Game Wrap 08-15-2010: Padres 8 Giants 2

This game can be summed up rather succinctly. Timmy didn't have it! Not much else to say about it. Key lines:

Buster Posey- 3 for 4, HR(9). BA= .337. Kid is amazing, although I think maybe he should have come out of the game, or else moved to 1B after about the 4'th inning. This was not a winnable game by that point.

Tim Lincecum- 3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 3.62. Timmy is obviously not right. Whether it's mechanics, head issues or he physically worn down, something isn't right. There is always hope that he will figure it out and be that ace again, but it's tough to see the Giants winning a playoff spot with him pitching like this.

Javier Lopez- 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K's. ERA= 2.56. OK, I have an issue with this one. I understand that Timmy put the bullpen in a bind with his early exit. I also understand that you aren't going to use Wilson, Romo, Casilla and possibly not Ray in a game like this, but if you are going to extend somebody for an extra inning, it shouldn't be the one and only LHP in your pen. Come on, Bochy, Ramirez was warmed up. Use him for the 2 innings and bring in Lopez only if you absolutely have to. Oh well, he only pitched to one batter last night and tomorrow is a travel day, so maybe it won't be a problem, but I still don't like it.

WIth the loss, the Giants drop to 3.5 games behind the Padres for the NL West lead. Colorado Rockies edged the BrewCrew 6-5 to stay 8.5 games behind while the Dodgers got smashed by the Braves 13-1 to drop back to 10 full games behind. The D'Backs lost to the Nats 5-3 to go 23.5 games off the pace. In the Wild Card race, the Cards lost again the to Cubbies 9-7 to stay 0.5 games behind the Giants. The Phillies play tonight and have a chance to move into a tie if they win.

Tomorrow is a travel day followed by a 6 game road trip against the Phillies and Cardinals then back home for 3 against the Reds before resuming intra-divisional play. Meanwhile, the Padres will be playing the BrewCrew and Cubbies. It will be a big challenge for the Giants to emerge from this string of games within hailing distance of the NL West lead or the Wild Card.