SCOTTSDALE -- Salt River Fields is the best park in the Cactus League, and because it's also the most technologically advanced, we now know that Hunter Pence is absolutely ready for Opening Day.
Pence hit a rocket of a homer to right-center in the third inning and the Statcast system at Salt River revealed that it left the bat at 114 mph. That homer would have been the third-hardest for the Giants in 2015, and per MLB.com's Daren Willman, it would have been Pence's hardest hit, period, of the season. Pence maxed out at 113.5 in 2015, when injuries robbed him of much of his playing time. Pence hit a second homer in his final at-bat, this one leaving the bat at just 113 mph.
"Those balls were scalded," Bochy said. "He had a nice night, didn't he? He's fresher right now. It's been a while since he played. He's getting after it pretty good right now."
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Denard Span also homered and Kelby Tomlinson had a two-run triple. Bochy said Span turned his spring around when he went down to minor league camp for extra at-bats last week.
"He knows himself," Bochy said. "He came back with better timing."
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San Francisco Giants
Game recap: Chris Stratton, a former first-round pick, has quietly had a very good spring. Stratton got through the heart of the Diamondbacks order in his first inning Tuesday, then struck out the side in his next frame. His 0.00 spring ERA was lost in the eighth when he walked two and power-packed Diamondbacks prospect Peter O'Brien homered off Mike Broadway, cashing in Stratton's runs. Still, Stratton has allowed just two runs and six hits in 10 spring innings. He could be an option as a starter down the line, or as a long reliever, a role he looks well suited for. He'll start in Sacramento this season.
"He was really good," Bochy said. "The ball was coming out of his hand nice tonight ... He's a guy that's on our radar."
O’Brien’s homer went 462 feet and had an exit velo of 120 mph. That's absurd. Remember that kid’s name … the Diamondbacks don’t really know where to play him, because he doesn’t really have a position, but they’re thinking of keeping him as a pinch-hitter. He’ll cause some pain for Giants fans at some point.
Health Updates: There was good news for Trevor Brown, and a step forward for Andrew Susac.
Familiar Face: In the afternoon game, Travis Ishikawa hit a late homer to help the White Sox top the half-Giants. Hector Sanchez also played in that game, striking out in his lone at-bat. Ishikawa is hitting .321 this spring; Sanchez is at .150. The Giants bashed Mat Latos in that game and Jake Peavy struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings while giving up four runs. Cory Gearrin had a rough one, allowing two homers. Brandon Belt hit a long homer. Ehire Adrianza had two hits, raising his spring average to .311.
Also in Familiar Face territory, Bochy raved about Jake Dunning, who got Joaquin Arias to ground out and then struck out two in a perfect ninth. Dunning has been set back by leg injuries, but he hit 95 in his inning Tuesday. "That was the Jake of a couple years ago," Bochy said. Dunning is someone to root for; he's one of the nicest players to ever come through that clubhouse.
ICYMI: Belt’s representatives met with the Giants to discuss a long-term extension. Here’s the latest.
Podcast Alert! Matt Duffy was this week’s guest, and you can listen here. If you subscribed on iTunes you are a smart human being, and it should be ready to go on your phone.