Spring Training Game Wrap: D'Backs 4 Giants 3

The Giants suffered their first loss of the 2011 Cactus League season, but a lot of really good things happened before Jose Casilla and Alex Hinshaw, two pitchers who don't figure to be on the 25 man active roster on opening day, gave up 4 runs in the bottom of the 8'th inning. Key lines:

Aaron Rowand- 0 for 4. This kind of day isn't what's going to win the starting CF job back for Rowand. Baggs apparently has some info on this issue in his Notebook post today, but I haven't seen it yet. Will keep you posted when it's available.

Buster Posey- 2 for 3, 2B. Posey's out was a drive down the RF line that was caught at the warning track. I mean, this guy puts all 90 degrees of the field in play when he hits! He also threw out the lead runner on a double steal attempt. Great stuff!!

Cody Ross- 2 for 3. How great is it to have another tough out in the lineup?

Pablo Sandoval- 1 for 3, HR(2). Baggs says this was a tremendous shot on an 0-2 pitch that would have easily been a splash hit in SF. Pablo seems locked in right now. I know it's only spring, but it's better than having him flailing up there.

Emmanuel Burriss and Ryan Rohlinger had an RBI single each in the second inning.

Matt Cain- 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Cainer was reportedly hitting 90-91 MPH and locating well. I think his BB rate is going to stay way down this year. He's really matured as a pitcher.

Ryan Vogelsong- 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K's. Vogelsong sawed off a couple of bats and looked quite sharp. Maybe he will be the emergency backup starter in Fresno?

Matt Yourkin- 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Another guy in the mix for emergency starter work.

Santiago Casilla- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K. Mid-season form! Unfortunately, little bro Jose was not in mid-season form, nor was Alex Hinshaw.

Again, final scores in spring training are meaningless. Individual performances and health do matter and the Giants really "won" this game by that standard.

Barry Zito gets his first spring start tomorrow against the BrewCrew in Maryvale. I would expect to see Jeff Suppan get some work in here at some point too. I think it's interesting that Vogelsong and Yourkin got a 2 inning stint in before Suppan and Brian Lawrence.

Addendum: Nothing to see in Baggs' Notebook re. the Rowand situation. He talked to Rowand who basically said he worked hard this offseason and will play to the best of his ability and he will deal with whatever happens. He loves playing with Andres Torres.