Giants at Blue Jays
Three weeks after he was traded from Toronto to San Francisco, Kevin Pillar made a triumphant return to the Rogers Centre backed by the best offensive performance from his teammates this season. After slugging a season-high four home runs, the Giants conclude an eight-game road trip with a chance to complete a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon.
Pillar was honored with a video tribute and multiple ovations and responded with an RBI single and a run scored as San Francisco snapped Toronto's four-game winning streak with a 7-6 victory. Pablo Sandoval had three hits and a home run and Brandon Belt, Evan Longoria and Joe Panik went deep for the Giants, who entered the series with the third-fewest runs scored in the majors. Making their return home following a 6-1 road trip, the Blue Jays gave their fans hope on Rowdy Tellez's eighth-inning grand slam to make it a one-run game. Toronto, which is only 4-7 at home, will send right-hander Clay Buchholz to the mound against San Francisco lefty Drew Pomeranz in the series finale.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), Sportsnet One, TVA (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Drew Pomeranz (0-2, 4.82 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Clay Buchholz (0-0, 3.38)
Pomeranz recorded a season-high seven strikeouts at Washington last time out but took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. It marked the fourth time in as many outings that he has failed to go beyond five innings, although the 30-year-old allowed two runs in each of his first three appearances. Luke Maile is 5-for-10 and Justin Smoak 6-for-14 against Pomeranz, who was 2-0 in four starts at Rogers Centre with Boston over the previous two seasons.
Buchholz turned in a strong season debut in his first start with Toronto, settling for a no-decision despite limiting Tampa Bay to one run on six hits over six innings on April 13. The 34-year-old Texan labored in a no-decision at Minnesota last time out, allowing three runs and three walks on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Buchholz owns an 11-3 record at Rogers Centre and enjoyed success against San Francisco with Arizona last season, posting a 1-0 record and 1.89 ERA in three starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco has not scored a first-inning run in 24 games, four shy of the major league record.
2. Tellez is 6-for-11 with two homers and eight RBIs in his last three games.
3. Panik also doubled and drove in three runs, matching his extra-base and RBI totals from the first 20 games.