San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani was the winning pitcher of record going six innings against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun Apr 11, 2021 (AP News photo)
By Jeremy Kahn
SAN FRANCISCO-Anthony DeSclafani made a great impression before the home crowd for the San Francisco Giants.
DeSclafani, pitching at Oracle Park for the first time as a member of the Giants, pitched six strong shutout innings, allowing zero runs on eight hits, walking just one and striking out eight, as the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-0 before a crowd of 6,560 at Oracle Park.
This is the fourth straight win for the Giants and they have won five out of their last six, all over division opponents.
With the victory, the Giants completed their first sweep of the Rockies at Oracle Park for the first time since June 26-28, 2017.
Alex Dickerson gave DeSclafani instant offense in the bottom of the first inning, as he took a German Marquez pitch and put it into the center field bleachers to give the Giants a quick 1-0 lead.
The biggest play of the game will not appear in the box score, but it was a stolen base by Brandon Belt that manufactured the second run of the first inning by the Giants.
Following the Dickerson home run, Belt walked and then with Evan Longoria at the plate, Belt stole second without a throw and standing up.
On the very next pitch to Longoria, he put it into center field to score Belt with a huge second run of the inning.
After that rough first inning, where he threw 35 pitches, Marquez settled down, as he only allowed two more hits until the bottom of the sixth inning.
It was in that sixth inning, that with one out that Belt launched a solo home run onto the arcade for his first home run of the season.
LaMonte Wade, Jr. made his Giants debut and it was a memorable one, as he singled, doubled and walked in his first three at-bats before flying out in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Giants tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Evan Longoria drove in Mike Yastrzemski, who doubled with one out in the inning.
NOTES: Reyes Moronta was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right flexor strain and Wade, Jr. was recalled from the alternate site to take his spot on the roster.
Also before the game, the Giants received infielder Thairo Estrada from the New York Yankees for cash considerations. Estrada will report to the Giants alternate site, while outfielder Jaylin Davis was recalled and placed on the 60-day disabled list with left knee patella tendinitis.
Entering the game, Giants’ starting pitchers have tossed 5.0-or-more innings and allowed three-or-fewer runs in each of SF’s first eight games…only twice in the modern era have the Giants had a longer streak to begin a season (2002 & 1937)…the rotation has posted a 2.61 ERA, the third best figure in the National League behind Miami (2.01) and Milwaukee (2.08), (Stats, LLC).
Today marks the 21st anniversary of the first ever regular season game at what is now known as Oracle Park.
On April 11, 2000, Kirk Rueter threw the first pitch in what was then called Pacific Bell Park to Devon White, who singled to right field; however, it was the Kevin Elster show that day, as he hit three home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Giants 6-5 before a sellout crowd of 40,930. Barry Bonds hit the first Giants home run in the new ballpark, as he hit a solo home run off of Chan Ho Park.
Bay Area native Ed Montague was the home plate umpire for that inaugural game.
UP NEXT: Aaron Sanchez looks for his first win of the season, as he takes for the Giants on Monday night in the opener of the three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, who will send left-hander Wade Miley to the mound, as he looks for his second win of the season.
