San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Bruce Bochy a steadying force for the Giants.
PHOENIX — The Giants called up outfielder Alex Dickerson as a possible shortterm fix with Steven Duggar going on the injured list.
Well, Dickerson needs to stick around.
The Giants, whose offensive inefficiencies were exposed for most of their four-game series at Dodger Stadium, arrived at Chase Field on Friday and suddenly started making loud contact.
None louder than Dickerson’s. His historic Giants debut in an 11-5 victory over the Diamondbacks included a grand slam, two-run triple and sizzling opposite-field single.
Dickerson became the third player in franchise history to
hit a grand slam in his Giants debut, following Bobby Bonds in 1968 and Brandon Crawford in 2011. No one since 1920 had as many as six RBIs in his Giants debut until Dickerson.
“I was due for a good game,” said Dickerson, who had been scuffling at Triple-A Sacramento after he was acquired from the Padres. “I had a down five weeks or so and felt it in Vegas yesterday, ‘OK, the swing’s starting to come around. I’m going to start putting better swings on the ball.’ I felt like it was coming. Sure enough, I got a call-up today and was able to barrel some balls up.”
Following Kevin Pillar’s two-run homer in the second inning, Dickerson stepped to the plate and lined a single over shortstop. He came up with the bases loaded in the third and hit Taylor Clarke’s changeup 458 feet, the longest homer by a Giant this year.
Dickerson’s triple was to the opposite field in the seventh inning. He struck out in his final at-bat, ruining his chance for a cycle. Still, the eight total bases were the most in a Giants debut since Mark Lewis had nine in 1997. The only others since 1920 with eight in their first Giants games were Kevin Mitchell (1987), Willie McCovey (1959) and Bob Elliott (1952).
“Pillar set me up great the entire day,” Dickerson said. “His at-bats in front of me gave me great pitches to hit. I always had the pitchers on the ropes and told myself, ‘Hey, time to do damage.’ ”
Pillar drove in four runs, Stephen Vogt doubled twice and Brandon Belt scored three times. Jeff Samardzija gave up five runs in six innings. In the ninth, with the Diamondbacks threatening, Will Smith was summoned with the bases loaded and struck out consecutive batters to end it.
“That was impressive, man,” Samardzija said of Dickerson. “He came off the bus and went up there and almost hit for the cycle. We hit the ball well today, and he was definitely fun to watch.”
The 6-foot-3 Dickerson, 29, has missed years of his prime with a variety of injuries and was stoked to get a call at 9 a.m. Friday in Las Vegas that he was to report to Phoenix.
“It’s been a long road back to playing baseball,” Dickerson said, “and this year I’m just trying to have fun with it after having back surgery and Tommy John (surgery) and missing two full seasons. I’m just happy to have a jersey on my back.”
The Giants acquired Dickerson from the Padres on June 12. He had been designated for assignment after appearing in 12 games in May. He played parts of 2015 and 2016 with the Padres, but injuries knocked him out all of 2017 and 2018. He also has had ankle, heel and hip flexor ailments.
“His issue is staying healthy,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “If he stays healthy, he has tons of potential.”
Yes, Bochy said, Dickerson will be in Saturday’s lineup.
“He’s got something we need here,” Bochy said. “He can hit the ball out of the ballpark.”
Dickerson had big numbers this year with the Padres’ Triple-A team (El Paso), hitting .372 with a .469 on-base percentage, five homers and 20 RBIs in 26 games. But with the Giants’ top farm team in Sacramento, he was 3-for-17.
“Last time I was playing,” said Dickerson, referring to his early years with the Padres, “I was kind of the younger guy in the major-league clubhouse. This time, I’m a little bit older. Just have a different perspective on it after not playing for so long.”
Dickerson plays both corner outfield positions and first base. Bochy said the team wanted power from the left side. Dickerson got the nod over Chris Shaw, who’s hitting a combined .290 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs in Double-A
and Triple-A.