Watch: Marlon Byrd homers in first at-bat for Giants
Newest San Francisco Giant Marlon Byrd went deep in his first at-bat for the team.
Batting fifth and playing rightfield against the Pirates Friday night, Byrd took pitcher Jeff Locke deep to left with a 1–2 count in the first inning for a two-run shot. It was his 20th homer of the year.
The Giants acquired Byrd this week in wake of outfielder Hunter Pence's recent oblique injury, in exchange for Double A pitcher Stephen Johnson. Outfielder Angel Pagan is also on the disabled list with patellar tendonitis. The 37-year-old entered the game hitting .237 on the year with 19 home runs, 31 RBIs and a .743 OPS in his 96 games with the Reds.
• CORCORAN: Breaking down the Byrd trade
In related Giants news, pitcher Madison Bumgarner took Locke deep in the second inning for his fifth home run of the year.
San Francisco went on to defeat the Pirates 6–4 to even the teams’ series at 1–1. Byrd finished 3 for 5. Bumgarner went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out six. He earned his 15th win, tying him with the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta for most in the majors.
- Jeremy Woo
