Game Wrap 07-05-2010: Giants 6 Brewers 1

Jonathan Sanchez battled his control once again, but held things together allowing just 1 run for the W. Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey delivered big time. Things look just a smidgen brighter for the Giants today than last night. Key lines:

Aubrey Huff- 3 for 4, 2 2B, BB. BA= .294. Pablo Sandoval turned one of Huff's doubles into a run with an RBI single in the 6'th to tie the game at 1. Huff then fought off some nasty looking pitched from LHP Zach Braddock with and finally fisted on over the head of the SS to drive in 2 insurance runs after the Giants had broken the tie with a bases loaded walk to Freddy Sanchez. Now, Aubrey Huff is a gamer!!

Buster Posey- 2 for 4, HR(3). BA= .307. In a minor surprise, Posey was the starting catcher with Jonathan Sanchez on the hill as Whiteside had been Durty's personal catcher for most of the season. Buster responded by starting the winning rally with a single and then capitalized the W with another nice opposite=field HR. Buster caused a brief period of anxiety when he winced rather badly on a swing-and-miss on the pitch just prior to the dinger, but he shook it off and showed no signs of discomfort on the HR swing. Once again, he showed a nice, quick, easy swing driving an outside pitch the opposite way. Unlike the one he hit at Coors, I'm not sure this one would have made it out of AT&T though. I thought he might come out of the game after the HR, but he stayed in and apparently did not suffer any significant injury on the prior swing-and-miss. Whether it was Bochy's decision, or on orders from Brian Sabean, I think putting Posey out there to start sent a great message that Buster is THE MAN now, while Whiteside is the backup. Like a great player would, Buster grabbed the opportunity by the throat and didn't let go.

Jonathan Sanchez- 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 6 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 3.15. As you can see from the BB's, Sanchez battled his control all day and came away with the W, thanks, in part, to Ryan Braun's 0 for 5 with 6 LOB's. Durty is going to have to get on top of the control thing though. It's what's between him being a good pitcher vs a great pitcher.

Madison Bumgarner should have the butterflies just about smothered by now. He will try to show what he has for real tomorrow vs Randy Wolf and the fearsome BrewCrew lineup. Let's get a winning streak going, MadBum!