Krukow defends struggling Samardzija, remains optimistic

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On Friday in Washington, Jeff Samardzija allowed five runs over seven innings.

He gave up six hits and two walks, while striking out five.

He lost his fourth straight start.

"Well what I saw in Friday's game got me excited about the guy," Mike Krukow said on KNBR 680 on Monday. "... The last couple of outings what I've seen is now he's got a curveball. He's got a knuckle curveball and it's a damn good one. He threw that a bunch in his last outing...

"... Bottom line, I was excited about what I saw. He had guys off his back leg with the curveball, and the changeup -- first changeup that he's actually been able to throw in a 2-0 count all year long. So I think he's really coming out of this funk and I've seen definite improvements.

"And I'm excited about this curveball. It's not only a 'get a strike curveball,' it's a kill pitch. He can get swing and misses with it."

Samardzija gave up three earned runs over 5.1 innings in his first start of the year in Milwaukee.

Over his next nine starts, he went 7-2 with a 2.33 ERA.

His last 12 outings: 2-6 with a 6.30 ERA.

"I know it's the same -- he gives up five in seven -- but he ate seven up and he was having a much better array of speed and movements that he can give the hitter than any other time we've seen him all year," Krukow added. "So to me, he's coming out of it."

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