Game Wrap 8/20/2014: Giants 8 Cubs 3

The Giants offense struck early and often while Jake Peavy had his second QS and W in a row.  Key Lines:

Hunter Pence- 2 for 5, HR(17), SB(11).   BA= .284.  Hopefully Pence is heating up again.

Pablo Sandoval- 2 for 4, 2B, SF.  BA= .281.  Kind of a day at the office game for Pabs.  The best part was watching Kruk and Kuip show replays of the horseplay Pabs was getting himself into last night during the rain delay.

Michael Morse- 1 for 3, 2B, BB.  BA= .285.  Morse did not look too good against Wada last night, but seemed back on track today.

Joe Panik- 3 for 5.  BA= .295.  Missed just one game after dislocating his left little finger and gets 3 hits.  Kid is amazing!  Stay hot, Joe!

Travis Ishikawa- 3 for 5, 2 2B.  BA= .245.  Travis gets a rare start while Buster takes a breather and makes the most of it.  Bad news is Belt is expected to be out at least 2-3 more weeks.

Andrew Susac- 1 for 5, HR(1).  BA= .245.  Susac is a bit bigger than Buster Posey, but otherwise bears an uncanny resemblance.  I can't tell them apart in catcher's gear or from a distance at the plate.  His first MLB HR was a Busteresque shot that went the other way.  Nice job catching Jake Peavy too!

Jake Peavy- 7 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K's.  ERA= 4.48.  Peavy's ERA since joining the Giants is 3.60, over a full point off his ERA when he left Boston.

The Win, coupled with the announcement that the status of last night's game had been changed from Complete to Delayed cut the deficit in the NL West to 3.5 games behind the Dodgers who trail the Padres in their game 4-1 after 6 innings.  The Pirates beat the Braves 3-2 so the Giants now lead the Braves by 1.5 games for the final Wild Card slot and lead the Pirates by 2.5 games while the Cardinals lead the Giants by 2 games for the first Wild Card slot.

The delayed game from last night will be completed tomorrow prior to the regularly scheduled game.  Yusmeiro Petit will probably get the ball for the Giants to start the bottom of the 5'th inning, although it would be Ryan Vogelsong's regular throwing day, so he could possibly go an inning or two.  Of course the Giants start off the bottom of the 5'th trailing in the game 2-0.  Madison Bumgarner takes on Travis Wood in the regularly scheduled final game of the series.