Jonathan Sanchez pitched well through seven innings, taking a no-hitter into the sixth, but got into trouble the bullpen could not bail him out of in the eighth. The offenses ineffectiveness to drive in any runs is what did them in, dropping the game 5-1.
Sanchez was lights out through the first five innings before Curtis Granderson singled off him to open the sixth inning. Granderson would come around to score to give Detroit a 1-0 lead. However, the Giants would tie things up in the bottom half of the inning. Sanchez would try to pitch the eighth inning, but gave a pinch-hit homerun to Ryan Raburn that gave Detroit a 2-1 lead; they’d go on to score another run in the inning. Sanchez ended up allowing three runs on six hits and three walks, but he also struck out a eight hitters, seven of those came in the first five innings. Billy Sadler relieved Sanchez after being unable to get any outs in the eighth inning, limiting the damage to two runs. Sadler walked one batter, but gave up no hits. Vinnie Chulk came into the game to pitch the ninth inning and to try to keep the deficit at two, but gave up a deep drive to straight-away centerfield to start the inning. All eight of Tigers outfielder Marcus Thames’ hits have been homeruns. The Tigers would add another run in the inning, giving them a comfortable four-run lead heading to the bottom of the ninth. Chulk finished the day giving up two runs on three hits.
The Giants offense combined for nine hits, but we unable to bring any of the runners into score. Catcher Bengie Molina did drive in their only run of the gave in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at one, but that was it. In addition to his sacrifice fly, Molina went two-for-three with two singles. Fred Lewis scored the Giants run after going two-for-four in the game with two singles. Rich Aurilia went two-for-four, getting the only Giants extra-base hit of the game, a double.
Tomorrow’s series finale will be an early one with first pitch scheduled for 12:45 p.m. Barry Zito will pitch against a young Tigers pitcher that has put together a quite impressive first half. Armando Galarraga is 6-2 with a 3.21 earned run average, and might well be one of the reasons Detroit has not fallen completely out of the picture this season.
