|
|
|
|
|
Giants return home and shutout Diamondbacks 5-0
By Stefani Rebekah Black August 21, 2006 |
||
|
|
|||
|
SAN FRANCISCO —The Arizona Diamondbacks did not expect to take such a beating against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night at A T & T Park. The Giants, relaxed and poised to win, balanced tonight offensively and defensively. San Francisco was able to hit the ball and shut the Diamondbacks out at the plate in this critical 5 to 0 victory. Starting pitcher for San Francisco, Noah Lowry (6-7) gained his second career shut-out against the Diamondbacks, providing the Giants with sole possession of 4th place in the National League West, and hopefully a steady ride into the wild card race. “It all came together,” Lowry said. “Even though he passed the 100-pitch count, he was still throwing the ball well,” said San Francisco Giant Manager Felipe Alou. Lowry’s fastball to the inside corner was the key tonight, giving the Giants a chance to win games. "In this division, anything can happen, and [in] the Wild Card [race], anything can happen," said OF Moises Alou. "With our record, we still have a shot. But we can't be winning five then losing four. We have to [start winning] before it gets too late." San Francisco found their offensive rhythm and hope to keep that momentum going to complete this three-game series. In the bottom of the 4th inning, Barry Bonds homered deep into right field for a his 725th career home run off of Diamondbacks pitcher Livan Hernandez (10-10). Hernandez allowed only one earned run, a mistake first pitch to Barry Bonds, over seven innings, but the offense got shut down and the defense made three errors. The 7th inning offered Omar Vizquel’s single on a line drive to Arizona center fielder Eric Byrnes--Randy Winn scores. Winn followed suit in the 8th inning with a 2-run RBI single, driving in (OF) Steve Finley and catcher Todd Greene. Diamondback third baseman Chad Tracy committed a throwing error and allowed a Winn score to kill any dream of an Arizona comeback. San Francisco remains 5.0 games back of Cincinnati, who arrive in Giant territory on Thursday for a four-game series and 6.5 games away from the first place Los Angeles Dodgers. The Giants have won 6 of their last 8 games. Coming up: Rookie right-hander Matt Cain (9-9, 4.70 ERA), who faces the Diamondbacks at 7:15 PT on Tuesday night at AT&T Park, comes off a great, if abbreviated, effort at San Diego last Thursday. He carried a no-hitter for 5 1/3 innings then was pulled after giving up a hit. He had thrown 104 pitches and given up six walks. Arizona's starter will be right-hander Brandon Webb (13-5, 2.93). |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||