Saturday, April 13, 2013

Another Victory at Wrigley with Balaclavas

If anyone had a notion that Madison Bumgarner was to toss a no-hitter today (and I don't know why anyone would think that) they were quickly dispelled of that when the first Cubbie to the plate, Dave Sappelt, slapped a single to center field for his first hit of the season.  Maddy held the home team, though, and quickly got through the inning.  In fact, both teams were scoreless through 4 with Maddy on the hill, and Angel Pagan resting after crashing the wall with all the ivy that provides no cushion at all this time of year in yesterday's game.  Andres Torres and Gregor Blanco filled in admirably, though, collecting 3 hits between them.   Both teams were scoreless until the 5th inning, when the Giants broke through for a run.  Torres led off the inning with a double and after a ground out and a fly out from Brandon Crawford and Maddy, Gregor singled him home for the first run of the game, but was thrown out at second.

The Giants scored again in the 6th.  Marco Scutaro singled, went to second on a wild pitch from the amply-haired Jeff Sarmardzija, and then scored on a Pablo Sandoval single to right.  The Giants went up 3-0 in a somewhat unconventional 7th.  Brandon Crawford led off with a single.  Madison Bumgarner hit into what was supposed to be a fielder's choice, but, due to the poor choice of the fielders, wound up being safe at first as Brandon Crawford was safe at second.  The Cubbies got it right their next chance, though, as Gregor hit into a fielder's choice that was successful at getting Crawford out at third.  Marco Scutaro hit a long fly ball single to Scott Hairston, patrolling right field today in place of Nate Schierholtz (remember him?, he was a Giant last year this time).  Madison was sent home by the prescient Tim Flannery as Hairston's throw completely missed the cut-off man and everyone was safe.

Maddy's game lasted through 2 outs in the 7th inning.  He had held the Cubs scoreless, in spite of the annoying Alfonso Soriano's three hits and a stolen base.  In the 7th, Alberto Gonzalez reached first, and the pinch hitting guy from last night, Dioner Navarro, hit another pinch hit home run.  Maddy left the remainder of the 7th to Jeremy Affeldt after 110 pitches (70 strikes), 6 hits, 2 BB, 6 K and 2 runs.  Santiago Castilla replaced Affeldt in the 8th, after Jeremy put runners on first and second, and wound up getting a 2 inning save.  It must be a tough decision for a manager when your closer blows chow one night and you are faced with a save situation the next.  Was Romo tired, or just unlucky?  Do you show confidence in your guy, or let him have a day off?  Castilla didn't give up a hit, though, and the good guys won, 3-2.

Marco Scutaro is back in the thick of things, scoring and getting a crucial rbi.  Maddy goes up 3-0.  Pablo picks up his 10th rbi and didn't seem to be hurt vaulting/falling into the stands to catch a 9th inning pop up.  Not sure the same could be said for the Cub's Steve Clevenger, who apparently strained a left oblique in swinging and missing strike three to end the game.

2 comments:

M.C. O'Connor said...

Giants have won all three of Bumgarner's starts, and lost all three of Cain's starts. 20-1/3 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 7 BB, 17 K for our super southpaw.

JC Parsons said...

This game had quite a few interesting highlights; it was fun to see. MadBum getting out of an early jam with HUGE strikeouts, Hairston's remarkably bad throw (boy did Flannery get away with one!) and the Panda catch into the stands. He sure stayed face down a little too long for my comfort. The guy has a flair for the dramatic. Another weird thing happened on the last pitch with the Cubbie swinging like an idiot and falling in a writhing pile while the Giants are congratulating each other. Don't know if I've ever seen that before. All in all, a fun time....since we won!
Huge kudos to Casilla. He was superb. Pitching depth is what will win it for us AGAIN.
Almost time for more Tim. Very hard to look forward to his starts. Something has to give any day now....