Jakob Junis had never pitched against the Dodgers in his six-year career before Friday night. Five seasons with the Royals in the American League Central never pitted the righty against Hollywood blue.
He’d never experienced the rounds of “Let’s Go Giants” chants at 7:16 p.m. as he delivered the first pitch of the game. He’d probably never faced a lineup like this, either. Not with the star power at the top and the professional hitters at the bottom. The tough at-bats throughout.
Like he has all year for the Giants, Junis was up for the challenge. The same slider, strike-throwing, and calm demeanor that earned him a legitimate spot in San Francisco’s rotation suppressed the Dodgers to two runs in five innings.
But now the Giants (31-26) will see just how indispensable those qualities have made Junis, as the righty’s start ended prematurely when he suffered a left hamstring strain in the sixth inning. Even with a 7-2 win powered by Darin Ruf’s third-career multi-home run game, the most significant fallout of the weekend opener is the status of Junis.
Junis, the 29-year-old former afterthought, worked around traffic in the first. He allowed a run in the second but limited further damage. He allowed just one baserunner in the third and fourth inning and settled in after Gavin Lux’s fifth-inning home run to retire the next three Dodgers.
In all, Junis — who signed on the same day as Carlos Rodón this winter for $1.75 million — out-pitched LA ace Walker Buehler. Junis’ slider, consistent strike-throwing and calm demeanor have earned him a legitimate spot in San Francisco’s rotation, and on Friday they muzzled the Dodgers offense for five innings.
The Giants made their inside move in the bottom of the fifth. An ill-advised, errant throw from reliever Justin Bruihl aided a surge of singles from Curt Casali, Austin Slater, Joc Pederson and Darin Ruf — who also blasted a solo home run an inning earlier.
Then manager Gabe Kapler sent Junis back out for the sixth with a 6-2 lead. Two turns ago, Kapler yanked Junis after 4.1 effective but unspectacular innings. He was at 64 pitches then. This time, he left SF’s dugout at 88.
On his 92nd offering, Junis appeared to land awkwardly on his left leg. He collapsed to the grass then limped off the field with Kapler and assistant athletic trainer L.J. Petra. His night on the mound was over. Notably, Buehler exited earlier with right elbow discomfort.
John Brebbia was SF’s break-in-case-of-emergency glass, and he threw a scoreless sixth. Then Jake McGee, Dominic Leone, and Camilo Doval combined to allow one baserunner in three innings. Meanwhile, Ruf’s second homer — a towering 409-foot shot to center — extended SF’s lead to 7-2.
A win with sour news is still a win. But if Junis has to miss significant time — a distinct possibility — the Giants will be down three starters with Alex Cobb and Anthony DeSclafani already shelved. Cobb’s target date for return is June 19, while DeSclafani is shooting for June 21.
The Giants’ plan was already to run a bullpen game on Saturday. They’ll probably have to get creative again, at least once more, in the next couple weeks with Junis likely unavailable.
Junis hasn’t just been a revelation, he’s been a rock. The Giants’ leader in both ERA and WHIP. A pitcher who’s given SF a chance to win in each of his nine starts. Junis’ status and how SF can replace him may matter more in the long term than Friday’s victory.