Indians at Giants: “We want a ring too!”

Summary:

The Giants previously played Indians in 2008, losing two of three at Progressive Field. Of course, the Giants surprised the baseball world (but not me) by winning the world series last season. How did they do it? Primarily by a much improved defense from 2009, allowing the pitching staff, primarily made up of pitch-to-contact players, to enjoy nice years. They did not win the division until the last game of the season.

Pitching Matchups:

RHP Carlos Carrasco (7-3, 3.87 ERA) vs. LHP Jonathan Sanchez (4-5, 3.71) Tonight at 10:15

RHP Justin Masterson (5-5, 3.18) vs. RHP Matt Cain (6-4, 3.44) Tomorrow  at 4:11 p.m.

RHP Fausto Carmona (4-9, 6.17) vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner (3-8, 3.21), Sunday at 8:09 p.m

Giant News/Notes:

• RHP Brian Wilson surrendered a run for the first time in 16 games but collected his 21st save. He entered the ninth inning with a 2-0 cushion but walked Minnesota’s Alexi Casilla and surrendered a run-scoring double to Michael Cuddyer. The game ended curiously when 3B Pablo Sandoval gloved a grounder and ran down Cuddyer, who tried unsuccessfully to return to second. Sandoval made a diving lunge at Cuddyer to apply the tag.

• C Buster Posey was seen in the Giants’ dugout during the Twins series, and Minnesota All-Star C Joe Mauer was hoping for more. According to ESPN.com, Mauer said: “I was kind of excited when I saw San Francisco on the schedule—it was a chance for me to see Buster up close,” Mauer said. But Posey is done for the season following his home-plate collision that left him with a blown-out ankle and busted leg. “He had a great start to his career and will be a good player in this league for a long time. You hate to see plays like that happen,” Mauer said.

• OF Gary Brown, 22, will represent the Giants in the Futures Game, played two days before the All-Star Game in Phoenix. Brown, the Giants’ first-round pick in the 2010 draft, is hitting .328 with a .398 on-base percentage and 32 steals for Class A San Jose.

• OF Aaron Rowand was hit on his left hand by a pitch in consecutive days. The latest came Thursday, when he was plunked by Twins RHP Alex Burnett, but he said he felt fine afterward. After he was struck Wednesday by a pitch from Twins RHP Nick Blackburn, Rowand was sore enough that he went for X-rays, which proved negative. He had two of the Giants’ eight hits Thursday.

• LHP Madison Bumgarner will make his next start Sunday against the Indians, manager Bruce Bochy said. It’s no surprise. Bochy intimated as much after Bumgarner’s meltdown (one-third of an inning, eight runs) on Tuesday, but it had been speculated that LHP Barry Zito would come off the disabled list and start Sunday. Not so, Bochy said. Zito will be needed during a doubleheader at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.

Giant Injury Watch:

• RHP Sergio Romo (hyperextended left knee) left the June 22 game, and he didn’t pitch June 23. He is day-to-day.

• 2B Freddy Sanchez (dislocated right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list June 11. He will try to rehab the injury without undergoing surgery.

• 1B Brandon Belt (hairline fracture in left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 1. He began throwing and hitting off a tee June 21, and he was getting close to hitting off soft tosses. He might be able to begin a rehab assignment in early July.

• LHP Barry Zito (strained right foot) went on the 15-day disabled list April 17. He did some flat-ground throwing May 7-8, and he threw a bullpen session May 11. He threw to hitters May 24. He began a rehab assignment with Class A San Jose on June 6, and he started for Class AAA Fresno on June 16 and June 21. He will be activated to start one game of a doubleheader June 28.

• INF Mike Fontenot (left groin strain) went on the 15-day disabled list May 26. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Fresno on June 9 but had to leave the June 10 game because of tightness in his groin. He might resume his rehab assignment during the week of June 20-26.

• OF Darren Ford (sprained left ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 23. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Fresno on June 16.

• INF/OF Mark DeRosa (strained left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list May 19. It’s the same wrist he has had surgically repaired. He was hitting off a tee in mid-June.

• C Buster Posey (broken left leg, strained ligaments in left ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list May 26. He underwent season-ending surgery May 29.

Giants Ace Tim Lincecum.

Phew, we will miss this freak in this series. Hail Mary, full of grace…