Los Angeles– The San Francisco Giants stole Tuesday’s game from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning. The Giants put up a fight and closed the door, winning 7-5 with three runs in the last stanza.
The boys from the bay got some help from a mistake by acting Dodgers manager, Don Mattingly. With one out in the ninth and with the bases loaded Mattingly took a visit to the mound to speak with Dodgers closer, Jonathon Broxton. Mattingly left the mound, then turned and stepped back on the mound for another word with the All-Star closer. Giants manager Bruce Bochy noticed the move and went and spoke with the umpires. Technically, stepping on and off the mound, then back on is considered two visits. Dodgers had to pull Broxton because of this move. This put George Sherrill on the mound, and with no warm up Sherrill gave up a two run double to Andres Torres which put the Giants in the lead 6-5. Buster Posey added a single and the Giants prevailed, moving their record to 52-42.
Bochy deserves credit for his keen eye in Tuesday’s game. Broxton having to leave the game was key. The Giants are now .500 on the road at 24-24 and are a season high 10 games above .500 on the year. Now only three games back of first-place San Diego, the Giants withhold the confidence needed to go all the way.
Giants will look to sweep the Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. this evening. Barry Zito will face Chad Billingsley. This will be a crucial match-up, Zito looks to continue the roll. If the Giants sweep, they will head into Arizona winning 13/16 games. The Dodgers are on a season high six game slump and will come out swinging Wednesday night. The rivalry is heated, and neither team wants to budge.
The Giants will look from production from Posey and Sandoval, both men carrying 14 game and seven game hit streaks, respectively. The look in the clubhouse was one of unity and glee Tuesday night, a great sign for the stretch run.
Go Giants.
