PEORIA, Ariz.–It took Hunter Pence until his sixth game of the spring to collect his second base hit.
After a flu bug zapped Pence’s energy, he started Cactus League play 1-for-18 at the plate with 10 strikeouts.
Pence’s performance was one of the more alarming sights during the first half of the Giants’ spring, which means his emergence in the past week is one of the more encouraging signs for a ball club that’s counting on Pence to be its Opening Day left fielder.
After needing six games to collect two hits, Pence accomplished that task in just three plate appearances against the Padres on Monday.