SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants hoped the return of Jerar Encarnacion would be enough to spark their scuffling offense. But Monday night ended up being more of the same.
The Giants were shut out, 1-0, in 10 innings in their series opener against the division rival Padres at Oracle Park, wasting a gem from Logan Webb, who fired eight scoreless innings in his best start of the year.
Webb allowed only six hits while walking none and striking out seven, but the Giants couldn’t provide any run support for their ace right-hander, mustering only five hits and finishing 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. San Francisco has now scored four runs or fewer in 15 consecutive games, its longest such streak since 1976.
“This is a hard game,” Webb said. “Baseball is a game of ebbs and flows. Some of the best teams in history have gone through stretches where they’ve had struggles like this. But everyone in this room believes in ourselves.”
Encarnacion wasn’t in the starting lineup against Padres right-hander Stephen Kolek after being activated off the 60-day injured list, but he entered the game to pinch-hit for Mike Yastrzemski in the sixth and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his first game back from a left hand fracture.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the 10th, when the Padres managed to push across the lone run of the game on a bunt and a Jose Iglesias sacrifice fly.
Christian Koss laid down a sacrifice bunt to move automatic runner Jung Hoo Lee over to third base with one out in the bottom of the 10th, but Matt Chapman grounded out sharply to third and Encarnacion smoked a 101 mph liner that was caught by first baseman Luis Arraez for the final out of the game.
“I’m just going to do what I can to help the team win,” Encarnacion said before the game. “Whatever happens is in God’s hands.”
Encarnacion was expected to serve as the Giants’ primary designated hitter after putting together a strong spring at the plate, but those plans were put on hold after the 27-year-old broke his hand while attempting to make a diving catch in right field during the final week of Cactus League play. Encarnacion underwent surgery to repair the fracture, which sidelined him for the Giants’ first 59 games of the year.
Despite the extended layoff, Encarnacion continued to swing a hot bat once he returned to action at Triple-A Sacramento, where he went 8-for-23 (.348) with five runs, two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs over seven rehab games.
“It’s nice to have him back,” manager Bob Melvin said. “In Spring Training, we were talking about how impactful he was going to be. He was having a great spring, and the next thing you know, he’s out for a while. He feels good at the plate. He hit some home runs the last couple of days. He’s ready to go.”
With Wilmer Flores now holding down the DH spot for the Giants, Encarnacion is likely to split his playing time between the corner outfield and first base, where the club has received underwhelming production from incumbent LaMonte Wade Jr.
Wade started at first against Kolek on Monday, though he ended up exiting the game after taking a 95.1 mph fastball off his right hand in his first at-bat in the bottom of the second. It was another painful turn in what has been a difficult season for Wade, who is batting only .167 with a .546 OPS through his first 50 games of the year.
Casey Schmitt came in to replace Wade -- who is day to day with a right hand contusion -- but Encarnacion could also be in line to win more playing time at the position if Wade doesn’t start to pick it up at the plate soon.
“We hope he starts to take off here,” Melvin said of Wade. “He hasn’t to this point. There’s been some periods where his at-bats have been a lot better and he’s got nothing to show for it. And that can weigh on you for a guy that’s used to being a productive guy, getting on base, kind of doing his thing. It’s going to be about performance here. If he starts to take off here, he’s going to see more playing time. If not, you might see Jerar over there a little bit more.”
The Giants cleared a spot on the 26-man roster for Encarnacion by optioning young outfielder Luis Matos to Sacramento on Monday.
Matos, 23, crushed a three-run home run to lift the Giants to a 4-2 win over the Marlins on Sunday, but he was batting only .167 with a .572 OPS while receiving sporadic playing time as a reserve outfielder. With Encarnacion capable of serving as Mike Yastrzemski’s platoon partner in right field, the Giants ultimately felt Matos would be better off getting everyday at-bats at Triple-A Sacramento for now.
“We’ve seen when he’s getting a lot of at-bats, he’s productive,” Melvin said. “For younger players to have to sit around for long periods of time, it’s really difficult. He hit a big home run for us yesterday. But it’s been spotty playing time. It’s probably not great for his development, too. He even said to me, ‘I need more at-bats.’ It’s not the last you’ll see of Luis Matos.”