SURPRISE, Ariz. -- San Francisco veteran right-hander Jake Peavy pitched much better in his second start, but the Texas Rangers rallied for a 6-5 victory Monday.
Peavy, who surrendered six runs on nine hits in 1 2-3 innings Thursday against Milwaukee, yielded two runs on five hits over three innings against the Rangers.
"I know the other day was tough results wise," Peavy said. "Today I faced a better lineup in worse conditions. If you would have seen my 'pen session before that last one, you would have went, 'He's ready.' Then I went out there and didn't execute a stinking pitch in a couple of innings."
[RELATED: Giants' Peavy not sweating rough Cactus League debut]
He said he threw mostly fastballs against the Brewers but broke out other pitches against the Rangers.
"Today I didn't throw many heaters," Peavy said. "It was good fastball command at times; there was a good slider at times, a good changeup at times. I didn't use them all the first time out."
Peavy said he valued Buster Posey making the hour-plus trip from Scottsdale to catch him.
"It's nice to have somebody care that much for a spring training game," Peavy said. "To come all the way out there, just to care to make you better. This guy makes us all better. It's appreciated a lot."
Robinson Chirinos and Adrian Beltre had sacrifice flies off Peavy.
Kyle Blanks homered off Colby Lewis in the Giants' first.
[RELATED: Giants spring training Day 20: Blanks shows intriguing power]
Ryan Rua went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, including a two-run double in the Rangers' three-run ninth.
STARTING TIME
Giants: Peavy was limited 110 2-3 innings last year because of hip and lower-back issues. "I just threw three innings and did not have to have an (hip) adjustment," Peavy said. "It checked out perfect. That's an encouraging sign for me moving forward."
Rangers: Lewis gave up five hits over the first eight batters he faced before retiring the last four. "I actually felt better as I went on," Lewis said. "The third inning felt a lot better than the first two. That was a plus for me. I felt like my arm started to come to me more in the third inning."
NO CHANCES
Ian Desmond, who the Rangers are moving to left field after playing mostly shortstop for the Nationals, still has not caught a fly ball in 15 innings in three games in the outfield. "I'm going to get a fly ball before this is over," Desmond said. "I don't care if I have to go out here on a Little League field; I'm going to find a fly ball in left field."
TRAINERS ROOM
Giants: 1B Brandon Belt, who has been sick and missed his third straight game, returned to camp. He anticipates playing Wednesday.
Rangers: RHP Shawn Tolleson (lower-back spasms) is throwing up to 120 feet. ... RHP Yu Darvish (rehabbing from March 2015 Tommy John surgery) threw his fourth bullpen with no issues.
UP NEXT
Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner will make his second start, both against the Reds.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland will start against Oakland. RHP Jeremy Guthrie will also pitch after being held back earlier by lower-back stiffness.
