Pence homers twice against D-backs

March 23rd, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Hunter Pence went 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs scored and three RBIs as the Giants built a lead, but the D-backs got a monster three-run homer from Peter O'Brien in the eighth and rallied for a 7-7 tie in 10 innings on Tuesday night at Salt River Fields.
D-backs shortstop Jean Segura continued his torrid spring by going 1-for-3 with an RBI. He's batting .525 in the Cactus League and has hit safely in 11 of his 12 games.

After Pence's big night started with an RBI single, Kelby Tomlinson drove in a pair of runs with a triple and scored on a Chris Owings throwing error as the Giants jumped on Arizona starter Rubby De La Rosa for four runs in the first inning, all of which came with two outs.

"Both balls were scalded," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Pence, who hiked his Cactus League home run total to a team-high five.
Span added a solo home run in the second inning, while Pence went deep in the third and eighth.
"I missed with a couple of pitches in the first inning and paid the price," said De La Rosa, who allowed six runs (five earned) while striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings. "I may have been a little overthrowing, trying to be too perfect instead of just letting the ball fly towards home plate. After that, I made an adjustment."

Chris Stratton, who was unscored upon in seven innings spanning three previous spring appearances, was charged with two runs in three innings. But the right-hander, San Francisco's No. 1 selection in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, still impressed Bochy.
"He's a guy that's on our radar," Bochy said of Stratton, who already has been sent to Minor League camp but was on hand Tuesday for the split-squad game. "He could be starting in Triple-A. Guys like that give you depth. If we need help, we'll be calling up whoever's throwing the best, and he's in he mix."
The D-backs chipped away at the lead with single runs in each of the first four innings, but Giants starter Ty Blach was able to avoid the big inning while going four frames.
Up next for the D-backs: Left-hander Robbie Ray will start on Wednesday afternoon as the D-backs host to the Giants for the second straight game. Fans can listen to the 1:10 p.m. MST matchup live via an exclusive webcast. Ray appears to have won the competition for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, though the club has not officially announced that.
Up next for the Giants: Right-hander Matt Cain will make his second start since overcoming the removal of a cyst from his throwing arm when he faces Arizona in a 1:10 p.m. PT game at Salt River Fields. Fans can watch free via an exclusive webcast on Giants.com. Cain needs every start he can make and every inning he can get as he strives to build enough stamina to join the season-opening rotation.