Sabol tallies first MLB blast as homer-happy Giants roll

CHICAGO -- The Giants built their lineup around power this offseason, and just six games into the season, it’s already all coming together.

The team launched five home runs on Thursday afternoon to defeat the White Sox, 16-6, at Guaranteed Rate Field and win its first series of the season. San Francisco has now clubbed a franchise-record 15 home runs through its first six games. The previous high was 11 set by the 2002, '03, '16 and '21 teams.

“I thought we threw some really good at-bats at [White Sox starter Lance] Lynn in the first inning,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “From start to finish, we put the gas pedal down from an offensive perspective, and it’s going to be critical to our success long term.”

The Giants were quiet in the Bronx to open the season -- getting shut out twice and only hitting two home runs. Then the bats came alive on the South Side of Chicago, and they hit 13 homers in the series.

That’s tied for the most homers in a three-game set in franchise history, and it is just the eighth time in the San Francisco era -- and the first since 2004 -- that the Giants have hit 10 or more home runs in a three-game series.

“I could get used to [the home runs] for sure,” starter Alex Wood said after striking out three in three-plus innings. “It’s tough going on the road to start the year. I thought the guys did a great job swinging the bats well. I thought we played really good overall.”

After slugging seven long balls in Monday’s series opener, San Francisco got key contributions from several players in another home run barrage on Thursday.

Michael Conforto hit a three-run shot in the first inning, Blake Sabol launched the first home run of his big league career in the second, then veterans Mike Yastrzemski and Wilmer Flores followed suit in the fifth and sixth innings. J.D. Davis also went deep for the second consecutive game with a grand slam in the ninth.

All five home runs had an exit velocity of over 100 mph.

“Yeah, it was a bad series,” Lynn, who allowed three of those homers, said. “When we made mistakes, they made it hurt. … I just didn’t make the pitches, and they made me pay for it.”

The home run production from players like Sabol could be huge for the Giants as the season progresses.

“Any time you score that many runs in a series, on a road trip, it’s always nice,” Wood said. “Hopefully, we keep that up for our first homestand.”

Sabol is looking to make his mark in the league. A Rule 5 Draft pick, the rookie started his Major League career 1-for-12 at the plate.

But on Thursday, the catcher notched his first career home run in a breakout three-hit performance. Sabol also recorded his first win behind the plate in his young career.

“That’s huge,” Sabol said of Thursday’s accomplishments. “The only thing I wish I got today was getting [the runner stealing second in the fifth inning]. Then we would have hit all the bases.”

Making his MLB debut in left field at Yankee Stadium on Opening Day last Thursday was a daunting task for Sabol, who had to face one of the game’s best pitchers in Gerrit Cole. But as the 25-year-old continues to get reps behind and at the plate, he is starting to feel more comfortable.

“Yankee Stadium, when I first showed up, [it was like], ‘Wow,'” Sabol said. “There’s three decks and you got all these fans, and it definitely felt different. Now, like, showing up to the stadium, this is what I expect to show up to.”

With the injuries to outfielders Mitch Haniger and Austin Slater and catcher Joey Bart, Sabol has gotten many opportunities to prove himself early in the year. He has started all six games for the Giants -- four in left field and two at catcher. If he can contribute consistently at the plate, he can help put San Francisco in a good spot offensively.

“Just getting comfortable,” Kapler said. “He had a good Spring Training. Start to the season [was] a little bit slow, but [he] was also having some good at-bats.”

After the Giants hit 13 homers in the series, including Sabol’s first, they celebrated by dumping V8, mouthwash and shaving cream over the rookie.

“I’m just happy that we got the series and got [series win] No. 1 out of the way,” Sabol said.