Michael Conforto slammed a grand slam, while rookie Jung Hoo Lee hit his first home run in the major leagues. With Jordan Hicks securing his San Francisco debut win, the Giants triumphed 9-6 over the San Diego Padres on Saturday.
By the eighth inning, the Giants were leading 3-1 with only two hits. However, they surged ahead to a 9-1 lead. Lee, transitioning from seven seasons in South Korea to the Giants, smashed a homer to right-center with one out. Following Lee’s homer, the next six Giants batters all reached base.
Wilmer Flores drove in a run with a single before Conforto’s grand slam added four more runs, all off lefty Tom Cosgrove. The Giants finished with a total of nine hits.
Lee, unperturbed by his accomplishment, viewed it as a team contribution. He traded memorabilia for the home run ball and received celebratory beer dousing from his teammates.
Conforto’s grand slam came on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, showcasing his evolving form early in the season. Despite a shaky start to the at-bat, Conforto adjusted his approach, delivering a powerful swing for the grand slam.
In the ninth inning, San Diego narrowed the gap with Eguy Rosario’s two-run homer and rookie Graham Pauley’s three-run shot, marking his first hit in the major leagues.
Hicks, making his debut for the Giants, delivered an impressive performance, allowing only three singles and striking out six in five innings. Conversely, Cease, in his Padres debut, received minimal run support as he allowed two runs over 4 2/3 innings.
The game proceeded despite morning rain, starting on time and eventually seeing the sun shining by the sixth inning.
