As is his wont, Pablo Sandoval made his return.
We will have to wait to see if he makes another.
The San Francisco-beloved Panda took a second before stepping to bat in the seventh inning Sunday, soaking in the ovation from an appreciative Oracle Park crowd. Facing San Diego righty Luis Perdomo, Sandoval, batting lefty — the only way he can bat with a right elbow that will have Tommy John surgery this week — saw his first pitches since Aug. 9. The second pitch he bounced to shortstop, advancing Brandon Crawford to second, and turned around and headed for the dugout.
Cheers rained down upon the to-be free agent, who’s entering murky territory for a 33-year-old facing major surgery. It may have been his final at-bat as a Giant; it may have been his final major league at-bat; it was definitively his final at-bat with Bruce Bochy as manager.
“I love this city. It’s given a lot of things to me and my family. A lot of great memories,” Sandoval said before the game, adding his family was in attendance. “I hope it’s not ending right here.”
