After taking two out of three from the Los Angeles Dodgers this past weekend, the San Francisco Giants rollercoasting road show hit Phoenix, Arizona to take on the D-Snakes Monday September 6th. The Giants’ twenty-one year old rookie starter Madison Bumgarner went 7.1 innings, giving up five hits, one walk, no runs, and striking out seven batters.
Usually enough to win, but not today. It took six additional pitchers from the Giants’ bullpen to throw another 3.2 innings of no hit baseball before Giant right fielder Nate Schierholtz ended the cliff dweller by tripling to right center field with two outs and two on. Closer Brian Wilson got his 41st save in the bottom of the eleventh inning to seal the 2-0 win.
Giants pitchers allowed a total of five hits and four walks in eleven innings, with 14 strikeouts.
Later that night, the National League West leading San Diego Padres finally broke their historic ten game losing streak at home against the looking-more-hapless-every-day Los Angeles Dodgers, taking the game 4-2 in regulation play.
The Giants, who are seemingly on a mission to run the Padres to ground in the NL West, have gone 6-4 in their last ten games despite hitting slumps by RBI leader Aubrey Huff (77) and lead-off ace Andres Torres (79 runs scored). Injuries, and a slump by Padre starters Wade LeBlanc (8-12) Kevin Correia (10-10), contributed to that team’s recent 10 game skid.
When the Giants travel San Diego this weekend for a critical four game series, Padre pitchers will see a revamped Giants offense, and Padre hitters will face San Francisco’s four best starters (Matt Cain on Thursday, Jonathan Sanchez on Friday, Madison Bumgarner on Saturday, and Tim Lincecum on Sunday). It should be incredible September baseball.
And to add some spice to an already intense 2010 National League West race, the Colorado Rockies have won seven of their last ten games and are only four games out of first place.
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