Giants’ Kontos bidding for greater bullpen role
Giants’ Kontos bidding for greater bullpen role
PHOENIX - On Opening Day, manager Bruce Bochy gave Derek Law the eighth inning and Law failed to hold a one-run lead.
With a four-run lead Tuesday night, Bochy went right back to Law for the eighth, making it clear the second-year pitcher gets the first crack at the critical setup job.
The Giants' most tenured reliever, George Kontos, staked his claim with some eye-opening work in the seventh inning and was honest about his desire to get a shot at the eighth.
Kontos prefaced his comments by saying this bullpen is selfless, with any pitcher willing to accept any role, but he said, Selfishly, I want to pitch as late in the game as I can.
Kontos retired David Peralta on a flyball and struck out Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb, one right-handed, the other left-handed, both of whom had homered against Johnny Cueto.
After blowing a one-run lead on Opening Day, he returned for the eighth inning Tuesday and retired the side.
Not only is he 4-for-7 with a double and triple, his defensive play and baserunning are the best they have been since his concussion last year.