Rays, Glasnow, thump Giants 5-2 to spoil home opener

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER

Kicking off their home season after a rough week on the road, the Giants didn’t find Tampa Bay in the mood to play along with any festivities at the newly christened Oracle Park Friday afternoon. The Rays wasted little time jumping on Dereck Rodriguez, scoring three first inning runs on the way to a 5-2 victory to spoil the Giants home opener.


©DANIEL GLUSKOTER Tampa Bay’s Tyler Glasnow kept the Giants off-balance Thursday, striking out six while pitching six shutout innings. The Rays won 5-2 to spoil the Giants home opener.

While pre-game ceremonies honored the Giants retiring manager Bruce Bochy along with tributes to the passing of Willie McCovey, Frank Robinson and former Giants owner Peter Magowan, Tampa Bay wasted little time spoiling the festive atmosphere.

After starting the game with two quick outs, Rodriguez proceeded to give up back-to-back doubles to Ji-Man Choi and Brandon Lowe before Yandy Díaz and Kevin Kiermaier homered in consecutive at bats to give the Rays a 4-0 lead before San Francisco had sent a batter to the plate. Rodriguez would settle down, working into the sixth without giving up another run, but the damage had been done.

The early cushion was all that Tampa’s Tyler Glasnow would need as he shut down the Giants on just three hits over six innings while striking six. In two starts lasting 11 innings this season Glasnow now has an ERA of 0.82.

San Francisco’s only offense came in the 7th after the Rays went to their bullpen. With one out, Kevin Pillar singled for his first hit as a member of the Giants. Back-to-back doubles by pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval closed the deficit to 5-2, but Tampa’s Adam Kolarek came in to induce to Brandon Belt to ground out and end the threat.

The series resumes tomorrow with Jeff Samardzija facing off against the Rays. Tampa has announced that Ryne Stanek will be their opener in a planned bullpen game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm.

About Daniel Gluskoter

Daniel Gluskoter is the Martinez Tribune's national music and sports editor and a Bay Area photojournalist who's work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2008 Presidential campaign as a correspondent for United Press International and has travelled worldwide covering events ranging from numerous Super Bowls and Olympics to Live Aid and the Grammys.

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