San Francisco Giants Win 4-3, Take Series Over Mets
The San Francisco Giants won the series finale today against the New York Mets by a final score of 4-3. Today’s victory secured the series win, as the Giants won three out of the four games in this road series.
Tim Hudson got the start in today’s game and pitched well, despite being taken out after five innings. He allowed just two earned runs in those five innings.
Since the Giants’ starters this series had thrown two complete games and a near perfect game, the bullpen needed some action today. Juan Gutierrez, Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo, and Santiago Casilla combined for four scoreless innings and gave up just two hits. Romo got the win, and Casilla got the save today.
Casilla has given up one run in last 18 appearances. Clinches third Giants win of the series, gets his 9th save.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 4, 2014
Offensively, the Giants were quiet through the first two innings, but after getting down 2-0, they came back to tie the game at two in the third inning on a Pablo Sandoval double that scored Hunter Pence and Buster Posey.
They came back to tie the game at three in the seventh inning, and then Sandoval again came up with a clutch double in the ninth that scored Gregor Blanco and gave the Giants the decisive 4-3 lead.
The Giants’ offense wasn’t quite as explosive as in last night’s 9-0 win, but the key players stepped up. Pence scored two runs, Posey drew four walks, and Sandoval collected three hits and three RBI.
Pence has two homers, two doubles and a triple in his last eight at-bats. They should put that on a sign.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 4, 2014
Posey has reached base in 9 of last 11 plate appearances.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 4, 2014
Playing in his hometown, Joe Panik also contributed with a career-high three hits.
Brandon Belt returned on Saturday from the concussion DL and has given the Giants an offensive boost, and the Giants are hoping that their offensive spark, Angel Pagan, will also return soon.
We talk about the offense #sfgiants miss without Belt, Pagan. Also, they force Ps to throw lots of pitches, like Belt today, despite 0-2
— Henry Schulman BLUE CHECK MARK (@hankschulman) August 4, 2014
One Giant who won’t be returning anytime soon though is Matt Cain. According to a report by Alex Pavlovic of the Bay Area News Group, Cain will have season-ending surgery next Monday in San Francisco to remove the bone chips in his right elbow. Cain will be out three months, but he is expected to be ready for spring training next season.
The uncertainty surrounding Cain’s injury was partially why the Giants felt the need to acquire Jake Peavy, who carried a perfect game into the seventh inning in Saturday’s game.
The Giants continue their road trip and will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who currently lead the NL Central, next in a three-game series starting on Tuesday.