CSN Bay Area · Apr 23, 2016
Rewind: Samardzija does it all as Giants break slump
SAN FRANCISCO — Bruce Bochy never liked hitting the pitcher eighth, but he has been committed to it through April, in good times and bad. Friday provided Bochy with a roller coaster of emotions as he contemplated the pluses and minuses of this new strategy.
Jeff Samardzija stranded five runners in his first two at-bats, then flipped the script and drove in a career-high three the next two times up. Oh, he also pitched 7 2/3 dominant innings, pacing an 8-1 win that snapped a five-game losing streak for the team and gave Samardzija a victory in his home debut.