Well, the first four innings of tonight's Giants game sure looked like it was time to ratchet up the hopelessness machine. Tim Lincecum wasn't getting strikeouts, Aaron ".134 BA" Rowand was batting leadoff, and the Giants were hacking at everything remotely ball-like that was thrown their way. Chad Billingsly gently rolled a ball across the plate and Brandon Belt closed his eyes and swung above his head as hard as he could, bless his heart.
BUT THEN Aaron Rowand of all people got a big hit. Pablo Sandoval swung at a pitch a half-inch above the dirt, heading down, and stroked a double down the right-field line. Brandon Belt got a bloop single. The Giants took the lead. Timmy locked it down and started looking like Tim Lincecum. The Freak even flashed leather and made a gigantic big-boy diving stop and last-second toss to first for a put-out.
BUT THEN reliever Jeremy Affeldt came in and gave up a first-pitch homer to Marcus "On The" Thames and ruined Timmy's hard-earned win. He loaded the bases with one out and Guillermo Mota came in...and threw LIGHTNING BOLTS to get the huge strikeout. A pop fly later and the Giants were back in the dugout...but it was a tie game.
BUT THEN Rowand hit a first-pitch triple off the wall in right-center and came home on a wild pitch. And the Giants won. Thanks to Aaron Rowand. Again. It ended up being a fantastic and wild game, risen from the ashes of yet another Dodger drubbing.
Make no mistake: Rowand is not a starting outfielder. He is even less of a leadoff man. Andres Torres and Cody Ross can't come back from the DL soon enough. When they get back, Belt should probably be sent down, returning Huff to first base and giving the Giants 2/3 of a mobile outfield again. But for tonight, at least, it is enjoyable hard-fought and well-earned victory for the Giants. Their three home wins this season have all been in exceedingly dramatic fashion, and they have an opportunity to take the series from the Dodgers in the rubber game tomorrow.
Let's get some more excitement.
How is Lincecum's velocity?
ReplyDeleteIt was spectacular. FB hit 96 at one point and he tossed a pair of 94MPH beauties right before leaving the game.
ReplyDeleteVelocity wasn't his issue last night. Only problems were control/falling behind and giving up consecutive hits.