Four hours before the first pitch of Tuesday’s game at Oracle Park, Mike Yastrzemski was the only Giants player on the field.
He was joined by several coaches, taking early batting practice in an effort to find a rhythm with his swing.
Yastrzemski found it alright.
With an eighth-inning grand slam off Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Humberto Castellanos, Yastrzemski blasted a ball into McCovey Cove and led the Giants to a stunning 9-8 comeback victory.
Yastrzemski’s fourth career splash hit was the team’s second of the night, following a two-run home run from Steven Duggar that came in the second inning after the Giants fell into an early 7-0 deficit.
A persistent Giants offense came from behind to shock a Diamondbacks team that has now lost 21 consecutive road games dating back to April 25, when Madison Bumgarner threw a seven-inning no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves.
The D’backs gained their seven-run advantage Tuesday against right-hander Zack Littell and rookie lefty Sammy Long. Littell was designated as the Giants’ “opener” so that Long could ease into his second big league appearance against the bottom of Arizona’s lineup.
The strategy backfired immediately as Littell gave up four earned runs and didn’t record an out against the six batters he faced. Long escaped a jam in the first, but hardly fared better in the second inning as he gave up three runs to a D’backs team that was on a mission to end its long road losing streak.
The Giants refused to let it happen.
With two runs in the sixth inning courtesy of RBI singles from Donovan Solano and Jason Vosler, the Giants put the D’backs in an uncomfortable position.
In the eighth inning, an offense that grinds down opposing starters did its best work.
Brandon Belt led off the frame with a double into the right field corner for his third hit of the night. LaMonte Wade Jr. reached on a force play after Solano reached on a single. With two outs, Curt Casali drew a walk, bringing up his former Vanderbilt teammate and the Giants’ best player from the 2020 season.
Entering play on Tuesday, Yastrzemski hadn’t been able to recapture that magic he provided with the bat throughout last season, when he was unquestionably the Giants’ best player.
With one swing, he sent a jolt of electricity through the Oracle Park crowd and carried the Giants to victory.
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