The Giants played 13 innings and had 44 at-bats yet only managed 10 hits, all of them singles. They strung together a rally against Edinson Volquez in the 4th and took a 3-0 lead but that was all they could do. They sent only three men to the plate in seven of those innings. Meanwhile the Padres had 18 hits, 14 singles and four doubles, and had only one 1-2-3 inning. They kept the pressure on all night and finally wore the Giants down and collected their seventh straight win. The Pads bullpen threw eight scoreless frames, giving up four hits, no walks, and striking out six. The Giants got a good start from Barry Zito, who deserved better, but spent the final 7-1/3 dodging bullets. If it weren't for a terrific play from rookie Juan Perez in center to throw out Logan Forsythe at third in the 9th, the game would probably have ended in regulation. The Giants 'pen struck out eight, but gave up 12 hits, three walks, and three runs. One of the runs charged to Zito was the result of a wild pitch from Jean Machi. Perhaps a better play by Hector Sanchez would have kept the ball from going to the backstop, but you really couldn't give him a passed ball there. Other than that, I thought Sanchez looked a lot better with the glove and seemed to be in a good groove with Zito. He also seems to have stopped moving around in the squat and is giving a cleaner, steadier target. Brandon Crawford got the call for the three-spot in the lineup with Buster Posey sitting and went 1-for-6 and scored a run. Hunter Pence, right behind him, was 0-for-5 with three whiffs.
San Diego sends the Giants to fourth place, 1-1/2 games behind Arizona. Colorado is a half-game out in second, with the Padres half a game behind them. San Francisco was 38-31 at this point last season, 4-1/2 back of LA. That's right, the Dodgers (29-39, 7 back) were the West leaders then. Fortunes change fast in this game.
Matt Cain gets the ball tonight. GO GIANTS!
--M.C.
p.s. I was done by the top of the 11th and so I missed Will Venable's catch. Apparently he saved the game.
2 comments:
Venable's catch was equal to the one by Blanco in Cain's perfect game. After that you knew the Puds would win.
Giants have now lost 5 of their last 7. In spite of that, they are only 1.5 games out. Our wins were by Matty and Maddy, who, I note are lined up for tonight and tomorrow. C'mon Giants, get some wins.
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