SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Jeff Samardzija gave up a pair of home runs and was charged with six runs on six hits in 5ufeff1/3 innings of the Giants' 6-4 exhibition loss to the A's on Monday, but the new No. 3 starter still impressed manager Bruce Bochy.
Samardzija was around the plate while striking out three without a walk, and Bochy said the right-hander's slider and fastball "exploded at times." "He's really close," Bochy said of Samardzija, who has an 8.53 ERA this spring.