SAN FRANCISCO – Bruce Bochy is known for using as many relievers as he needs to get his team across the finish line, but that doesn’t mean that’s what he wants to be doing.
“We’ve talked about this,” Bochy said following his team’s 6-3 victory Sunday afternoon over the Arizona Diamondbacks. “A long man, a swing guy. We had one of the best, and he’s still throwing the ball well…and that’s Petit. It makes it a little tougher when you don’t have those guys.”
Last year Albert Suarez was battling with Ty Blach for the fifth and final spot in the Giants rotation, and eventually lost the battle. He went to the disabled list early in 2017 with a sore shoulder, and after a stint in Sacramento re-joined the Giants bullpen. But his history as a starter allows Bochy to use him for multiple innings a game when necessary.
“It’s a really key part for us I think,” said Sunday’s starter Jeff Samardzija. “To have that guy that can swing, throw three innings, spot start, throw one inning if he needs to. Suarez, he’s got a great personality. Never complains, he always wants to pitch and he’s a big boy as you can see, so he’s always ready to pitch that’s for sure.”
Sunday Suarez was a big part of San Francisco’s victory, executing a seven-out save to sweep the Diamondbacks.