Game Wrap 5/2/2012: Marlins 3 Giants 2

The Giants suffered another frustrating, disheartening loss in extra innings, but may have lost a lot more than a game as Pablo Sandoval came up with a painful left wrist apparently caused by a swing of the bat.  If you recall, the last time that happened, he suffered a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist and was out for 6 weeks last year. As for the game, the Giants left 5 runners on base in the first two innings, then mounted a 2 run rally in the ninth inning to tie it, only to lose it in the 10'th on yet another laser beam HR by Giancarlo Stanton.   Key Lines:

Gregor Blanco- 1 for 4, BB.  BA= .222.  Count me as being in favor of an extended trial of Blanco playing the OF in  place of Nate and leading off.  He does things leadoff hitters are supposed to do, like dragging squeeze bunts for basehits to tie the game in the ninth inning.  That, and drawing walks too.

Hector Sanchez- 0 for 5.  BA= .241.  Bochy might want to think twice about batting Sanchez 5'th again any time soon.  The Hector's inexperience may be getting overexposed.  The PB in the first inning probably cost the Giants the game.

Brandon Belt-  2 for 4, 2B, BB.  BA= .273.  Belt started the ninth inning rally with a double to CF.  I have to say I was long since in bed when this one ended, so I didn't see how hard he hit it.  The other hit was a bounder up th middle that Zambrano deflected with his pitching hand.  Ouch!  In any event, the final box score line is a sight for sore Giants fans eyes.  Maybe something to build on?

Joaquin Arias- 2 for 4.  BA= .375.  Arias has definitely played himself into a bigger role.

Barry Zito- 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 7 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 1.76.  Zito was wild.  I have no idea how he managed to keep it to just 2 runs allowed, and it would have been none were it not for the PB and an error by Arias.

Travis Blackley- 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.  ERA= 0.00.  A big welcome to Travis Blackley who might have started a very belated MLB career tonight.

Carlos Zambrano(Marlins)- 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K's.  ERA= 2.53.  What is it with Marlins players and the Giants?  Zambrano started every pitch with this odd, creepy looking smile on his face.  Kruk noticed it too and commented that it might be a distraction to hitters and not make them too happy.  Unfortunately, the Giants hitters don't seem to be in any condition to make a guy like that pay.

Now we'll await word on Pablo Sandoval.  From the descriptions I've read, a stay on the DL is almost a certainty and an identical fracture/surgery to the opposite wrist as last year seems to be a very realistic possibility.  Sandoval is a huge part of the Giants offense which is struggling even with him in the lineup.  There is not obvious replacement on the active roster, although Burriss, Arias, Theriot and even Brett Pill are possibilities.  Conor Gillaspie is on the 40 man roster and is tearing it up in Fresno.  He'll be out of options next spring, so this would seem to be a perfect time for the Giants to see what he can do at the MLB level.

The Giants did not lose ground to the Dodgers as the NL West leaders lost to the Rockies 8-5.  The Giants remain 4.5 games behind but fell into a 3'rd place tie with the Rocks at an even .500, 12-12.  The D'Backs lost to the Nats 5-4 to stay in second place, 4 games behind the leaders.  The Pesky Padres got their second shutout in a row over the BrewCrew 5-0 to gain a game on the leaders at 8.5 games behind.  In the Padres game, Jeff Suppan, remember him?  Well, he pitched 5 shutout innings for the Pesky Ones.  I don't think there is a pitcher alive who Petco Park can't make look good!  I mean, Jeff Suppan!

Ryan Vogelsong tries to put a stop to the Giants skid facing Anibal Sanchez, another guy who is always tough on the Giants and who had 14 K's in his last start.