Giants Fail To Pick Up Sweep As Vogelsong Struggles Again

Just over a month ago, Ryan Vogelsong was an obvious Cy Young candidate. He led the NL in ERA (it was at 2.27), and he had a strong case for winning the award.

Now, his name isn’t even mentioned in Cy Young conversations. And he might not even pitch in the playoffs.

After yet another terrible start, Vogelsong’s ERA jumped (to 3.65) and the Giants got blown out by Patrick Corbin and the D-Backs. Justin Upton homered once and knocked in two with a double, while Corbin pitched eight spectacular innings. Oh, and he swung the bat pretty well too.

Corbin hit a triple down the right field line off of Vogelsong, bringing in three runs. He scored on a two-run double by Aaron Hill, and Corbin knocked in another run with an RBI single in the 7th inning. He gave up a run in the first inning, and he gave up another in the fourth. However, Corbin settled down and allowed just two runs in eight innings. Josh Collmenter pitched a scoreless ninth.

Vogelsong had two outs in the third inning, and there was no one on base. San Francisco led 1-0, and it looked like Vogelsong had finally recovered. However, he walked Adam Eaton, allowed a single to Aaron Hill and left a pitch right down the middle to Upton. Upton drove it into center field, and he just missed a home run. Two runs scored for the D-Backs.

In the fourth inning, Joaquin Arias made an error and Vogelsong struck out Ryan Wheeler, which was a good sign for Vogey. However, he gave up a deep double to Cody Ransom, and after intentionally walking Gerrardo Parra, he got ahead 1-2 to Corbin. But then, Vogelsong failed to make Corbin chase a bad pitch. He left a hittable pitch in the strike zone, and Corbin capitalized.

Corbin tripled, and that marked the exit of Vogelsong. Aaron Hill hit a double right down the line on Shane Loux’s first pitch, and the D-Backs added three more as the game went on. San Francisco used eight pitchers, and the only ones who impressed were Jean Machi, Dan Otero and Brad Penny (no, really).

Some players have done a nice job as they look to make a case for making the playoff roster. Other guys, like Matt Cain, Sergio Romo, Buster Posey and Angel Pagan, are locks to make the playoff roster. However, Vogelsong hasn’t looked good at all recently.

He hasn’t been able to force weak contact, he hasn’t been able to finish off hitters with two strikes, and he hasn’t been able to go deep into games. The good luck that he had been getting is now gone, and Vogelsong is finally pitching like a normal pitcher. Barry Zito has allowed just one run in his last 13 innings pitched, winning both of those starts. He has decent stats, and he will probably be in the Giants’ rotation.

Tim Lincecum has horrible stats for the year, but he is 6-4 after the All-Star break with an ERA near 3. He has finally assumed command of his pitches, and he proved he can handle the pressure of the playoffs. Zito has pitched in the playoffs before, and so have Cain and Bumgarner. Vogelsong is the only one who hasn’t pitched in the playoffs, and he’s folding under all the pressure.

San Francisco plays Colorado next, as Madison Bumgarner opposes Jhoulys Chacin in the Giants’ final homestand of the season.