The Giants clinched the NL West Division Championship with a win over the Pesky Padres in front of another happy and raucous sellout crowd at AT&T Park. Key Lines:
Angel Pagan- 1 for 4, BB. BA= .293. Pagan once again sets the tone at the top of the order, getting on base twice and scoring 2 runs.
Marco Scutaro- 3 for 5. BA= .304. That gives Scooter, what, 180 hits on the season? Stay hot, Scooter. We need you in the postseason!
Hunter Pence- 2 for 3, SF. BA= .257. The basehits didn't produce any runs, but the SF drove in the second run of the first inning to put the Giants ahead to stay.
Brandon Belt- 2 for 3, 2B, HR(7), BB. BA= .271. This line brings back memories of when he was in the minors and putting up these every day. Huge night for Belt directly contributing to 3 of the Giants 8 runs. Significantly, the HR was off a LHP and on a first pitch of the AB. No way Belt of the early season would have had the confidence to be first pitch swinging there.
Madison Bumgarner- 1 for 1, Sac. BA= .164. Bumgarner did as much to help himself get the W at the plate as on the mound. He singled up the middle to drive in Belt for the first run. Later, with Belt and Crawford on first and second, he laid down a nice sac bunt to advance both runners. Scooter cashed them in with a 2 out single later in the inning.
Madison Bumgarner- 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K's. ERA= 3.26. Bummy was a bit uneven tonight. He only walked one batter, but went to 3-2 on a whole bunch which contributed to the hits and runs scored off of him. Still, it was a first pitch strike that was a bit too juicy for Yonder Alonso to pass up that ended Bumgarner's night with a long dinger to right-center.
Jeremy Affeldt- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's. ERA= 2.83. Affledt's shutdown 7'th inning might have been the most important inning of the game.
The Giants win, coupled with the Dodgers loss reduced the Giants Magic Number to 0, clinching the NL West Championship for the second time in 3 seasons. The Giants trail in the race for home field advantage through the playoffs. It will be interesting to see if they keep the pedal to the metal in an attempt to catch the Reds and/or the Nats. Personally, I think it's more important to get some of the starters and Committee members some rest, but Sabes and Boch may have other ideas. You could certainly make an argument for not breaking their momentum now.
Tim Lincecum starts tomorrow against lefty Eric Stultz.
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Actually they plan to start Yusmeiro Petit tomorrow, not Lincecum, so maybe the powers that be agree that rest is best for the champs of the West. Et peut-etre Petit sera plutot grand demain.
ReplyDeleteSounds like Timmy is OK. Sounds like the Giants are not going to try to floor it all the way to a home stadium advantage and go for resting guys up instead. I approve of that.
DeleteThis is so sweet. I can get used to this..let's make it every year!
ReplyDeleteGiants Gangnam Style!!!
Congratulations to the Giants and Giants fans.
ReplyDeleteNow, we prepare for the playoffs.
This game is so mental that we could lose a leader in BA mid-August and yet played better after that, because the team came together. I agree Belt is better now and his confidence today comes from having played all those games this year, even as he hit bottom around July 25, 2012.
http://instagram.com/p/NRdaTSMh9Y/
ReplyDeletethis kid was going nuts last nite...even if he still had his game face on
honestly, im satisfied
the postseason is a crap shoot
these guys grinded out a division title and on the way, left fans with tons of memorable moments
you cant ask for more than that
Sorry Bacc, I can't seem to get the link to work. I have no idea what you are talking about.
DeleteYeah Giants!!!
ReplyDeleteGo Giants!!!
I am glad that they are pitching Petit because that takes away one start from Bumgarner as hew as slated to start the last game of the season. Plus, I think there is a day of on Monday, right? That would give al the starters two extra days off.
If Belt has to chose between power and good hitting, I would choose good hitting every time. I do not want a M ark Reynolds or Goldsmidth type, and, if he had the power then, once he gets comfortable being a good hitter, I am sure the power will come eventually. I am willing to be patient for Belt to develop into that type of player, it will be surely worth it.