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Giants keep winning, beat Cincy, 5-4
By Morris Phillips June 7, 2010 |
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Not only are the Giants finally swinging their bats, they’re doing a lot of other things well too, as they showed in a 6-5 win over the Reds in Cincinnati. Juan Uribe drove in four runs as the Giants won for the ninth time in their last 13 games, immediately following a disastrous 1-6 road trip that prompted lineup changes. The Giants’ new meritocracy-based lineup hoped to correct the team’s moribund offense, but, so far, the changes have been just as beneficial in other areas too. Not only are the Giants hitting better and scoring more, they’re doing a better job running the bases, getting better performances from the bullpen, along with finding a way to win close games. And all of that, without sacrificing a drop in their defensive efficiency, which they probably thought would happen when they made position changes to get more offense in their lineup. In besting the Reds on Monday, the Giants showed how well all the changes are working. With Edgar Renteria on the disabled list, Uribe has earned a regular position at shortstop, keeping his productive bat in the lineup on a daily basis. The veteran, with ten years in the majors, is on pace for his finest season with a team-leading 8 home runs and 37 RBI’s. Uribe’s two-run single in the seventh inning on Monday allowed the Giants to recapture the lead at 6-5. Freddy Sanchez has been productive since his season-debut two weeks ago, and he’s swinging the hottest bat on the current road swing. Andres Torres has settled in as the leadoff hitter and right fielder with a knack for late-game heroics. Aubrey Huff continues to show that he’s comfortable playing in the outfield as he was at first base without sacrificing his team-leading .295 average. And that brings us to phenom Buster Posey. The rookie got his first start of the season behind the plate, and came up big, throwing out Joey Votto, as he attempted to steal second base, in a strikeout-throwout double-play that ended the seventh inning. Votto even managed a decent jump, but Posey’s throw was an absolute seed, with Sanchez applying the tag. And the lineup changes haven’t been confined to the position players. Subtle changes in the bullpen with former A’s reliever Santiago Casilla, Guillermo Mota and Dan Runzler assuming the setup duties ahead of Sergio Romo and Jeremy Affeldt have paid off too. On Monday Romo, Casilla, Mota and closer Brian Wilson combined to pitch 3 1/3 innings without allowing a hit in relief of Barry Zito. Wilson who suffered just his second blown save on Sunday in Pittsburgh, came back with a worry-free ninth to pick up his 15th save. The team needed to all facets of its improved play to survive the challenge of the Reds and their bandbox ballpark. Great American Ballpark normally yields multiple homers, but on Monday the home run parade was confined to Jay Bruce’s solo shot of Zito in the fourth. Instead, numerous balls died on the warning track, as the Giants escaped a couple of close calls, while relying on their own small-ball offense that produced 12 singles and a double. The Giants jumped out fast with two-run hits from Uribe and Zito to lead 4-1 after three innings. But the Reds answered with two runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth to get their only lead, 5-4. Zito departed after surrendering a bases loaded single to pinch hitter Miquel Cairo, but this time the offense and the bullpen took the hard-luck lefty off the hook with a big finish. On Tuesday, the Giants look to stay hot with Matt Cain, their hottest pitcher, getting the start. The Reds will counter with Sam LeClure. |
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