Jeff Samardzija pulled after only two innings in NLDS Game 2
CHICAGO — Jeff Samardzija said he would reward Bruce Bochy’s faith in him after being handed the start for Saturday’s NLDS Game 2 against the Chicago Cubs.
But he did not.
The big San Francisco Giants righthander gave up four runs and six hits in just two innings of work, exiting the game with his team in an early hole they would not recover from. The Giants lost 5-2, falling behind in the series 2-0.
“I think it’s fair to say he was a bit off tonight,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He just made some mistakes, that’s fair to say and he just couldn’t limit the damage.”
Said Samardzija: “That one is on me.”
Samardzija’s troubles started early as Cubs leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler doubled off the right field wall. After retiring both Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, Samardzija gave up a RBI single to Ben Zobrist on a bloop to right field.
Jason Heyward then led off the second inning with a double down the right field line. An ensuing walk to Javy Baez and single from Willson Contreras set up a two-RBI bloop single from opposing pitcher Kyle Hendricks. A RBI single from Kris Bryant finished the scoring on Samardzija, who pitched for the Cubs from 2008 to 2014.
Samardzija said he wasn’t suprised that he was pulled so early.
“Rightfully so,” he said. “You can’t go out and spot a team four in the playoffs and expect to keep going out there.”
One bright spot: Samardzija was pulled for pinch hitter Gregor Blanco in the top of the third. Blanco doubled home Joe Panik for the Giants’ first run of the night. Two runs by the Giants in the inning cut the Cubs’ lead to 4-2.
Samardzija’s performance may have looked familiar to Cubs fans and not just because he came into the game holding a 3.88 ERA in 334 career innings at Wrigley Field. Samardzija’s last start at Wrigley came on Sept. 1 and featured a 47-pitch, three-run first inning in a 5-4 Cubs victory over the Giants.
Samardzija said he would be available for any appearances later in the series, though it remains debatable whether any Giants fan wants to see him take the ball again.
“I didn’t throw enough pitches to cross my name off the list,” Samardzija said. “I’ll be ready to go whenever they need me.”
