Luis

Arraez

The homer would have been a routine fly to right most days, but not with the wind whipping today. It made it over the fence while being hit 95.1 mph at a 42-degree launch angle. Arraez also homered on Friday, so he has two this year without having collected a barrel yet.

Arraez doesn’t have a barrel yet, but he’s on the board with a homer after a 350-foot fly to right off Aaron Civale tonight. The ball was hit 98.2 mph at a 43-degree launch angle. The four-hit game was also his first of the season, pushing his average up to .317.

Arraez was back at second base following a two-game absence due to a minor thumb issue. He helped put the contest away with a two-run single to right field with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, giving San Francsico a commanding 5-1 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

Arraez missed the team’s previous two games due to a minor thumb injury. The 29-year-old comes into play on Friday slashing .316/.340/.398 with zero homers, 11 RBI and four stolen bases on the season. He’ll start at second base and bat second against Pirates’ right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski.

Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters he’s hopeful Arraez will be ready for Friday’s series opener against the Pirates after sitting out a pair of contests to deal with a minor thumb issue.

The Giants are off on Thursday, so the Giants will sit Arraez for the second straight game in the hopes that he’s ready to go on Friday. Casey Schmitt will start at second base and bat third with Bryce Eldridge in the lineup at designated hitter.

Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters Arraez is dealing with some soreness following a swing during Monday’s series opener so he’s getting some extra time off to rest. It doesn’t sound like a serious concern at the moment.

Arraez scored after both doubles. The 29-year-old has been solid in his 34 games with San Francisco, and is now hitting .316/.340/.398 across his 133 at-bats in his first year with the Giants. That triple-slash is is sustainable for Arraez, which is both a compliment to his plate skills and insult to his lack of pop.

Arraez showed zero signs of rust following a one-game absence over the weekend when he was kicked on the right wrist while making a throw to first base. The contact-oriented infielder’s latest multi-hit performance raises his batting average to .333 (20-for-60) through 16 games in his Giants debut.

It’s a great sign to see Arraez back at second base and hitting second after missing Sunday’s series finale against the Orioles with a wrist contusion. The 29-year-old suffered the injury during a bizarre on-field collision when he was inadvertently kicked by Baltimore rookie Dylan Beavers while making a throw to first base during Saturday’s game.