The San Francisco Giants earned a 7-5 victory over the Texas Rangers at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday in spring training action. Jerar Encarnacion paced the offense, going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Carson Whisenhunt turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of scoreless ball with five strikeouts. The Giants finished with 11 hits on the day while holding the Rangers to 10. It was an encouraging performance for the Giants as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
Jerar Encarnacion was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI. The ability to drive the ball into the gaps stood out. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Giants offense.
Willy Adames also contributed, going 1-for-3 with two RBI, Osleivis Basabe chipped in, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI, and Buddy Kennedy added to the attack, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Mark Canha led the Rangers offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI day. Jake Burger also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. Cameron Cauley added a 2-for-2 with a double effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Giants pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Carson Whisenhunt got the start, grinding through his innings, working 3.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 1 hit with five strikeouts. He threw 35 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 5.3 innings of work, allowing 5 earned runs while striking out seven. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. R.J. Dabovich recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Spencer Bivens stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
The Giants struck first, pushing across a run in the second inning. The Giants plated three runs in the fourth. Rangers answered with two runs in the sixth. Rangers tacked on three runs in the seventh. The Giants countered with three runs in the eighth. The Giants spread their scoring across three different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Giants out-hit Rangers 11-10 on the day, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 8,772 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Giants, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Giants are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.
