Giants 2, Diamondbacks 0: From my vantage point in the LF bleachers tonight, Jonathan Sanchez looked so fluid and in control I was stunned to get home and see that he walked as many as he struck out (four each).
I especially liked how he got the fastball in on the D'Backs' right handed power hitters. Pitching inside is so important, a skill I think teams ignored for a while. This is totally speculative, but I wouldn't be surprised if the success of the Atlanta Braves in the 1990s and into this decade, which was based on pitching coach Leo Mazzone's gospel of pounding the outside corner at the knees, became the vogue. Combine that with stricter rules about hitting batters or even coming close too many times, and you have a game that shies away from pitching inside. Nothing warms a pitcher's heart more than to see a batter hit a ball and run up the line shaking his thumbs.
Back to tonight's game: This is what the Giants have to do to win. Scratch out a couple runs, get the starter to go seven strong, maybe more, play excellent D, and hope Brian Wilson doesn't get too squirrelly. Lincecum should ask for extra Prilosec to pass around in the dugout when Wilson's on the mound. (Hint to cost-conscious Giant management: Ask for the generic version.)
Randy Winn's bat this week has gone colder than the metal bleacher bench under my ass tonight, but he probably saved the game by catching a low screaming liner off the bat of Tony Clark in the 7th. Fred Lewis, were you watching? Ishikawa and Sandoval also looked good in the field tonight.
At the plate, it was Andy Towers and Bengie Molina with the P-Rican run production, but Fred Lewis is the real story. He's quietly gotten on base seven straight times. (According to this, the record is 16 by Ted Williams in 1957.) I heard the radio guys gently complaining that he's not driving in enough runs as a middle-of-the-order guy. So bat him second if it's such a problem. Watching him work at the plate is pure pleasure, the exact opposite from the maddening Pablo Sandoval. Worst AB of the year: In the 8th, after Torres homered off Schoenweis, Winn drew a walk and was still on first with one out, and Sandoval swung at three eye-high fastballs. Three strikes.
Ishikawa and Manny Burriss looked completely lost at the plate. If only one of them were scuffling, the Giants could probably be more patient, but if two guys show no signs of clawing out of the funk, how long can the Giants wait?
Last bit: as much as I ripped Bochy two nights ago, I'll give him his due tonight. He played his bullpen as well as possible. I grumbled a bit when he removed Sanchez with two outs in the seventh and Clark pinch-hitting with two runners on. I thought Sanchez deserved one more batter. But Affeldt has looked strong this year and as I realize now has great numbers against Clark. Clark hit him hard this time, fortunately right into the sliding Randy Winn's glove, but I accept the premise.
Bochy's best move was doing what he refused in L.A.: bring in Brian Wilson in the 8th with a one-run lead to replace Bobby Howry. Howry looked a ton better than he did Wednesday, but it was the right call. Better late than never, Boch.
