Peavy ends skid, pitches and hits Giants past Marlins, 7-2
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jake Peavy finally got the action on his off-speed pitches that he's been looking for, a key factor in ending his winless streak.
A two-run single at the plate by the former NL Cy Young winner and a slick defensive gem in the field certainly didn't hurt, either.
Peavy pitched seven innings for his first win and added a two-run single off Miami ace Jose Fernandez, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Marlins 7-2 on Saturday night.
"His stuff was different tonight," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "He really stayed on top, he kept his pitch-count down and his focus was great out there. This is more Jake with where his delivery was, his arm. Just a nice, quality outing."
Gregor Blanco tripled twice and scored two runs, while Matt Duffy had three hits and scored for the Giants, who have won two straight following a five-game losing streak.
Peavy (1-1) failed to get past the fifth inning in his three previous starts and had another up-and-down outing against the Marlins before finishing strong to end his skid.
Miami had runners on base in each of the first six innings, but Peavy repeatedly pitched out of trouble while giving up two runs and seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
"We made better pitches today and execution, for the most part, was better," Peavy said of his first win since last October. "The breaking balls were a lot better tonight. Fastball command was still a little bit shaky, got to clean that up, but my delivery was much cleaner tonight."
The Giants led 2-0 and loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth when Fernandez intentionally walked Gregor Blanco. The move backfired quickly when Peavy lined a two-run single to left.
The 2007 NL Cy Young winner also made a sparkling defensive play an inning earlier after Miami scored on Marcell Ozuna's two-out RBI triple. One batter later, Peavy made a sliding grab on Christian Yelich's slow dribbler toward third base and threw from his knees to first for the out.
"I felt like it was one of those suicide plays where either you make it or you don't," Peavy said. "Fortunately, I was able to."
Fernandez (1-2) allowed four runs over six innings in his first career start at AT&T Park. He also singled twice and scored for Miami, while Justin Bour added three hits.
"I made a couple of mistakes and they capitalized on them at the right time," Fernandez said. "I wanted quick outs, but I wasn't getting them."
CHANGING BACK
Miami right-hander Jarred Cosart is changing his pitching mechanics after three consecutive rough outings. Cosart has issued 15 walks in 14 2/3 innings and traces his problem to a change in hand placement that he made toward the end of spring training. The decision was made to go back to his previous style after meeting with manager Don Mattingly. "I think, for the long haul, I need to go back with something that feels comfortable, something that works for me," Cosart said.
DECENT DEBUT
Miami left-hander Cody Ege made his major league debut in the eighth inning and gave up one run on one hit after being called up from Triple-A New Orleans before the game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: INF Martin Prado, who left the team Friday morning to be with his wife in Miami for the birth of their child, was placed on the paternity leave list.
Giants: Angel Pagan was held out of the starting lineup after playing in San Francisco's first 18 games. The veteran outfielder, who leads the team with a .328 average, had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eighth.
UP NEXT
Marlins: LHP Adam Conley (0-1) starts Sunday and is second on the staff behind Fernandez with 19 strikeouts.
Giants: RHP Matt Cain (0-2) pitches the finale for San Francisco seeking his first win of the year. All 11 of the runs Cain has given up this season have come in the fifth inning.