Marcus Semien launched a two-run homer after getting hit in the helmet by a pitch, Adolis García stole home, and the Texas Rangers avoided being swept by manager Bruce Bochy’s former team with a 7-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
The first pitch thrown by Giants starter Keaton Winn was a 94.5 mph fastball that knocked Semien’s helmet off his head.
“Not how you want to start the game. Definitely not,” said Semien, who had no plans to watch the replay. “The first pitch, you don’t expect that, but luckily I’m OK.”
Semien then stole second base after getting checked on, and eventually scored the first run. When he batted again in the second inning, he went deep on the next pitch he saw, an 86.4 mph slider, to put Texas up 5-0.
“Scary moment, as you well know, when a guy gets hit in the helmet,” Bochy said. “Marcus, he does have a knack next time up — hit a home run. I’ve seen it more than once now. He plays with a lot of fire, and he gets ticked off at times.”
Nathan Eovaldi (3-2) went seven innings, his longest start for Texas since April 3. The right-hander, who missed most of May with a right groin strain, struck out five, walked one and gave up two runs on five hits.
Mike Yastrzemski homered for the Giants (32-34), who won the first two games of this matchup against the manager who guided San Francisco to three World Series titles from 2010-14.
