SAN FRANCISCO -- Lost in the Giants' excitement surrounding Madison Bumgarner's eight shutout innings in Thursday's 3-0 win over San Diego was Mark Melancon's moment of triumph.
Melancon completed the shutout by pitching an uneventful ninth inning and recording a save -- his first in almost exactly a year, since June 20, 2017.
The Giants envisioned more productivity than that from Melancon when they signed him to a four-year, $62 million deal before last season. But forearm injuries limited the right-hander to 11 saves in 16 chances last season with the Giants after he amassed 98 saves in 2015-16.