The 97 pitches Birdsong exhausted were the third-most by a pitcher making his major-league debut this season, but he’d like to have the last one back.

While the 30,893 on hand gave him a warm reception as he walked off the field, Birdsong shook his head as he descended the dugout steps. One out shy of completing five innings and putting himself in position to earn the win, Birdsong didn’t factor into the decision after Suzuki sent the eighth pitch of his at-bat over the center field wall.

Still, it should have amounted to a “pinch-me” moment for the young right-hander, considered the Giants’ No. 6 prospect by MLB.com, who grew up rooting on the Cubs. While Birdsong wowed coaches during his first big-league spring training, he began the season at Double-A Richmond and had thrown 169⅔ professional innings — the fewest by a Giants pitching prospect since Lincecum in 2007 — when he was informed to pack his bags and get to Oracle Park in time to start Wednesday’s game.

Notable

With a pair of swings in the second inning, Michael Conforto and David Villar provided the majority of the Giants’ offense. Scoring Bailey after a leadoff walk, Conforto sent a two-run homer into the seats above the out-of-town scoreboard in right field, and Villar followed with a line-drive solo shot to center.

Building a 3-1 advantage, it was the second time the Giants have hit back-to-back home runs this season.

Luis Matos put them ahead, 4-3, with his own solo shot with two outs in the fifth.

They improved to 13-4 when hitting multiple home runs in a game.

Up next

RHP Jordan Hicks (4-4, 3.24) gets the nod in the series finale against LHP Shōta Imanaga (7-2, 2.96). First pitch is scheduled for 12:45 p.m.

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