|
|
|
|
|
Pitching dominant again for Giants
By Jeremy Kahn July 16, 2010 |
||
|
|
|||
|
SAN FRANCISCO-Maybe the All-Star break was something that the San Francisco Giants needed for their pitching staff. In the first two games post All-Star break, Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito have absolutely dominant against the New York Mets. Lincecum threw a complete game, six-hit shutout on Thursday night and Zito came back with another gem the next night. Zito was dominant, as he went eight innings, allowing zero runs on two hits, while walking two and striking out 10 and the Giants defeated the Mets 1-0 before a sellout crowd of 41,869 at AT&T Park. With the victory, the Giants have now won four in a row, and have won eight out of their last nine, since dropping three out of four against the Colorado Rockies over the Fourth of July weekend This was the 14th time in Zito’s career that he struck out 10 or more in a game and the second time this season. Zito struck out 10 on April 24 against the St. Louis Cardinals, a game that the Giants won by the final score of 2-0. Since joining the Giants after the 2006 season, this was the third time that Zito topped the double figure as a member of the Orange and Black. The first time that Zito topped the double figure plateau as a member of the Giants was on July 5, 2008 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park, as he struck out 10. Brian Wilson came in the top of the ninth inning, and shutdown the Mets to pickup his 24th save of the season in 26 opportunities. Pat Burrell reached on a Fielders’ Choice that scored Aubrey Huff from third base in the bottom of the fourth inning for the Giants scored the only run of the game. Huff walked following a Edgar Renteria ground out to third base, and Huff advanced to third on a Buster Posey double down the right field line. On the evening, Huff went three-for-three with a walk and scored the only run of the game for the victorious Giants. Over his last 12 games, Huff is hitting .386 (17-for-44) with five home runs and 12 RBI’s and leads the Giants with 29 multi-hit games this season. With the double that Posey picked up in the bottom of the fourth inning, the rookie extended his hitting streak up to 10 games, tying his career high. Posey also hit in 10 straight games from June 1-11, as the Giants faced the Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and the Oakland A’s. Burrell’s Fielders’ Choice was fielded by second baseman Alex Cora; however Huff was able to get in under the tag of Rod Barajas at home plate. Burrell reached base in all three of his plate appearances, as he singled, reached on a fielders’ choice and walked. That RBI was the 105th against the Mets in Burrell’s career, the most for the outfielder against any team in the major leagues. Despite being on the losing end of things, Jonathan Niese did not pitch a bad game for the visitors from “The Big Apple.” Niese went seven innings, allowing just one run, on six hits, walking three, striking out four; however his record fell to 6-4 on the 2010 season. NOTES: Prior to the game, the Giants honored broadcaster Jon Miller, as he will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as the 2010 Ford C. Frick Award on July 25 in Cooperstown, NY. With the victory, the Giants are 7-0 on Orange Fridays, and 8-0 overall on the season, as they wore them on June 14 (Monday) against the Baltimore Orioles. Freddy Sanchez was originally in the starting lineup, but was scratched due to flu-like symptoms. Matt Cain will head to the mound on Saturday night for the Giants, while the Mets will counter with lefthander Hisanori Takahashi, who replaces original starter Mike Pelfrey, who was scratched due to a sore neck. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||