Game 44: Voges is for reelzies, Huff smacks single in 10th, Giants pull out win 2-1

Why do the Giants need to fear a good pitcher?  They only need to score a couple anyways.

In fact, they were up 1-0 after the 1st despite being hitless until the 4th.

Defensively they play more crisply @ home, which shows just how good their pitching is because they utilize the fielders. I listened a bit on the radio and watched the last couple innings, then I caught up with Extra Baggs and on mlb.com -- but I'm going to have to start watching more as if seems that Nate the great and Fred Sanchez are spinning fantastic defensive seasons.  I saw Nate spear a screamer to the right field corner to keep the A's down in the 9th, but I missed it when he gunned down Willingham @ 3rd on a hit and run.

Fred helped Voges out in a jam, with the bases loaded and 0 out, Fred dove for a ball in the hole and started a double play on speedy Coco Crisp.

Voges is for real and that's no joke.  6 strong, good command, got out of jams with Ks and double plays.  He stared down the AL's best pitcher and didn't blink.

Box

Game 8: Another walk off hit, Torres leaves the game with Achilles strain, Giants win 3-2

The Boys certainly have a flare for the dramatic. 

First in an hour long ring ceremony pregame where they literally ran aps around the ballpark, called out every player, trainer, coach, clubouse staff worker and concessionaire onto the field to get a ring.

Then, in a 2 1/2 hour game that I watched completely from My Floating Red Couch, I watched the giants squander almostevery single opportunity until the very last pitch of the game, a 3-2, 2-out slider that Ryan Franklin hung to Miguel Tejada that Tejada slapped to deep left center.  The score was 2-1 Cards, and the Gians had Posey on 2nd, Belt on 1st (pinch running for Burrell).

And even then it looked like Card centerfielder Ramus or leftfielder Johnny John "JJ" Jay might have had a beat on it.  Then the ball hit Rasmus' glove and slowly rolled out.

Ballgame (the home town official scorer called it a "double").

Cain did well.  He went 7, gave up his first two runs of the season in 6 and 7, but kept the chomping-at-the-bit Cardinals at bay.  No decision, but he didn'tdeserve a loss.

Cardspitcher Jaime Garcia was good, perfect the first time through the lineup.  9 Ks in 6 IP, pulled for offensive reasons.  Ryan Franklin is going to cost him wins this year, he might be an early new-guy-in-the-running-for-a-Cy-Young favorite.

Matt Holliday comes back today, Giants got Zito going.  But they've got two in their pocket, so a win today would be a little extra gravy.

Torres left early, hurt.  Rowand can fill in for him, but he's our only speed and  hope he's not out long.