SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Evan Longoria started his initial Cactus League game at third base for the Giants on Saturday and hit a home run.
The events quite possibly were related.
Longoria, one of the Giants' most important offseason acquisitions, made three previous exhibition appearances this spring, all as a designated hitter, and went 1-for-7. Back in his natural habitat of the hot corner, he launched an opposite-field drive to right in the fourth inning to help pad the Giants' scoring in a 9-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.