Giants Beat: Lopez the one-pitch wonder, health updates on four, Blanco in left
Lopez the one-pitch wonder, health updates on four, Blanco in left
Thirty-four times in his major-league career, including twice in the postseason, Lopez done all of that prep only to enter a game and throw one pitch.
According to baseball-reference.com, Lopez has retired the hitter 24 times, thrice getting double plays, the most recent last year against Dee Gordon.
Eight times Lopez allowed a hit on his lone pitch, including a 2013 homer by the Padres' Logan Forsythe.
When you don't do it you kind of stew on it because you've spent more time warming up than even the eight extra pitches when you're on the mound.
On some nights he might really have to work, like the 35 times he has thrown two pitches in a game.
Angel Pagan (left hamstring strain) could begin baseball work as soon as Wednesday, depending on how he feels, three days after getting hurt.
Reliever George Kontos (flexor-tendon strain) will throw a simulated game in San Francisco on Friday after throwing two 20-pitching "innings" in the bullpen Tuesday and throwing all of his pitches, suggesting he might be ready to return early next week.
Bochy has Blanco in the lineup Tuesday night against left-hander John Lamb, who is coming off the disabled list and making his first start of the year.
Blanco hit a pinch RBI single in Monday night's win while Wililamson failed to get the ball out of the infield with Brandon Belt on third base with one out in the third inning.
Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
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