Homer profile shows unusual characteristics

It isn’t news that the Giants hit home runs by this point. There are some unusual aspects to the team’s relentless power output, though.

First: San Francisco led the majors with 174 homers through Wednesday, but no one on the team had hit 20 and it’s possible no one will crack 30 for the season.

Then, there’s this: Only once since moving to the West Coast have the Giants led the majors in homers — and that did not come in the Barry Bonds/Jeff Kent era. Instead, it was in 1972, when San Francisco hit 150, a mark this team passed in July.

“We definitely have taken a lot of good swings all year,” said shortstop Brandon Crawford, who had a team-leading 19 homers going into Thursday’s game. “It’s a matter of swinging at good pitches and putting good swings on the ball and hitting the ball hard — that’s how you hit a homer at any ballpark.”

Oracle Park used to be known as a tough place to homer, and the team did have more HRs on the road (100) than at Oracle (74) entering Thursday, 10th most at home in the majors. The Giants’ season record at then-Pac Bell Park is 110 (with Bonds) in 2000, but in recent seasons, the team has been at the bottom of the league home-HR totals: 63 in 2019, 60 in 2018, 48 in 2017. In 2012 — a World Series year — it hit 31 at home. Before last season, the fences were brought in by 5 to 8 feet in various areas, and the wall in center is a foot lower, at 7 feet.

The Giants hit four balls out at Oracle Park on Wednesday night — their 10th game of the season with four or more, tied with Boston for the MLB lead and tied with the 2004 club for most in San Francisco history.

Over the previous four seasons, the Giants combined for nine such games.

“I think the mind-set has changed a little bit from an offensive standpoint,” Crawford said. “A few extra balls are probably getting out because of the fence changes. ... So I guess we’re starting to get used to it.

It’s always fun to watch.”

Briefly: Third baseman Evan Longoria (sternoclavicular joint strain) remains on track to come off the injured list Friday or Saturday. ... Starter Tyler Beede went on the IL at Triple-A Sacramento with low back pain. ... The Giants claimed outfielder Luis González from the White Sox; González, 25, is out for the season after a shoulder injury and is likely to be placed on the 60-day IL.