Bonds and Beyond: The San Francisco Giants from 2006 Onward

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-08-2006, 05:37 PM

April 1st, 2006

Noah Lowry is expected to miss the entire regular season.

Giants Hobble Into Regular Season

Just as many pundits had predicted, the injury bug struck the aging San Francisco Giants team early and often in 2006, though not necessarily to the expected players. 39 year-old right fielder Moises Alou strained a groin muscle running out a grounder mid-way through Spring Training and is expected to remain on the Disabled List for at least two more weeks as a precaution. Reliever Jack Taschner, expected to fill the situtatonal lefty role left by the departed Scott Eyre required arm surgery after a muscle tear and will miss the better part of the season for recovery. Todd Linden will fill in for Moises Alou on the 25-man roster while rookie Brian Wilson will take Jack Taschner's spot in the bullpen, at least until closer Armando Benitez returns.

The real blow, however, came to young lefthander Noah Lowry. While delivering a pitch to Jose Castillo of the Pirates there was an audible crack and the 26-year-old immediately doubled over in pain. Team doctors soon confirmed what everybody in the stadium had heard: Lowry had suffered a severe stress fracture to his left elbow. "The first thing that came to mind for me, of course, was Dave Dravecky," said Giants announcer Mike Krukow, who was a member of the 1989 Giants team when Dravecky broke his arm delivering a pitch to Tim Raines. "Of course, Dave was a lot older and there were very different circumstances surrounding it, so hopefully Lowry will be able to come back much more effectively."

That comeback will have to wait, however, as Lowry is expected to miss the entire season rehabbing. His replacement will be Kevin Correia, as Brad Hennessey is currently on the shelf experiencing arm problems of his own.

PBL Commish · 08-08-2006, 05:49 PM

haha good idea

but im gonna be rooting against you as a dodger fan

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-08-2006, 06:17 PM

Kruk: "Well, Opening Day didn't go so well for the Giants, but there were some glimmers of promise."

Kuip: "We take you to the second inning, one out, Barry Bonds on first when Feliz lines a 2-2 fastball down the right-field line. It stays fair, and everybody is thinking two men in scoring position, but watch Bonds, he never stops running. All the talk this off-season about his legs, and here he scores from first on a double, and one out later Mike Matheny lines the Peavy offering into left and the Giants have a two-run lead."

Kruk: "Yeah, Peavy made the decision to pitch to Matheny even with a bag open and the pitcher coming up next and it bit him."

Kuip: "Now, in the bottom of the second. Similar situation; Mike Piazza on first base having reached an an error, 1-0 pitch to Mike Kinkade and he belts it down the line, just fair for a two-run homer to give the Padres the lead."

Kruk: "That was a rough error on Randy Winn, layed out for the difficult catch and it just went off his glove, but you know he's thinking to himself that he should have caught it. It's always hardest when those errors come around to score."

Kuip:In the third the Giants are right back in it, first and third with nobody away, but watch this. Durham pops out, Bonds strikes out, and Winn hits the routine fly ball. That's a wasted opportunity right there.

Kruk: "Absolutely, and here in the fifth, it's still a one-run game and Mike Kinkade leading off the inning. Schmidt tries to get that 2-1 slide-piece in there, bites off too much of the plate and that ball gets out of here in a hurry. Kinkade's second homer of the night, his third run batted in, and that was a big fly!"

Kuip: "And that's going to be our Pontiac Game-Changing Performance because the Giants are held in check after that and go on to lose the game by a final score of 3-2. You've got to give the credit to Mike Kinkade, who was neither a Padre nor a major-leaguer when Spring Training began, but this was still a classic pitchers duel."

Kruk: "Yep. Both hurlers were on the top of their game tonight, Schmidt with ten strikeouts over seven quality innings and Peavy with nine K's in eight, but really the most telling statistic here: only two walks issued all night."

Kuip: "Well, that's all the time we have tonight, but be sure to stay tuned for the Best Damn Sports Show period, and check back tomorrow at 7:05 for Game Two of this three-game series as Matt Morris takes on Chris Young, a couple of righthanders making their first starts for their respective teams.
--
Final Score: Giants 2, Padres 3.
WP: Jake Peavy (1-0) - 8 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
LP: Jason Schmidt (0-1) - 7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
S: Scott Linebrink (1)

Player of the Game: Mike Kinkade: 2 for 3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-08-2006, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBL Commish

haha good idea

but im gonna be rooting against you as a dodger fan

Heathen!

Glad to see you'll be following along.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-08-2006, 06:31 PM

April 4th, 2006

Matt Morris was ineffective in his Giants debut, allowing six runs on nine hits and three walks.

Morris, Giants Roughed Up in Game Two
San Francisco 4, San Diego 8

Matt Morris was amped up to make his Giants debut, and he's the first to admit that may have cost him. "I was overthrowing all night," he told reporters in a post-game interview. "You don't get any sink on your pitches when you overthrow, and my stuff was flat in the zone. They were just sitting on the fastball."

Sit on it they did, as the Padres abused Morris for nine hits in only four and two thirds innings, chasing him in the fifth after he was unable to collect the third out allowing four consecutive batters to reach base. Down 6-1 halfway through the game, the Giants seemed to give up briefly, going down easily in the sixth and seventh before mounting a brief comeback in the final two innings. First baseman Lance Niekro belted a towering solo home run in the eighth and Randy Winn added a two-run triple in the ninth but it was too little too late as the Giants fell to their division rivals a second time. Chris Young, making his debut as a Padre after coming over from Texas in the off-season was solid, holding the Giants to just one run over seven innings of work.

Mike Kinkade collected three RBI for the second straight game, adding two bases on balls as well, and Josh Barfield collected his first major-league home run off of Morris in the fourth. The Giants will attempt to avoid being swept tomorrow as they sent rookie phenom Matt Cain to the hill against young righthander Tim Stauffer.

PBL Commish · 08-08-2006, 06:44 PM

Mike Kinkade!!!???

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-08-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBL Commish

Mike Kinkade!!!???

That's what I said. Twice!

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-08-2006, 07:25 PM

April 5th, 2006

Brian Giles is congratulated by his teammates after his walk-off home run.

Giles Wastes Giants Rally
San Francisco 1, San Diego 2

If being swept by a division rival is like being punched in the gut, doing so on a walk-off defeat is like having Mike Tyson doing the punching. Rookie Matt Cain perhaps best summed up the feeling in the Giants clubhouse by declining to give a post-game interview despite a stellar nine strikeout effort over seven three-hit innings. Even worse, the Padres rally came only minutes after the Giants tied the game up on a dramatic ninth-inning wild pitch.

The game began just like the first of the series: a tightly contested pitcher's duel. Rookie Matt Cain was electric, his only blemish coming on a two-out RBI double from, of course, Mike Kinkade to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, that was looking like enough as Tim Stauffer held the Giants in check through eight shutout innings, displaying a biting slider that San Francisco's batters were unable to touch.

However, the Giants' fortunes seemed to change in the ninth inning after Stauffer was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Scott Linebrink came in to try to record his second save since earning the Padres closer job in Spring Training, and ran into trouble right from the start. Mark Sweeney lead off the frame with a sharp single, and Pedro Feliz rapped a double in the gap with one-out to put two men in scoring position with only one out. With three hits on the night, Randy Winn was intentionally walked to set up the force at any base, a moot point when a fastball in the dirt brought home Sweeney from third to tie up the game.

Though two pop-ups ended the inning without any scoring, the mood in the Giants dugout was decidedly upbeat as Tim Worrell came in to pitch the bottom of the inning, moreso when he retired pinch-hitter Doug Mirabelli on one pitch. The next at-bat was over almost as quickly, but without such a pleasant outcome as Brian Giles drove a 1-0 fastball into the left field bleachers to give the Padres a walk-off victory and send the Giants away with a sweep.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-08-2006, 08:15 PM

April 6th, 2006

Jamey Wright reacts after giving up a grand slam home run in the fourth.

Giants Drop Fourth Straight at Home
Atlanta 7, San Francisco 2

Spotty control doomed Giants starter Jamey Wright as he hit three batters in the first inning and gave up a grand slam on a 3-0 pitch to Adam LaRoche en route to a 7-2 loss. San Francisco managed only six hits against John Smoltz and the Braves and Ray Durham was the only player to reach base more than once in the lopsided defeat.

The Giants had taken a 1-0 lead on Lance Niekro's sacrifice fly heading into the third and Jamey Wright had been what is usually described as "effectively wild", not allowing a run despite three hit batsmen and a pair of walks in his two innings of work. That quickly fell apart as he gave up three straight singles to the heart of the Atlanta order and a grand slam home run on a get-it-in fastball to first baseman Adam LaRoche. "That was a pitch to hit, and he hit it. Not much else to say," Wright told reporters after the game. "I feel worse about letting him get the count to 3-0 than the home run itself."

Pedro Feliz drove in the Giants only other run on another sacrifice fly and Jason Ellison stole a base, but highlights were few and far between for the home team. Scott Munter was tagged for two runs on three hits in the ninth and Barry Bonds went 0 for 3 to drop his season batting average to .154. They will send Kevin Correia to the mound tomorrow night against rookie Kyle Davies as they attempt to right the ship and halt the disappointing start to their season.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-08-2006, 09:00 PM

April 7th, 2006

Brian Jordan congratulates Jeff Francoeur after his fifth inning grand slam.

Giants Skid Reaches Five
Atlanta 7, San Francisco 3

The season has certainly not started as the Giants faithful might have imagined it. Doomed for the second straight night by a big grand slam, San Francisco have now dropped five games in a row to start the season and are in danger of being swept again. Injury fill-in Kevin Correia was knocked around for seven runs (two earned) in four and two thirds innings, and neither the offense nor defense did much to pick him up.

It was the third inning yesterday that killed the Giants, and tonight it was the fifth. Kevin Correia had been cruising, retiring seven straight batters after giving up a two-run homer to Chipper Jones, and he looked like he'd continue after retiring his counterpart Davies on a routine pop-up. He was on the verge of nine straight when Ryan Langerhans served up a routine grounder to second, but the ball came out of Ray Durham's glove and he couldn't recover in time to get the out. The next batter walked, but Correia looked like he might be out of the inning after scooping up a comebacker from Chipper Jones. Unfortunately, his throw to second was very wide and all of a sudden the bases were loaded with one out. Andruw Jones walked to make it 3-2 and while Adam LaRoche couldn't repeat yesterday's heroics, flying out to short center field, Jeff Francoeur was glad to fill the void, blasting a grand slam to left to give Atlanta a 7-3 lead.

Todd Greene's two-run homer in his first start of the season had given San Francisco their early lead, and Jason Ellison added a solo longball of his own in the ninth, but the game was never close after that fateful fifth inning. Tomorrow the Giants turn to their ace Jason Schmidt to act as a stopper before the season starts to get out of hand.

sfgiants88 · 08-08-2006, 09:12 PM

Nice read!

Not so nice results.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-09-2006, 01:25 AM

April 8th, 2006

Lance Niekro circles the bases after clubbing his second homer of the season in the seventh.

Giants Rally Falls Short, Sixth Consecutive Loss
Atlanta 10, San Francisco 9

Just looking at the final score wouldn't tell the whole story. You wouldn't see that the Giants trailed 8-0 at one point and scored nine times in the final three frames. You wouldn't see the ninth inning that saw nine Giants come to the plate and the tying run make it all the way to third base. It may have been the most heartbreaking loss so far, but it was also the most heartening.

The team could have easily given up after starter Jason Schmidt gave up four runs in the first and was rocked for six runs in five innings. They could have given up when Atlanta starter Tim Hudson took a one-hit shutout into the seventh, but they didn't. They collected nine hits and five walks after the sixth inning, including a gritty nine-pitch base on balls by backstop Mike Matheny to lead off the ninth. Rookie first sacker Lance Niekro drove in three runs with a homer and a triple. Struggling shortstop Omar Vizquel reached base three times. The end result may be the same, but manager Felipe Alou will be focusing on the at-bats that proceeded Todd Greene lining out to end the game. "We played real good those last few innings," the veteran skipper explained. "We took an 8-0 game and we made them bring their closer in. I think this means almost as much for us as a loss."

The Braves will take it though, winning their fourth straight to run their season record to 5-1. Andruw Jones and Adam LaRoche both drove in three runs and the team fashioned an impressive first inning, scoring four times off of Giants ace Jason Schmidt before the burly righthander was able to record an out. Skipper Bobby Cox emphasized the positive, though he did mention that the bullpen's lack of control was alarming as closer Chris Reitsma issued two walks and threw only nine of twenty-four pitches for strikes.

Matt Morris will make his second start as a Giant in tomorrow's afternoon game as the team try to avoid being swept in the four-game series. Barry Bonds, who has started all but one of San Francisco's games this year is expected to be in the lineup, though there is no word if the ball he fouled off of his knee in the April 4th game against the Padres may be responsible for his struggles at the plate lately.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-09-2006, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfgiants88

Nice read!

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfgiants88

Not so nice results.

No kidding!

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-09-2006, 02:07 AM

April 9th, 2006

Braves closer Chris Reitsma celebrates after recording the save with a perfect ninth.

Skid Reaches Seven in Pitcher's Duel
Atlanta 2, San Francisco 1

For the second night in a row the Giants fell in a one-run game as they dropped their seventh straight game to start the regular season. Matt Morris bounced back from a rough Giants debut to allow two runs over seven solid innings but he was outdueled by the brutally efficient John Thompson who needed only 76 pitches in his eight stellar innings of work.

San Francisco's batters looked undisciplined at the plate all night, working only one walk and making an out on two pitches or less in an incredible sixteen at-bats, including two innings where they the side was retired on five pitches. Even the normally patient Barry Bonds grounded out on the first pitch twice. Manager Felipe Alou was visibly disgusted after the game. "I like them to be aggressive at the plate, but that was terrible. Guys swinging at bad pitches, pitcher's pitches.

For Atlanta, the offense was provided again by Jeff Francoeur who slugged his second homer of the series in the second inning and collected three hits in total on the night. Though it is still early in the season, rumors are starting to circulate about major shakeups if San Francisco cannot get their season back on track. The team is expected to hold a closed-doors meeting on tomorrow's off-day before Matt Cain makes a Tuesday start at home against Fernando Nieve for the Astros.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-09-2006, 03:24 AM

April 3rd-9th Week Wrap
Week Record: 0-7
Overall Record: 0-7

Batting

Code:

 
	         AVG/OBP/SLG	 AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	R	BB	K	SB	CS	   
Omar Vizquel	.103/.161/.138	 29	3	1	0	0	0	2	2	1	0	0	   
Pedro Feliz	.310/.300/.414	 29	9	3	0	0	5	2	0	6	0	0	   
Randy Winn	.310/.333/.552	 29	9	3	2	0	2	4	1	3	0	0	   
Ray Durham	.308/.419/.423	 26	8	1	1	0	1	3	4	3	0	0	   
Jason Ellison	.304/.333/.435	 23	7	0	0	1	1	1	1	4	1	1	   
Mike Matheny	.286/.348/.286	 21	6	0	0	0	2	1	2	4	0	0	   
Barry Bonds	.190/.320/.190	 21	4	0	0	0	2	3	4	4	0	0	   
Lance Niekro	.190/.308/.571	 21	4	0	1	2	5	2	4	2	0	0	   
Steve Finley	.100/.100/.100	 10	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	   
Mark Sweeney	.200/.333/.200	 10	2	0	0	0	0	1	2	2	0	0	   
Todd Greene	.333/.429/.883	 6	2	0	0	1	2	2	1	0	0	0	   
Todd Linden	.500/.500/.500	 2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0

Pitching

Code:

 
	        G	GS	W	L     SV/BS	ERA	IP	ER	HA	HRA	BB	K	OAVG	WHIP	   
Jason Schmidt	2	2	0	2	0	3.75	12.0	5	13	2	2	11	.271	1.25	   
Matt Morris	2	2	0	2	0	6.17	11.2	8	14	2	5	5	.326	1.63	   
Matt Cain	1	1	0	0	0	1.29	7.0	1	3	0	2	7	.130	0.71	   
Jamey Wright	1	1	0	1	0	9.00	5.0	5	6	1	2	3	.286	1.60	   
Kevin Correia	1	1	0	1	0	3.86	4.2	2	6	2	2	2	.273	1.71	   
Tyler Walker	4	0	0	0	0	0.00	4.1	0	4	0	1	5	.235	1.15	   
Steve Kline	3	0	0	0	0	0.00	2.0	0	0	0	2	0	.000	1.00	   
Jeff Fassero	3	0	0	0	0	4.15	4.1	2	3	1	0	5	.188	0.69	   
Brian Wilson	2	0	0	0	0	0.00	3.1	0	1	0	1	0	.111	0.60	   
Scott Munter	2	0	0	0	0	10.80	1.2	2	3	0	1	1	.375	2.40	   
Jeremy Accardo	2	0	0	0	0	12.00	3.0	4	5	0	3	1	.385	2.67	   
Tim Worrell	2	0	0	1	0	6.75	1.1	1	2	1	0	0	.400	1.50

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-09-2006, 04:57 AM

April 11th, 2006[/i]

Ray Durham connects for his tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning.

Big Seventh Snaps Streak
Houston 4, San Francisco 6

When the Houston Astros lead 4-1 after three innings it looked like San Francisco's six game losing streak might continue, but the Giants fought back to score twice in the sixth and three times in the seventh while the bullpen put in three shutout innings to preserve the first victory of the season.

Starter Matt Cain didn't have his best stuff, giving up four runs on seven hits in six innings, but he gutted it out and gave his team a chance to win. Though he didn't figure into the decision, departing in the top of the seventh after walking the opposing pitcher, he could have done a lot worse. Scott Munter earned his first victory out of the bullpen, retiring the side in order after relieving Cain, and Tim Worrell notched his first save of the season, coming in with two on in the eighth and pitching a scoreless ninth. The offensive heroics belonged to Ray Durham who cracked a two-run single with the game tied at 4-4 in the seventh to give the Giants a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

More importantly, the Giants took a more diciplined approach to the plate, working four walks and and forcing Fernando Nieve to throw a lot of pitches. "All credit goes to that," Alou said after the game. "It was obvious he [Nieve] was getting tired and we managed to get to him late." Lance Niekro also hit a two-run single for San Francisco and catcher Mike Matheny had a pair of singles and a run scored.

The Giants will try to build on tonght's victory tomorrow when they send Jamey Wright to the mound against 26-year-old Ezequiel Astacio.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-09-2006, 05:45 AM

Kuip: "This is Duane Kuiper, alongside my partner Mike Krukow for tonight's Stubhub Post-game Wrap, and it's a wild one."

Kruk: "Absolutely. We'll get things started in the top of the fifth, game tied 1-1. Jamey Wright is cruising since the first, retiring five straight batters on groundballs, and when he's right you'll see a lot of that. Here he gets an easy grounder from Bruntlett, scooped up by Vizquel, but he slips on the neck of the grass and has to make an off-balance throw. The umps say he got him, though I think Bruntlett has a legitimate beef here, but Vizquel is hurt."

Kuip: "It looked like his shoulder, and he does have to come out of the game. We'll hope for the best."

Kruk: "Let's go to the bottom of the fifth, Jose Vizcaino taking only his second at-bat of the season having replaced Vizquel in the lineup, and he cracks a resounding double. He's batting 1.000 Kuip!"

Kuip: "Indeed. Winn and Bonds add singles to to make it 2-1 Giants, and here comes Pedro Feliz..."

Kuip: "So, Pedro Feliz batting with Randy Winn on second and Barry Bonds on third. Giants ahead 2-1, Feliz ahead in the count 1-0. Astacio takes a long look at the catcher, sets, the pitch, belted! Oh, Feliz really got ahold of that one, Lane is tracking it to the wall, but he won't get it as it bounces off the warning track! Winn is going to score easily and Bonds is being waved home! Lane ropes it in to the cut-off man Burke, Burke with the throw home NOT IN TIME! Feliz is still running, Munson with the cannon to third, head-first slide SAFE! That's a two-run double to make it 4-1 Giants, and now Feliz is standing on third and there is still only one out..."

Kruk: "That was our Lincoln Drive of the Game, but there was plenty of more action to come. Head to the ninth inning, the Giants holding on to a 4-2 lead. Wright has yielded to fill-in closer Tim Worrell after eight strong innings, in line for his first victory of the season. Worrell stumbles out of the gate as Preston Wilson crushes his first pitch to dead center field to make it a one-run game, but the Giants are still up with Eric Munson at the plate..."

Kuip: "So, Worrell is ahead 1-2 now, trying to bounce back from the leadoff homer. He shakes off Matheny a couple of times, nods and comes into the set position. Back to the delivery, the pitch, uh oh! Worrell hung a slider and Munson hits it high... deep... OUTTA HERE! Right to the same area Wilson hit it, though not nearly as far back, and this game is tied! Not Worrell's best outing as he's now given up homers to the first two batters, but now he's got to focus on keeping the game tied."

Kruk: "And keep it tied he did as the game is still knotted up heading into the bottom of the tenth inning. Jose Vizcaino singles off of Hector Giminez with one out and Dave Borkowski has a bad start out of the bullpen, balking him over on a pick-off attempt with Randy Winn at the plate..."

Kuip: "So, plenty of action this at-bat without a pitch even being thrown. Phil Garner heads back to the dugout, he's still in the game despite arguing that balk call for a good three or four minutes. Any room for error Borkowski has left is gone now with the winning run in scoring position he'll have to pitch carefully to Randy Winn. Winn steps back into the box, Borkowski sets. The delivery, swung on, looped into left! Chris Burke is coming in fast, Burke dives, HE CAN'T GET IT! Vizcaino had to go back to second, he takes off now as the ball rolls past Burke towards the corner! Wilson scoops it up and throws it wildly home but he's not going to have a chance as Vizcaino scores easily and the Giants have won the game!"

Kruk: "And that was it as the Giants walked off with a 5-4 victory, their second in a row, and that's how you really start to build momentum, and that's our Carls Jr. In Your Face Play of the Game. For rich, charbroiled burgers, the name of the game is always Carls Jr...."
---
Final Score: Astros 4, Giants 5 (10 innings)
WP: Steve Kline (1-0) - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
LP: Matt Albers (0-2) - 0.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Player of the Game: Randy Winn: 4 for 5, GW 2B, 2 RBI, SB.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-09-2006, 06:07 AM

April 13, 2006

Pedro Feliz is congratulated by teammates after his grand slam in the sixth gave the Giants the lead.

Feliz, Giants Break Out The Brooms
Houston 4, San Francisco 6

The Giants started their series against Houston by snapping a nasty losing streak, but they leave riding an entirely different streak with three straight wins to send them with high spirits into a ten-game road trip against their divisional rivals. Ace Jason Schmidt pitched six innings for his first victory of the season and third baseman Pedro Feliz drove in five runs to lead the Giants' offense.

The Astros lead 4-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, collecting nine hits off of Jason Schmidt before Roy Oswalt started to waver. He walked Durham on four pitches to start the inning, then gave up a one-out single to Randy Winn who moved up to second on the throw. With a base open, Barry Bonds was issued a familiar intentional walk, but Pedro Feliz made the most out of a 2-2 fastball, belting it into the left field stands for a grand slam home run that gave the Giants the lead.

San Francisco added an insurance run later in the inning that proved unecessary as Tyler Walker and Jeremy Accardo shut the Astros down in the seventh and eighth and Jeff Fassero pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season. Felipe Alou insisted that Fassero's appearance was just a situational one, not a sign that Tim Worrell's job was in jeopardy. "The Astros, they had a couple of lefties due up and Worrell and Kline had pitched the last two days, so I brought in Fassero," he explained. "The only other guys available were [Brian] Wilson and [Scott] Munter and I didn't want to throw the rookies into a tight spot like that."

The off day throws off the Giants rotation as they were eager to throw Schmidt in against the tough Oswalt, meaning that Matt Morris will start tomorrow against the Dodgers to be followed by Kevin Correia and Matt Cain.

MuertoDesagradecido · 08-09-2006, 05:13 PM

April 14th, 2006

Odalis Perez dominated the Giants over eight and a third shutout innings of work.

Giants Shut Down In L.A.
San Francisco 0, Los Angeles (N) 1

The Giants were riding high coming into this three-game road series against their bitter rivals, but Odalis Perez sucked the energy right out of the clubhouse by holding the Giants scoreless over his eight and a third innings of work and Jose Cruz Jr. homered to spoil a brilliant start by Matt Morris as the Dodgers snapped San Francisco's winning streak at three.

Newcomer Matt Morris had struggled in his first two starts for the Giants but seemed to have righted the ship today, pitching seven five-hit innings, his only blemish the aforementioned home run to former giant Jose Cruz Jr. Unfortunately, that proved to be enough as Odalis Perez, traditionally a big problem for the Giants, was true to form, taking a four hit shutout into the ninth and only yielding to super-closer Eric Gagne when his pitch count ran high with one away in the ninth.

Odalis cruised, retiring eleven straight after Ray Durham singles to lead off the game and never allowing more than one baserunner in an inning. Durham and Pedro Feliz both reached base twice and Jose Vizcaino added a single filling in for Omar Vizquel, who is expected to miss a week after injuring his shoulder yesterday. The Giants will try to rebound tomorrow as they send up young righthander Kevin Correia against sinkerballer Derek Lowe.

PBL Commish · 08-09-2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuertoDesagradecido

April 14th, 2006

Odalis Perez dominated the Giants over eight and a third shutout innings of work.

Giants Shut Down In L.A.
San Francisco 0, Los Angeles (N) 1

The Giants were riding high coming into this three-game road series against their bitter rivals, but Odalis Perez sucked the energy right out of the clubhouse by holding the Giants scoreless over his eight and a third innings of work and Jose Cruz Jr. homered to spoil a brilliant start by Matt Morris as the Dodgers snapped San Francisco's winning streak at three.

Newcomer Matt Morris had struggled in his first two starts for the Giants but seemed to have righted the ship today, pitching seven five-hit innings, his only blemish the aforementioned home run to former giant Jose Cruz Jr. Unfortunately, that proved to be enough as Odalis Perez, traditionally a big problem for the Giants, was true to form, taking a four hit shutout into the ninth and only yielding to super-closer Eric Gagne when his pitch count ran high with one away in the ninth.

Odalis cruised, retiring eleven straight after Ray Durham singles to lead off the game and never allowing more than one baserunner in an inning. Durham and Pedro Feliz both reached base twice and Jose Vizcaino added a single filling in for Omar Vizquel, who is expected to miss a week after injuring his shoulder yesterday. The Giants will try to rebound tomorrow as they send up young righthander Kevin Correia against sinkerballer Derek Lowe.

keep it up

08-08-2006, 05:37 PM	#1
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Bonds and Beyond: The San Francisco Giants from 2006 Onward April 1st, 2006 Noah Lowry is expected to miss the entire regular season. Giants Hobble Into Regular Season Just as many pundits had predicted, the injury bug struck the aging San Francisco Giants team early and often in 2006, though not necessarily to the expected players. 39 year-old right fielder Moises Alou strained a groin muscle running out a grounder mid-way through Spring Training and is expected to remain on the Disabled List for at least two more weeks as a precaution. Reliever Jack Taschner, expected to fill the situtatonal lefty role left by the departed Scott Eyre required arm surgery after a muscle tear and will miss the better part of the season for recovery. Todd Linden will fill in for Moises Alou on the 25-man roster while rookie Brian Wilson will take Jack Taschner's spot in the bullpen, at least until closer Armando Benitez returns. The real blow, however, came to young lefthander Noah Lowry. While delivering a pitch to Jose Castillo of the Pirates there was an audible crack and the 26-year-old immediately doubled over in pain. Team doctors soon confirmed what everybody in the stadium had heard: Lowry had suffered a severe stress fracture to his left elbow. "The first thing that came to mind for me, of course, was Dave Dravecky," said Giants announcer Mike Krukow, who was a member of the 1989 Giants team when Dravecky broke his arm delivering a pitch to Tim Raines. "Of course, Dave was a lot older and there were very different circumstances surrounding it, so hopefully Lowry will be able to come back much more effectively." That comeback will have to wait, however, as Lowry is expected to miss the entire season rehabbing. His replacement will be Kevin Correia, as Brad Hennessey is currently on the shelf experiencing arm problems of his own. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-12-2006 at 03:49 AM.

08-08-2006, 06:17 PM	#3
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Kruk: "Well, Opening Day didn't go so well for the Giants, but there were some glimmers of promise." Kuip: "We take you to the second inning, one out, Barry Bonds on first when Feliz lines a 2-2 fastball down the right-field line. It stays fair, and everybody is thinking two men in scoring position, but watch Bonds, he never stops running. All the talk this off-season about his legs, and here he scores from first on a double, and one out later Mike Matheny lines the Peavy offering into left and the Giants have a two-run lead." Kruk: "Yeah, Peavy made the decision to pitch to Matheny even with a bag open and the pitcher coming up next and it bit him." Kuip: "Now, in the bottom of the second. Similar situation; Mike Piazza on first base having reached an an error, 1-0 pitch to Mike Kinkade and he belts it down the line, just fair for a two-run homer to give the Padres the lead." Kruk: "That was a rough error on Randy Winn, layed out for the difficult catch and it just went off his glove, but you know he's thinking to himself that he should have caught it. It's always hardest when those errors come around to score." Kuip:In the third the Giants are right back in it, first and third with nobody away, but watch this. Durham pops out, Bonds strikes out, and Winn hits the routine fly ball. That's a wasted opportunity right there. Kruk: "Absolutely, and here in the fifth, it's still a one-run game and Mike Kinkade leading off the inning. Schmidt tries to get that 2-1 slide-piece in there, bites off too much of the plate and that ball gets out of here in a hurry. Kinkade's second homer of the night, his third run batted in, and that was a big fly!" Kuip: "And that's going to be our Pontiac Game-Changing Performance because the Giants are held in check after that and go on to lose the game by a final score of 3-2. You've got to give the credit to Mike Kinkade, who was neither a Padre nor a major-leaguer when Spring Training began, but this was still a classic pitchers duel." Kruk: "Yep. Both hurlers were on the top of their game tonight, Schmidt with ten strikeouts over seven quality innings and Peavy with nine K's in eight, but really the most telling statistic here: only two walks issued all night." Kuip: "Well, that's all the time we have tonight, but be sure to stay tuned for the Best Damn Sports Show period, and check back tomorrow at 7:05 for Game Two of this three-game series as Matt Morris takes on Chris Young, a couple of righthanders making their first starts for their respective teams. -- Final Score: Giants 2, Padres 3. WP: Jake Peavy (1-0) - 8 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K LP: Jason Schmidt (0-1) - 7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 10 K S: Scott Linebrink (1) Player of the Game: Mike Kinkade: 2 for 3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:21 PM.

08-08-2006, 06:31 PM	#5
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 4th, 2006 Matt Morris was ineffective in his Giants debut, allowing six runs on nine hits and three walks. Morris, Giants Roughed Up in Game Two San Francisco 4, San Diego 8 Matt Morris was amped up to make his Giants debut, and he's the first to admit that may have cost him. "I was overthrowing all night," he told reporters in a post-game interview. "You don't get any sink on your pitches when you overthrow, and my stuff was flat in the zone. They were just sitting on the fastball." Sit on it they did, as the Padres abused Morris for nine hits in only four and two thirds innings, chasing him in the fifth after he was unable to collect the third out allowing four consecutive batters to reach base. Down 6-1 halfway through the game, the Giants seemed to give up briefly, going down easily in the sixth and seventh before mounting a brief comeback in the final two innings. First baseman Lance Niekro belted a towering solo home run in the eighth and Randy Winn added a two-run triple in the ninth but it was too little too late as the Giants fell to their division rivals a second time. Chris Young, making his debut as a Padre after coming over from Texas in the off-season was solid, holding the Giants to just one run over seven innings of work. Mike Kinkade collected three RBI for the second straight game, adding two bases on balls as well, and Josh Barfield collected his first major-league home run off of Morris in the fourth. The Giants will attempt to avoid being swept tomorrow as they sent rookie phenom Matt Cain to the hill against young righthander Tim Stauffer. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:21 PM.

08-08-2006, 07:25 PM	#8
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 5th, 2006 Brian Giles is congratulated by his teammates after his walk-off home run. Giles Wastes Giants Rally San Francisco 1, San Diego 2 If being swept by a division rival is like being punched in the gut, doing so on a walk-off defeat is like having Mike Tyson doing the punching. Rookie Matt Cain perhaps best summed up the feeling in the Giants clubhouse by declining to give a post-game interview despite a stellar nine strikeout effort over seven three-hit innings. Even worse, the Padres rally came only minutes after the Giants tied the game up on a dramatic ninth-inning wild pitch. The game began just like the first of the series: a tightly contested pitcher's duel. Rookie Matt Cain was electric, his only blemish coming on a two-out RBI double from, of course, Mike Kinkade to give the Padres a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, that was looking like enough as Tim Stauffer held the Giants in check through eight shutout innings, displaying a biting slider that San Francisco's batters were unable to touch. However, the Giants' fortunes seemed to change in the ninth inning after Stauffer was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Scott Linebrink came in to try to record his second save since earning the Padres closer job in Spring Training, and ran into trouble right from the start. Mark Sweeney lead off the frame with a sharp single, and Pedro Feliz rapped a double in the gap with one-out to put two men in scoring position with only one out. With three hits on the night, Randy Winn was intentionally walked to set up the force at any base, a moot point when a fastball in the dirt brought home Sweeney from third to tie up the game. Though two pop-ups ended the inning without any scoring, the mood in the Giants dugout was decidedly upbeat as Tim Worrell came in to pitch the bottom of the inning, moreso when he retired pinch-hitter Doug Mirabelli on one pitch. The next at-bat was over almost as quickly, but without such a pleasant outcome as Brian Giles drove a 1-0 fastball into the left field bleachers to give the Padres a walk-off victory and send the Giants away with a sweep. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:22 PM.

08-08-2006, 08:15 PM	#9
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 6th, 2006 Jamey Wright reacts after giving up a grand slam home run in the fourth. Giants Drop Fourth Straight at Home Atlanta 7, San Francisco 2 Spotty control doomed Giants starter Jamey Wright as he hit three batters in the first inning and gave up a grand slam on a 3-0 pitch to Adam LaRoche en route to a 7-2 loss. San Francisco managed only six hits against John Smoltz and the Braves and Ray Durham was the only player to reach base more than once in the lopsided defeat. The Giants had taken a 1-0 lead on Lance Niekro's sacrifice fly heading into the third and Jamey Wright had been what is usually described as "effectively wild", not allowing a run despite three hit batsmen and a pair of walks in his two innings of work. That quickly fell apart as he gave up three straight singles to the heart of the Atlanta order and a grand slam home run on a get-it-in fastball to first baseman Adam LaRoche. "That was a pitch to hit, and he hit it. Not much else to say," Wright told reporters after the game. "I feel worse about letting him get the count to 3-0 than the home run itself." Pedro Feliz drove in the Giants only other run on another sacrifice fly and Jason Ellison stole a base, but highlights were few and far between for the home team. Scott Munter was tagged for two runs on three hits in the ninth and Barry Bonds went 0 for 3 to drop his season batting average to .154. They will send Kevin Correia to the mound tomorrow night against rookie Kyle Davies as they attempt to right the ship and halt the disappointing start to their season. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:22 PM.

08-08-2006, 05:49 PM	#2
PBL Commish Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 142	haha good idea but im gonna be rooting against you as a dodger fan

08-08-2006, 06:44 PM	#6
PBL Commish Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 142	Mike Kinkade!!!???

08-08-2006, 09:00 PM	#10
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 7th, 2006 Brian Jordan congratulates Jeff Francoeur after his fifth inning grand slam. Giants Skid Reaches Five Atlanta 7, San Francisco 3 The season has certainly not started as the Giants faithful might have imagined it. Doomed for the second straight night by a big grand slam, San Francisco have now dropped five games in a row to start the season and are in danger of being swept again. Injury fill-in Kevin Correia was knocked around for seven runs (two earned) in four and two thirds innings, and neither the offense nor defense did much to pick him up. It was the third inning yesterday that killed the Giants, and tonight it was the fifth. Kevin Correia had been cruising, retiring seven straight batters after giving up a two-run homer to Chipper Jones, and he looked like he'd continue after retiring his counterpart Davies on a routine pop-up. He was on the verge of nine straight when Ryan Langerhans served up a routine grounder to second, but the ball came out of Ray Durham's glove and he couldn't recover in time to get the out. The next batter walked, but Correia looked like he might be out of the inning after scooping up a comebacker from Chipper Jones. Unfortunately, his throw to second was very wide and all of a sudden the bases were loaded with one out. Andruw Jones walked to make it 3-2 and while Adam LaRoche couldn't repeat yesterday's heroics, flying out to short center field, Jeff Francoeur was glad to fill the void, blasting a grand slam to left to give Atlanta a 7-3 lead. Todd Greene's two-run homer in his first start of the season had given San Francisco their early lead, and Jason Ellison added a solo longball of his own in the ninth, but the game was never close after that fateful fifth inning. Tomorrow the Giants turn to their ace Jason Schmidt to act as a stopper before the season starts to get out of hand. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:23 PM.

08-08-2006, 09:12 PM	#11
sfgiants88 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 885	Nice read! Not so nice results.

08-09-2006, 01:25 AM	#12
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 8th, 2006 Lance Niekro circles the bases after clubbing his second homer of the season in the seventh. Giants Rally Falls Short, Sixth Consecutive Loss Atlanta 10, San Francisco 9 Just looking at the final score wouldn't tell the whole story. You wouldn't see that the Giants trailed 8-0 at one point and scored nine times in the final three frames. You wouldn't see the ninth inning that saw nine Giants come to the plate and the tying run make it all the way to third base. It may have been the most heartbreaking loss so far, but it was also the most heartening. The team could have easily given up after starter Jason Schmidt gave up four runs in the first and was rocked for six runs in five innings. They could have given up when Atlanta starter Tim Hudson took a one-hit shutout into the seventh, but they didn't. They collected nine hits and five walks after the sixth inning, including a gritty nine-pitch base on balls by backstop Mike Matheny to lead off the ninth. Rookie first sacker Lance Niekro drove in three runs with a homer and a triple. Struggling shortstop Omar Vizquel reached base three times. The end result may be the same, but manager Felipe Alou will be focusing on the at-bats that proceeded Todd Greene lining out to end the game. "We played real good those last few innings," the veteran skipper explained. "We took an 8-0 game and we made them bring their closer in. I think this means almost as much for us as a loss." The Braves will take it though, winning their fourth straight to run their season record to 5-1. Andruw Jones and Adam LaRoche both drove in three runs and the team fashioned an impressive first inning, scoring four times off of Giants ace Jason Schmidt before the burly righthander was able to record an out. Skipper Bobby Cox emphasized the positive, though he did mention that the bullpen's lack of control was alarming as closer Chris Reitsma issued two walks and threw only nine of twenty-four pitches for strikes. Matt Morris will make his second start as a Giant in tomorrow's afternoon game as the team try to avoid being swept in the four-game series. Barry Bonds, who has started all but one of San Francisco's games this year is expected to be in the lineup, though there is no word if the ball he fouled off of his knee in the April 4th game against the Padres may be responsible for his struggles at the plate lately. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:23 PM.

08-09-2006, 02:07 AM	#14
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 9th, 2006 Braves closer Chris Reitsma celebrates after recording the save with a perfect ninth. Skid Reaches Seven in Pitcher's Duel Atlanta 2, San Francisco 1 For the second night in a row the Giants fell in a one-run game as they dropped their seventh straight game to start the regular season. Matt Morris bounced back from a rough Giants debut to allow two runs over seven solid innings but he was outdueled by the brutally efficient John Thompson who needed only 76 pitches in his eight stellar innings of work. San Francisco's batters looked undisciplined at the plate all night, working only one walk and making an out on two pitches or less in an incredible sixteen at-bats, including two innings where they the side was retired on five pitches. Even the normally patient Barry Bonds grounded out on the first pitch twice. Manager Felipe Alou was visibly disgusted after the game. "I like them to be aggressive at the plate, but that was terrible. Guys swinging at bad pitches, pitcher's pitches. For Atlanta, the offense was provided again by Jeff Francoeur who slugged his second homer of the series in the second inning and collected three hits in total on the night. Though it is still early in the season, rumors are starting to circulate about major shakeups if San Francisco cannot get their season back on track. The team is expected to hold a closed-doors meeting on tomorrow's off-day before Matt Cain makes a Tuesday start at home against Fernando Nieve for the Astros. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:24 PM.

08-09-2006, 04:57 AM	#16
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 11th, 2006[/i] Ray Durham connects for his tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning. Big Seventh Snaps Streak Houston 4, San Francisco 6 When the Houston Astros lead 4-1 after three innings it looked like San Francisco's six game losing streak might continue, but the Giants fought back to score twice in the sixth and three times in the seventh while the bullpen put in three shutout innings to preserve the first victory of the season. Starter Matt Cain didn't have his best stuff, giving up four runs on seven hits in six innings, but he gutted it out and gave his team a chance to win. Though he didn't figure into the decision, departing in the top of the seventh after walking the opposing pitcher, he could have done a lot worse. Scott Munter earned his first victory out of the bullpen, retiring the side in order after relieving Cain, and Tim Worrell notched his first save of the season, coming in with two on in the eighth and pitching a scoreless ninth. The offensive heroics belonged to Ray Durham who cracked a two-run single with the game tied at 4-4 in the seventh to give the Giants a lead they wouldn't relinquish. More importantly, the Giants took a more diciplined approach to the plate, working four walks and and forcing Fernando Nieve to throw a lot of pitches. "All credit goes to that," Alou said after the game. "It was obvious he [Nieve] was getting tired and we managed to get to him late." Lance Niekro also hit a two-run single for San Francisco and catcher Mike Matheny had a pair of singles and a run scored. The Giants will try to build on tonght's victory tomorrow when they send Jamey Wright to the mound against 26-year-old Ezequiel Astacio. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:24 PM.

08-09-2006, 05:45 AM	#17
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Kuip: "This is Duane Kuiper, alongside my partner Mike Krukow for tonight's Stubhub Post-game Wrap, and it's a wild one." Kruk: "Absolutely. We'll get things started in the top of the fifth, game tied 1-1. Jamey Wright is cruising since the first, retiring five straight batters on groundballs, and when he's right you'll see a lot of that. Here he gets an easy grounder from Bruntlett, scooped up by Vizquel, but he slips on the neck of the grass and has to make an off-balance throw. The umps say he got him, though I think Bruntlett has a legitimate beef here, but Vizquel is hurt." Kuip: "It looked like his shoulder, and he does have to come out of the game. We'll hope for the best." Kruk: "Let's go to the bottom of the fifth, Jose Vizcaino taking only his second at-bat of the season having replaced Vizquel in the lineup, and he cracks a resounding double. He's batting 1.000 Kuip!" Kuip: "Indeed. Winn and Bonds add singles to to make it 2-1 Giants, and here comes Pedro Feliz..." Kuip: "So, Pedro Feliz batting with Randy Winn on second and Barry Bonds on third. Giants ahead 2-1, Feliz ahead in the count 1-0. Astacio takes a long look at the catcher, sets, the pitch, belted! Oh, Feliz really got ahold of that one, Lane is tracking it to the wall, but he won't get it as it bounces off the warning track! Winn is going to score easily and Bonds is being waved home! Lane ropes it in to the cut-off man Burke, Burke with the throw home NOT IN TIME! Feliz is still running, Munson with the cannon to third, head-first slide SAFE! That's a two-run double to make it 4-1 Giants, and now Feliz is standing on third and there is still only one out..." Kruk: "That was our Lincoln Drive of the Game, but there was plenty of more action to come. Head to the ninth inning, the Giants holding on to a 4-2 lead. Wright has yielded to fill-in closer Tim Worrell after eight strong innings, in line for his first victory of the season. Worrell stumbles out of the gate as Preston Wilson crushes his first pitch to dead center field to make it a one-run game, but the Giants are still up with Eric Munson at the plate..." Kuip: "So, Worrell is ahead 1-2 now, trying to bounce back from the leadoff homer. He shakes off Matheny a couple of times, nods and comes into the set position. Back to the delivery, the pitch, uh oh! Worrell hung a slider and Munson hits it high... deep... OUTTA HERE! Right to the same area Wilson hit it, though not nearly as far back, and this game is tied! Not Worrell's best outing as he's now given up homers to the first two batters, but now he's got to focus on keeping the game tied." Kruk: "And keep it tied he did as the game is still knotted up heading into the bottom of the tenth inning. Jose Vizcaino singles off of Hector Giminez with one out and Dave Borkowski has a bad start out of the bullpen, balking him over on a pick-off attempt with Randy Winn at the plate..." Kuip: "So, plenty of action this at-bat without a pitch even being thrown. Phil Garner heads back to the dugout, he's still in the game despite arguing that balk call for a good three or four minutes. Any room for error Borkowski has left is gone now with the winning run in scoring position he'll have to pitch carefully to Randy Winn. Winn steps back into the box, Borkowski sets. The delivery, swung on, looped into left! Chris Burke is coming in fast, Burke dives, HE CAN'T GET IT! Vizcaino had to go back to second, he takes off now as the ball rolls past Burke towards the corner! Wilson scoops it up and throws it wildly home but he's not going to have a chance as Vizcaino scores easily and the Giants have won the game!" Kruk: "And that was it as the Giants walked off with a 5-4 victory, their second in a row, and that's how you really start to build momentum, and that's our Carls Jr. In Your Face Play of the Game. For rich, charbroiled burgers, the name of the game is always Carls Jr...." --- Final Score: Astros 4, Giants 5 (10 innings) WP: Steve Kline (1-0) - 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K LP: Matt Albers (0-2) - 0.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K Player of the Game: Randy Winn: 4 for 5, GW 2B, 2 RBI, SB. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:25 PM.

08-09-2006, 06:07 AM	#18
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 13, 2006 Pedro Feliz is congratulated by teammates after his grand slam in the sixth gave the Giants the lead. Feliz, Giants Break Out The Brooms Houston 4, San Francisco 6 The Giants started their series against Houston by snapping a nasty losing streak, but they leave riding an entirely different streak with three straight wins to send them with high spirits into a ten-game road trip against their divisional rivals. Ace Jason Schmidt pitched six innings for his first victory of the season and third baseman Pedro Feliz drove in five runs to lead the Giants' offense. The Astros lead 4-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, collecting nine hits off of Jason Schmidt before Roy Oswalt started to waver. He walked Durham on four pitches to start the inning, then gave up a one-out single to Randy Winn who moved up to second on the throw. With a base open, Barry Bonds was issued a familiar intentional walk, but Pedro Feliz made the most out of a 2-2 fastball, belting it into the left field stands for a grand slam home run that gave the Giants the lead. San Francisco added an insurance run later in the inning that proved unecessary as Tyler Walker and Jeremy Accardo shut the Astros down in the seventh and eighth and Jeff Fassero pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season. Felipe Alou insisted that Fassero's appearance was just a situational one, not a sign that Tim Worrell's job was in jeopardy. "The Astros, they had a couple of lefties due up and Worrell and Kline had pitched the last two days, so I brought in Fassero," he explained. "The only other guys available were [Brian] Wilson and [Scott] Munter and I didn't want to throw the rookies into a tight spot like that." The off day throws off the Giants rotation as they were eager to throw Schmidt in against the tough Oswalt, meaning that Matt Morris will start tomorrow against the Dodgers to be followed by Kevin Correia and Matt Cain. Last edited by MuertoDesagradecido; 08-09-2006 at 04:26 PM.

08-09-2006, 05:13 PM	#19
MuertoDesagradecido Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Saint Francisco Posts: 436 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	April 14th, 2006 Odalis Perez dominated the Giants over eight and a third shutout innings of work. Giants Shut Down In L.A. San Francisco 0, Los Angeles (N) 1 The Giants were riding high coming into this three-game road series against their bitter rivals, but Odalis Perez sucked the energy right out of the clubhouse by holding the Giants scoreless over his eight and a third innings of work and Jose Cruz Jr. homered to spoil a brilliant start by Matt Morris as the Dodgers snapped San Francisco's winning streak at three. Newcomer Matt Morris had struggled in his first two starts for the Giants but seemed to have righted the ship today, pitching seven five-hit innings, his only blemish the aforementioned home run to former giant Jose Cruz Jr. Unfortunately, that proved to be enough as Odalis Perez, traditionally a big problem for the Giants, was true to form, taking a four hit shutout into the ninth and only yielding to super-closer Eric Gagne when his pitch count ran high with one away in the ninth. Odalis cruised, retiring eleven straight after Ray Durham singles to lead off the game and never allowing more than one baserunner in an inning. Durham and Pedro Feliz both reached base twice and Jose Vizcaino added a single filling in for Omar Vizquel, who is expected to miss a week after injuring his shoulder yesterday. The Giants will try to rebound tomorrow as they send up young righthander Kevin Correia against sinkerballer Derek Lowe.