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Cain handcuffs D-Backs
By Daniel Dullum July 22, 2010 |
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PHOENIX, Ariz. – Watching San Francisco’s Matt Cain throw his dominating stuff at the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday night, it’s hard to imagine he’s a .500 pitcher – perhaps the best in the majors with that distinction. Cain (8-8) scattered three hits over eight innings as the Giants blanked Arizona 3-0 on a monsoon evening at Chase Field in which the roof remained closed to the relief of the 17,230 in attendance. With the win, San Francisco picked up a full game on the first-place San Diego Padres in the NL West race, while the Diamondbacks are mired in last place. Using an overpowering fastball, Cain registered nine strikeouts, gave up hits to Chris Young, Justin Upton and Cole Gillespie while issuing three walks and threw 117 pitches. Rodrigo Lopez (5-9) took the loss for Arizona. “I was in a good rhythm and able to throw all four pitches for strikes,” Cain said. “And I was able to work both sides of the plate with my heater. Those are the things you want to take advantage of, and make sure you stay focused and keep throwing the ball well.” On facing the hard-hitting, free-swinging Snakes lineup, Cain said, “Yes, they’re a team that strikes out a lot, but they’re also in the top five in home runs, it’s a group that you try to keep from hitting the long ball.” “What a game he pitched,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He had everything going tonight, throwing his fastball and breaking ball for strikes. “He used his secondary pitches well, and when he does that, it makes his fastball even better,” Bochy added. “He was just on. He commanded the strike zone very well, throwing quality strikes. And when Matt’s on, he’s tough.” In the ninth, Giants closer Brian Wilson retired the side in order to pick up his 27th save of the season. The Giants picked up single runs in the first, third and seventh innings. In the San Francisco first, Audrey Huff drew a two-out walk, stole second and scored on a base hit by Posey that extended the rookie backstop’s hitting streak to 16 games. Posey’s hitting streak is the third longest by a Giants rookie, behind only Orlando Cepeda (17 games, 1958) and Willie McCovey (22 games, 1959). “I try not to think about that stuff,” he said, laughing. “You just go up there and try to keep the same approach. That’s all I’m trying to do.” Andres Torres led off the Giants third with a solo home run, his ninth of the season. In the San Francisco seventh, Jose Uribe led off with a double, advanced to third on a fly to right and scored on Aaron Rowand’s RBI single. “They say dynamite comes in small packages,” Bochy said of Torres. “He’s got good power, he’s disciplined at the plate, and he’s really saved us all year with his overall play, and he’s such a catalyst with his speed and power.” The Diamondbacks had their chances against Cain, but couldn’t cash in. In the first inning, Chris Young led off with a single, stole second, and wound up stranded along with Justin Upton, who walked. In the Arizona fourth, Upton led off with a ground rule double, but was thrown out trying to steal third on a botched hit-and-run. Four innings later, Cole Gillespie, who entered the game as part of an Arizona double-switch in the top of the eighth, led off with a base hit. But Cain responded again when Young flied out to left, and he struck out Kelly Johnson and Upton. “I felt pretty good from the first inning on,” Cain said. “I was leaving pitches around the middle of the plate a little more than I wanted, I felt I was in a good rhythm, and Buster did a great job of keeping everything simple, so I just trust him and let him go with it. “Buster is a guy who pays attention, even in down time, to see what other guys are hitting and stuff like that,” he continued. “He’s not just a guy who’s trying to figure it out as he goes; he’s trying to learn the league, and that’s helping him out.” Posey, who has also seen action at first base, said the adjustment of handling a major league pitching staff is “getting better, “ adding, “I think the more repetition, the more times I catch, the better it’s going to get.” Along with his remarkable hitting streak, Posey is also, according to Elias Sports, the first rookie catcher in major league history to catch back-to-back shutouts by former Cy Young Award winners (Tim Lincecum on July 15 and Barry Zito on July 16). Posey, who took over as the Giants starting catcher when Benjie Molina was traded to Texas on July 1, said Cain’s fastball was the key to his performance. “Matt threw a really good, heavy fastball tonight,” Posey said. “And on top of that, he had three other pitches he commanded pretty well.” Posey and Uribe each had two of the Giants’ seven hits. Friday’s starting pitchers are Jonathan Sanchez (7-6) for San Francisco, and Edwin Jackson (6-8) for the D-Backs. |
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