San Francisco Giants 3 Up, 3 Down: Swept in the Desert
3 DOWN
1 – Power Shortage
In the first two games of the series, it was the Diamondbacks’ ability to hit the ball out of the park that was the difference. Goldschmidt hit a three-run home run on Friday to break a tie, and the Giants fought valiantly to get back into the game. They scored on a groundout and an error, but couldn’t get that one big hit that got them back into it.
On Saturday, Jarrett Parker provided the pop, slamming a fourth inning solo homer to tie the game at one. In the bottom half, Arizona answered back with another longball of their own and the Giants couldn’t respond. On Sunday, Arizona was held mostly in check through the first seven innings but the Giants couldn’t cross home at all.
It’s a familiar pattern for the Giants, and an extremely frustrating one at that. They just don’t have the firepower to keep up with their most stronger opponents. In this case, it was exacerbated by the struggles of Hunter Pence and Buster Posey. The two middle-of-the-order hitters combined to go 2-22 during the series.
2 – Southpaw Suffering
Left-handed relief continues to be another problem for the Giants. Josh Osich made two appearances in Arizona, and neither were very relieving. On Friday, he allowed a walk and a hit to the only two batters he faced before getting the hook. On Sunday, it was more of the same as Osich gave up another hit and another walk, but this time he did record two outs before being yanked.
Osich owes Crick a nice dinner for helping him out. Both times that Osich got himself in trouble, Crick relieved him and stranded the runners he was given.
3 – Cain Unable
It’s difficult to say anything negative about Matt Cain at this point, because any one of his appearances over the next month-plus could be the last of his Giants’ career. But Sunday was extremely painful. Cain got the eighth inning and was shelled, giving up five hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch that translated to eight runs, including a pair of home runs.
Next: Crick Needs More Big Spots
Cain is an all-time great Giant, but his time is coming to an end with the orange and black. He just isn’t the same guy anymore, and even this move to the bullpen has not helped. It’s a sad reality for a pitcher that has meant so much to the organizational turnaround the Giants have experienced over the last decade, but it’s reality nonetheless.