|
|
|
|
|
Winn's glove work sets table for Giants' win
By Daniel Dullum April 29, 2006 |
||
|
|
|||
|
SAN FRANCISCO-There's never been a question about the offensive spark Randy Winn adds to the San Francisco Giants' lineup. On Saturday, the veteran outfielder had an inning in the field that's destined for the highlight reels. With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth, Winn made a sliding catch near left-center field to rob Arizona's Shawn Green of a potential extra-base hit. Moments later, Winn scaled the left field wall amongst the Chevron ad cutouts to deny an extra-base hit to Bay Area native and ex-Oakland Athletic Eric Byrnes. "I think I brought that ball [by Byrnes] back, but I haven't seen the replay," Winn said, adding that he thought the second catch was tougher than the first one. "Yeah, just getting back to the ball, negotiating the track and getting back. I thought I had a shot and the wind plays tricks with the ball. You never know until you get to the ball." "It's not that hard to judge the ball (against the irregular cutouts) because there's not much you can do." Sometimes, the player who flashes the leather comes up first in the next half-inning. It wasn't Winn's turn at the plate, but things worked out fine for the Giants just fine; as Moises Alou sent a 2-0 pitch into the left field seats to end the game - a 3-2 San Francisco win over the Diamondbacks. When Winn returned to the dugout after his catch for the third out, he received a standing ovation from the 38,187 fans for his efforts. "That was really cool," Winn said. "Usually, you get that when you hit a couple of home runs or something. I don't ever remember having a chance to do something like that before on back-to-back hitters." Giant’s manager Felipe Alou said, "[Winn] can play all three outfield positions very well. For a big guy, he can jump like a basketball player. When the game is on the line, that's all adrenaline that helps you make a play like that. That's the game right there." At AT&T Park this season, Winn has a blistering .350 (14-for-40) average, while hitting only .250 on the road. He was 1-for-4 Saturday, with an RBI single in the third inning. Winn noted that helping to win a game with his glove instead of his bat "is what you're supposed to do." "In an ideal world, you're supposed to go out there and hit well and play great defense," Winn said. "But you're not always going to hit, so you've got to do the little things." Tyler Walker finds a new home After spending several days on the designated-for-assignment list, relief pitcher Tyler Walker was dealt by the San Francisco Giants to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays even up for minor league RHP Carlos Hines. According to Brian Sabean, the Giants' senior vice president and general manager, Hines, 25, will not be added to the 40-man roster and was sent to Triple-A Fresno. At Tampa Bay's Triple-A Durham club, Hines was 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA. Walker (the ninth San Francisco native to pitch for the Giants) never got on track in 2006, going 0-1 with a 15.19 ERA in six appearances. Walker's performance was most disappointing, following his 23-save performance last year when he filled in admirably for the injured Armando Benitez as San Francisco's closer. If nothing else, Walker made a good first impression with Tampa Bay, picking up a save in the Devil Rays' 5-2 win over Boston on Friday. Walker worked an efficient ninth inning, striking out one while throwing only seven pitches. Rockies, Giants disciplined The results are in from the commissioner's office for last weekend's bean-ball battle between the Colorado Rockies and the Giants in Denver. Colorado closer Jose Mesa was suspended for four games and was fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing at the head of San Francisco SS Omar Vizquel on Saturday, April 22. Giant’s pitcher Matt Morris and pitching coach Dave Righetti each received fines, but no suspensions. Morris and Righetti were both tossed in the first inning of the Sunday, April 23 contest - Morris for intentionally throwing at Colorado's Matt Holliday, and Righetti for "inappropriate actions." |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||