© D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
SAN FRANCISCO — For the first time since last September, the San Francisco Giants took the field at the corner of Third and King for their second of three exhibition games against the Oakland A’s. Although Derek Holland pitched through five strong innings, the Giants fell victim to a tenth-inning rally by Oakland and lost 9-2.
Trailing 2-1, Andrew McCutchen hit a one-out double in the eighth inning. After Gorkys Hernandez came in to pinch-run, he advanced to third on a wild pitch. It was another wild pitch that allowed Hernandez to slide home ahead of the tag and tie the game 2-2.
After neither team was able to score in the ninth inning, the A’s scored six runs in the tenth inning off D.J. Snelton, who was unable to record an out.
With two runners on, Mark Canha, who homered earlier in the game, singled into right field that put the A’s ahead 3-2. Marcus Semien continued the inning with a walk, which led to an RBI singles from Bruce Maxwell and Franklin Barreto. Then, Kris Davis knocked Snelton from the game with a two-run double.
Jose Valdez relieved Snelton and kept the A’s to a sacrifice fly that scored the final run of the game.
Although he allowed a pair of solo home runs, Holland pitched the Giants through five innings, where he limited the A’s to four hits, one walk, and struck out five.
“I felt good,” Holland said. “The big thing was just trying to get adjusted from Arizona to here with the off-speed stuff.
“[That was] the first time throwing to Buster all spring,” Holland added. “So that was kind of funny. We were joking about that, but we were on the same page. There were a few things that didn’t go our way, but that’s just the way it is.”
Perhaps what was most impressive from Holland — a .133 career hitter — came in his only at-bat when he muscled a single over the head of third baseman Matt Chapman to leadoff the third inning.
And that’s a single for Holland. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/A0hE29ZeHg
— Keaton A. Moore (@KeatonAMoore) March 27, 2018
The Giants and A’s exchanged a pair of 1-2-3 sides in the first inning before Pence doubled into left field that scored Buster Posey, who leadoff with a double, in the second inning.
With two outs, Posey was running on contact, which allowed him to slide home safely. It was Pence’s first hit of a 2-for-4 night that bumped his spring batting average up to .292.
However, their lead was short lived as Matt Chapman led off the second inning with a deep home run that found its way several rows back in the left field bleachers. Two innings later, Canha gave Oakland a 2-1 lead with a solo homer in the fifth inning.
Holland finished the inning with a fly ball to right field, but he was relieved by Hunter Strickland in the sixth. After those two long balls, he’s is tied with Samardzija (6) for the most home runs given up this spring.
This was Holland’s first outing since learning the Giants will be without Jeff Samardzija and Madison Bumgarner for at least the first month of the season. That opened the door for not only Chris Stratton and Ty Blach to secure spots in the rotation, but also Holland, who came to camp as a non-roster invitee.
Holland will make the #SFGiants rotation. He “wants to show people I’m not done.” pic.twitter.com/nAntqwDJAL
— Keaton A. Moore (@KeatonAMoore) March 27, 2018
“It’s huge to get this opportunity,” Holland said. “That’s what I was trying to do. I want to show people I’m not done and still able to do things.
“I mean, the injuries are the worst part and something that you never want to see,” Holland added. “I went through it myself as well and I don’t want to see guys like Bum, who’s been a key to this team, and Samardzija as well.”
For the time being, Holland will pitch behind Johnny Cueto in the rotation and is set to make his Giants debut on March 29 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I found out a couple of days ago,” Holland said. “I just couldn’t tell you guys.”
If you have a secret, Holland is your guy to tell it to. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/O9aCo6vFpc
— Keaton A. Moore (@KeatonAMoore) March 27, 2018
Strickland was the first out of the bullpen in relief of Holland and maintained his scoreless spring with a perfect sixth inning, which included a strikeout. The following inning, Andrew Suarez, who hadn’t pitched since March 17, matched Strickland’s perfect frame with one of his own. Later in the game, Roberto Gomez recorded two strikeouts in his perfect inning in the ninth.
Although Tony Watson was unable to follow suit with his fellow relievers in the eighth inning, he worked around a walk and single to keep the A’s from scoring.
Watson’s inning came to an end once Steven Duggar tracked down a fly ball in centerfield. The Giants got to see their promising prospect man centerfield for the first time when he came in for Austin Jackson in the eighth inning.
Keaton Moore is a KNBR.com contributor, follow Keaton on Twitter at @KeatonAMoore.
