Bay Area Sports Blogging

For some reason, the San Francisco Giants just play well against the Philadelphia Phillies this year. That or the Phillies just play poorly against the Giants because of their overconfidence. Either way, the Giants can usually feel happy after a series against them.

Friday, May 9, 2008 :: Giants 4 - Phillies 7

Patrick Misch pitched a good game for the Giants. He doesn't have eletric stuff, but he knows how to work the plate.  He pitched six innings of effective ball and left with the score tied 4-4. 

The bullpen was unable to hold things together though, giving up three runs in the 8th. One run would have been doable for the Giants to make a come back, maybe even two; but, three was/is too much.

On getaway day in Philadelphia, a troop of bungling clowns replaced the Giants fielders as five of the six runs scored by the Phillies were unearned, including the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

The scoring for the Phillies began with a throwing error by Emmanuel Burriss which pulled Rich Aurilla off the first base bag. Aurilla's swipe tag of Shane Victorino was clearly true on the television replays but the umpire at first ruled him safe. Pat Burrell eventually doubled home Victorino and another runner later in the inning to make it 2-0.

The Giants tied things up during their half of the inning on a Jose Castillo RBI-single and an Aurilla RBI-double.

Bengie Molina does it again.

With a runner in scoring position, Molina slapped a single down the left field line to score Randy Winn from second to give the Giants a 3-2 lead.

Brian Wilson bounced back from his blown save the night before to collect his 10th save with a little bit drama thrown in to keep things interesting.

The Philadelphia Phillies ballpark, Citizen Bank Park, is a joke. The city isn't up on top of a mountain like Colorado, but balls jump out of the park at an exponential rate. One can see why Chase Utley is the homerun leader as even popups have a chance to leave the field.

The first game against the Philadelphia Phillies was building up to becoming the stamp of the Giants' season. Throughout the early part of the season, the Giants won with scrappy small ball play, keep-it-close pitching, and timely hits.

The game had much the same feeling. To many, the Giants' lineup does not strike fear in anyone. No one is a big bopper. There are a couple speedy guys in Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez, a good RISP guy with not much pop in Bengie Molina, and decent 15-20 hr power guy in Aarond Rowand in an emotional comeback to his former team.