It wasn't the result he or the team had hoped for, but left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea showed why he belongs in the Giants' starting rotation in San Francisco's 6-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday at Oracle Park.
After appearing out of the bullpen in San Francisco's win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday, Manaea made his first start in a Giants uniform on Saturday. The 31-year-old whiffed six batters, walked one and allowed one run on three hits across six innings, earning a no-decision after the bullpen was unable to preserve the four-run lead he departed with.
In speaking to reporters after the game, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Manaea has "earned the opportunity" to be in the discussion for a start next turn through the rotation, but did not commit to Manaea starting this upcoming week.
Manaea certainly would welcome a consistent role in the Giants' rotation but is willing to do whatever it takes in order to help the team win.
"Yeah, I think I can definitely start," Manaea added. "But I'm also here to help this team win, so wherever it's going to be, I'm going to do my best. Wherever that's going to be."
Manaea has credited his improved velocity throughout the spring and early on this season to the offseason he spent at Driveline Baseball. The veteran lefty topped out at around 97 mph and had good control of his pitches against Kansas City.
"Just throwing everything for strikes ... getting ahead with my slider, changeup, throwing my fastball up, got some swing and misses," Manaea said of his success on the mound. "Just locating for the most part. Just getting ahead of guys and putting them away too."
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“I think the first time through the lineup we were able to mix pretty well,” catcher Blake Sabol said of Manaea's outing. “Sean did a really good job of getting them off his fastball the first time through and then second time through the lineup going back to the fastball, and he kind of found them in between.”
In addition to his impressive outing, Saturday's game was important for Manaea for another reason. With Sabol behind the plate, he and Manaea became the first Samoan pitcher-catcher battery in MLB history. Both players recognized the significance of the moment and were thrilled to be part of history.
"It's amazing. There's not too many of us Samoan baseball players," Manaea said. "Forming a battery like that is incredible for all of us. Just amazing to be a part of."
“I’m sure there was a lot of people from the Polynesian community out in the stands today and people watching on TV,” Sabol explained. “Hopefully there’s some little boys or girls looking at that like, ‘Wow, maybe I should play baseball, I want to do that, I want to try.’ Kind of get them more interested in the sport or show that it’s an option for them."
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Despite another frustrating loss for the Giants, Manaea's day still was pretty special.
If rewarded with another start in the rotation, Manaea will look to build off his impressive outing Saturday and further establish himself as a reliable option the Giants can pencil in every fifth day.