Bryant homers in Giants debut, San Francisco tops Houston
Aug 1, 2021, 4:17 AM | Updated: 4:38 pm
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kris Bryant homered in his Giants debut, a two-out solo shot in the third inning, and San Francisco beat the Houston Astros 5-3 on Sunday.
Darin Ruf had three hits including a home run and two RBIs. Brandon Crawford and Donovan Solano both added two hits. The Giants won two of three in the interleague matchup of division leaders and have the best record in the majors at 66-39.
Acquired in a trade from the Chicago Cubs for two minor league prospects just minutes before Friday’s deadline, Bryant was greeted by chants of “KB, KB, KB” when he trotted onto the field for pregame warmups and received a standing ovation before his first at-bat. The four-time All-Star was cheered again after striking out swinging.
Those cheers got louder after Bryant crushed an 0-1 pitch from Luis García (7-6) into the left field stands for his 19th home run this season.
“It’s nice to really feel welcome,” Bryant said before the game. “Barry Bonds was my favorite player. I still have the autograph that my mom went and bought at the mall. Now I’m here. It’s kind of weird.”
After Mike Yastrzemski doubled and Buster Posey walked, Crawford and Ruf followed with RBI singles to put the Giants ahead 3-2.
It wasn’t a perfect debut for Bryant, who started at third base. His throwing error on Martín Maldonado’s grounder down the line in the fifth gave the Astros a runner in scoring position with no outs. Logan Webb retired the next three batters to work out of the jam.
Webb (5-3) allowed two runs in six innings to stay unbeaten since May 5.
Dominic Leone and Tyler Rogers retired three batters apiece. Jake McGee pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.
Ruf homered in the fifth after Crawford singled.
Yuli Gurriel hit a two-run home run for Houston. García allowed eight hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings.
ASTROS FAIL TO SIGN TWO PICKS
The Astros failed to sign their fourth-round pick Alex Ulloa and their 20th-round selection Jackson Linn. Both players opted to attend college instead. The deadline for signing drafted players was Sunday.
QUOTABLE
“It’s a bat that really lengthens our group and makes our bench better. It makes it more difficult to get through the top of our lineup. He’s going to be good for us.” – Giants manager Gabe Kapler on the addition of Bryant.
ROSTER MOVE
To make room for Bryant, the Giants optioned IF/OF Jason Vosler to Triple-A Sacramento.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: OF Michael Brantley left the game with right ankle soreness. … Houston will be without closer Ryan Pressly, who was placed on the paternity list to be with his wife for the birth of their son. … RHP Bryan Abreu was activated from the taxi squad.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (8-2, 3.23 ERA) faces the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Tuesday. McCullers has five wins in his last seven starts.
Giants: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (10-5, 3.10) pitches the opener of a four-game series in Arizona on Monday. DeSclafani is winless in his last three starts and failed to make it out of the third inning against the Dodgers on July 28.
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