Spring Training Game Wrap 4/4/2015: Giants 2 A's 1

After getting pummeled in game 1 of the Bay Bridge Series, the Giants settled down and played a couple of games following their playbook and won the rubber game today with tight pitching and some timely hitting.  Key Lines:

Buster Posey(DH)- 1 for 1, BB.  BA= .292.  Buster's walk started the winning rally.

Justin Maxwell(RF)- 1 for 2, 2B, BB.  BA= .347.  I am not sure if Maxwell's smash down the LF line would have been fair if it had not ticked off Brett Lawrie's glove, although Lawrie was not guarding the line.  The ball already had a wicked hook to it but Lawrie deflected it farther foul.

Joe Panik(2B)- 1 for 2.  BA= .208.  Panik entered the game as a sub after Duffy moved to 3B.  To my eye, Panik had a rough day on D at 2B as several hot smashes kicked off his glove.  Only one was charged as an error, though, and it did not result in any runs being scored.

Tim Hudson(RHP)- 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, GO/AO= 8/4.  ERA= 3.32.  Huddy looked sharp, like he is ready to start the season.  He was looking a bit tired by the end of the 5 innings though.  Giants are going to need those long men in the pen this year.

Tim Lincecum(RHP)- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K's.  ERA= 5.95.  Timmy looked very confident and his pitches were crisp with good command.  Very nice to see in a 1 inning tune up for the regular season.

Hunter Strickland(RHP)- 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K's, Save(2).  ERA- 5.11.  Strickland came in the game in the bottom of the 9'th after Javier Lopez allowed the first two batters to reach base.   Strickland then proceeded to strike out the next 3 batters for a well-earned Save.  If it comes down to just 1 out of Strickland, Kontos and Machi making the team, it would not shock me if Bochy kept Strickland.  I am quite sure that would be Boch's choice if options were not an issue.

Bochy said the Giants would wait until tomorrow to finalize the roster.

Off day tomorrow as the Cards and Cubs play the opener.  Next game is the start of the regular season on Monday and the defense of the Championship with Madison Bumgarner taking the mound in Phoenix facing Josh Collmenter and the Arizona D'Backs.