The San Francisco Giants struggled a the plate against Jeff Francis as they lost to the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Monday night. The Giants scored two runs in the first inning but were then held scoreless the rest of the game as the dropped to 58-73 on the year.

Matt Cain pitched seven inning and gave up six hits and three runs. Without any run support, Cain took the loss and is now 8-10. He did walk four batters and gave up one home run but I think he pitched good enough to get the win had there been any offense. Alex Hinshaw gave up a big run in the eighth inning on a sac fly that put the Rockies up two and created an even bigger hole for the Giants offense.

The two runs that Giants did get came in the first inning on a Fred Lewis triple that plated Randy Winn and then Lewis scored on a Bengie Molina rbi sac fly. After the first inning, Jeff Francis settled down and the Giants were unable to score any more runs.

Giants Baseball Blog

The ninth inning was a drama filled one last night as the Florida Marlins scored three runs to tie the game and then the Giants scored the winning run on a Bengie Molina sac fly in the bottom of the ninth inning. It would have been a terrible way to end the game had the Marlins came all the way back after struggling most of the game at the plate against the Giants pitchers.

Molina however was there to save the day with his rbi sac fly to center that scored Dave Roberts for the winning run. Molina also had a rbi single in the seventh inning for the Giants as he finished with two rbi. Randy Winn hit a solo home run to finish with one rbi. Rich Aurilia, Emmanuel Burriss, and Fred Lewis all finished with one rbi as well.

Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain pitched 7 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and two runs. Both runs came from a home run ball that he gave up to Jeremy Hermida in the fourth inning. Brian Wilson blew the save in the ninth inning when he gave up a three run home run but then got the win as the Giants scored in the bottom of the inning.

Giants Baseball

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.

Giants Baseball Blog

What a disappointing showing for the Giants offense on Tuesday night as they were shut out by the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The 2-0 loss evened up the three game series and now the two teams will play the rubber match on Wednesday to se who will win the series.

Matt Cain threw the ball good for the Giants he just didnt’ get any run support.  Cain gave up eight hits but only two runs in seven innings of action.  Cain did not walk a batter and struck out eight Dodgers.  It is really too bad he had to take the loss and fall to 6-9 on the year.

Randy Winn and Rich Aurilia both had two hits to lead the Giants at the plate.  Aaron Rowand had the other hit and that was all the offense there was for the Giants.

Giants Baseball

I’m sure the Giants felt like they could not get out of New York fast enough after the three game sweep in which San Francisco dropped the last game of the series 7-3.   

 The Giants were held scoreless for 21 innings, and had been outscored 18-0 before finally scoring one run in the top of the fourth.  John Bowker doubled to left field and advanced to third on a ground out by Eliezer Alfonzo.  Bowker would score on a wild pitch by John Maine.  The Giants tacked on two more in the top of the fifth to tie the game at three.  Barry Zito had a good at bat and worked a walk and would advance to second when Maine walked Fred Lewis.  Randy Winn would drive in both runs with his 23 double of the season.  However, the Mets bullpen kept the Giants in check and they failed to score from then on.  The Giants left six guys on base, so there were some opportunities for them to score runs and failed to take advantage of the six walks allowed by Mets pitching.

Barry Zito did not figure in the decision.  In his five innings of work he allowed three runs, 2 earned, on four hits while walking six and striking out two.  Three of those six walks came in the same inning when Zito walked three Mets hitters but was able to work out of the bases loaded jam.  The Giants’ bullpen was unable to keep San Francisco in the game.  Sergio Romo came into a 3-3 game and worked just one and two thirds innings giving up three runs, two earned on three hits, Romo was charged with the loss.  Jack Taschner also allowed one run in his one third inning of work.

Ok, so here is my thing on the umps-they have done a terrible job this year.  I think it shows you that something is terribly wrong when both starting pitchers in a game throw a ton of pitches (both Zito and Maine threw over 100 pitches and neither made it past the 5^th).  Not only did both starters throw a ton of pitches, they also had ball to strike ratios that were nearly 50/50.  And while you can say that neither one of the guys had the great stuff, and certainly both of these guys have had their issues this season, if you watched the game you would have seen that much of what happened to Maine and Zito today had a lot to do with the miniscule strike zone.  It isn’t just that the strike zones are largely inconsistent or sometime just way too small, but it bas been some other things as well.  The call in Tuesday night’s game (and I forget which ump was at second base and which Giants’ runner was on), but, the runner was clearly out of the base path, not just a little out of the base path, he was on the grass and the ump was standing right there and did not bother to call it.  And how many blown calls have we seen on homeruns this year, calling homeruns on balls that clearly aren’t, and calling back homeruns that clearly are.  What are these guys doing out there?  I have watched a lot of baseball, and I have to say this is about one of the worst years of all around umpiring that we’ve seen.  I guess the umps really do want instant replay and at this rate, maybe the players association should demand it.    

The Giants continue their road trip with a visit to Wrigley Field.  Matt Cain will be on the hill for the Giants and Jason Marquis will pitch for the cubs.  Game time is scheduled for 1:20 p.m.

Giants Blog

The Giants are in a bad way right now.  Their offense is struggling mightily as they were shut out for a second consecutive game, only able to muster three hits against the Mets in Wednesday night 5-0 loss. 

The Giants got a good effort from starter Jonathan Sanchez, he kept the Mets scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when he gave up a three run shot to Met’s catcher Ramon Castro.  There was a 42 minute rain delay in the bottom of the fifth, and Sanchez did not return to the mound.  In his four innings of work, he allowed three earned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out six.  Keiichi Yabu worked an inning and a third and allowed two runs on five hits-however, he got no help from second baseman Ray Durham, that guy has no range!

Johan Santana and the rest of the Met’s pitching staff kept the Giants’ offense in check shutting them out for a second straight night.  As a team the Giants left 6 guys on base.  The only real time the Giants looked as if they might score was in the top of the fourth, with two out Rich Aurilla hit a double to left and Jose Castillo walked, but Santana got rookie Emmanuel Burris grounded into a force play at short to end the inning.  In the top of the fifth, with the rain pouring down on Shea Stadium, Ray Durham worked a two out walk, but Randy Winn flied out to center to end the inning.  All in all the entire Giants’ offense never looked like they were even in the game. 

San Francisco will try to salvage a win in the third game of the series before heading off to meet up with a hot Cubs team.  Barry Zito will be on the hill for the Giants and the Mets will counter with John Maine.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. 

Giants Blog

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain had things working for him on Tuesday night as he pitched eighth great innings and only gave up two hits to pick up the win.  The Giants beat the Cubs by the score of 2-1 behind great pitching from Cain and evened up the four game series at one game each.

The game almost got away from the Giants in the ninth inning however as Brian Wilson gave up three hits and one run.  Wilson was able to get a groundball to end the game with tying run at second base and record his 23rd save of the season.

Fred Lewis stole home in the first inning for the Giants first run of the game and then Randy Winn had a rbi single in the sixth inning to score Lewis for the Giants second run.  They didn’t have much offense but it was enough to get the win the way Cain pitched the first eight innings of the game.

Giants Blog

Things got a little shaky in the ninth inning but the San Francisco Giants were able to hold off the Cleveland Indians for a 3-2 victory.  The Giants were able to single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to get the victory. Great road win for the Giants!

Jonathan Sanchez tossed  7 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and one run in the game.  Sanchez struckout eight Indians batters and kept the Giants in the game as the offense struggled until the late inning.  Sanchez pitched well enough and and was able to come away with the win and improved his record to 7-4 on the season.

Tyler Walker recorded the last out in the eighth inning and then Brian Wilson earned his 20th save of the season in the ninth inning. Wilson did give up one run (an error really hurt in the inning) in the ninth but struck out Kelly Shoppach to end the game.

Jose Castillo and Omar Vizquel both had a rbi for the Giants at the plate.  Randy Winn scored the other run for the Giants on an error by Shoppach so there was no rbi recorded for that run.  The offense didn’t do much but it was enough to get the victory atleast.

I’ll take a win any way it comes especially on the road.  The Giants now need to string together four or five wins in a row and get things going.

Giants Blog

The San Francisco Giants were able to hold off the Washington Nationals on Monday night to pick up a 3-2 victory over the Nationals.  Matt Cain improved to 3-4 on the season as he pitched  6 1/3 innings to pick up the win.

Randy Winn led the Giants at the plate with two rbi.  He had a rbi double in the first inning and than a rbi single in the fifth inning.  Bengie Molina had the other rbi for the Giants which came in the fifth inning when he hit a rbi double to score the what would be the winning run.

Brian Wilson tossed 1 1/3 innings to notch his 18th save of the season.

It was great to see the Giants take all four games out in Washington.  A four game sweep is rare, and even more rare when you do it on the road.

Giants Blog

The San Francisco Giants gave up eight runs in the fifth inning and lost to the New York Mets by the score of 9-6 on Tuesday evening.  Had the Giants not given up eight runs in one inning, I think they would have actually won this game because the Mets bullpen was struggling and their hitters really didn’t do much besides the fifth inning.

Barry Zito lost his ninth game of the season and is now 1-9.  Zito pitched 4 1/3 innings while giving up seven hits and letting six runs score.  Zito also walked five batters in the game.  Vinnie Chulk came into the game and gave up another three runs before Patrick Misch pitched the final three innings of the game without letting a run score.

Travis Denker hit a three run home run in the ninth inning for the Giants as they made the score look a little bit closer then it probably should have been.    Besides Denker’s three rbi, Randy Winn collected two while Aaron Rowand finished the game with one rbi.

The Giants will play a afternoon game on Wednesday against the Mets as they finish up their series.

Giants Blog