Jeff Smardzija’s first postseason start was one to forget.
The former Cub lasted just two innings in his return to Wrigley Field on Friday night, as the Giants fell to the Cubs 5-2 in Game 2 of the NLDS, putting themselves in a 0-2 hole as they head to AT&T Park for a must-win game on Monday.
It took Samardzija 47 pitches to get through the first inning in his last start at the Friendly Confines on September 1. That’s how many pitches he threw before being pulled through two on Saturday, getting knocked around for four runs and six hits by the potent Cubs lineup.
Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks was also forced into an early exit in the fourth inning, after taking a hard liner off his throwing arm and torso. Hendricks’ 2.13 ERA was the best in the majors in 2016, but he wasn’t at his sharpest on Saturday, allowing two runs and four hits before departing with a right forearm contusion.
Saturday marked the first time in seven games the Giants have allowed more than three runs. It should be noted that San Francisco overcame an 0-2 deficit to the Cincinnati Reds in the 2014 NLDS, winning three straight on the road to advance. Unfortunately for San Francisco, that Reds team was nowhere near the caliber of this Chicago juggernaut.
Samardzija again had a stressful first inning at Wrigley, tossing 21 pitches and giving up a run when Dexter Fowler scored from second on a Ben Zobrist bloop single.
Things went from bad to awful for Samardzija in the second. The Cubs opened the inning with three consecutive hits, including a two-run flared single by the pitcher Hendricks, who boasts a .099 career average. Hunter Pence had a chance to save a run when Kris Bryant hit a two-out fly ball to right, but the right fielder couldn’t keep it in his glove on what would’ve been a difficult diving catch, allowing Willson Contreras to score from second. When the smoke cleared the Cubs lead 4-0, and Samardzija’s first postseason start was over.
Blanco pinch-hit for Samardzija in the third inning and made his first hit since August 20 count, smacking an RBI double to center to score Joe Panik from second.
The Giants appeared to catch a break in the top of the fourth inning when Hendricks was forced to leave after being hit by Pagan’s line drive, but his replacement made the Giants pay in surprising fashion, launching a solo-homer to left off George Kontos in the fifth inning to extend Chicago’s lead 5-2. The homer was the second ever by a reliever in postseason history.
Javier Baez appeared to hit his second home run in as many games in the sixth inning, making a slow trot down the first baseline before realizing the ball was not leaving the yard. Baez paid for the mistake, eventually being called out at second after replay reviews showed he came off the bag during his slide.
The Giants will try to keep their season alive in Game 3 on Monday night, when Madison Bumgarner takes the hill against Chicago ace Jake Arrieta at AT&T Park. Bumgarner enters the matchup on a tear, and hasn’t allowed a run in 23 consecutive postseason innings. Fist pitch is at 6:30 pm on KNBR 680.
Notes
Madison Bumgarner pinch hit for George Kontos in the fifth inning, reaching first on a throwing error. Bumgarner is the first Giant pitcher to pinch hit in the postseason since Jack Bentley did it in 1924.
