The Giants entered Saturday as the first team in MLB history to go the first eight games of the season without a starting pitcher lasting five innings. That streak was extended in an unfortunate way.
Left-hander Drew Smyly was cruising against his former team, but as he pitched to the first batter of the fifth inning, Smyly felt something wrong with the pointer finger on his pitching hand. He was checked by manager Gabe Kapler and trainer L.J. Petra, and after throwing a couple of warm-up pitches, he came out of the game.
Smyly was having the most dominant start of the year by a Giant. He had seven strikeouts through four innings and had allowed just three hits to his 2019 teammates. Smyly gave up a pair of runs in the first inning, but only after the infield botched a rundown with two outs.
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The Giants led the Rangers 4-2 when Smyly was pulled after 71 pitches. Right-hander Shaun Anderson took over. The longest start of the season for the Giants is 4 1/3 innings by Kevin Gausman.
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