SF Giants’ Hicks dominates Astros in first hometown start

HOUSTON — Jordan Hicks sat isolated in the third-base dugout hours prior to first pitch, taking a brief beat to bask in the moment. He’s known Houston for nearly three decades; it still had that same fragrance.

Entering Monday, Hicks had pitched in 29 major-league stadiums, a list that doesn’t include Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. He’d even pitched in Mexico’s Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey and the United Kingdom’s London Stadium. But Hicks, who was born in Houston, had never pitched at Daikin Park, formerly known as Minute Maid Park for most of his life. Monday, then, represented the first time he would pitch in H-Town as a major leaguer. Given the occasion, he had no shortage of friends and family in attendance.

He saved his best for home.

The final line — six scoreless innings, one hit, one walk, six strikeouts — is impressive enough, a performance that led the Giants to a 7-2 win over the Astros. At one point, he retired 14 consecutive batters. But the final line doesn’t do Hicks’ performance justice. Not when he threw more than three miles an hour harder than last year. Pitching on familiar soil, it was the best that Hicks has looked in a Giants uniform.

“He was up for this game, and you could see it right away,” said manager Bob Melvin.

The Giants didn’t need much offense with Hicks shoving, but the offense showered Hicks with enough support to earn the win regardless.

Wilmer Flores hit a three-run shot and drove in four runs after hitting two homers in Cincinnati, already one away from matching last year’s home run total. Matt Chapman drove in a pair of runs and reached base three times while LaMonte Wade Jr. contributed an RBI by way of a sacrifice fly as well. The offense remains hot after scoring 14 runs in Cincinnati, but not as hot as Daikin Park’s radar gun with Hicks on the hill.

Hicks’ outing evoked memories of his years as a reliever with the St. Louis Cardinals, a time when he regularly touched triple digits, and on two occasions, he hit as high as 105 mph. Upon signing with the Giants as a starter, Hicks sacrificed speed for stamina. Hicks occasionally reached back for more, but his velocity last year sat in the mid-90s.

His start against Houston, then, was a blend of a reliever’s heat and a starter’s endurance.

Hicks, who added roughly 15 pounds and quit nicotine this offseason, averaged 98.0 mph with his sinker — 3.5 mph harder than what averaged last year. After throwing only 10 pitches of at least 99 mph last year, Hicks threw 10 pitches that clocked in at least 99 mph in the first inning alone. Hicks used most of that premium gas in the first three innings, but Hicks’ final pitch of the night registered at 98.9 mph.

“The sinker was on. They were giving me the outside corner. The hitters were kind of off the plate a little bit,” Hicks said. “If you’re going to let me have that outside corner, I’m going to try to paint it.”

Hicks would’ve been happy with the performance at any venue, but to do it in his hometown brought a unique satisfaction.

The 28-year-old recalled coming to games at this venue as a kid, joking that he prefers the old “Minute Maid Park” moniker. Before beginning his preparation, he took several moments to walk on the field and reminisce, remembering the specific sections where he sat.

As a kid, Hicks cheered for the likes of Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Michael Bourn. With roughly 80 friends and family in attendance, Hicks ensured there’d be little for the hometown fans to cheer about.

“It was a special moment,” Hicks said.

Worth noting

• Heliot Ramos and Matt Chapman each stole their first bases of the year, giving the Giants their first multi-steal game of the season. Last season, they only had 12 such games. This also marked the first time this year they’ve stolen at least one base in three straight games. In 2024, there were only two instances where they stole at least one base in three consecutive games.
• Jung Hoo Lee has reached base at least once in each of the Giants’ first four games.