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The Giants optioned Black to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports. Black was saddled with his fifth loss of the season Wednesday versus Arizona, allowing four earned runs on five hits and five walks across just 2.2 innings. Now that his spot in the rotation won't be needed for the rest of the season, the Giants will send him back to the minors and insert Randy Rodriguez (elbow) back into their bullpen.
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Black (1-5) took the loss against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks over 2.2 innings while striking out three. Black had a miserable second inning, allowing back-to-back hits to open the frame and failing to retire five of the first six batters he faced while seeing three runs come across for Arizona. The right-hander continued to struggle in the third, allowing three walks and an infield single before eventually being relieved by Sean Hjelle with two outs. Black's five walks on the night marked a season high and he's now lost four of his last five starts. It also tied for his shortest outing of the campaign after hurling a season-high 5.2 innings in his previous start against the Royals.
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Black (1-4) earned the win Friday at Kansas City, pitching 5.2 scoreless frames while allowing four hits and one walk. He struck out four. The rookie right-hander turned in the best performance of his young career with this 84-pitch outing -- his first scoreless start. Black had been stuck in a cold spell before this contest, pitching to a 5.27 ERA across 13.2 innings since re-entering the rotation Aug. 31. The 24-year-old managed to lower his season ERA from 7.07 to 5.88, as he now sports a 1.51 WHIP and 28:10 K:BB over 33.2 innings. Black is tentatively scheduled to make his last start against the Cardinals at home next week.
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Black (0-4) took the loss against the Padres on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk over four innings while striking out two. The Padres got to Black early, tagging the right-hander for one run in the opening frame following a double from Manny Machado, though the run was unearned on account of a fielding error by Heliot Ramos. The 24-year-old would then get through the next two innings unscathed before surrendering a solo homer to Xander Bogaerts in the fourth. It marked the sixth time in seven outings this season that Black was unable to get through five innings, though it was also the second time over that span that he allowed only one earned run. Additionally, he's given up at least one home run in all seven of his outings and is still looking for his first win on the campaign.
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Black (0-3) allowed four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six over 4.2 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Padres. The Padres pounced early with a three-run first inning. Black was able to settle in after that, but he gave up one more run in the fifth, making this the fourth time in six outings (five starts) he's given up at least four runs. The right-hander has pitched to a 7.50 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB through 24 innings in the majors this season. Despite the poor outing, Black could continue to get starts in September after Kyle Harrison (shoulder) joined Robbie Ray (hamstring) on the injured list. Black is tentatively projected to make his next start at home in a rematch with the Padres.