Easily the best play Sandoval has made since returning to the Giants: pic.twitter.com/PAb9jiPQqH
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 9, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants brought Pablo Sandoval back to the club hoping that his energetic presence will liven up the team’s clubhouse and that his power bat will find its groove in a familiar setting.
On Wednesday afternoon, Sandoval showed he’s more than just a lively personality with a big bat, as he ranged to his left and made a sensational diving play to rob Cubs’ leadoff hitter Ben Zobrist of a hit in the top of the fifth inning.
After Giants’ lefty Madison Bumgarner retired the first two Cubs hitters in the inning, San Francisco’s ace induced a grounder to the left side of the infield that Sandoval laid out to stop. Then, the 30-year-old infielder rose to his knees and delivered a one-hopper to first baseman Ryder Jones who picked the ball just in time to get Zobrist at first.
Since his return to the Giants after being designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox, Sandoval is 5-for-12 and on Wednesday, he scored the Giants’ first run of the game.