Giants notes: Sanchez impresses

Andrew Baggarly
Mercury News

Jonathan Sanchez departs Monday to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. By the looks of things, the rest of Pool D is in trouble.

Sanchez didn't look like a No. 5 starter as he mowed through the Kansas City Royals on Friday. The left-hander appeared in total control, pumping his mid-90s fastball while striking out four in three innings of a 6-1 exhibition loss at Scottsdale Stadium.

The Giants wanted Sanchez to reach 45 pitches before he hopped on a plane for San Juan, and that's exactly what he did. He'll be on a limit of 45 pitches in his first WBC game and 65 pitches the next time out. Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said pitching coach Dave Righetti has spoken with Puerto Rico Manager Jose Oquendo to make sure Sanchez maintains his throwing schedule.

"It will be a great experience for him," Bochy said. "It'll only help. He'll be stronger this year and a little smarter."

Sanchez followed Randy Johnson, who hit 90 mph on the radar gun and struck out two in two innings. Johnson had trouble with his split-finger fastball, hitting a batter with one and bouncing another for a wild pitch, but otherwise was pleased with the day's work.

"Other than my senior moment there, I felt pretty good," Johnson, 45, said. "This time the last two years I wasn't pitching in games. It's a nice position to be in. I know I'll wake up feeling good."

Kevin Frandsen broke up the Royals' shutout bid with a home run inside the left-field pole in the eighth inning. He said it hasn't been a struggle to regain his timing after missing nearly all of last season. "My swing is short and simple," Frandsen said. "There's not a lot going on with it."

Buster Posey received the day's loudest ovation when he made his Cactus League debut in the ninth inning. Posey showed good discipline when he took a pair of two-strike breaking balls, but he then struck out on a fastball away.

From: MLB.com

February 27, 2009 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Kansas City 0 1 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 6 8 0 San Francisco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 1

Standings | Recap: KC | SF

Kansas City AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Callaspo, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Hernandez, L, 2B 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 Aviles, M, SS 4 1 2 1 0 0 0 .333 1-Lisson, PR-SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Butler, DH 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .333 a-Clark, PH-DH 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 Shealy, 1B 2 2 1 3 0 0 0 .500 Ka'aihue, 1B 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .500 Olivo, C 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 .600 House, C 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 Suomi, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Smith, Cor, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .000 Hulett, 3B 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000 Maier, CF 3 0 0 1 0 2 2 .143 Robinson, D, CF 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1.000 Murphy, LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .400 Lubanski, RF 3 1 1 0 0 1 1 .333 Duarte, RF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 Totals 33 6 8 6 3 8 16 a-Grounded into a double play for Butler in the 9th. 1-Ran for Aviles, M in the 7th. BATTING 2B: Olivo (1, Ortiz). 3B: Murphy (1, Sanchez). HR: Shealy (1, 6th inning off Ortiz, 2 on, 0 out). TB: Hernandez, L; Aviles, M 2; Shealy 4; Olivo 3; Murphy 3; Lubanski. RBI: Maier (3), Aviles, M (1), Shealy 3 (3), Robinson, D (1). 2-out RBI: Aviles, M. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Callaspo; Murphy 2. SF: Robinson, D. GIDP: Clark. Team LOB: 6. BASERUNNING CS: Olivo (1, home by Johnson/Molina, B). FIELDING DP: (Lisson-Hernandez, L-Ka'aihue). San Francisco AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Velez, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333 Rohlinger, 3B 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .333 Renteria, SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Bocock, SS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 a-Posey, B, PH 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 Aurilia, 1B 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .500 McClain, 1B 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Molina, B, C 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .143 Whiteside, C 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 Williams, C 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 Bowker, RF 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .143 Downs, RF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Phelps, DH 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Uribe, 3B 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Guzman, J, 3B-LF 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 Burriss, 2B 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500 Frandsen, 2B 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .750 Torres, CF 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200 Totals 30 1 5 1 2 5 6 a-Struck out for Bocock in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Molina, B (1, Tejeda). HR: Frandsen (1, 8th inning off Hamulack, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Molina, B 2; Williams; Burriss; Frandsen 4; Torres. RBI: Frandsen (3). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Bowker 2; Phelps. GIDP: Rohlinger. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING CS: Burriss (1, 2nd base by Tejeda/Olivo). FIELDING E: Guzman, J (1, fielding). PB: Whiteside (1). DP: (Bocock-Frandsen-McClain). Kansas City IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Greinke (W, 1-0) 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Tejeda (H, 1) 2.0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 Wright, J (H, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Soria 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 Lowery 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 Hamulack 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 1 9.00 Wright, M 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 San Francisco IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Johnson (L, 0-1) 2.0 1 1 1 0 2 0 4.50 Sanchez 3.0 3 1 1 0 4 0 3.00 Ortiz 1.0 2 3 2 1 1 1 18.00 Wilson 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 Taschner 1.0 0 1 1 2 1 0 9.00 Sadler 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 WP: Johnson, Taschner. HBP: Shealy (by Johnson), Lisson (by Sadler). Groundouts-flyouts: Greinke 3-2, Tejeda 2-2, Wright, J 2-1, Soria 1-1, Lowery 2-1, Hamulack 2-0, Wright, M 0-2, Johnson 1-2, Sanchez 2-3, Ortiz 2-0, Wilson 1-2, Taschner 1-1, Sadler 2-1. Batters faced: Greinke 6, Tejeda 8, Wright, J 3, Soria 3, Lowery 4, Hamulack 4, Wright, M 4, Johnson 7, Sanchez 12, Ortiz 7, Wilson 4, Taschner 5, Sadler 4. Umpires: HP: Paul Schrieber. 1B: Ted Barrett. 2B: Angel Campos. 3B: Delfin Colon. Weather: 75 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, Out to RF. T: 2:38. Att: 5,384. February 27, 2009 Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner