Giants Move to One Game Back in the Wild Card

To say that the Giants are a fickle team would be an understatement. One week, they look like the Pittsburgh Pirates and the next they look like the Tampa Bay Rays. They had a 7-game losing streak at the end of June, then went on to win 20 games in July. After losing 4 of their last 6, against their playoff competition, the Giants won 5-2 to avoid a sweep against the Phillies. They had a 3-run rally on a single by Sanchez, a Posey double, a walk to Pat Burrell, and consecutive singles by Guillen and Uribe.

Pablo Sandoval hits a solo shot in the 4th

That would be all they really needed, as Sanchez pitched an absolute gem: 8 IP, 1 ER, 7 K, 2 BB, 2 H. The most important number, however, is his pitch total: 100. He went 8 innings, and threw just 100 pitches. He clearly has a rapport with Whiteside, and as such, Posey should play first with Whiteside behind the plate whenever Sanchez is the starter. And getting rest from catching once every 5 days will improve Posey's hitting.

"Tomorrow: Jonathan Sanchez will pitch a perfect game." - Julian Levine, 8/18/10

Well, he didn't pitch a perfect game. But I'll take 8 innings of 2-hit ball.

Anyway, let's not get carried away about the Giants. They have two tough teams in their next two series: St. Louis, and Cincinnati. They can't stumble, because they are 1 game back in the wild card, and Philadelphia is on fire right now. They still have a good chance at the playoffs, as it stands, though.

Notes:

• Aaron Rowand was #4 on the Baseball Tonight web gems countdown. He made a nice play to catch a ball going toward right center that would have possibly scored Utley from first.
• Pablo Sandoval was fined an undisclosed amount for not hustling to first on a pop-up. The pop-up was dropped, and the Phillies got a double play. He, however, hit his first home run of the year from the right side of the plate, and is once again showing signs of breaking out of his year-long slump. It is a slow process, though.
• Freddy Sanchez had two hits, which is good, because if he can hit well, he's both a better defensive and better offensive option than Fontenot.
• Aubrey Huff didn't play, which might actually go far in terms of helping him break out of his slump (I believe he is 7 for his last 50). If he can start hitting for the Giants, they will start looking like a playoff team again.
• Huff and Torres, who have been called the Giants' 2010 Co-MVPs, did not play in Thursday's game, and the Giants won. They are showing the ability to step up when they don't have the help some of their most consistent offensive producers.
• Running statistic: Giants' runs allowed per game with Guillen in the starting lineup - 6.75, record with Guillen in starting lineup: 1-3
• Buster Posey was 2 for 4 with 2 doubles, and is on yet another hit streak (6 games). He is batting .440 during that span. Moving him out of the cleanup spot has woken up his bat.

If you want another reason to like Aubrey Huff, here is a story about his reaching out to a young cancer patient.