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Giants' offense strikes early in bullpen game, defeat Twins 4-1

Originally posted on FanNation Giants Baseball Insider
By Natasha Welingkar | Last updated 5/22/23

The SF Giants took their first game against the Minnesota Twins Monday night 4-1. The Giants turned to the bullpen for another game, and their offense came prepared with run support. They scored early against Bailey Ober, who was 3–0 on the season with a 2.55 ERA coming into the game. The team won their first game in history at Target Field.

In the first inning, LaMonte Wade Jr. continued to set the tone for the Giants lineup, leading off the game against the Twins with a walk. Mike Yastrzemski followed with a walk of his own, and JD Davis got the Giants on the board 1-0 with a double that scored Wade from second. But the Giants didn't stop there. Michael Conforto came up to bat next, and took Ober 413 feet deep for a home run, that would put the Giants comfortably at 4-0.

John Brebbia started the game for the Giants, notching two strikeouts in an uneventful 1-2-3 first inning. The Giants then turned to Sean Manaea, who tossed a solid 3.2 innings, and struck out eight batters. He looked closer to the pitcher the Giants were expecting upon his signing this offseason, though his shorter outing suggests the Giants are waiting to put him back in a starting role. He handed the ball to Tristan Beck, not before setting himself up to earn the win if the Giants held on to the lead.

Despite a few threats, they were able to do just that. Beck ran into trouble in the eighth inning, giving up the Twins only run to outfielder Kyle Garlick in the form of a booming home run to the second deck at Target Field, putting the score at 4-1. He hit another batter before being relieved by Tyler Rogers. Despite giving up a walk to former Giant Donovan Solano, Rogers struck out the next two batters to end the eighth.

In the ninth, Wilmer Flores pinch hit for LaMonte Wade Jr., who left the game out of precaution because of a thumb injury.

And though everyone expected this first meeting between the Giants and Carlos Correa to be all about revenge, it wasn't so. Though he went 2-4, he failed to score or tally any RBI, and even committed an error. The series continues tomorrow as the Giants look to stay strong in Minnesota. Game two will begin at 4:40 PM Pacific.

This article first appeared on FanNation Giants Baseball Insider and was syndicated with permission.

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