Giants 4, Dodgers 2: I asked for it, I got it. Three Giants-Dodgers games, two games for the ages. Today Ray Durham sang a little redemption song for his career-worst year, but here’s the secret key moment of the game:
Top of the 7th, Jeff Kent has untied the game 2–1 with his second HR of the day. Russell Martin triples with one out, and L.A. could go up by two with just a medium fly ball. Cain, who was cruising until Kent’s HR, could easily fall apart. Instead he strikes out Andre Ethier on a wicked change-up, walks Nomah and retires Brad Penny to keep the game within one run. Spectacular effort. Matt Cain, you are the PLODAG.
Big assist, too, from L.A. manager Grady Little. As noted Little let Penny hit in the 7th, and he’d only thrown 70–some pitches and dominated. OK, fair enough. He’s the ace, let him take you home. But then Little yanked Penny after Frandsen led off the bottom of the 8th with a double. Penny’s day was done after 82 pitches. Maybe there was an injury problem we don’t know about, but I don’t think so. Ridiculous.
