Petit With Record-Breaking Day as Giants win 4-1
By Neil Povio
Yusmeiro Petit came into the game only eight outs away from breaking the record for retiring the most consecutive batters, and he started right where he had been for the last month out of the bullpen. Petit retired the first three batters of the game and in doing so tied the National League record for most consecutive batters retired.
Petit passed Jim Barr after retiring the 42nd batter in a row to take the National League record for retiring the most consecutive batters. Petit ended the second inning retiring his 44th consecutive batter.
Gregor Blanco hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning after Pablo Sandoval singled to left field.
In the top of the third inning Petit made Major League Baseball history breaking the record for retiring the most consecutive batters after striking out Charlie Culberson for his 46th consecutive batter in the top of the third inning.
Then, things got a bit ugly for a couple batters as Jordan Lyles doubled to end the streak and Charlie Blackmon singled to score Lyles making it a 2-1 ball game. Petit was able to get DJ LeMahieu to pop out to end the inning and end the threat.
The Giants’ bats were silenced after that second inning home run by Blanco until the sixth inning when Pagan lead-off with a single, Joe Panik walked, Buster Posey flew out to deep right field to advance Pagan to third base to set up runners on first and third with one out. Sandoval then walked to give the Giants bases loaded with just one out sending up Hunter Pence.
Pence was able to hit a fly ball out to center field giving Pagan enough room to tag-up and score for Pence’s 59th RBI of the season and giving the Giants a 3-1 lead. Blanco walked again setting up a bases loaded situation for the Giants and Andrew Susac, but Susac grounded out to shortstop to end the sixth inning.
Bruce Bochy then went to the bullpen in the seventh inning, bringing in Jean Machi. Petit pitched beautifully today going six innings, with nine strike outs, four hits, one earned run, and no walks. He definitely pitched well enough to earn another start next week. The Giants starters were dominate this whole series combining for 30 innings, 15 hits, three runs, two walks, and 38 strike outs.
In the bottom of the eighth inning Sandoval started with a lead-off a walk. Pence then followed with a single. Blanco popped out for the first out, and Susac raked a liner to left field to score Sandoval giving the Giants a 4-1 lead. Matt Duffy hit a grounder to Nolan Arenado who then threw out Pence at home for the second out of the inning.
The Giants challenged the play saying that Mac Willamson didn’t give a lane for Pence, but the call ended up standing. Travis Ishikawa ended the inning by flying out to left field.
Santiago Casilla started the ninth inning off with a walk, but was able to get a fly out, pop out, and a ground out to get his 12th save of the season and the Giants 71st win of the season (71-62).