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San Francisco’s Jeff Samardzija Outshines Barry Bonds, Help Comes From An Unexpected Source

By Dustin Kemp
Published on: 22:04 PST, Apr 22, 2016

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija killed it behind the mound in last night’s game against the Miami Marlins by delivering 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball, but the main story of his performance took place in the batter’s box. There, reports USA Today, Samardzija set some personal records and managed to outshine an even bigger star in the game, former Giant Barry Bonds.

Before the game began, Bonds, and not Samardzija, looked like he was going to be the star of the show. The cheers of the crowd were deafening when he ran out on the field to give the home plate umpire the Marlins lineup card.

Bonds knew he would be met with a very warm welcome, too, as it was his first time to return to AT&T park in a baseball uniform since he left baseball in 2007.

“I don’t really have fans in San Francisco; this is my family. This is where I was raised, this is where I grew up, people that stood behind me through thick and thin. And so I always will appreciate that and always have my love for San Francisco.”

But Jeff Samardzija, who just kicked off his first season as a San Francisco Giant and is still looking to prove himself, was determined go unnoticed, reveals Giants Extra.

“It’s a very educated fan base with very high standards,” Samardzija said after the game, “and you want to live up to those standards.”

“As a new guy, you want to prove you belong. Hopefully they saw something they liked.

And it can be reasonably inferred from Samardzija’s performance from both sides of the field that the San Francisco fans did indeed see “something they liked” in what Jeff brought to the game.

Samardzija set a dominant tone when he retired the three leadoff hitters with only six pitches in the first inning, but that was only the start, and no one saw his huge offensive night coming even then.

Sure, Samardzija whiffed in his first at-bat, but he stroked an RBI single when he came up in the fifth and smashed a 2RBI double the next inning. In the span of one inning, Jeff Samardzija tied his season record of 3RBIs. Samardzija also came up empty in his last at-bat of the night, but 2-4 with 2 RBIs on the night is not shabby at all for a pitcher, especially when Samardzija held the opposing team to a single run through seventh inning stretch.

Although Samardzija set out to have a big night, he admits he was a bit surprised by just how well he had done behind the plate. Not because he is a pitcher, though, but because Samardzija is not used to hitting so well after a certain hour of the day.

“I consider myself a great 5 o’clock hitter. When it’s 7 and the ball is at 94-95 (mph), it’s tougher. Close your eyes and swing.

It’s a questionable strategy, Jeff, but no one’s complaining after those results.

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy also recognized Jeff Samardzija’s awesome performance while alluding to the unexpected batting lineup strategy The Inquisitr previously reported has become one of Bochy’s favorite plays.

“We had one of those games when you think hitting the pitcher eighth will kill you. And then [Samardzija] comes up with a couple hits and three RBIs,” he said.

“[Samardzija]’s a good athlete. He’s dangerous with the bat. I can’t quite go to ‘he’s a good hitter’…he’s a threat up there.”

In the end, the Giants halted their five-game losing streak by trouncing the Marlins 8-1, and Jeff Samardzija was definitely the MVP. Maybe next time, Barry.

Giants fans can look forward to a lot of Samardzija in their futures, as Jeff the eclectic ace signed on for 5 years with San Francisco starting this season.

Samardzija’s next start will take place on April 27, when the Giants take on the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park.

[Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images]

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