Yusmeiro Petit Brilliant as Giants Win 5-1

Yusmeiro Petit was in control the entire game from the very first pitch of the game to the very last, as the San Francisco Giants’ offense was able to score five runs and give the Giants their eighth win over their last 10 games.

Petit started the first inning throwing just six pitches.

The Giants started their half of the first inning with back-to-back singles from Angel Pagan and Joe Panik, setting it up perfectly for Buster Posey, who came into the game 9-for-20 against Wade Miley. All Posey could do was hit it off the end of the bat for a routine high fly ball to left field though.

Hunter Pence grounded out on a slow roller to advance the runners, and Pablo Sandoval walked to set up bases loaded with two outs for Andrew Susac. Susac worked the count all the way to 3-2 before he took ball four, and the Giants took a 1-0 lead via a bases-loaded walk.

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Petit had another easy one-two-three inning in the second. This time on just nine pitches.

Bruce Bochy‘s “ground-attack” showed up in the second inning after Petit and Pagan both reached on infield singles. Panik got his second hit of the game after lining a single to center field to set up bases loaded with no outs for Posey.

Posey for the second time in the game hit one off the end of the bat for what should have been a double play to end the inning, but Posey reached first on a throwing error, as Petit was able to score on the back end of the play to give the Giants a 2-0 lead. Miley walked his fourth batter of the game, this time again with bases loaded, to give the Giants a 3-0 lead after two innings.

Petit continued his domination in the third inning after striking out the side.

Kirk Gibson went to the bullpen in the bottom of the third. Miley’s line: 2.0 innings, five hits, three earned runs, four walks, and one strike out on a total of 58 pitches.

Petit gave up his first hit of the game in the top of the fourth inning: a splash hit, solo homer from Ender Inciarte.

During the middle innings both teams’ pitchers were cruising, as Petit, in particular though, only threw 52 pitches through six innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, Gregor Blanco led off by reaching on an error. Pagan collected his third hit of the game after Petit struck out bunting. Panik collected his fourth hit of the game knocking in Blanco (4-1 Giants).

The Giants one-two hitters had seven of the Giants 10 hits up to that point in the game. Posey then hit a sacrafice fly to left field scoring Pagan to give the Giants a 5-1 lead.

Petit only threw 73 pitches through eight innings. Pagan joined the four-hit party in the eighth inning after singling up the middle, but Panik one-upped him by collecting his fifth hit of the game. The last Giant to have a five-hit game at the age of 23 or under was in 1966 by Tito Fuentes.

Petit went out to start the ninth inning and got a very nice ovation from the Giants’ home crowd. Petit was able to get another easy one-two-three inning to get the complete game, his second in his career, as well as second against the DBacks.

Petit was simply incredible tonight going nine innings on just 84 pitches (68 strikes, only 16 balls). Petit threw a first pitch strike to 26 of the 29 batters he faced, and he didn’t once have a three-ball count.

The Giants won the ballgame 5-1 and gained a game on the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they lost 6-3 to the San Diego Padres tonight. The Giants are now 2.5 games back of the Dodgers and own a four game lead in the National League Wild Card.