SAN FRANCISCO -- Matt Reynolds, the Giants' new left-hander, learned instantly that independent baseball is nothing like the Major Leagues.
In his first game this season with the Lancaster (Pa.) Barnstormers of the Atlantic League, Reynolds was prepared to enter a game against Southern Maryland. But he was advised to stay in the bullpen.
After all, it was the seventh inning. Time for the special 15-minute delay for an in-game fireworks display.
Reynolds didn't mind. After accumulating more than four years' service time with Colorado and Arizona between 2010 and '15 -- and enduring Tommy John elbow surgery in '13 -- he figured it was time to rediscover the sheer joy of playing baseball for a living. In fact, Reynolds said Friday that he was seeking "a fun opportunity" after Arizona released him late in Spring Training.
Pitching became even more fun for Reynolds, 31, after the Giants signed him to a Minor League contract on June 24. He made eight scoreless appearances for Double-A Richmond and followed that with five more scoreless outings for Triple-A Sacramento before the Giants summoned him Thursday to replace injured Josh Osich, who was placed on the disabled list with a left forearm strain.
Reynolds made his Giants debut in the seventh inning of Friday's 4-1 loss to the Nationals, pitching 2/3 of a scoreless inning and walking one.
"I came over here a lot of times and we got beat up pretty good," said Reynolds, who recorded a 5.29 ERA in 22 career appearances against the Giants. "So it's always nice to come over to the side that I've looked on at the top of the division since I've been in the big leagues."