When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

07.02.2009
7/1/09: A Tolerable Loss

Cardinals 2, Giants 1: On another night, in another month, with a different Giant team, this might have been a 6-0 loss. At risk of making my middle name Pollyanna, I thought this wasn't too bad, as losses go. First, the Giants hit a lot of balls hard. Karmic cyclery, perhaps, for the team's "ground attack" of bloops and bleeders and choppers that have won several games this year. Second, Matt Cain didn't have his best stuff but threw a beautiful game, with Romo and Affeldt to follow. Third, I can't blame Bobby Howry for surrendering the game-winning homer to Rasmus in the 10th. He should have had Rasmus on a strike three, then on a foul pop. On 3-2 he had to come with a fastball with Pujols on deck. Howry did his job; Rasmus just did a better job.

What's more, I'm not too steamed about the missed opportunity in the eighth, when the Giants loaded the bases with no outs (thanks in part to a blown call at first base) and only scored one. The key to the inning was the 3-2 curveball Wainwright threw to the Panda for a swinging strike three. That's balls-out pitching. With Wainwright at the top of his game last night, Molina did a great job getting the sac fly to tie the game. A little more toward the alley and it might have been a three-run double.

Best part about the game, though? Hearing Cardinal fans boo when Albert Pujols was intentionally walked. Oh, I'm sorry, did you just drive 200 miles through endless cornfields and a tornado storm with three screaming kids in your minivan to watch Pujols hit? I feel your pain. Wait, it was here somewhere. I must have misplaced it. I'll go look for your pain; meanwhile, Cardinal fans, go suck 688 eggs.
   


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6 Comments

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Shoeless | July 2, 2009 2:59 PM | Reply

Oh yes, hearing the boos was also my favorite part. But I had to drive 250+ miles over mountains (with plenty of snow spring and fall) to watch Bonds take the IBB. No sympathy for Cards fans. None.

aGIANTman | July 2, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply

Lefty,

Your analysis of the game is very sound, although having the baseloaded in the 8th and watching two strikeouts was very painful.

ELM replied to comment from aGIANTman | July 2, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply

Indeed it was. But sometimes you have to tip your hat to the pitcher. Wainwright was spectacular, and that 3-2 curve to Sandoval was the gutsiest pitch I've seen all year.

Kansasbear | July 2, 2009 3:15 PM | Reply

I flew 1600 miles to see Bonds, only to watch him get an ibb, bases empty, two outs, and the Pirates having a six run lead. I was also HARASSED by Cardinal fans in St. Louis while watching Bonds. I think Pujols is a class guy, but if the Cardinals never ever win another game, I'll be only too happy.

obsessivegiantscompulsive | July 2, 2009 4:27 PM | Reply

Good analysis, I totally agree.

Also, people seem to forget that Cain was up against Wainwright, who is a pretty darn good pitcher himself when he's going good. Sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other team and say, "good game".

Eh, not so original, teams used to walk McCovey a lot to avoid him, so the Giants fans have been through two star players who had to sit on 1B because of free passes. SO the Cards fans should man up and suck it up. That's going to happen to players like Pujols, better get used to it.

Long Ball | July 2, 2009 6:55 PM | Reply

Hold your breath!!! Its a cringer Zito throwing BP to Alber P. I say walk him again.

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