After being swept by Oakland, the Giants are now 0-6 in games against the American League. One bad inning in the series finale yesterday allowed the A’s to complete the sweep with a 5-3 win in Giants starter Kevin Correia’s first start since coming off the disabled list.
Correia appeared to have fully recovered from his injury until getting into trouble in the sixth inning. He pitched five and a third innings, unable to get through the sixth and being charged with five runs on seven hits. He struck out four A’s hitters and walked two by the time he was knocked out of the game in the sixth inning after allowing four runs. Alex Hinshaw finished off the sixth inning and pitched through the seventh allowing just a single and walk while striking out two of the six batters he faced. Keiichi Yabu lowered his earned run average to 1.93 with a scoreless eighth inning. Tyler Walker pitched a near perfect ninth inning, allowing just one baserunner to reach on a walk, but was able to leave him stranded.
Despite putting up more hits than Oakland, the Giants were unable to put them together for any big innings. San Francisco got on the board first, scoring a run in the third inning, but that lead did not last long; they gave that run back in the fourth. After falling back 5-1 in the sixth inning, the Giants were able to cut their deficit to two after scoring two more runs in the eighth inning. Their comeback effort would fall short though as A’s closer Huston Street shut them down in the ninth inning. Aaron Rowand, Rich Aurilia, and Emmanuel Burriss each scored a run. Burriss reached base with two doubles in the game, and Aurilia with two singles. Pinch-hitter Bengie Molina drove in Burriss for the thrid Giants run in the eighth with a sacrifice fly.
Tonight the Giants will play the first of three games against the Tigers. Detroit comes into this series hot, having won eight of their last ten games. Game one will feature a matchup between two young stars of the game, Tim Lincecum and Justin Verlander. Lincecum is 8-1 with a 1.99 ERA while Verlander (along with many of the Tigers) has struggled this season, putting together a 3-9 record.
