Matt Cain pitched an incredible game...seven scoreless innings, and just two hits allowed. Javier Lopez had a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Brian Wilson pitched a scoreless ninth (including a game-ending double play) to shut down the Phillies in a 3-0 victory.
In terms of offensive support, there weren't many hits...the Giants accumulated five overall. But they managed to score three runs, thanks to an line-drive RBI single to left by Cody Ross (Mr. Orangetober), an RBI single through the hole on the right side courtesy of Aubrey Huff, and another RBI by Freddy Sanchez (he hit a line drive to second base which was misplayed by Chase Utley, allowing Aaron Rowand to score from second).
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Javier Lopez = Giants' set-up man. He's perfect for the role. I've been saying all along that he would be a key in this NLCS (against big powerful left-handed hitters like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez...) and he had a very nice 1-2-3 eighth inning, including a strikeout against Howard. The big question mark, with the shuffling of the Phillies' lineup, was whether Lopez could handle Placido Polanco, a right-handed hitter sandwiched between Utley and Howard in the lineup. After his performance, I think he should certainly be put in this eighth inning role -- at least for the time being.
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Aaron Rowand went 1 for 3 as the Giants' starting center-fielder. He had a double, and scored the Giants' third run, but I'm still not convinced that he should be starting in centerfield against left-handed starters (or right-handed, for that matter). He had two strikeouts, and is never anything special on defense -- the way Andres Torres is. Jose Contreras really made Rowand look terrible in his eighth inning at-bat, getting him to swing over a splitter for strike three. I said it before, and I'll say it again, even after Rowand hit a double which led to one of the Giants' three runs...I'd rather have Torres out there. Defense is very important in these close games. Don't agree? Just ask Brooks Conrad...In a one-run game (not uncommon for the Giants), getting to a ball in the gap will make the difference between whoever wins and loses. Thus, I want Torres out there. He's not going to struggle for the entire postseason -- and even if he does, he can be moved to a spot in the lineup where he isn't making a huge impact.
On that same note, however, Andres Torres didn't look too great in his one at-bat on Tuesday. He rolled over on a pitch for a weak groundout.
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Cody Ross: Mr. Orangetober. It's official. He drove in a run in his fourth consecutive game...what he's doing is all the more important if you consider that he's doing it for a team that doesn't score many runs. The runs he's producing are extremely valuable, not just some solo home run to extend a lead to seven.
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This is the formula for the Giants, ideally: great starting pitching, great relief work, and just enough offense to scrape on by. It works. It's worked thus far. It's continued to work...as long as they're solid on defense, and can have that clutch hit by Cody Ross, or possibly a home run by Huff, Posey, Burrell...they'll keep winning.
This game is a critical turning point in the NLCS. The Giants are the obvious favorites at this point. Not only do they have a 2-1 lead in the series, but they have a better starting pitcher going tomorrow (Madison Bumgarner has had a much better year than Joe Blanton...) and they still have two more games left in San Francisco.
The Giants are one step closer to disproving all of the baseball analysts who figured the Phillies would win the NLCS. They just keep on rolling...
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I made an another appearance on This Call to the Bullpen. You can listen to it here. Thanks again to Steve Keane for his graciousness.
Listen to internet radio with Call To The Bullpen on Blog Talk Radio
