Daniel Susac’s start to his career has been so eye-opening that the rookie catcher has earned himself more at-bats.
Susac became the first player in Giants history to open his career with five consecutive hits, and San Francisco manager Tony Vitello indicated he’s ready to write Susac’s name on the lineup card more frequently.
The mystery is whether Susac will be in the lineup for the second straight day on Wednesday afternoon when the Giants close a three-game set with the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.
Susac, 24, went 3-for-4 with a two-run triple in Tuesday night’s 6-0 victory over the Phillies. When he started 2-for-2 for his fifth hit in a row this season, he was one safety away from becoming the first player to start his career 6-for-6 since Ted Cox of the Boston Red Sox in 1977.
Susac fell short of Cox when he flied out in the sixth inning. Still, the rookie surpassed a big name for the team mark in Hall of Famer Willie McCovey (4-for-4 in 1959).
Susac is batting .857 while regular catcher Patrick Bailey is struggling at .129 with four hits (all singles) in 31 at-bats.
“I think he’s obviously earned the right to be out there for us more often,” Vitello said of Susac. “It would be good for those guys.
“I think they have a good friendship and also a good working relationship. … It’s not an easy thing to go out there all the time. You’ll be seeing plenty of both guys as the season goes on.”
Susac was a Rule 5 Draft pick in the offseason by the Minnesota Twins out of the Athletics’ organization. He later was traded to the Giants. He saw an opportunity with them and worked on his approach.
“A lot of it has to do with offseason changes I made,” Susac said. “Just being a lot calmer at the plate, smooth, seeing the ball a little better.
“Growing up, my strength was the opposite side of the field. So getting back to that … taking what they give me as well.”
Philadelphia had just four hits in Tuesday’s loss, and the defense had issues in the fifth inning.
Star shortstop Trea Turner fumbled a grounder that appeared to be a double play. Later in the inning, left fielder Otto Kemp’s reaction time was slow as Matt Chapman’s RBI double sailed over his head.
“Hindsight, I wish I would have tried to beat the ball to the spot,” Kemp said. “Better chance to make that play rather than trying to jump up.”
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto exited in the bottom of the first inning due to a bruised right foot. He was hit with a foul ball off the bat of San Francisco’s Rafael Devers.
“X-rays were negative,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “We’ll re-evaluate (Wednesday).”
Thomson said Rafael Marchan will start at catcher on Wednesday. Marchan was hitless in four at-bats Tuesday.
Aaron Nola (1-0, 3.18 ERA) will start for the Phillies in the finale against fellow right-hander Tyler Mahle (0-2, 7.00) of the Giants.
Nola, 32, beat the Colorado Rockies on Friday when he gave up one run and five hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked one in a 10-1 victory.
Nola has struggled against San Francisco, going 3-3 with a 7.00 ERA in nine career starts. Willy Adames is just 1-for-19 with 10 strikeouts against him while Matt Chapman is 3-for-7.
Mahle, 31, served up two homers while allowing five runs and eight hits over five innings in a 10-3 loss to the New York Mets on Friday. He struck out four and walked two.
Mahle is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies. Kyle Schwarber (5-for-18) has homered twice off him.
–Field Level Media
