SAN FRANCISCO — Albert Suarez made 103 starts over nine minor league seasons as he waited for the call to the big leagues. When he got here, Bruce Bochy sent him to the bullpen to warm up in extra innings on Saturday, just so he would get his feet wet.
Suarez didn’t get into Saturday’s 13-inning game, but the day would have been his until a resolution had Matt Duffy not hit a walk-off double. He did pitch in Wednesday’s 13-inning game, and once again he was the last reliever standing.
This time, Suarez did more than just pitch. He earned his first career big league win by getting through the top of Toronto’s order.
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“I just talked to myself and told myself, be calm,” he said. “I told myself that I know how to do this — pound the zone and keep the ball down.”
Suarez did more than talk on the mound. In the biggest spot, he shook his head at a Buster Posey sign. With the go-ahead run on third, Jose Bautista at the plate, and a 3-2 count, Suarez stuck to his guns.
“He showed a lot of maturity,” Posey said. “He shook me off 3-2 and then threw the pitch he was comfortable with.”
Suarez wanted a slider, and he threw a good one that Bautista popped up. Posey didn’t mind at all. He wants pitchers to have confidence in what they’re throwing, and Suarez certainly did.
San Francisco Giants
The 26-year-old was an afterthought this spring but was called up last week to help fill out the bullpen. He hasn’t allowed a run in three appearances (Gregor Blanco’s throw on Wednesday helped with that) and has shown good stuff, including a fastball that he runs up to 95.
Suarez also is as durable as any pitcher the Giants can put in their bullpen, and he responded well after throwing 43 pitches over three innings in back-to-back games Sunday and Monday. He hasn’t shown nerves up here, and said he wasn’t thinking about getting his first win when the Giants rallied Wednesday.
“I saw when (Derek) Law got his first one (over the weekend) but we were just thinking about getting outs,” he said.
The win did come with a celebration. Suarez was doused with beer — “cold, it was freezing,” he said — before showering for a flight to Phoenix. After nine years in the minors, he finally is making his first MLB road trip.
“The first week has been great so far,” he said. “Hopefully it keeps going like this.”
--- From yesterday, here's my game story on the Giants finding an odd way to a win. It's been a long stretch without a day off, and now they play four in Phoenix, a place that's difficult for pitchers. Bochy said he would talk to Dave Righetti about making a change and maybe adding an arm. As for the position players, how was Posey feeling after catching 13 innings?
"I'll let you know tomorrow," he said.
--- The Giants hit into three double plays yesterday and they're at 33 on the season. That leads the National League. This is a group that makes a lot of contact, but still, that's something that needs to turn.
--- If you missed it, here's my recap of April: The best stats, quotes, GIFs, Vines and more.
--- The Padres announced that they claimed Hector Sanchez off waivers, so there's a chance the Giants see him next week in San Diego. If you're going to go after Tim Lincecum, and the Padres have, I guess this can't hurt.