SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants’ bullpen was down three arms from Opening Day, and with more than half the game left to go in their series finale Sunday against the Marlins, they were tasked with protecting a one-run lead.
Mission accomplished.
Anthony DeSclafani didn’t make it out of the fourth inning, but the Giants got just enough offense and a shutdown performance by their bullpen to pull out 3-2 win over Miami on Sunday to claim their first series of the year.
The Giants’ bullpen had given up leads to Miami in each of the first two games of the season, but they safeguarded it in the series finale Sunday.
Jarlín García earned the win after cleaning up a bases-loaded jam left by DeSclafani and kicking off 4 1/3 innings of clean relief, closed out by Dominic Leone. In between, the Giants also got scoreless innings from Zack Littell and Tyler Rogers.
The Giants received their biggest offensive contributions from a couple of newcomers to the lineup.
Making his MLB debut, 22-year-old Heliot Ramos singled twice and scored the Giants’ first run of the game. Wearing gold-plated, leopard-print cleats, he motored home from first base on a double off the bat of Mauricio Dubón with two outs in the second inning.
Luke Williams, who came over in a trade from Philadelphia last month, also made his club debut, starting at third base. He followed up Dubón’s double with a RBI single of his own, poking a hit into right field to give the Giants a 2-1 lead. San Francisco made it 3-1 the next inning after a throwing error allowed Austin Slater to reach on a dribbler. He advanced to third on a double by Darin Ruf and scored on a sacrifice fly from Wilmer Flores, who slid into the DH spot after manning third base the past two games.
Camilo Doval and Jake McGee had both pitched the past two days and were considered unavailable. John Brebbia had pitched two days in a row, too, and was placed on the bereavement list before the game. But the Giants replaced him on their 28-man roster with Ramos, who made his major league debut starting in left field, rather than another arm to help the bullpen.
Knowing the circumstances, manager Gabe Kapler said Sunday’s game would be a challenge.
It took until the third game of the season for a Giants starter to appear mortal.
After Logan Webb blanked the Marlins for six innings Friday and Carlos Rodon struck out 12 over five frames Saturday, DeSclafani didn’t make it out of the fourth in the series finale on Sunday.
His troubles began on the first batter of the game, as Jorge Soler singled to left field, starting the first inning in the same fashion as all four that DeSclafani pitched: by allowing the leadoff man to reach base. Shortstop Joey Wendle singled to start the second and fourth innings, and came around to score both times.
DeSclafani scattered eight hits, a walk and a hit batter over 3⅔ innings, allowing runners in scoring position in all but one of his four frames. After Wendle’s single to lead off the fourth, Jazz Chisholm doubled and DeSclafani issued a free pass to Soler to load the bases. The last straw for Kapler came the next batter, as DeSclafani hit Garrett Cooper, forcing in Wendle from third base.
The score was 3-2 and the bases were juiced as García entered the game. But he got center fielder Jesús Sanchez to pop up, and that’s where the score would remain.
Left-hander Alex Wood will look to get the rotation back on track Monday in his first start of the season, as the Giants begin their second series of the year, hosting the San Diego Padres for three games.
