After Tim Lincecum pitched a 1-0 masterpiece on Saturday, the Giants followed up to win the finally of the Bay Bridge series on Sunday. The bats came alive and Jonathan Sanchez was impressive yet again in the 11-1 series clincher.
Sanchez’ success this season might be overlooked by the career year Lincecum is having, but he has been a major reason the Giants are doing a lot better than they were expected to. Sanchez’ only mistake of the game came in the second inning when he gave up a solo shot to Jack Cust, giving Oakland a 1-0 lead. He would give up three more hits over seven innings and just that one run while striking out six batters and walking one. Sergi Romo pitched the eighth inning, allowing just one hitter reach base on a walk, and struck out two. Jack Taschner finished off the game with a perfect ninth inning that included a strikeout.
San Francisco exploded offensively with two big innings in a row, a good amount of their runs were scored in the fourth and fifth innings. Scoring four runs in the fourth inning and five in the fifth, the Giants got a comfortable lead with a confident Sanchez on the mound. John Bowker and Rich Aurilia both had a good day at the plate; Bowker going three-for-four, and Aurilia three-for-five. Bowker had a double and two singles that brought in two runs and allowed him to score three himself. Aurilia single-handedly drove in five runs with two singles and a two-run homer that came in the seventh inning, giving the Giants an 11-1 lead. Second baseman Ray Durham also had a solid day, going two-for-three with doubles, he scored two runs.
The Giants return home Monday to start a four-game series with the league leading Chicago Cubs. Playing on their home turf after a long road trip might be an advantage for San Francisco, but they will be taking on a team that looks to be the National League favorite to go to the World Series this year. Game one will be a matchup between lefties, Barry Zito who has shown signs of improvement in his last few starts will take on Ted Lilly at 7:15 p.m.
