Coonrod added to Giants’ bullpen

Right-hander Sam Coonrod arrived to bolster the Giants’ well-worked bullpen before Sunday’s game and didn’t have to wait long to help.

Coonrod, 26, made his bigleague debut in the eighth, pitching a scoreless inning in the Giants’ 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks at Oracle Park.

“He’s got good stuff, hit 96 (mph) there, I thought he had a good breaking ball,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He looked pretty comfortable, pretty poised out there.”

Starting pitchers have averaged fewer than five innings per outing for the Giants in May, requiring Bochy to lean heavily on his relievers. The Giants had nine relievers Sunday after optioning left-hander Andrew Suarez to Triple-A Sacramento and calling up Coonrod.

A fifth-round pick by the Giants in 2014, Coonrod had Tommy John surgery in 2017 and spent most of last season rehabbing. He had a 7.00 ERA in 18 games this season at Triple-A Sacramento but also struck out 30 batters in 18 innings. He said he found more success in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League after adding a two-seam fastball that hitters couldn’t elevate as easily.

Sunday, Coonrod retired the side in order in the eighth, striking out Kevin Cron on a slider to end the inning. Coonrod said he thought the pitch “hung a little bit. … I think I got kind of lucky there.”

“It’s definitely a different feeling because you work your whole life to get here,” Coonrod said of his debut. “I really don’t have words for it to be honest with you.”

Suarez’s exit leaves an opening in the Giants rotation, but Bochy said that won’t “necessarily” be filled by Dereck Rodriguez, who was recalled Saturday. Rodriguez will be an option out of the bullpen, Bochy said. Derek Holland also will remain in the bullpen for now.

Suarez allowed nine runs in four innings Saturday, though Bochy pointed out Suarez had a quality start when pitched against the Braves last Monday.

“He was just off yesterday,” Bochy said. “His first start, if you noticed, he was right there at the bottom of the strike zone with all his pitches. That’s when he gets his groundballs.”

Coonrod is the Giants’ 41st player to suit up this season and 21st to pitch, including infielder Pablo Sandoval. Sunday’s moves brought the Giants’ transaction count to 38 in May and 44 since Opening Day.