Early season overreactions be damned, Yu Darvish rode into Oracle Park for his second start of the year as one of the hottest pitchers of 2022.
In his season debut against Arizona, Darvish dealt six no-hit innings, facing 22 batters and allowing just four base runners. At 35, his bounceback season was underway after a disappointing 2021.
Then Mike Yastrzemski, owner of three homers in 10 career at-bats against Darvish, lined a leadoff single into right field. Darvish’s quest for a no-hit season ended there. His night was soon to follow.
Brandon Belt followed Yastrzemski’s single with a two-run home run. When they reconvened at home plate, they held up their hands in a “C” — for Belt’s captainship.
San Francisco piled on four more runs after that in the first inning then four more runs in the second, knocking out Darvish in the process. The early-inning explosion handed Darvish the worst start of his career and the Giants (3-2) a 13-2 win to knot the three-game series.
Tuesday’s offensive awakening came on a night in which Alyssa Nakken became the first woman to coach on the field of a regular season game and in a dominant season debut from starter Alex Cobb (5IP, 2ER, 2BB, 10K). Thanks to SF’s order, the three hour, 13-minute game was over in two frames.
Belt’s first-inning home run preceded walks from Darin Ruf and Brandon Crawford, then back-to-back singles from Wilmer Flores and Thairo Estrada — both of whom quickly scored. Before Darvish escaped the inning, Yastrzemski dug back into the batter’s box as the Giants hit through the order.
After Cobb allowed the only earned run of his Giants debut, Belt stepped up again to lead off the second. When the first baseman laced an opposite-field single into left, Darvish retreated back to his rubber with his hands on his hips and kicked his toe into the dirt.
Four batters later, Darvish made the slow walk back to the visitor’s clubhouse, guided by boos from Giants fans.
Darvish recorded five outs — the fewest ever in his 10-year career. He allowed nine runs, which he’s only eclipsed once. He walked two and hit another of the 15 batters he faced.
The Giants’ 10-run burst in the first two innings came after their offense appeared comatose; they’d scored six runs in three games since Opening Day. The night before, San Francisco went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 20 men on base in a 4-2 loss.
The hits then poured in all at once. Yastrzemski went 2-for-5 with a double, shaking off a 1-for-10 start. Joc Pederson went 2-for-5 with his first homer as a Giant. Wilmer Flores went 3-for-5 with a bomb and three runs scored. Thairo Estrada chipped in three RBI and Steven Duggar added two of his own.
All the while, Cobb navigated San Diego’s zone with newfound velocity and an impressive splitter. The righty’s fastball sat at 95 mph, roughly two ticks faster than last year’s season average. He pumped gas as high as 96.3 mph — the fastest of his career.
Cobb mowed down 10 Padres in five innings, allowing two runs in the process. Before Tuesday, he’d recorded at least 10 strikeouts eight times in his career. He only threw 53 of his 83 pitches for strikes, but Cobb still juxtaposed Darvish’s meltdown with an electric debut.
In the later innings of the blowout, there were unwritten rules broken and two home runs off position player Wil Myers.
But what will be remembered most from this Tuesday night in April: Alyssa Nakken’s cameo at first base. Everyday first base coach Antoan Richardson got ejected from the game in the third inning, when SF already led 10-1. Nakken took Richardson’s post, enjoying a respectful handshake from Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer and an ovation from the Oracle Park crowd.
Nakken already has her jersey in Cooperstown, from when she coached first during a 2020 exhibition game. Now she’s got another barrier-breaking record to her name.