Hope is cruel, hope is real

Giants 8, Dodgers 3

The Giants waited 202 days for Wednesday night. Somehow, it felt longer than that.

With every opener they trotted out, with every day they gutted out a two-man rotation, the Giants couldn't wait for Robbie Ray's debut.

The Giants traded Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani to get the former Cy Young winner from the Mariners. It felt like a steal at the time, and on Wednesday it felt like Ocean's Eleven. Ray held the Dodgers hitless over five innings, making his long-awaited return after recovering from Tommy John.

For months he’s represented the great promise for this season. That at some point the Giants could front a rotation with Ray, Logan Webb, and Blake Snell. The wait is finally over. The only question is if it's too late.

Up next: It’ll be Logan Webb (7-8, 3.59 ERA) and Clayton Kershaw, who’s making his season debut. In 57 starts against the Giants his career, Kershaw has a 2.01 ERA. Missed that guy. First pitch at 1:10 p.m.