PHOENIX -- Logan Webb left 30 tickets at Chase Field for family members and friends who wanted to watch his big league debut. Some came on flights paid for by the Giants, but others made the long drive from Rocklin.
Webb wasn't sure exactly how many of the 30 tickets got used up, although he knew it was nearly all of them, if not all. He didn't look into the seats to confirm, preferring to keep his focus on the field during the biggest moment of his baseball career.
"I could hear them," Webb added, smiling.
The ones who drove 11 hours certainly got their money's worth. Webb was sharp and showed toughness in his first big league start, pitching five solid innings in a game the Giants would go on to win 11-6.
The 22-year-old was charged with one earned run (another came across on an error), struck out seven and walked one. Webb scattered five hits while becoming the first Giants starter since Ryan Sadowski in 2009 to win his debut.
"He stayed poised out there and gave us five solid innings," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He looked good, didn't he? He had good stuff, good command, a nice slider and changeup. He did a good job in this ballpark in his debut."
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Webb had plenty of nerves for his lone Triple-A start on Monday, then had to fly to Phoenix and watch the Giants and Diamondbacks combine for 12 homers a night before he took the ball. He said there were even more nerves as he took the mound Saturday, but some dissipated with his first strike, others with his first out. The Diamondbacks scored two in the first but Webb didn't allow another run.
"He's got a real tough mentality," Bochy said. "That's what you like about him. You can tell, he's out there and all business."
Webb is known for being a bulldog on the mound, but it wasn't those early runs that brought out the most emotion. He yelled into his glove after ending the sixth with a nasty slider that Adam Jones waved at. The culprit was a walk issued one batter earlier.
"There's nothing I hate more than walks," he said later, smiling again and shaking his head.
A commitment to that will keep him in the big leagues, although for now it's unclear when Webb will make his next start. The Giants had previously said that Tyler Beede and Dereck Rodriguez would start next week, and they have two off days in five days. Webb likely couldn't start again until Sunday in Oakland, and the 2019 Giants have not kept a player around for a week when he's not able to be used.
But Saturday's performance certainly opened eyes. Bochy said the staff would discuss the roster situation. At the very least, they need another position player here for the series finale as they go for the sweep. The lineup -- paced by Brandon Belt's six RBI and Kevin Pillar's five hits -- had 18 hits, but there were only three players on the bench.
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Webb may have to wait a bit longer to stick in the rotation. But the first night was one he can be proud of.
"For a kid, coming up here against a tough lineup like that, he won't forget tonight," Bochy said.
