My taxi driver on the way home from Thursday's game asked how the game went. When he learned the Giants won after spotting the Cardinals two runs, he said that coming from behind was the mark of a good team. I'm usually not one to argue with cabbies, but being behind is usually a reliable mark of a losing team.
Oh, the Giants have done just fine lately, winning four out of the last five while getting good to great outings from everyone in the rotation. Zito looked like a new man in Colorado and Matt Cain is just Matt Cain. (It doesn't stop there. Tim Lincecum has been untouchable in three AAA starts.)
Lowry pitched well against an anemic Cardinals lineup in which the biggest threat was Kip Wells. So Taguchi (really) in particular would like to burn the tapes of his ABs. So far the biggest hole in Lowry's game is the tapper to the third base side of the mound. I'd expect to see quite a few bunts in that direction until Lowry can prove he can hit the first baseman from there.
Lowry wasn't alone in the play-at-first ineptitude. After Lowry's error in the third, Klesko mangled a throw to first after fielding a bunt, handing the Cardinals their first run. Pujols played like his left hand is injured: He dropped the double-play throw in the first (still got the out), dropped a simple throw from Miles in the fifth, then failed to catch a reasonable hop on a terrible throw from Miles later in the inning. It was really ugly at first.
I'm having a difficult time seeing a reason to give Pedro Feliz many starts at third. Klesko had a good day at the plate and Rich Aurilia has been the best Giants batter most of the season. Feliz, meanwhile, isn't hitting, isn't walking, and isn't fielding. Maybe start Feliz when a lefty is on the mound and sit Klesko, but I just don't see the advantages of having Feliz soaking up ABs.
Back to Game 1 of the Cardinals series ... Sanchez pitched great to keep the Giants even, and Benitez was unrecognizable to me. He looks about 20 pounds lighter, and whatever that offspeed pitch was (Krukow said it was a split), it made him unhittable. He looked -- dare I say it -- awesome.
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