In the ongoing battle for the last two spots in the Giants starting rotation, Ty Blach delivered another strong outing and further pushed his case for consideration.
Over four innings, Blach eased through a right-handed-heavy Padres lineup, giving up three runs over three hits and striking out two in the Giants 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres.
“I feel good,” Blach said. “I’m just trying to go out there and execute pitches. I was behind a few more guys today than I would’ve liked to have been, but overall I’m really pleased with the progress that I’ve made and the way things are shaping up.”
Blach pitched through two strong innings early, with his lone blemish coming in the first inning. Wil Myers took full advtange of a 3-1 delivery from Ty Blach in the first inning and barreled his second home run of the spring to right-center to get the Padres up early. The lefty would allow two more runs in the third via a two-run double from Jose Pirela, but retired Myers and Eric Hosmer to end the inning. He breezed through a 1-2-3 fourth to end his outing.
“The curveball, I feel like has a lot better shape and bite to it,” he added. “It’s just a matter of commanding a little better. I bounced a few too many of them today to my liking, but I feel good with the way that’s coming. I’m not getting very many good swings off of it, so I feel confident in the way things are coming with that.”
A struggling Hunter Pence barreled out some redemption in the bottom of the first for San Francisco. After Gregor Blanco tripled down the right field line, and back-to-back walks were issued to Andrew McCutchen and Buster Posey, Pence turned on the first pitch he saw from Padres’ starter Luis Perdomo and corked a grand slam to the lawn in left field.
“I’ve been working on having good at bats, seeing the ball, timing,” Pence said. “These games, we’re competing. I got an opportunity with good table-setting in front of me. I was trying to be ready if he (Perdomo) threw one over the plate to take a good swing at it.”
Pence was batting just .105 before Sunday’s contest.
Game notes:
Mark Melancon made his second spring appearance and notched an inning of relief. His 2-2 challenge fastball to Pirela resulted in Pirela turning on a solo home run, but Melancon recovered by retiring Myers and Hunter Renfroe on ground balls and Hosmer on a strike out.
Pablo Sandoval got the start at first base and went 1 for 3 and scored a run. He made an out-saving tag on Freddy Galvis after a wild throw in the fifth.
