Samardzija Hits Two Milestones, Makes 200-200 Club in Start Vs Dodgers

LOS ANGELES - When the Giants gathered for spring training in February, team officials thought they had put together a rotation with four 200-inning arms. The starters didn't come close to hitting that lofty goal, but one Giant got to the 200-inning mark Friday night. 

Jeff Samardzija hit 200 innings in the third inning Friday night at Dodger Stadium, reaching the standard for the fifth consecutive season. Samardzija also became the first Giant this year to reach 200 strikeouts when he struck out Curtis Granderson to open the second inning. The right-hander will be the only member of the rotation to reach either milestone, with Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto limited by injuries and Matt Moore having a down year. 

"These guys like Jeff that are able to handle that workload that he does and log 200 innings and have durability, that's invaluable," manager Bruce Bochy said. "You look at what it does for the ‘pen but also the quality of innings he gives you. His record should be different with how he has thrown the ball - he can't control that. But the workload itself is important."

Samardzija became the first Giants right-hander to strike out 200 in a season since Tim Lincecum (220) in 2011. Samardzija joined Carlos Martinez as the only National League pitchers who have thrown 200 innings this year, and Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Robbie Ray, Martinez and Zack Greinke in the league's 200-strikeout club. 

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