The San Francisco Giants rode incredible pitching efforts in taking three of four home games from the San Diego Padres and finishing the homestand preceding the All-Star break with a 7-3 mark. 

Easily the jewel in the crown of the four game set was the second game, where former rotation stalwart Jonathan Sanchez, pitching in place of an injured Randy Johnson, tossed a no-hitter, facing just one batter over the minimum, as the Giants cruised to an 8-0 victory.   With his father in attendance, Sanchez (3-8) struck out eleven, walking none.  The only base runner for the Padres was Chase Headley, who reached on a fielding error by third baseman Juan Uribe in the eighth.  Pablo Sandoval backed him with a three run homerun in the fifth, his fourteenth, off Josh Banks (1-1).  Aaron Rowand also drove in three.  Sanchez’s no-hitter was the first for a Giant since John Montefusco in 1976. 

In the first game of the series, Tim Lincecum almost preceded Sanchez’s night of greatness with one of his own, taking a no-hitter, 29 inning scoreless streak, and a 6-0 lead into the seventh inning before fading, allowing three runs and giving way to the bullpen as the Giants ultimately prevailed, 8-3.   Benjie Molina (11), Travis Ishikawa (7), and Juan Uribe (3) struck homeruns in support as the Giants made a loser of Josh Greer (1-4).  Lincecum, (10-2) struck out eight and walked four in his final start before he leads the National Leaguers into action as the starting pitcher in the 2009 All-Star game on Tuesday night. 

In the third game, the Giants survived a scare as Matt Cain took a line drive off the bat of Padres starting pitcher Tim Stauffer (0-1) to the right arm in the second inning.  After tests, it was determined that the All-Star, who was subsequently named inactive (by the team) for the midsummer night’s classic, suffered from only a deep bruise and shouldn’t miss a start.  Pablo Sandoval blasted his fifteenth homerun of the season, a two run variety, off Stauffer in the fourth.  The bullpen did the rest as Justin Miller (2-1) went three and one third innings and combined with Brandon Medders, Sergio Romo, Jeremy Affeldt, and Brian Wilson to limit the Padres to one run on three hits for the rest of the game, as the Giants prevailed, 2-1, with Wilson pitching the final four outs, striking out three, for his 23rd save.

In the final game, the Padres offense erupted on Barry Zito (5-9) for nine runs over four and one third innings.  Homeruns by Kevin Kouzmanoff (12) and former Giant Eliezer Alfonzo (2) made a winner of another former Giant, Kevin Correia (6-7), who threw into the sixth, giving up three runs.  The only bright spot for the Giants was John Bowker, who picked up his first hits on the season, an RBI single and solo homerun, his first, in a losing effort. 

First of all, in the first three games, the Giants pitching ruled.  Awesome job.  I don’t care if this is the Padres, they’re still major leaguers out there.  Great efforts by Sanchez and Lincecum.  Equally to the bullpen in lifting up Cain.  Very fortunate for the Giants that it was only a bruise on his golden right arm.  Way to go for Sanchez in sacking up in place of Johnson.  If he can continue in a similar manner, it will minimize the damage from the loss of the future hall of famer.   Oh, and Sandoval’s awesome at the plate.  The league is starting to develop a healthy fear of him.  That’s only good for whoever bats behind him.  Ishikawa went 0-2 on Sunday, ending his hitting streak at ten games.  Zito was slapped around.  Hey, it’s alright.  That’s what happens with number four starters.  They have two good games and then one bad game.  Too bad he costs this much. 

On a transaction note, before the series, in order to get a better look at Bowker, the Giants optioned rookie starter Ryan Sadowski to Class A San Jose.  This also was to allow the youngster to keep his scheduled start on Monday as the Giants had no need for him in the rotation until after the break. 

The Giants are off until Friday for the All-Star break.  After that, they’ll play in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.  The Padres will host the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night.   Enjoy the All-Star game!!!

The San Francisco front office finally heard my anguished screams this offseason.  While the more vocal wing of the Giants fan base shouted for radical moves (signing Sabathia, Man-Ram, Burrell, and/or Dunn.  Cain for Fielder, Cain for Hardy, Cain for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the nation of Lithuania, and a dozen Domino’s death disks), Sabean and company at long last decided to have a little faith in the young players by making minimal changes via free-agency. 

The signing of future hall of Randy Johnson stands head and shoulders above the rest of the transactions (no pun intended….really).  The veteran replaces the underachieving 2008 back end of the rotation (Correia, Misch, and Hennessey), bringing an elder statesman who can still hurl the ball 90+ miles per hour.  That can’t hurt.

In the ‘perhaps you overspent, but we’ll give you the benefit of the doubt’ department lies the 2 year $18 million contract tossed to Edgar Renteria.  While I was against this at first, it has actually grown on me.  Barring a complete and unforseeable falling apart, it will be an immense offensive upgrade over either Bocock or Vizquel at the position.  And, though I love Emmanuel Burriss, perhaps it’s better for him to be over at second base, thrashing it out with Frandsen and Velez for playing time. 

Another place where the Giants upgraded wisely and precisely is the bullpen.  The additions of Jeremy Affeldt and Bobby Howry, coupled with minor league deals tendered to both Ramon Ortiz and Justin Miller, should serve to strengthen the bullpen over the malaise found at times in 2008.  The key is, if you can’t get the lead to Brian Wilson, he can’t drop the hammer.  That should be better now.

And that leads us to another strong point in this offseason.  Rather than breaking the bank on a high money free agent, the team snapped up a string of seasoned veterans at bargain basement rates.  ‘Kinda’ sluggers Josh Phelps and Juan Uribe will come to spring training, minor league deals in hand, and should be ready to step in should a youngster falter.  Ditto Rich Aurilia, leading the ‘re-signed’ category of this year’s free agents.  

It was a bad night at the ballpark for the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night as they were “rocked” by the Rockies. The Rockies had no problems beating up on the Giants as they won the game by the score of 15-6. With one more win in the series, the Rockies will have swept the Giants in the three game series.

Jonathan Sanchez and Kevin Correia were both charged with seven hits and seven runs in the game. Sanchez gave up one home run while Correia served up two long blasts. Sanchez was the losing pitcher and his record for 2008 dropped to 9-12. Osiris Matos also gave up one run in the game as he pitched in between Sanchez and Correia.

Billy Sadler, Tyler Walker, and Geno Espineli all pitched one inning of scoreless relief but by that time the Rockies were so far ahead the offense didn’t have a chance to come back.

Six different Giants players had one rbi each in the game as it was a balanced scoring effort. They just didn’t come up with big innings like the Rockies were able to. John Bowker hit a solo home run for his rbi Pablo Sandoval, Bengie Molina, and Eugenio Velez all had rbi singles. Nate Schierholtz had a rbi double while Sanchez had a rbi groundout in the game.

The Giants have to win on Thursday night now to avoid the three game sweep at home to the Rockies. I would really like to see the Giants close out the 2008 season on a high note, but I just don’t think they are going to as they have one game left against the Rockies and then a three game series with the Dodgers.

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The San Francisco Giants scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning but they were unable to score the tying run and lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks by the score of 7-6. I’ll give the Giants credit for coming back after Brandon Webb left the game, they were just put in to big of a hole early in the game by the pitching staff.

Starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez gave up six hit and six runs in only 3 2/3 innings. Three walks and one home run really hurt Sanchez in the game. Kevin Correia also gave up a home run and one run in two innings of relief.

Omar Vizquel led the Giants at the plate with two rbi in the game and then was followed by for other players with one rbi each. Rich Aurilia, John Bowker, Bengie Molina, and Pablo Sandoval all chipped in with one rbi each.

The Giants and D-backs will play one more game in the series on Thursday night. Tim Lincecum will be taking mound so try to catch the game on tv or out in Phoenix if you can.

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Alex Hinshaw gave up a two run home run to Lance Berkman in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Giants lost to the Astros 7-4. The Giants had been been up 4-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning but Darin Erstad then tied the game with a rbi single. With the loss, the Giants were swept in the four game series down in Houston. The team just isn’t playing good baseball right now.

Kevin Correia was charged with seven hits and four runs in 6 2/3 innings as he got the no decision. Even though Hinshaw was charged with two runs, Keiichi Yabu took the loss as he allowed the first runner on base before Berkman hit the home run.

Randy Winn finished the game with two rbi’s at the plate while Fred Lewis and Pablo Sandoval both had one rbi each. Lewis had a solo home run while Sandaval’s rbi came on a sacrafice fly. This was a tough game all the way around as it was one that the Giants could have won.  Just a couple of mistakes at the plate and on the mound that really hurt them.

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Rich Aurilia and Omar Vizquel both hit doubles in the 8th inning as the San Francisco Giants came from behind to beat the Washington Nationals 6-4.  Aurilia’s two run double put the Giants ahead by one run and then Vizquel knocked in Aurlia to put the Giants by two runs.  The Giants have now beaten the Nationals the first two games of the three game series and will be looking for the sweep on Thursday afternoon.

Giants starting pitcher Kevin Correia did not have a very good game as he gave up 12 hits and four runs in only 5 2/3 innings.  The bullpen did a great job however as they held the Nationals to those four runs the rest of the game.  Alex Hinshaw, Osiris Matos, E Espineli, and Brian Wilson all pitched out of th pen. Espineli ended up getting the win while Wilson picked up his 27th save.

To go along with Aurilia’s two rbi, Bengie Molina also had two rbi.  Both of his rbi came on two seperate doubles in the 1st and 5th innings.  Aaron Rowand also had a rbi double in the 1st inning for the Giants.  The Giants weren’t hitting the long ball but they sure hit plenty of doubles to score some runs.

Root on the Giants Thursday afternoon as they play the Nationals once more and will be trying for the three game sweep!  Giants Baseball Blog

The San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs were tied at 5-5 heading into the eighth inning but Giants relief pitcher Tyler Walker gave up a home run to Mike Fontenot and the Cubs went on to beat the Giants 6-5.  The Cubs have now won two of the first three games in the four game series and will go for the series win on Thursday.

Giants starting pitcher Kevin Correia pitched 6 1/3 innings as he gave up seven hits and four runs including one home run to get the no decision.  Sergio Romo and Walker both gave up a run each as both players pitched one inning.  Keiichi Yabu was finally able to slow the Cubs down in the ninth inning as he pitched a scoreless inning.

All of the Giants runs came via the home run ball as John Bowker hit a two run home run in the sixth inning off of Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster.  Ray Durham then hit a big three run home run off of Carlos Marmol in the seventh inning that tied the game at 5-5.  The Giants didn’t have an answer however in the eighth or ninth innings and lost the game 6-5.

The Giants can still get a split in the series with a win against the Cubs as they plate a very late afternoon game to finish up the series.

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The San Francisco Giants lost 4-2 on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Arizona is a tuff team to beat this year and this was a hard match up for the struggling Giants lineup.  The Giants just couldn’t keep the Diamondbacks inside the ballpark as the D-backs hit three home runs in the game.

Kevin Correia was the opening pitcher for the Giants throwing for six innings and giving up eight hits, three runs, and two walks.  He was only able to strikeout two Arizona batters.  This loss put him at 1-3 for the year.  Merkin Valdez and Brad Hennessey were brought in to pitch the last two innings.  Valdez did allow one run to cross the plate while Hennessey pitched a scoreless inning.

The Giants scored in the second inning when Jose Castillo singled to center field and scored Aaron Rowand.  The scond Giants run came in the third inning when Fred Lewis hit a solo home run.

The Giants will face off against the Diamondbacks one more time tonight in Arizona before heading to San Diego to take on the Padres for a two game series.

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The San Francisco Giants got hammered by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday afternoon by the score of 8-2.  The Giants pitchers did not have their good stuff today, as every pitcher that pitched gave up atleast one earned run.

Starting pitcher Kevin Correia took the loss after pitching six innings and giving up five hits and five earned runs.  Correia’s record is now 1-2 on the season.  Brad Hennessey pitched two innings in relief of Correia and gave up three hits and two earned runs.  Erick Threets pitched one inning and gave up one earned run.

Aaron Roward and Jose Castillo had one RBI each for the offense.  That was all the offense the Giants could get off the Diamondbacks pitchers.

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The San Francisco Giants picked up a big win Thursday night as they beat the St. Louis Cardinals by the score of 5-1.  The Cardinals came into the game with a 7-2 record and playing some really good baseball but it was their first road game of the season and it showed.

The Giants bats put a lot of pressure on Adam Wainwright and Ron Villone during the game.  The middle of the lineup did most of the damage for the Giants as Aaron Rowand, Randy Winn, Bengie Molina, Jose Castillo, and Rich Aurilia all had one RBI.

Kevin Correia picked up the win after pitching 7.2 innings and not allowing a run to cross the plate.  He did give up five hits and two walks, but he struck out four batters.  Brad Hennessey was the only Giants pitcher to allow a earned run on the night.  Brian Wilson picked up his second save of the season in the game as well.

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