SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy reaffirmed Tuesday that Will Smith remains the club's primary closer, though three different relievers have recorded saves in San Francisco's last four victories.
"We're going to try to break the record [for most pitchers with at least one save in a single season]," Bochy jokingly said. "I don't know what it is yet. As soon as you all look it up, let me know and I'll go for it."
Smith saved last Thursday's finale of the Giants' series against the Mets in New York. He appeared in each of San Francisco's next two games, throwing 47 total pitches. So Bochy rested Smith and turned to Mark Melancon, who preserved Giants wins Saturday and Sunday against the Rangers.
On Monday, Tony Watson notched the first two outs in the ninth before Hunter Strickland entered to secure the final out and the save in San Francisco's 2-0 win over Arizona.
Bochy said that having nearly every reliever being capable of preserving ninth-inning leads is a "luxury."
Bochy would struggle to steer the Giants toward the single-season mark for most pitchers with a save. Six different San Francisco pitchers have recorded saves, led by Strickland's 14 entering Tuesday. Smith has 11.
The 1973 Rangers and 1961 Kansas City A's share the record, having 12 different pitchers record a save in the same season.
Another 11 teams have had 11 pitchers do it, most recently the 2017 Nationals. Included in this group is the 1964 Giants, though the save didn't become an official statistic until 1969.
Worth noting
• Bochy mentioned that he exchanged text messages with catcher Buster Posey, who underwent hip surgery on Monday.