San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws to the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of an exhibition baseball game Thursday, March 30, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

by Ana Kieu

The San Francisco Giants shutout the Oakland Athletics 3-0 in the first game of the Bay Bridge Series at AT&T Park Thursday night.

Giants fans got their first look at infielder Chris Marrero, who hit an opposite-field double and made a running catch in left field.

A’s pitcher Sean Manaea held the Giants hitless for four perfect innings, throwing 43 pitches in his final start as Oakland’s No. 2 starter.

Manaea told MLB.com: “Today was a good indicator of where I’m at…Mentally, physically, everything’s feeling really good. So, happy with how spring ended and just want to take it into Opening Day.”

Manaea added: “Came into spring and I just wanted to be more consistent with everything — mechanics, changeup, slider…I felt like I definitely accomplished that. It was a little rough at the beginning, but the past two or three starts have been right where I wanted to be. Today, everything just came together.”

Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto had six hits and two strikeouts over five innings on the mound.

Cueto told the San Francisco Chronicle: “Didn’t feel like a spring training game. It felt like it was already the regular season, but I guess that has to do with the fans who’re always really good here in San Francisco.”

But then the Giants broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning with three runs. Brandon Crawford and Eduardo Nunez hit RBI singles. Joe Panik added a sacrifice fly.

The Giants took game one of the three-game Bay Bridge Series with a 3-0 shutout victory over the A’s. Tyson Blach (2-1, 4.22 ERA) picked up the win. Closer Mark Melancon made one save.

Daniel Coulombe (0-3, 5.79 ERA) lost his third straight start with the A’s.

Notes
Longtime Giants television broadcasters Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper signed multi-year extensions on NBC Sports Bay Area.

Giants pitcher Mark Melancon made his first appearance in San Francisco.

Up Next
The Giants return home to host the A’s Friday at 7:15 p.m. PST on KNTV. Then, both teams return to Oakland for a Saturday matinee at 12:05 p.m. PST on CSCA before having a much-needed day off before 2017 MLB Opening Day. The Giants face the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday at 1:10 p.m. PST on CSBA, ESP2 and FSAZ.