Arizona Shuts Down Giants: 6-0

Freddy Sanchez is still on fire.
The Giants? Not so much. 

The Giants are the definition of unpredictable: after scoring 10+ runs in three games in a row (against legitimate starters in Volquez, Wood, Bailey), they failed to score a single run against a rookie for a team that is far out of contention. To his credit, Barry Enright, Arizona's starter, has actually put up decent numbers this year: 2.73 ERA in 59.1 IP, and an opposing average of .230; still, though, it's startling that the Giants failed to score even one run against him, given the fact that they had scored 38 runs in the previous three games.

Tim Lincecum's struggles continued. He has failed to record a quality start in his last four starts, giving up 19 runs in his last 19 IP. The mere fact that he lasted six innings, though, is promising, as it is the first time he has done so since August 5. One mistake essentially made his outing mediocre, a three-run homer given up to Adam LaRoche in the first inning. Over the next five innings, however, he managed to give up just one run. He seems to be finding rhythm in certain places: a 1-2-3 second inning, a 1-2-3 fourth inning; the one alarming number from the start is the four walks over six innings. This is the highest it's been in any of his starts since July 2. Overall, though, this start seemed like a step in the right direction. He appears to be improving with each start, and should hopefully return to ace status in a timely manner, as the Giants can't afford to be without the Freak doing what he does.

Notes:

• Jose Guillen's hitting has been good for the Giants (although his defense is wretched...). The one thing that does stick out though, is that despite a .371 average along with a home run in 36 AB, he has driven in just three runs. He's batting .263 with runners on, which is much lower than his actual batting average. He doesn't hit too well when he's needed to drive in runs. 
• Freddy Sanchez was 2 for 4, as his batting average continues to shoot up. The Giants could use a .300-hitting second baseman for the rest of the year.
• Jeremy Affeldt gave up 1 ER in 1.1 IP. He hasn't done well since returning, and hasn't been all too impressive for the entire year for that matter. The Giants' success in September will rely more heavily on Dontrelle Willis and Dan Runzler because of this. For now, though, Javier Lopez is doing a fine job. He's the only lefty reliever on the Giants that's doing so, however. 
• Orange Friday magic seems to be fading. The Giants have now lost two games on the day that was once perfect (9-0). 
• Oh yeah, and just for the record: Cody Ross did not play in this game. 

Tomorrow: Giants face Daniel Hudson who has been incredible since coming over from the White Sox in a trade for Edwin Jackson. His ERA is 1.72; They'll need Zito to step it up. The Giants have been carried by hitting recently: when they don't hit, they lose. Facing a tough pitcher, they might have trouble scoring runs, but Zito can help out the cause by pitching like he did at the beginning of the year, or the beginning of the second half.