Romo shows appreciation for Bochy with gift

Ex-Giants reliever played crucial role on title-winning teams; Solano reunites with countrymen

May 30th, 2019

MIAMI -- This week marked a memorable reunion between Marlins reliever and Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

Romo, who played nine seasons with the Giants from 2008-16, met the opposing team bus prior to Tuesday's opener at Marlins Park and spent close to an hour in the visiting clubhouse catching up with former teammates. He also brought along a gift for the retiring Bochy: a Don Julio 1942 tequila bottle.

“I went over there before [Tuesday's] game,” Romo said on Wednesday. “I went over there and said, 'What's up?' I had a gift for him. I gave him a token of appreciation for the faith and trust that he had in me for all those years. I feel I can count the amount of people that have taken a chance on me in my life on two hands, and he's on that. He's one of those fingers."

The 36-year-old right-hander collected his 11th save of 2019 -- the 120th of his career -- in Wednesday's 4-2 Marlins win over the Giants. Romo won three World Series titles with San Francisco in '10, '12 and '14, closing three games in '12.

"I talked to him. He came by. I had a nice talk with him," Bochy said on Tuesday. "It was great to see him. Happy he's still doing well. ... I'll never forget what he did for us in the bullpen and the good times we've had."

Friendly foes
Prior to Thursday's game, Giants infielder reunited with his fellow countrymen on the Marlins -- catcher , outfielder and right-hander .

This season, Miami became the first team with three Colombians on its active roster.

"Right now, maybe we’re making history with four in one game," Solano said. "We’ve grown up and challenged everything. We can see more Colombian talent in the big leagues. I see the talent growing up and the development system is better. I’m so happy for that."

Solano, a former Marlin, played against Alfaro and Ramirez in winter ball, and he played with Guerrero and Alfaro in the last World Baseball Classic.

"We play against each other, we are friends out of this game, outside of the field," Alfaro said. "On the field, you still respect that. He's here representing our country."

Duggar rests
was available but didn't start Thursday's series finale. Bochy said it was a planned break for the outfielder, who dove for Starlin Castro's triple to center in the eighth inning on Wednesday.

"It didn't feel great when I landed, but I feel fine," Duggar said afterward.

Duggar came in as a pinch-hitter for starter Tyler Beede in the seventh inning of the Giants' 3-1 win. He went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.

Worth noting
The Giants optioned lefty Williams Jerez to Triple-A Sacramento as the corresponding roster move for Thursday starter Beede.