Sean Manaea, Will Wilson highlight SF Giants split-squad games
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The SF Giants split up their squad for a pair of games on Thursday. First, in the afternoon, they defeated the Chicago White Sox 6-3 in the Glendale. Then, at their home field in Scottsdale, seemingly everything went wrong in a 10-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
In the afternoon game, Sean Manaea became the first Giants starter of the spring to record a quality start, surrendering one run on three hits, a home run, and a walk with three strikeouts over six innings pitched. Manaea has had an interesting spring, flashing improved velocity but struggling to limit opposing offenses. With the regular season on the horizon, it was the perfect time to deliver his best performance of the preseason.
Offensively, Blake Sabol added another extra-base hit to his spring training tally, but a pair of prospects expected to start the season in the minors delivered the biggest drives of the day. Infielders Brett Wisely (Giants #22 prospect) and Will Wilson (Giants honorable mention prospect) each blasted home runs, with Wilson's coming off White Sox mid-rotation arm Michael Kopech.
Carter Aldrete (Giants #36 prospect) also tripled off former Giants relief-pitching prospect Gregory Santos, who was traded to the White Sox this offseason. John Brebbia struck out a pair across one perfect inning of work.
Back home against the Guardians, it was a rough go for the other Giants squad. Anthony DeSclafani entered the day with a 0.00 ERA over 5.2 innings of work with 8 strikeouts, but that would not be the case for long. DeSclafani was hammered throughout his outing. He surrendered six earned runs on six hits, including a pair of home runs, and a hit batter with four strikeouts.
Offensively, things did not go any better for the Giants. Guardians starter Cal Quantrill was dominant over 5.2 no-hit innings. Mike Yastrzemski recorded the Giants first hit of the night, singling against Enyel De Los Santos in the eighth inning. 2019 second-round pick Logan Wyatt singled off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth.
Tyler Rogers was cuffed for a trio of runs over 1.1 innings pitched and relief-pitching prospect R.J. Dabovich (Giants #16 prospect) gave up a solo home run to Amed Rosario.
Cole Waites was the biggest bright spot for the Giants in the 10-0 loss. He made his first appearance of the spring after suffering a strained lat early in the spring. Waites looked as healthy as ever, immediately showing off his high-octane stuff. Waites' fastball sat around 98 mph across a shutout inning with two strikeouts and a hit. It still seems like Waites will start the season at Triple-A, but it's nonetheless a positive sign for the organization's bullpen depth.
Camilo Doval also looked solid in a shutout inning of work.
The SF Giants are now 12-13 this spring and are less than a week away from Opening Day. They will be back in action tomorrow, traveling to Surprise Stadium to face the Kansas City Royals.
