http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/sfo
“WE DIDN'T BURY THEM EARLY. WE KIND OF WENT IN CRUISE CONTROL AFTER THE HOMER.”
- 1B Aubrey Huff on the Giants' 5-4, 11-inning loss in Game 2 of the Division Series. Pat Burrell's homer provided a three-run lead in the first, and Matt Cain
This kind of summarized the game and the latter part of the season for the Giants. A big bop by Burrell stakes Cain to a three run lead and only one run after that for support. So we have two manufactured runs in twenty innings and one of them is of dubious quality given that it has been tainted by replay and even if it wasn't, was produced via a SB by Buster Posey. The other run produced via an RBI from P Matt Cain. Not good.
Even when they try to play small ball it blows up. Renteria leads off an inning with a nice bunt, is advanced by another bunt by Torres, but the inning ends in a DP grounder by Posey. DP's have killed the offense all year, the Giants lead the NL by a wide margin.
I didn't like bringing in Wilson when they did, given that it was somewhat off the script. Not second guessing, just had a feeling when managers go off the plan like that, it seems like a desperation move when the Giants were in command. Why not let Rodriguez bail out Romo and hand the ball to Wilson to start the ninth rather than come in and clean up the mess. Even Mariano Rivera seems to close better when he can start an inning rather than come in with guys on.
Had the same feeling right before Ankiel hit his jack, thinking out loud 'if he leaves one up Ankiel will jack one into orbit'. Next pitch gone. I saw him hit one just like it in the Florida HS state championships against Dunedin HS. I think that ball is still in low earth orbit.
Portent of doom. I should have kept my mouth (and mind) shut, I guess.
Wilson, to his credit, took the fall.
The Giants then called on Wilson, who has never had a six-out save in his career, according to STATS LLC.
“Sometimes the save can be in the eighth inning,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He was fresh and we’re trying to stop it then. At that point we’re going with our closer to try to get out of the eighth. I have no concern with Willie going two innings.”
Wilson did lead the majors this season with 10 saves of longer than an inning but he couldn’t come through in his first career postseason appearance. He wouldn’t blame coming in so early for his mishap, calling that a “crutch.”
The momentum swings to Atlanta and so does the venue. Giants just have to suck it up and take one of two there. And more boom, less bust.
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