Joe Martinez won his first major league start and Eli Whiteside hit a grand slam as the San Francisco Giants beat the Houston Astros 10-6, taking the three game Texas road swing, two games to one.
Martinez (2-0), sidelined since being beaned with a line drive in the third game of the season, scattered seven hits and three runs over five innings, striking out five in the effort. After the Astros jumped to a 3-0 lead following a two run double by Jason Michaels and RBI infield single by Kazuo Matsui in the second, the Giant bats erupted. Pablo Sandoval started the rally with a two run single in the top of the third. The score held at 3-2 until the sixth when new acquisition Ryan Garko drove in Sandoval with a single to tie the score. Following an Aaron Rowand double and an intentional walk to Edgar Renteria (IW to Renteria???? Seriously, they deserved what came next.), Eli Whiteside slammed the first offering from Brian Moehler (7-7) into the left field stands, putting the Giants ahead 8-4. Each team scored two runs in the ninth, the Astros on a two run launch by Hunter Pence (14) for the final tally. Sandoval had three hits on the day, raising his average to .334 on the season.
In the opener, Matt Cain (12-3) had a rare speedbump in his season of excellence, surrendering fifth and sith inning homeruns to Geoff Blum (6) and Kazuo Matsui (5) respectively, while losing an early 2-0 advantage and the game to Mike Hampton (7-8), 4-3. The Giants consistently squandered scoring opportunities with runners on base in the early going and couldn’t get the big hit when it counted late. Jose Valverde finished up, pitching the ninth for his 13th save.
in the middle game, Jonathan Sanchez (4-9) put his 2009 road woes behind him, snapping a nine game travel streak by shutting out the Astros on four hits over seven innings and striking out eight as the Giants prevailed 8-1. Benjie Molina had three hits and two RBI as the Giants battered rookie Astros starter Felipe Paulino (2-6) early and often, to the tune of nine hits and five runs over 4 1/3 innings. Freddy Sanchez (7) and Pablo Sandoval (16) lifted back to back homers in the sixth off reliever Wesley Wright.
So, what to say? The sweep would have been nice, but hey, a series win is good, too. And with the Dodgers within striking distance, every series win is necessary. Of course, though Cain is the man this year, you can’t win them all. And this one he lost. He did get the complete game and, it’s better now than against a NL West opponent, I guess. Sanchez was nails. Martinez was nice in what he did. He looked like a rookie #5 and I guess that’s what he is. The starting pitching was awesome (as usual). Great job by the offense after that first game. Garko seems like he’s getting in the game a little more. Also, Sandoval’s a stud. As I said earlier, if you walk Renteria intentionally, you deserve the next pitch you throw being hit into orbit. It’s only logical. Now, the team has some momentum going into this weekend against the Reds (and the Dodgers after them). Lincecum starts off this series. Let’s get him some runs, alright?
The Giants will next take on the Cincinnati Reds at home on Friday night. The Astros host the Milwaukee Brewers. Go Giants and whoever plays the Dodgers and Rockies!!!
