MESA, Ariz. - The Giants went 0-62 last season when trailing after eight innings. Chris Marrero wasn't around for any of that, but it's a stat that could help Marrero as he tries to lock up a bench spot.
The first baseman/left fielder crushed a three-run shot in the ninth inning Tuesday, wiping out a two-run deficit against the Cubs. Marrero also has two walk-off homers this spring.
"This kid, you see it when he goes up there. He's got great focus," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's intensity and determination. From day one, you could see it in his at-bats. Late in the game, he seems very comfortable. He wants to go up there."
Tuesday's homer, which shot out to right-center, was the eighth of the spring for Marrero. That ties him with a guy named Bryce Harper for the MLB lead, and the vast majority of Marrero's bombs were no-doubters.
"It's been a great spring for him," Bochy said. "The last game here, it seems fitting that he would do something like that. He's already done it a couple of times. This kid has done all he can. I love his swing and the work that he's put in."
With Michael Morse down, Marrero is the best remaining option as a power right-handed bat off the bench, a glaring need a year ago. Justin Ruggiano, another one in the mix, followed Marrero's shot with one of his own. The homer was Ruggiano's second of the spring.
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Ruggiano is a better fit defensively in the outfield, but Marrero has been solid at first and Bochy said he's fine with what he's seen in left field. "He's still working on it," Bochy said, noting that Marrero will play left field during the Bay Bridge Series.
LEADING OFF: Denard Span saw a wild pitch bounce off the bricks behind home plate, and he never slowed down. Span sped around third in the second inning and slid in ahead of the throw. The notable part of the play wasn't that a quirky bounce allowed Span to take 180 feet on a wild pitch. It was that his legs did. The 33-year-old has been a different guy in his second spring with the Giants. Last year, Span was coming off hip surgery. This spring, his old game has returned.
"I've just been able to do the things I've always been able to do," Span said. "I have more control of my body. I'm stronger. I had a full offseason and a full spring training to get my legs up under me. The last couple of weeks, I've felt much better and more confident."
A healthy and spry Span would be a big boost to a lineup that often looked flat in the second half last season Span showed off every aspect of his game Tuesday. He blasted a leadoff homer on Jake Arrieta's second pitch, and during their second matchup, he put a perfect bunt down the third base line for a single. Span stole second easily before his race home.
"He's playing terrific baseball and he's been a real inspiration, being our leadoff hitter," Bochy said. "That's what we needed - energy at the top of the order."
TRAINER'S ROOM: Eduardo Nuñez (shoulder) is feeling much better, and Bochy said he'll play third base during the games at AT&T Park before getting four or five innings at shortstop on Saturday. Joe Panik (drilled in the back on Monday) said he's feeling fine.
POSITION BATTLES: Here's the latest on Matt Cain, and here's an update on Aaron Hill and Jimmy Rollins.
ICYMI: Big news today from NBC Bay Area. Matt Williams, Javier Lopez and Cody Ross have joined out pre- and post-game shows. You can find stories about those guys on our homepage here. Those shows will also now be an hour long on both ends of the game, adding an extra hour of Giants coverage to your day. Which is good.
That's all on the way during the regular season. If you missed any of our spring coverage, you can find a bunch of features here, and podcasts here (spring pods included Mike Morse, Matt Cain, Mac Williamson, Jimmy Rollins and others, with one more coming this week). And in case you're new to our coverage, the Twitter account is here and the Facebook page is here. Next stop, San Francisco …
