A unique promotion will put Pablo Sandoval in the spotlight Saturday when the San Francisco Giants host the Cincinnati Reds on the second night of a three-game series.
In response to a scoreless inning of relief in April 2018 in a 15-6 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the veteran infielder’s major-league pitching debut, the Giants scheduled a “Let Pablo Pitch” bobblehead night for an obscure Saturday that figured to need an attendance boost this May.
Turns out, the chosen opponent happens to be the Reds, against whom Sandoval got his second career pitching appearance on Monday, once again facing the minimum three hitters in a scoreless inning.
This time, Sandoval hit the first batter he faced, Jose Peraza, before getting Josh VanMeter to fly out and Nick Senzel to ground into a double play.
The Giants lost the game 12-4, with three of the San Francisco runs coming courtesy of a Sandoval home run in the sixth inning.
He also recorded a stolen base in the game, becoming the first major-leaguer since 1905 to pitch a scoreless inning, hit a homer and steal a base in the same game.
Of course, Sandoval’s scoreless inning was the main topic of conversation in the Giants’ clubhouse after the game, during which the right-hander uttered a reaction that’s bound to go down in history.
“Whatever I can do to help this team, I want do take that punch and sacrifice everything to help the bullpen,” he began innocently enough, before boasting, “Pitching is not easy, but it’s easy for me because I don’t care.”
Already expecting a big crowd just because of the one-of-a-kind bobblehead, the Giants plan to fully capitalize on the money-making opportunity by offering a T-shirt with the “Let Pablo Pitch” theme written across the front. In smaller type, Sandoval’s memorable quote completes the look.
Reds hitters might not get a rematch with Sandoval, but starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani will. He’s the one who served up Sandoval’s three-run homer in the series finale in Cincinnati.
The right-hander (2-1, 3.65) benefited from the 12-run assault on Giants pitching, recording the win despite allowing four runs in six innings. It improved his lifetime record against the Giants to 2-1 with a 6.23 ERA in four starts.
The Giants will counter with Jeff Samardzija, (2-1, 3.16), who has a revenge motive of his own. He was bombed for home runs on three consecutive pitches in the first inning of his start at Cincinnati last Sunday.
The homers by Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker and Derek Dietrich followed a single by Joey Votto and gave the Reds a 4-0 lead four batters into the bottom of the first.
But Samardzija bounced back to complete five innings, giving up no more runs and just one more hit, allowing the Giants to rally for a 6-5 win.
Samardzija, who did not get a decision in the game, has a 3-5 record and 4.17 ERA in 27 games (13 starts) in his career against the Reds.
After getting his leadoff single off Samardzija on Sunday and two more hits in Monday’s big win, Reds first baseman Joey Votto has gone 0–for-12, including an 0-for-2 that accompanied three walks in Friday’s 7-0 win in the series opener.
Votto, batting .206 on the season, noted before the game he’s confident a turnaround is coming.
“I’m so annoyed with how I’ve performed from a statistical point of view,” he told reporters. “Every single part of my game needs to get better, for sure. But I feel like I’m headed in the right direction.”