The Giants reached the 100-homer plateau with the unlikeliest of swings, and it got them to the century mark in 69 games, faster than any team in franchise history except the 1947 club (67 games), which played in New York, and 2000 club (68 games), the first to occupy the Second and King facility.
“I didn’t know that. That’s pretty cool,” said the man who cleared the wall in Thursday’s win over Arizona for the milestone homer, backup catcher Curt Casali, after his first homer as a Giant.
“Genuinely, I was just hoping to get one this year after the way it’s been going, but I’m just happy to contribute. I’m thrilled to be on this team. It’s a blast to be around.”
Friday night, in the series opener against the Phillies, Brandon Belt gave the Giants their 101st homer of the season.
The Giants’ season record for homers is 235 in 2001, the year Barry Bonds hit a record 73. Among the supporting cast, Rich Aurilia hit 36, Jeff Kent 22, Marvin Benard 15 and Armando Rios 14.
Could this team break that record? Certainly possible even though the Giants have no one like Mr. Bonds. Several hitters could have had more homers by now if they hadn’t been injured, including Mike Yastrzemski (seven) and Alex Dickerson (six).
Your leaders, as you all predicted in spring training, are Brandon Crawford (15), Buster Posey (12), Belt (10) and Evan Longoria (nine).
Even if the Giants don’t break the record, they’re well on their way to 200 homers, which has been reached just five times in history and not once since Bonds’ ’01ers.
The top five: 2001 (235), 2000 (226), 1947 (221), 1987 (205) and 1962 (204). Three of those teams made the playoffs, two made the World Series. So, yes, homers matter.
It’s heating up, so this trend might continue. Wednesday, the Giants hit five homers, their most in a game along the McCovey Cove shores since 2003, and the next day, Casali hit No. 100.
Casali credited Giants fans for rooting him on in his final at-bat when he was a double shy of a cycle. He didn’t get it but loved the support.
“To anybody watching out there, I really appreciate you cheering for me,” Casali said. “It meant the world to me, especially considering how difficult of a season it’s been for me personally.”
Coonrod returns: Sam Coonrod was back at Oracle Park, his home in 2020 before he was dealt to the Phillies for minor-leaguer Carson Ragsdale, who has a 3.27 ERA with 61 K’s in 33 innings at Low A San Jose. Before Friday’s game, manager Gabe Kapler had a brief chat with Coonrod.
“He’s been a pretty good strike-thrower and obviously continues to have pretty great stuff,” Kapler said. “We saw that when he was here with us. My opportunity to connect was just to wish him the best and tell him I’m happy for him for some of his success.”
A year after giving up 16 earned runs in 14 ⅔ innings, Coonrod has found comfort in Philly by sporting a 3.29 ERA with 28 strikeouts, seven walks and two saves in 27 ⅓ innings.
Briefly: Tommy La Stella, who’s on the 60-day injured list (hamstring strain) and ineligible to be activated before July 2, ran the bases Friday and could begin a rehab assignment soon. … Aaron Sanchez exited his rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento with a finger blister. . . . Pitching prospect Sean Hjelle was removed from a start at Double-A Richmond with a lower back strain.
John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey
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