Game Wrap 4/2016: D'Backs 3 Giants 0

Steven Okert's long awaited MLB debut ended up as the highlight of an otherwise downer game for the Giants as the 5'th inning ambushed Matt Cain for the second start in a row.  Key Lines:

Matt Duffy- 2 for 3, BB.  BA= .196.  Nice game at the plate for Duffman after taking a day to clear his head and work on some mechanical things in the batting cage.

Matt Cain- 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 6.46.  For the second start in a row, Matt Cain took a no-hitter into the 5'th inning and then fell apart.  The bullpen blanked the D'Backs the rest of the way, but the Giants offense could not muster an XBH against Robbie Ray and that was the ballgame.  I would say for Cain's next start, Boch better plan on having someone ready in the bullpen by the first batter of the 5'th inning and Cain comes out as soon as a hitter reaches base, maybe 2, but the leash needs to be short from the start of the 5'th inning.

Mike Broadway- 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  Broadway got the callup along with Okert when George Kontos hit the DL and Chris Heston got sent down to Sacramento.  Broadway throws hard, but has had problems with command at the MLB level which has resulted in his stuff being hittable.  Bochy envisions him and Okert being the tandem long relievers, the reasoning being two 2-inning pitchers are better than one 4-inning guy.

Steven Okert- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 0.00.  This was supposed to happen last year, but got delayed when Josh Osich passed him on the depth chart like he was standing still. Okert had gone 2+ innings in his last 2 appearances for Sacramento, and got the call when the decision was made to send Hesto down.  He certainly took a big first step in grabbing this opportunity by the throat and not letting go with 2 impressive innings of work.  Brandon Crawford and Matt Duffy made a couple of MLB defensive plays behind him which he took note of.

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The Loss dropped the Giants into a 3'rd/4'th place tie with the D'Backs in the NL West, 1.5 games behind the Rockies and Dodgers who both lost.  The Padres lost to the Pirates 5-4 and are in last place, 3 games behind the leaders.

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Madison Bumgarner tries to be the stopper this afternoon against Zack Greinke who cannot be counted on to continue his early season struggles.

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As mentioned in the Game Wrap, Chris Heston was demoted to Sacramento after getting torched in his last 2 appearances.  It was a lot to ask of him to become a long reliever especially coming into games with runners on base.  He'll go back to starting in Sacramento and await opportunities that will likely open up in the Giants rotation as the season progresses.