Game 142 Recap-
The San Francisco Giants exploded for a 10 run 4th inning and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-6 Sunday at AT&T Park in California. With a lineup that featured 6 rookies, C Pablo Sandoval led the way with 5 rbis. The big inning featured 9 hits and 2 errors, marking the biggest inning since the Park opened in 2000. 5 different Giants had 2 hits while veteran CF Randy Winn scored 2 runs as did rookie SS Emmanuel Burriss. 2b Freddy Sanchez, LF Jason Michaels, RF Steven Pearce and Robinzon Diaz had 2 hits apiece for the Pirates.
As the score indicates, neither starting pitcher had his “A” game. Giants LH Jonathan Sanchez(8-10,4.53) continued to have little success vs the Pirates(14 runs in 8 1/3 career innings) allowing 3 runs(2 earned) on 5 hits over 3 innings, he struck out 5 and walked 2.
“I threw a lot of pitches and it was the right thing to take me out,” Sanchez said. “They’re just trying to save my arm.”
The Pirates actually carried a 5-0 lead into the 4th after scoring 3 in the 3rd( Micheals infield single and Diaz 2 run single) and 2 more in the 4th.(CF Nate McLouth double and Michaels sacrifice fly). Pirates starter Jeff Karstens(2-5,4.46) had his roughest outing as a Pirate and it all came apart in that 4th. Sandoval’s double scored 3, 3 seperate rbi singles, 2 sacrifice flies, a rbi double from Travis Ishikawa and another run via a Dave Roberts’ ground out acounted for the 10 runs. Karstens’ final lime over 3 innings: 6 hits,8 runs(5 earned) with 3 Ks and 1 walks. RH T.J. Beam followed and allowed the final 2 runs of the frame.
San Francisco scored another run in the 6th on a sacrifice fly from Sandoval to make it 11-5. Pearce answered for the Pirates with an run scoring double in the 8th. The Giants bullpen was outstanding, over the last 6 innings, 6 relievers allowed only 4 hits and 3 runs. As a group, they K-ed 8(hilighted by RH Billy Sadler’s 4 in 1 2/3 innings) while walking 4.
Star of the Game-
Sandoval-His Manager is becoming a big fan,”From game one he’s played well,” Bochy said of the catcher. “You can see the confidence in this kid. He plays with a lot of enthusiasm. He’s fun to watch. He’s got a lot of life to him and a lot of life in his bat.”
Good Message-
After the Pirates tied the 1933-1948 Philadelphia Phillies for with 15 consecutive losing seasons, their leader summed it up. “Nobody is happy with the record,” manager John Russell said. “Nobody is happy with losing. We’re putting in a lot of work and we’re making progress. It’s just not equating to wins right now.”
Pirates Notes-
McLouth left after a ball cut him above his left eyebrow while he attempted to make a catch, he is considered day to day and received stitches … On a positive note, McLouth’s 3rd inning steal made him the 7th Pittsburgh player to collect 20 home runs and 20 steals in a season… Sanchez is hitting .363 since the All-Star break… Brian Bixler started at SS and was 0 for 3 with 3 Ks, while rookie catcher Robinzon Diaz was at catcher and had 2 huts and an rbi
Next Game-
Monday, start 4 game series at Houston vs the Astros at Minute Maid Park
Pirates RH Ian Snell(6-10,5.59) vs Astros RH Alberto Arias(1st ML start,21 IP and 3.43 era for his career)
