DENVER -- Nobody played more innings at Coors Field this week than Mike Yastrzemski, who started and finished both ends of a doubleheader Monday before going the distance in the final two games of the Giants' impressive sweep over the Rockies.
It was impressive, particularly because Yastrzemski wasn't supposed to be in Denver at all.
Faced with a roster crunch and a need for pitching, the Giants nearly optioned Yastrzemski back to Triple-A on Sunday. But then Alex Dickerson's back tightened up, Yastrzemski found himself back in the lineup, and he took off from there.
"It's not really up to me to make those decisions," Yastrzemski said. "But it freed me up to go out and play more aggressive and make something happen."
Yastrzemski certainly did so. He had two hits in Wednesday's 11-8 win over the Rockies and finished the four-game series with nine hits, six runs and seven RBI. Yastrzemski homered twice, getting to seven on the year.
The four-game series was a rough one for the players physically. It was hot throughout and 95 degrees at first pitch on Wednesday. The oxygen tank in the dugout got plenty of use.
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Yastrzemski, like everyone else, was tired by the end. He was also smiling.
"The legs are heavy, but after a good win they feel a lot lighter," he said. "Especially after a sweep like that. You kind of forget how your body is feeling when you're doing well."
