After the longest rain delay in history (lasting for nearly 48 hours), the Giants were unable win the first game of the series in Chicago. Having already won the second game, they did, however, win the rubber match.
It sure felt like a downer by the time the first inning was over, though. The Giants scored in the first, with Pablo Sandoval hitting in Angel Pagan. That's the sort of thing that is supposed to be happening, but it seems like it has been a long time since it clicked. In the bottom of the first, Madison Bumgarner gave up 3 runs on 2 Cubbie long balls, to Justin Ruggiano and Welington Castillo. You're forgiven if you don't recognize a lot of Cubs, they are banking on a bunch of youngsters who tend to be fierce swingers. Madison settled down though, and those 3 were the extent of the Cubs's scoring.
Madison went 7 innings, gave up 7 hits and 1 walk. He struck out 12, a high, in 116 pitches. 4 of those K's were hung on Javier Baez, the highly-touted rookie. Relief from Lopez, Romo and Castillo gave up 2 hits, but were never really in trouble. Madison also picked up an rbi, his 13th of the year. He was facing Travis Wood, who, like Madison, has 3 home runs - this year.
The Giants kept hitting until they totaled 5 runs, coming one at a time in the first, third, fourth, fifth and seventh. And speaking of hits, Buster Posey went 4 for 4 with a home run and 2 doubles. Pablo Sandoval went 3 for 4, with 2 doubles and 2 rbi.
I was disappointed that they could not come back and win the first game. They had 11 hits in the game stretched over the two days, including 2 in the ninth inning, but couldn't manage more than the 1 run. A sweep would have been nice. So I guess that the Giants did not pick up a game on LA. We now have to go to Washington (I understand the Giants will land there about 7 am). Washington has won their last 10 games. But I did like some things: Joe Panik hitting (although he did not get a hit in this game), Pablo Sandoval hitting, Buster Posey hitting, and Brandon Crawford hitting.
3 comments:
The way I look at it, we won the half game 1-0 then we won the real game too.
It was scary to see Madbum give up back-to-back taters- they were not cheapies- but he showed his VCS after that.
I love it when Buster gets hot, cause he knows how to stay hot, or at least he used to.
They'll need their bats in DC--that's a hot team. Always nice to see Buster find his stroke, and you have to love the rookie second baseman "serving notice." MadBum sure toughed it out after the 1st inning.
Giants just finished Game 126 or the seventh seasonal inning. I'll post up something later today.
Also - Yusmeiro Petit looked great in his two innings of work in the Tuesday/Thursday game. He struck out 5. I worried when he was replaced, but the cubs were blanked anyway.
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