Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
PEORIA, Ariz. — A day that started very poorly for the Giants’ future took a far more encouraging turn for the Giants’ present.
Kevin Gausman was ruthlessly efficient and Buster Posey looked smooth and healthy in launching a home run to center in the Giants’ 7-5 loss to the Padres in front of 6,632 at Peoria Sports Complex on Sunday afternoon. The solid day for the veterans followed the news that top prospect Heliot Ramos, who homered Friday, sustained a mild oblique strain and will miss some time.
Here are some takeaways as the Giants fell to 5-4-1 in the Cactus League:
Gausome
Gausman was confused when asked if he wanted to go throw in the bullpen. He thought he’d be going out for a third inning; he’d thrown just 14 pitches.
But San Francisco wants to ramp him up more slowly, and so after his pair of innings — which did not include a ball — he went to throw about 20 pitches beyond the outfield wall. He pushed the Giants starters’ streak to 18 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run.
It’s always nice when you have to find work to do.
The 29-year-old threw two perfect innings, struck out two — including a nasty changeup-slider-fastball combination that put away Manny Machado quickly — and touched 96 mph. As effortless as he looked, he seemed just as excited about the person who was catching his pitches.
Buster Posey is “the real deal,” Gausman said after his first time hooking up with Posey in a game. “He makes it look like you’re throwing 75 [mph] out there. He doesn’t move his glove. If you hit the spot, he makes it look very pretty for an umpire.
“I’ve had some good catchers in the past, and no offense to them. Buster’s one of the best in the game.”
It’s an auspicious start to a partnership that was among the reasons Gausman signed with San Francisco.
“Some guys you do just naturally get on the same page with quickly,” Posey said. “So far he seems to be one of those.”
Strike a Pose
The pitch was not a bad one. Fastball down and away, whistling in at 95 mph. Posey’s hip looked healthy as he swung through, lifting it to center and easily clearing the fence for his first home run in camp. His first real, tangible sign that the tweaks he’s been making to his swing are working.
Music to our ears. ?
@BusterPosey | #SFGSpring pic.twitter.com/jSZBqS9Ugj— SFGiants (@SFGiants) March 1, 2020
“I’m trying to tell myself, even if I don’t see the results right now, trust in the work that I’m doing, that it’s correct,” said Posey, who hit just 12 home runs the past two seasons. “It’s definitely nice to see results.”
He’s another year removed from hip surgery, yet also another year older (turning 33 this month). His defense has never been questioned, and Gausman’s praise underscored his value. As Joey Bart gets closer to arriving, Posey wants to show he still has something left.
“I feel like my body’s moving as well as it has in a while,” Posey said.
It’s a reminder of who he used to be, and who his manager thinks he still can be.
“Buster has pop,” Gabe Kapler said. “I think you can be fooled by looking at last year and … [thinking] a guy that wasn’t at 100 percent, that that was his peak power. What we’re seeing right now is that he’s driving the ball.”
One for the ages
Posey was not alone in being a veteran who impressed on the day. Brandon Crawford was on base three times, with two hits and a walk, cleanly stealing one base and taking second on a ball that San Diego catcher Francisco Mejia could not locate. He also advanced to third on a flyout to center, before Brandon Belt knocked him in with a single and then stole a base himself.
The Giants are more aggressive than ever, and their core is looking active.
“What’s today, March 1? [But] it’s definitely good to see,” said Posey of the way he, Crawford, Belt and Evan Longoria are moving. “[The four] are moving more aggressively overall right now, which is nice to see, whether it’s on the basepaths or swings in the box. It’s a credit to the work that we’ve been doing with the coaching staff this spring.”
Quick hits
— Also moving well? Joey Bart, who reached first on an infield single. Bart is now 6-for-10 with two walks and a home run in camp.
— Jerry Blevins needs to prove he can consistently retire righty hitters to make the team. The veteran lefty surrendered a two-run blast to Jurickson Profar, batting righty.
— Mauricio Dubon hit his second homer of camp and is now 5-for-11 from the plate.
— Rule 5 pick Dany Jimenez struggled with his control, hitting two batters.
— Jandel Gustave, a force last season, didn’t record an out, allowing a walk and two hits, including a home run to Wil Myers.