Moore shuts down Mariners over 5 innings

March 18th, 2017

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Consider Matt Moore among the Giants who probably wish they could start the regular season immediately.
Moore surrendered two hits in five shutout innings for the Giants in Saturday's 6-5 Cactus League loss to the Mariners at Peoria Stadium. Moore maintained a perfect game through 3 2/3 until walked. Coincidentally, Kyle's brother, Corey, shattered Moore's no-hit bid last Aug. 25 at Dodger Stadium with two outs in the ninth inning.
The 27-year-old, San Francisco's projected No. 3 starter, sensed during his pregame warmup -- which didn't take too long in the 91-degree heat -- that he could rely on his fastball.
"Everything just kind of came together for me today," said Moore, who yielded his first hit when singled with one out in the fifth. "It felt like I had a live fastball in the bullpen, and I tried to keep that same mentality in the game."
Moore's performance thrilled Giants manager Bruce Bochy: "I'm really very happy with where he is right now."
Worth noting
• Bochy had ample praise for catcher Tim Federowicz, who has doubled in his last five games and in five of his past eight plate appearances.
"I told you guys that he's a doubles machine," Bochy said. "He's made some noise in this camp."
was scratched from Saturday's lineup with a laceration that he sustained when a bad-hop grounder struck his head as he took ground balls at third base on an auxiliary diamond at Scottsdale Stadium. Resting Hwang was a precautionary move, since he was not seriously injured. Tests proved that Hwang did not experience a concussion, Bochy said.
• Left-hander Will Smith, who appeared in his first exhibition game on Friday against Colorado, believes that he'll be ready for the regular season. Smith estimated that he could make as many as six more appearances, which would prepare him sufficiently.

"Obviously my command wasn't quite where I wanted it to be," said Smith, who allowed two hits in a scoreless seventh. "That's something I'll have to continue to work on."