The Giants will get a much needed day off tomorrow after a rough stretch of interleague games. The bullpen had to work a ton in today’s 7-2 loss to Detroit as Barry Zito was knocked around again. Tomorrow’s day off should give them some time to recover for several away interleague series’.
Zito had another short outing that lasted two innings after leaving several breaking balls up in the zone for the Tigers batters to feast on. He left the game after allowing five runs on five hits and four walks. The only pitch he was able to throw for a strike was his curve, but it did not fool the Tigers hitters. Billy Sadler took over for Zito in the third inning, and allowed an unearned run in two innings of work on three hits. Alex Hinshaw relieved Sadler in the fifth inning, he also gave the Tigers another run after walking two hitters and allowing two more hits over his two innings pitched. Jack Taschner appeared to stop the bleeding after allowing a harmless walk in the seventh inning before handing the ball over to Keiichi Yabu in the eighth. Yabu pitched a perfect eighth inning, before Vinnie Chulk took over as the sixth Giants pitcher of the game. Chulk had a perfect ninth inning, striking out one batter. Overall, Giants pitchers had trouble with Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco who went four-for-four.
The Giants could have been just as easily shutout with both of their runs scoring unearned. Catcher Bengie Molina was the only hitter that managed more than one hit in the game with two singles. All together, the Giants managed eight hits off the Tigers pitching staff. Their runs came in the second and sixth innings, already with the Giants way behind. Second baseman Travis Denker and pinch-hitter Steve Holm both scored a run, reaching base on doubles.
San Francisco will travel tomorrow to Kansas City to take on the Royals in a weekend series beginning on Friday. The first game is scheduled for 5:10 p.m. Matt Cain is slated to get the start for the Giants and Luke Hochevar for the Royals.
