Game Wrap 6/15/2015: Mariners 5 Giants 1

The Giants offense continued to sputter against a pitcher who has had his struggles, but seems destined to be an ace in the near future.  Key Lines:

Angel Pagan- 2 for 4.  BA= .274.  If there was one bright spot, it was Pagan getting 2 hits and looking much more comfortable at the plate.  If the Giants can get him going, perhaps the rest of the lineup will relax and get going too?

Tim Hudson- 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K's, GO/AO= 8/0.  ERA= 4.65.  This has become the typical start for Huddy.  He threw some good pitches and got a lot of groundball outs, but he also elevated some pitches that got hit hard.  Not a terrible start, but it fell short of a QS and deservedly so as Huddy looked like he was out of gas to start the 6'th after a high stress 5'th inning.

Taijuan Walker(Mariners)- 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K's, GO/AO= 10/3.  ERA= 5.00.  Walker is from my neck of the woods, Yucaipa High, which is the next town up Interstate 10 from where I live.  I remember when John Klima was posting scouting videos of him on his website, so I have followed his career with interest even though he is not a Giant.  Well, he is a giant, but not a Giant!  Kid looked terrific tonight, but these days it's hard to tell whether a pitcher is good or if the Giants are making them look good!  The Giants had their chances in the first 3 innings but squandered them and he was lights out the rest of the way.  When he wasn't pounding the zone with a 93-96 MPH FB, he was throwing a hard split with late downward bit that the Giants hitters were just not seeing.  Hate to see the Giants lose, but like to see a hometown kid make good.

The Loss left the Giants 3.5 games behind the Dodgers who lost to the Rangers 4-1.  Look out for the D'Backs who were the only NL West team to win tonight, beating The Angels 7-3.  The D'Backs are now just 2 games back of the Giants and 5.5 games behind the Dodgers.

Tim Lincecum closes out the short homestand tomorrow afternoon facing lefty JA Happ.