Saturday, May 19, 2012

Giants double up Athletics

Friday night's ugly win was as much about the A's generosity (nine walks), as the Giants prowess with the two-bagger (Crawford, Pagan, and HSanchez). Steve Edlefsen poured gasoline on Barry Zito's 5-1/3 IP, but with an 8-1 lead it held up, thanks to a resurgent Jeremy Affeldt and an unhittable Sergio Romo. Javier Lopez delivered a similarly beautiful inning today in relief of the brilliant Ryan Vogelsong (seven innings, one hit, one walk, five strikeouts, Game Score 79). It was an agonizing day at the plate as the Giants wasted opportunities against Tyson Ross and his mates by hitting into four double plays. It all fell apart for Oakland in the 7th when Vogie was controversially awarded first base on an apparent HBP. It looked to me like the ball did indeed hit him in the chest, but I also heard what sounded like the ball coming off the bat (he was pulling back from a bunt attempt). Bob Melvin was tossed later when the inning imploded after Buster Posey's booming double and the red-hot Angel Pagan's two-run single. Buster's ball was a homer in most yards--it bounced in front of the track in CF and caromed off the bricks. It almost looked like the bleacher bums interfered with it, costing Buster a base and the team a run. Fortunately Pagan's two-out hit made it moot. The Giants got two double plays themselves, one in the 9th to help Clay Hensley finish it. Vogelsong has seven starts and he's gone at least six innings in all of them. He has four starts in May, going at least seven each time and giving up only three runs total. Not bad for a number five starter. Tomorrow the Giants number one guy gets a shot at the sweep. C'mon, Timmy! Find your inner Freak!

GO GIANTS!

--M.C.

3 comments:

nomisnala said...

I'm afraid, that until Timmy makes a statement on the mound, he is our number 5 guy. Cain and Vogey are a close 1 and 2, and Bumgarner is a fraction behind them, although he could gain on them down the stretch this month, and Zito, as well as other soft tossing lefties, have all gotten off to good starts, but I am not sure that such success by these types of pitchers this year is sustainable.

M.C. O'Connor said...

@Ron: I see Chelsea wins the Champions League (on penalties, natch). Is this an omen? What does this tell you about the 2012 Giants?

Brother Bob said...

I like the current trends. Batters are showing more patience, taking more pitches and getting more walks. With this seems to be an increase in clutch hits. Crawford is looking better, Pagan has improved greatly over his weak start, Posey is very reliable.