One Game at a Time

Saturday, July 5 2014
Giants at Padres, Game two of three game series.
Giants 5, Padres 3

That was the best game of the San Francisco Giants for quite some time.  Except for the first-inning injury of Pablo Sandoval, who took a pitch to the arm and had to leave the game, it was just terrific. It was a shout to the world that said the team would not sit down and die. Those Giants were the, "I'm having fun"-fighting Giants.

Gregor Blanco started scoring with his first homer of the season, a solo shot in the second. Later he took a walk and wound up scoring another run. Michael Morse had not hit a home run for more than a month, but he hit a solo shot that tied the game, 3-3, in the ninth inning and sent the game into extra innings. I was happy about this and hope it will continue. I have felt that his lack of hits was part of the infection that surged through the team for just more than a month. When he succeeds, it is with great joy.  His happiness is infectious. I hope the Giants will be able to keep hitting and winning. 

In addition to the Morse homer, Brandon Belt hit one in the 10th, driving in Hunter Pence to bring the score to 5-3.  Other cool stuff was Buster Posey's brilliant head-first slide into second base and Sergio Romo's clean 9th inning save. Ultimately, Romo took the win. Tim Hudson got no-decision, but was very good for six innings, giving up just one run off three hits. He gave up just one run and struck out four. Jean Machi got himself into some trouble again, and allowed two runs.  Jeremy Affeldt came to the rescue late in the 7th and pitched through the eighth. Enter Romo for the save, and ultimately the win.  Casilla struck out two and walked one in the 10th and final inning. 

Please note that while many think the Giants cannot win without all the big talent, they did just fine without Pablo. Blanco seems to do better in the middle of the lineup, and I hope Bochy notices that. Oh yeah. Remember big bad Despaigne who had the Giants looking for their Mommies the last time time they met? This time they had him figured out.  I keep hearing Bochy say that "sometimes these things take time." I'm hoping that the Giants have a good outing Sunday and will be ready for the A's Monday, two games away and two at the Coliseum.