Game Wrap 07-17-2010: Giants 8 Mets 4

Matt Cain didn't quite pitch up to the level of Timmy and Zito in the prior 2 games, but I'm sure he is happy with the run support the the W. Buster Posey once again ignited the Giants offense against a hapless Hisanori Takahashi as the Giants won for the 9'th time in their last 10 games and moved into sole possession of 2'nd place in the NL West and into a tie with St. Louis in the Wild Card race. Key lines:

Andres Torres- 1 for 5, HR(8). BA= .276. The first two hitters in the lineup went a combined 1 for 10, but Torres more than made up for it when he capped off the big second inning with a 3 run blast hitting right-handed against the LHP Takahashi.

Buster Posey- 2 for 4, 2B, HR(8). BA= .356. Oh my! I know Panda made quite an impact in 2008 and last year, but not since Will Clark came up have I seen a player come up from the minors and just take over a team the way Buster has. It's not just the stat lines. The way he carries himsel and goes about his business on the field and in the dugout. This is Buster's team now! The leadoff double in the second started the 5 run rally and his opposite field HR with one out in the 3'rd all but sealed the win for the Giants providing Matt Cain with that much welcome cushion of runs.

Juan Uribe- 3 for 3, 2B, HBP. BA= .253. 3 hit game for Uribe, who had been slumping badly for over a month. He did cost the Giants another run in the 3'rd when, after doubling, he forgot there were two outs and initially retreated on Pablo's hard smash that kicked off the glove of the Mets SS and caromed into LF. Uribe was only able to advance to 3B where he was stranded when he should have scored easily had he been running with the crack of the bat.

Pablo Sandoval- 3 for 4, 2B. BA= .270. Panda still doesn't quite have the HR swing, but he's looking a lot more comfortable and confident at the plate. His first two hits came hitting RH too!

Matt Cain- 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 3.30. Cainer was cruising along on a 2 hit shutout through 6 before giving up a 2 run dinger to Ike Davis in the 7'th. The final line isn't as gaudy as his team mates the prior 2 nights, but I'm sure he is delighted with the run support and the W.

Hisanori Takahashi- 2.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 2 K's. ERA= 4.69. This guy really had a very poor outing here. I had read that he had a screwball in his arsenal which, if it can be controlled, is a very effective pitch for neutralizing RH batters. I don't know if those reports were false, or if the Mets don't want him to throw it, or if it's really a circle change, a pitch with similar characteristics, but I didn't see one pitch from him that had any sort of fade from a RH batter. He couldn't get any of his pitches to stay down in the zone and the Giants just teed him up, starting with Buster Posey, of course.

The W only allowed the Giants to keep pace with the stubborn division leading San Diego Padres who cranked up their offense to down the hapless D'Backs 8-5. The Giants 3.5 game deficit is now enough for sole possession of 2'nd place as the Mannyless Dodgers lost once again to the Cardinals 2-0, and the Colorado Rockies went down the the surprising Cincinnati Reds 8-1 to put the Rockies 4 games behind and the Dodgers 4.5. The D'Backs fell to 19.5 games off the pace and are 2-8 over their last 10 games. Changing management sure did wonders for the Snakes, huh?

There are some games that you just mentally chalk up as a likely loss. Today's game against the Mets and Johan Santana is one of those. Not that Jonathan Sanchez isn't capable of throwing a gem of his own. We know that he is. A betting man would have to feel pretty good about putting his $$$ on the Mets this afternoon though.