Giants Top Dodgers in Wild Opener

12-6 win in SF
The Dodgers did not allow a run in their first three games, all in San Diego, and got four scoreless from southpaw starter Alex Wood in this afternoon's Opener at AT&T Park. If they'd gotten a fifth they'd have tied a major-league record for the most consecutive scoreless innings to start a season. Trailing 4-0 in the 5th the home crowd, and the Giants, needed a lift. Brandon Crawford got things started with a leadoff walk and pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson put down a perfect bunt single and suddenly it was a rally. A run scored two outs later, ruining LA's streak, but the big blow came off the bat of Joe Panik, a triple to center to score another. That got the crowd into the game and the Giants rolling.

Chris Heston took the 6th, Peavy giving up four runs on ten hits in his five, and went 1-2-3, looking very sharp. Ol' Jake wasn't pretty today but he was actually better than the other guy. Wood came back out to pitch the 6th but did not get an out and the Giants rallied for four more, with 9th-place hitter Angel Pagan doing much of the damage.

Javier Lopez was awesome in the 7th, but gave up a hit to Adrian Gonzalez to start the 8th. Sergio Romo got the lefty pinch-hitter Carl Crawford but gave up a homer to lefty Joc Pederson before getting the next two outs. That blow gave Giants fans a bit of nerves, but the home team was not done scoring. A rally highlighted by another perfect bunt single, this one from Denard Span, was punctuated by a ridiculous bomb--a grand slam--from Hunter Pence off Pedro Baez.

Hunter Strickland pitched the 9th and got to have a matchup with Yasiel Puig and he blew his heater by him twice to end it. Very satisfying. There was one episode early in the game where Panik failed to complete a double play by coming off the bag too soon after the feed from Crawford. In the old days it would have been a "neighborhood play" and the runner would have been out. But the Dodgers correctly called a challenge and the video review overturned the field umpire. That play bears closer watching as the year develops, wouldn't you say?

This was the most runs scored by the Giants at PhoneCo in an Opener. I was at the first game in PacBell: Kevin Elster of the Dodgers hit three home runs. Crazy, man. Folks had more fun today, I reckon.

Matt Cain tomorrow night. GO GIANTS!

--M.C.


P.S. I mentioned earlier that RMC will be well-represented (three of us) at Sunday's game featuring Johnny Cueto. We will be in Section 148, the Arcade. I'll be in the front row, seat 9, dressed in black. Look for the long hair. If any readers are at the yard, please come by and say hello!

P.P.S. Actually it will be FOUR of us, as Ron pointed out in the comments! Ron, Zo, JC, and me. I'm still the one with most hair.