Padre youngsters Tatis, Quantrill too much for Anderson, Giants

The Giants lost Saturday night for just the fourth time since the All Star Break, falling 5-1 to the San Diego Padres.

Giants starter Shaun Anderson (L, 3-3, 5.06 ERA) allowed three runs in five innings and was charged with a fourth after leaving the game in the sixth. While Anderson lacked pinpoint command throughout the game, walking two and throwing only 59 percent of his pitches for strikes, he flashed a darting slider that notched 12 swinging strikes. He said:

“My slider felt great today, it’s been feeling good the past couple weeks. It’s something I’ve been working on.”

Padres phenom shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. proved too much for Anderson, singling in the first and third innings. With a runner on in the fifth inning Tatis Jr. unloaded on a 1-2 slider, driving a two-run home run over the right-center field fence. The homer came one pitch after Anderson knocked Tatis Jr. down with a high-and-tight fastball.

Giants Manager Bruce Bochy and catcher Stephen Vogt both praised Anderson’s slider and thought he battled well through the game despite the pitch to Tatis Jr. Bochy said:

“I think he battled hard and kept us somewhat in the game, we just couldn’t do much in the bats tonight. Off night for the offense, their guy did a good job. We just couldn’t get it going.”

Anderson and Bochy agreed that the start represented some good signs after Anderson’s last four starts in which he posted a 7.85 ERA, allowing 16 earned runs in 18-1/3 innings. Anderson said:

“I think the past two outings have been really good progress. I think there’s still more I need to learn … better pitches in the later innings, you know. Especially going through the lineup two or three more times, you know, I got to really bear down and make pitches after that.”

The Padres also scored on an RBI double from center fielder Wil Myers in the fourth and a two-run single from pinch-hitter Greg Garcia, which pushed the lead to 5-1. However, a pair of runs would be all the Padres needed.

Padres starter Cal Quantrill (W, 4-2, 3.57 ERA) allowed just three hits and one run in 5-1/3 innings, inducing some hard contact that only led to outs for the Giants.

The Giants’ biggest chance to score came against Padres reliever Craig Stammen, who came in after Quantrill in the sixth inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, center fielder Kevin Pillar hit a 2-0 fastball 107.6 mph — right to Padres center fielder Manuel Margot.

Mike Yastrzemski scored the only run for the Giants, roping a double to left and scoring on a Pablo Sandoval single. Yastrzemski continued his recent hot streak, knocking two hits in three at-bats and taking a lead-off walk in the fourth inning. Yastrzemski has posted a .298 batting average since July 12, the first game after the All Star Break.

UP NEXT

Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 3.66 ERA) faces the Padres Sunday afternoon in the series’ rubber match. The Padres have yet to announce a starter for the game. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.

NOTES

Sam Coonrod continued to make a case for himself as a bullpen mainstay. The right-hander’s fastball peaked at 98.6 mph during a scoreless ninth, according to Statcast. … Shaun Anderson struck out seven and tallied a career-high 14 swinging strikes. … Prior to the game, Sandoval met with Chris Rice, who caught his 11th inning home run Friday one-handed with a baby in his other arm. Sandoval autographed the home run ball and a bat for Rice and his wife.