(Photo: Gabe Rodriguez)
The San Francisco Giants sported a new lead-off hitter in Denard Span, and in his first Opening Day game with San Francisco, the 9-year vet, who signed a four-year contract in January, finished the day 2-4, with two runs scored and five RBI’s.
The Brewers took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but the Giants answered right back in the top of the second with two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
After the Brew Crew tied the game in the bottom of the frame at 2-2 on a homer off the bat of Scooter Gennett, San Fran regained the advantage with two more runs in the third. From that point on they never looked back as they added eight more runs to win an impressive opening day 12-3 blowout.
Span was the star of the day with an RBI single in the third, a sac fly in the fourth and a three-run bomb in the eighth, that started a back-to-back-to-back party. Joe Panik and Buster Posey were the other Giants who went yard as well.
The Giants received five innings from starter Madison Bumgarner, as he gave up three runs on five hits, striking out six, but he also walked five batters and gave up two home runs.
As for the Brewers, starter Wily Peralta didn’t fare well during his time on the mound, as he tossed just four innings, giving up five runs (four earned), on six hits, walking two and striking out two.
Giants third baseman Matt Duffy, who batted .277, with 12 home runs and 77 RBI’s in 2015, started his 2016 campaign headed in the right direction, as he nearly matched Span with four RBI’s of his own finishing the game with two hits in five at bats, one of the hits a two run shot in the Giants 5th inning.
On a day when their Ace wasn’t as sharp as the Giants would have hoped, the offense came alive and showed that they are ready to take on the Dodgers for the NL West crown.
Both teams are back at it on Tuesday night with newcomer Johnny Cueto going up against the Brewers righty Jimmy Nelson. First pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET.
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