PEORIA, Ariz. -- Playing under the lights against a team he knows he'll see plenty during the regular season, Giants right-hander Jake Peavy had the sense Thursday night that Spring Training is turning the corner toward Opening Day.
"Tonight was the first time that I kind of had that feeling," Peavy said after exiting an eventual 8-4 Giants victory over the Padres. "We're pitching in the division against a familiar foe and guys I'm going to have to face and get out multiple times throughout the year, facing that team as much as we are."
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The results weren't sparkling, but Peavy is notorious for having rough outings in Arizona. He gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits, including two homers, throwing 73 pitches, 47 for strikes.
Beyond the results, Peavy said he feels much better than he did last spring, and he felt better Thursday night than he did his previous outing. He tired a bit in the fourth inning, but overall thought his fourth outing of the spring went well.
"I don't know if it's because it's a night game, but my body felt a little freer," said Peavy, now 1-0 with an 8.53 ERA in Cactus League play.
Said manager Bruce Bochy: "He's ahead of where he was last year, I really believe that. Watching him throw, you can see he's healthy and feels good."
Worth noting
• Kyle Blanks was slated to start in the outfield for the Giants, but he was a late scratch as he continues to work his way back from foot ailments that have plagued him the last two years and led to surgery last September.
"I asked him about the outfield and he said he felt good and he could go," Bochy said. "But in [batting practice], he said we probably should wait. It wasn't a setback, he just thought we should wait a day or two."
• Mac Williamson, who has been one of the most impressive young players in camp with four homers and who went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs Thursday, got a bit of a scare late in the game when struck in the left arm by a pitch -- his second HBP of the night. Bochy said the one in the ninth caught all elbow pad, so the youngster was OK.