It was another nail biter out at AT&T today, and it was Fox Game of the Week to boot! Fortunately, it had a gloriously happy ending for Giants fans. Key lines:
Buster Posey- 1 for 3, 2B, HBP. BA= .355. I don't know if Kuo hit Buster on purpose or if Buster was trying to get hit. I just know there have been an unusually high number of HBP's between these two teams since Padilla beaned Gamer early in the season. The ump was sufficiently alarmed that he issued a warning to both benches after Posey's HBP. It did look like Buster might have dipped his right shoulder into the pitch and it looked like he couldn't wait to get to first base afterward. Whatever the case, it cost the Dodgers dearly, as in losing the game when Buster came home ahead of Pat the Bat's dinger.
Pat Burrell- 1 for 4, HR(8). Well, this is what they got him for. Burrell can look silly for 3, 4, 5, heck 20 AB's in a row, but then he'll win a game with a 3 run HR or something like this. One of the more satisfying finishes to a Giants-Dodger game in memory.
Barry Zito- 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 3.38. For awhile there, it looked like Zito was going to have another very good pitching performance go to waste, but that's why they play a full 9 innings. Among many other things to be happy about, I'm very glad Casey Blake did not get credit for a game-winning HR.
Denny Bautista- 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K's. ERA= 3.38. With him and Santiago Casilla on the bubble with the acquisition of Ramon Ramirez, Bautista picked a really bad time to walk 2 of 3 batters. On the other hand, Casilla has been quite invisible since getting shelled last week. I still think Casilla is the one to go.
Guillermo Mota- 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 3.43. Oh my! Not since the days when he was setting up for Eric Gagne have I seen Mota pitch with such focus and effectiveness. The slider was apparently unrecognizable to the Dodger hitters and it was certainly unhittable. I think we know who WON'T be getting shipped out on Tuesday!
With the win, the Giants pulled to 1.5 games behind the NL West leading Padres who lost again to the Marlins 6-3 behind Ricky Nolasco. The Dodgers stayed 7 games back, but fell 5.5 games behind the Giants in the race for second place and the Wild Card berth. The Colorado Rockies edged the Cubbies 6-5 to move into a tie with the Dodgers. Arizona lost to the Mets 5-4 to remain 23 games behind the leaders in last place. Cincinnati beat the Braves 5-2 to stay 2 games behind the Giants in the Wild Card race while the Phillies lost again to the Nats 7-5 to fall 3.5 games behind the Giants for the final playoff spot.
Matt Cain goes against Clayton Kershaw, who has an extra day of rest due to his 5 game suspension for hitting Gamer down in LA last week, tomorrow to try to complete the sweep. Cain will have to overcome whatever hex the Dodgers have over him. Come on Matt! Beat LA!!
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