The second night of the Gabe Kapler Era was a lot like the first one.
The Giants used a starter out of the bullpen, they got shut down offensively, they watched the Dodgers pull away over the course of the game.
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SIGN UP HERE A night after losing 8-1 in their opener, the Giants fell 9-1 on Friday. This all looks very familiar. Here are three things you need to know from the second game of the year ...
A Powerful Start
The Giants discovered Mike Yastrzemski last year and have been hopeful that Jaylin Davis will be Yaz 2.0. Before the game, Kapler said the young outfielder's tools are elite, and that showed in his first at-bat of the season. Davis shot a homer out to right for his second career homer:
Perhaps the most important part for Davis: He hit it off right-hander Ross Stripling. Davis is going to get plenty of starts against lefties, but even in this Season of Platoons the Giants are going to need some guys to emerge as threats against same-side pitching.
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A Season Without Starters?
Drew Smyly was supposed to be the No. 4 starter -- and then he came out of the bullpen in the fifth inning Thursday night. Kevin Gausman was supposed to be the No. 3 starter -- and then he came out of the bullpen in the third inning Friday night.
Both of those guys likely will start a lot of games this season, but their first appearances in orange and black came as relievers, with Gausman getting the new "bulk innings" role.
Gausman went four innings, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and a walk. He struck out two and gave up a homer to Max Muncy. The hard-throwing right-hander had success out of the bullpen late last season and the Giants felt that could translate to the rotation. Perhaps Gausman would be more comfortable if they would let him try.
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No Right Answer
Tyler Anderson was a surprise starter but didn't make it through the second. With two on and two out, Kapler pulled the lefty with Justin Turner -- who was 15-for-31 against him -- strolling to the plate. The next matchup wasn't any better.
Rico Garcia, who made his Giants debut Thursday, came on and immediately gave up an RBI single. Garcia started his night with a fastball that caught too much of the plate and Turner yanked it into left.
It was notable because this is the kind of exchange you usually see in the sixth or seventh inning. Instead, it was a reliever coming in for Anderson -- who is supposed to be one of the "bulk innings" guys -- in the second.