against left-handers as they’d like, so I hope so. SF Gate Emotional night for Giants: Crawford, Marrero hit homers John Shea Brandon Crawford hit the ball over the left-field wall and ran the bases quicker than usual. He didn’t want to be on the field long. He didn’t want to break down. So he ran quickly and ducked into the dugout. The Giants beat the Rockies 8-2 at AT&T Park on an emotional Friday night for Crawford, the shortstop who has been grieving the recent death of his wife’s sister. Manager Bruce Bochy met with Crawford on Thursday and told him he could take a few days off. Crawford said he wanted to play. On the field, he thought, he could take a break from mourning. Then he hit a home run Friday. As he began to run, his thoughts quickly turned to Jennifer Pippin, a mother of two who died of an asthma attack. “I tried to get around the bases as fast as I could,” Crawford said in a quiet and mostly empty clubhouse long after the game. “That one was for Jenn. That one was for my sister-in-law.” Crawford got another hit, a run-scoring single during a four-run rally in the seventh inning, and played his usual brand of sparkling defense as Johnny Cueto improved his record to 3-0 on a 5-7 team. But the home run is what the Crawfords will remember. Brandon’s wife, Jalynne, tweeted shortly thereafter that her sister was screaming for Brandon in heaven and that it “brought tears to my eyes!!” Just before crossing the plate after hitting home runs, Crawford looks to the sky and points upward. He did it Friday in a “little extra special” moment. “Something like that,” Crawford said, “I think you know there’s somebody greater out there that’s looking over you. I know she was watching this game tonight, and I’m glad I was able to do something for her. “When she was at home, she was always watching every game. I’m sure she’s still watching down on us.”

Left field Chris Marrero also hit a home run, the first of his career. Marrero made the team out of spring training as a platoon player because of his power, having homered eight times in Arizona, but he had been 1-for-18 with seven strikeouts since the season opened. Bochy played Marrero against left-hander Tyler Anderson, and Marrero swung like it was mid-March and 90 degrees at Scottsdale Stadium, clobbering Anderson’s 2-2 changeup. The homer was Marrero’s first in 144 big-league at-bats dating to his days with the 2011 and 2013 Nationals. He’s 28, in his 12th professional season, and that homer made those 4,005 minor-league at-bats worthwhile. “You think about these moments when you’re first starting to play baseball,” Marrero said. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my career. I battled a little at the beginning of the season but never lost confidence in myself. I’m happy I could do it in front of the home fans. It’s definitely a moment I’ll never forget the rest of my life.” Marrero got the ball in a trade with a fan. “The fan wanted Dodger tickets,” he said. The Giants led 4-0 in the fourth inning. The Rockies scored twice in a fifth-inning rally, during which second baseman Joe Panik made a bases-loaded error. Cueto surrendered two runs and six hits in seven innings, and Derek Law and Cory Gearrin finished up.