Last winter, the Giants signed Johnny Cueto to the biggest potential contract they have awarded a pitcher, and in his first season he was worth every penny. Some would say more, for his presence and spirit as well as his results.
Cueto is a leading candidate for the 2016 Willie Mac Award, to be announced Friday, and showed why in a 7-2 victory against the Rockies Thursday night that preserved their hold on the second wild card with three games to play.
Pitching for the first time since in nine days after a groin injury, Cueto spotted the Rockies a 2-0 lead on a barrage of extra-base hits in the first inning, then beat the Rockies with his arm, bat, one good leg and one bad one.