The Giants finally picked up their first interleague win after their seventh try. Trailing late in the game, San Francisco put together a five-run eighth inning to comeback against the Tigers. The Giants put an end to Detroit’s six-game win streak, and an end to their own three-game losing streak with the 8-6 win.
Tim Lincecum did not have his best stuff last night, but the offense picked him up. He allowed four runs on six hits in seven innings while striking out and walking three hitters. Marcus Thames and Ivan Rodriguez were the only Tigers that really bothered Lincecum. Thames got on the board for Detroit with a solo shot in the second inning, and then added another bomb off Lincecum, this time for two runs in the fourth, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead at the time. Pudge went three-for-three off the Giants pitchers with a walk, two singles, and a triple while scoring two runs. After giving the Tigers another run in the seventh inning, Licecum was replaced by Keiichi Yabu who pitched a perfect eighth inning to keep it a one-run game. After the Giants big eighth inning offensive outburst Brian Wilson came in to pitch the ninth, but felt a little too comfortable with a four-run lead. He allowed the Tigers to attempt a comeback of their own, but in the end finished the inning and game allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. Two of the three outs he was required to get were on strikeouts.
The Giants played from behind the entire game, but emerged on top after the eighth inning. Leadoff man Fred Lewis hit a solo homer off Tigers starter Justin Verlander in the fifth inning to tie the game at three, but Detroit would take the lead again in the seventh. Lewis also had a big two-run double in the eighth inning rally. John Bowker also stood out, highlighting the scoring in the eighth inning with a three-run blast, and falling just a triple shy of the cycle. Omar Vizquel and Bowker also turned two double plays to help pick up the Giants pitching staff in some threatening moments.
The second game of the series will start tonight at 7:15 p.m. Veteran Kenny Rogers will square off against Jonathan Sanchez. Defeating a Tigers team that has been hot lately would be useful in boosting the Giants confidence as they travel to take on several other American League opponents (Kansas City, Cleveland, and Oakland) over the next week and a half.
