Buster Posey smoked a ball off righty Andrew Cashner to straightaway centerfield in the 8th inning that cleared the bricks and gave the Giants a 1-0 lead. To no one's surprise, that was the final score. Carlos Zambrano strutted, puffed, preened, and pointed through six shutout innings, alternately walking (five) and striking out (eight) Giants, throwing 56 balls and 60 strikes. Cody Ross had three 3-2 counts against Big Z, the first two ended in swinging strikeouts and the third in a walk. That sort of summed up the Giants offensive approach for the evening, which at least resulted in a high pitch count that forced the Cubs to go to the bullpen. Matt Cain, on the other hand, was his usual relaxed, workmanlike self, calmly throwing strikes and mowing down the opposition. He threw only 82 pitches in his six shutout innings, giving up two hits, one walk, and a hit batter for a Game Score of 69 (same as Zambrano). Bruce Bochy gambled and went to the bullpen early, pinch-hitting for Cain leading off the 7th inning. Fortunately, Ramon Ramirez and Sergio Romo were up to the task and knocked off six easy outs to give the ball to Brian Wilson. The Giants failed to score in the 7th, of course, as that would have given Cain run support and that's just not how we roll. But Posey's spectacular dinger that broke the deadlock made it all OK. Wilson, naturally, was perfect, and the Giants started the road trip with a big win with a little score. I'm not a fan of 1-0 games--there's just too much chance in baseball, too many weird things can happen. But I'm a fan of wins, however you get 'em, and the Giants stay in first place for another day.
--M.C.
4 comments:
I love Cain! I picture the day in 20 years when his number is retired at ATT Park.
Über-nerd (and I mean that is the most complimentary way) Dave Cameron likes the Giants chances.
Given that they also have a slight lead over the other two clubs, the Giants have to be considered the favorites right now.
Of course the Giants have to be considered the favorites. The first place team always has to be considered the favorites. I think this was a big win. The Giants were perfect defensively in that they prevented a run from scoring. Guillen took a face full of ivy for the team. Buster made a play to erase one of the Cubs few runners. They made a lone run stand up, they looked tough all game long. I like nothing better than a 1-0 game, especially when the Giants come out on top.
Nice title M.C! That's what I've been secretly saying all along. It felt like a game that we've had before, no runs for Matt 8(, no runs allowed, BUSTA DINGER, great 3 innings from the bullpen, and win! I can't believe that the small moves (RamRam and JLo) have been such a big help. We literally doubled our bullpen's effectiveness with those two. It feels like Spring again. Go Giants!
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