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- Overall, good outing from Jonathan Sanchez. Eight strikeouts through 5.2 innings -- though the walk to Chad Billingsley to lead off the third was inexcusable. Anyway, Sanchez wasn't helped out much by the defense behind him.
- Brandon Belt's first career home run did not disappoint. That was an absolute bomb. If there's anything positive to grab from these first couple of games (and well, there are certainly few things), it's Belt's performance thus far.
- Guillermo Mota will be DFA'd this season. I'm sure of it. He just doesn't have it anymore -- he's running on empty; he faced two batters tonight, allowing an RBI single and then striking out Ivan DeJesus Jr. It wasn't awful, but these mediocre outings will eventually result in his being designated for assignment.
- Luckily for the Giants, they'll have a better reliever waiting in the wings. Marc Kroon has decided to stay with the Giants and be the closer in Fresno, which is fantastic news, because he'll surely be needed at some point in the season.
- Dan Runzler pitched two scoreless innings. Not overpowering, but he looked good tonight.
- In regards to the Giants' defensive woes (over this massive two-game sample size), 8th Inning Weirdness nailed it. Long-term, there's no reason to worry much about this defense, the exception being Miguel Tejada. But even so, the Giants aren't a high-GB staff, so that'll minimize the impact of Tejada's lack of range. The infield corners are solid with Belt and Sandoval, and any outfield with Andres Torres in center is serviceable defensively -- even with a couple of water buffaloes in the corner outfield spots. Oh wait, Aaron Rowand is starting tomorrow; we're screwed.
- No seriously, Aaron Rowand is starting tomorrow. In centerfield. And Mark DeRosa is starting at third base.
- And yes, I know, it's only been two games. But perhaps you can see now why I've been thinking the Dodgers are the Giants' team to beat, not the Rockies. Teams with excellent pitching will find a way to win. And the second coming of Matt Kemp certainly helps (as do each and every error the Giants have committed in this series thus far).
- Still mad about this game? This should cheer you up.
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