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Giants still struggling, lose eighth straight game
By Stefani Rebekah Black July 31, 2006 |
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SAN FRANCISCO—The Giants back from a turbulent road trip racked with losses, managed to loose at home to the struggling, last place (in the NL East) Washington Nationals 10 -7 at AT&T Park tonight, opening a six game homestand. The Nationals found the right combination of aggression, offense and defense to mix together a victory. Confident with the trade deadline at a close, keeping star lead-off hitter Alfonso Soriano at the center of trade drama this past week helped Washington prepare to win tonight. "At the end of the day, it was a very simple decision for us: keeping Alfonso was the best thing for the Nationals," general manager Jim Bowden said. Soriano’s fly ball in the top of the 4th inning doubled deep into left field and allowed 2 runs home in the 4th inning—Nationals’ center fielder Ryan Church and second baseman Damian Jackson scored. The heat was on. Washington produced 5 runs in the 4th inning alone. San Francisco, however, was unable to find their winning combination, losing a season high 8 in a row, mostly to lowly teams. The Barry Bonds/Moises Alou recipe went sour at the bottom of the third as Washington’s RHP Pedro Astacio caught Alou watching. HP umpire Brain Gorman, called Alou out on strikes causing Alou to throw his bat in frustration. Gorman cooled the waters and ejected a temperamental Alou. No one came to the rescue until Omar Vizquel hit a shot to center with a stand-up triple to make the score 6 to 2 at the bottom of the 5th. Simply, the Giants had problems getting runners in to score amid a rocky pitching performance LHP Noah Lowry. Lowry who had lots of visitors at the mound tonight didn’t get many breaks and constantly made his way out of tight situations—walking 4 players, avoiding double plays and skirting through bases loaded. But Back-to-back doubles at the top of the 8th inning sealed the deal--a three-run double for right fielder Austin Kearns while a productive Ryan Church followed with a double on a fly ball to center and the 10-to-7 story was told. Giants Notes: The Bonds Alou combination when they both are in the lineup, San Francisco is now 19-15 in those games including tonight. Before the start of the 8 game losing streak, the Bonds/Alou combination was 19-9 in games they both were in the lineup dating back July 22nd which was the Giants last victory, at home against the San Diego Padres by a score of 4-3. The Giants have now won 5 of their last 7 games at AT&T Park. The eight game losing streak now ties their last longest losing streak which was between May 12-20th, 2000. Tuesday’s Starters: For Washington, it will be the ex-Giants Livan Hernandez on the mound (8-8, 5.70ERA), while the Giants will have Matt Cain (7-7, 4.87 ERA) on the mound for the 7:15 PM first pitch. |
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