Samardzija lasts only 5 innings as Giants fall to Braves 5-3
ATLANTA (AP) - Bruce Bochy didn't like some of the ball and strike calls on Jeff Samardzija.
Samardzija didn't like the results.
Samardzija fell short in his attempt to win four straight starts for the first time in his career and the San Francisco Giants fell to Mike Foltynewicz and the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Monday for a rare road loss.
The Giants suffered only their third loss in their past 15 road games. Overall, it was San Francisco's third loss in 18 games.
Samardzija (7-3) allowed five runs, four earned, and six hits and two walks in five innings — his shortest start of the season.
Bochy said some calls on pitches went against Samardzija.
"I was getting frustrated," Bochy said. "Some of those pitches looked pretty good."
Samardzija said the start was "just kind of puzzling."
"I'll have to go back and look at it and break it down a little better," he said. "Obviously a couple walks didn't help, either."
San Francisco's ninth-inning rally against Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino fell short.
Brandon Crawford's run-scoring single was the Giants' third straight hit off Vizcaino. The closer struck out Jarrett Parker before second baseman Kelly Johnson bobbled pinch-hitter Buster Posey's grounder, allowing another run to score. Kolby Tomlinson's grounder to third base ended the game.
Foltynewicz (2-2) gave up a leadoff homer to Brandon Belt in the second inning, but allowed only one other runner to advance to second.
Bochy said Foltynewicz was "pounding the strike zone with all his pitches. We just couldn't mount much off him."
Samardzija and the Giants paid for a decision to issue an intentional walk to A.J. Pierzynski, loading the bases with one out in the second. Samardzija struck out Foltynewicz, the No. 8 hitter, before Mallex Smith's three-run triple to the left-center gap. It was Smith's third triple, and he ranks second on the team with 18 RBIs.
WELCOME TO THE MAJORS
Giants right-hander Chris Stratton, called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday when Matt Cain was placed on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain, made his debut with a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts.
WEDNESDAY STARTER
Bochy said he expects right-hander Albert Suarez to start Wednesday's game against the Braves.
"If we have to change that we will," Bochy said. "We're gearing him to make that start."
NEW/OLD OPTION AT SHORTSTOP
Atlanta's Gordon Beckham made his first start at shortstop since July 9, 2015, with the White Sox. He has started 11 games at second base and 10 games at third base this season. Shortstop was his original position, including as a standout at the University of Georgia.
"I always like going back over there," Beckham said. "It's fun being the captain of the defense for a day."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: X-rays on 3B Matt Duffy's left hand were negative after he was hit by a pitch in the sixth. He completed the inning before being replaced by Kolby Tomlinson. ... RHP Sergio Romo (strained flexor) could rejoin the team within a week. He has allowed one run with six strikeouts in three innings in his rehab stint with Triple-A Sacramento.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Jake Peavy will try to improve his 7.26 ERA by continuing his recent upswing when he faces the Braves on Tuesday night. Peavy has allowed only one earned run in two of his past three starts. The other start in that span was an ugly loss to the Cubs in which he lasted only 1 2/3 innings and allowed five runs.
Braves: RHP Matt Wisler (2-4, 3.08) will make his first career start against the Giants. Wisler is 0-3 with a 4.18 ERA in five home starts and is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA away from Turner Field.