SAN FRANCISCO — Derek Holland packed more entertainment into a one-minute promo for Brandon Belt on Monday than the rest of the team did into Holland’s return to the rotation. The Giants lost 2-0, managing just three hits off Jose Quintana and three Cubs relievers.
The Giants, sorely missing Evan Longoria, have dropped 11 of 16 against left-handed starters. Here's what else you need to know...
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—- Holland’s return to starting couldn’t have gone much better. He was charged with one earned in 6 1/3 innings and tied a season-high with eight strikeouts. Holland got a season-high 18 swinging strikes, including 12 with his slider.
He left with a runner on second and one out in the seventh, and the Cubs scored the night’s first run on an error. Addison Russell took third on a wild pitch and scored when Nick Hundley’s throw got away from Pablo Sandoval. The Cubs scored a second run when Victor Caratini smashed a double off Sam Dyson.
—- Chase d’Arnaud picked up his first hit as a Giant, a broken-bat single to center field in the fifth inning.
—- Ray Black made his second appearance since his promotion Sunday morning, and this one went much smoother. Black froze Willson Contreras with a 78 mph curveball to get his first strikeout and then threw 99 mph past Russell. A pop-up ended the perfect inning. Black maxed out at 99.2 mph.
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