Jonathan Sanchez was wild early, but survived to give the Giants another solid start (
Game Score 60). He kept the lid on the big bats and retired the last 8 men he faced and 12 of 13 after Kelly Johnson's 3rd inning homer. Rodrigo Lopez did his best to Livan the Giants lineup, and it looked as though it would work through the first five innings. Nothing like a journeyman with a collection of slowballs to befuddle our offense! Finally the Giants got a breakthrough with two outs in the 6th from the unlikely combination of Pablo Sandoval and pinch-hitter Nate Schierholtz. "Way to Go" Fontenot worked a walk in the 7th and "Pat the Bat" Burrell drove him to make it 4-2, and we started to breathe a little easier. The Snakes threatened in the 8th, but Brian Wilson came on to get a five-out save and the Giants had another big win. What can you say about Brian Wilson? The man has been an absolute beast!
The San Diego Padres continued their slide,
losing 5-2 at home to the Cubs. Ace Mat Latos got burned for 7 hits and a homer in 5-2/3 IP, and even made an error! I want to say the wheels are coming off the little Padre wagon, but that would be premature. I will say it is about time Mat Latos showed some vulnerability, and it is about time the team pays for its lack of offense. Let's hope they keep on losing. The Rockies were
eliminated tonight by the Dodgers.
NL WEST
SFG 89-68 --
SDP 87-70 2.0
Looking good! Let's keep the pedal to the metal!
GO GIANTS!!
--M.C.
p.s. Our magic number is four.
5 comments:
Of note, along with Jonathan Sanchez's wildness, he became the second Giant to reach 200 strikeouts this season and the first lefty since Ray Sadecki in 1968, as season in which he posted a 12-18 record and recorded 206 strikeouts in 253 innings. Ray Sadecki was a Giant because, in May, 1966, he was traded to San Francisco by the St. Louis Cardinals for Orlando Cepeda. Orlando Cepeda then saw action in the 1967 World Series, in which the Cardinals beat the Boston Red Sox, and the 1968 World Series, in which the Cardinals failed to beat the Detroit Tigers.
Here is a statistic that I like: The Giants lead the major leagues with 1280 strikeouts. Last year, they led the major leagues with 1302 strikeouts. Anyone want to take the over-under?
Sanchez wasn't in top form but he's continuing to show the ability to bear down and get out of trouble.
I'm feeling tight about the last five games. I'm optimistic, but I don't trust that feeling. What I do have faith in is that the Puds are weenies who will roll over and play dead. No way will they get hot and take it away from us.
Anyway, I don't like our chances against Philadelphia. Cincy or Atlanta we could take.
That would be the dream match-up: Halladay-Hamels-Oswalt vs. Lincecum-Cain-Sanchez. Wow! Phils are defending NL champs and '08 WS champs, have the best record, Giants are the up-and-comers, the dark horse club, the unexpected ones. Like I said, that's the dream match-up.
Ray Sadecki also beat Whitey Ford in Game 1 of the '64 Series. Pitched for 18 years and started over 500 games.
The Giants bullpen can get 22 strikeouts.
Ooh that would be a sexy series. For some reason, I don't think we'll have trouble with their staff. I'm pretty sure that we've beaten all of those guys at least once (and Oswalt three times I think!) I like our bullpen much more than theirs too. Go Giants bias!
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