Hayden Birdsong leads SF Giants to 3-2 win over Royals in return to rotation

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s almost Memorial Day, and Hayden Birdsong became only the sixth pitcher to start a game for the Giants when he toed the rubber at Oracle Park on Tuesday night. Just one other team, the Angels, lasted longer without deviating from their Opening Day rotation.

The 23-year-old right-hander never planned to work in relief but took the opportunity that was given to him out of spring training, pitched well enough to merit a promotion to the rotation and kept it up in his first start...