Giants Insider notes: Walks haunt

May 5, 2011
URBAN ARCHIVEGIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEO
BOX SCOREMychael UrbanCSNBayArea.com

Our MLB Insider takes a look at the Giants' 5-2 loss to the host Mets on Thursday at Citi Field in New York.Wild thing: In his first start since walking four batters in the first inning and issuing a total of eight free passes -- six walks, two hit batters -- over five innings last Friday in Washington, D.C., Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez looked like the exact same pitcher who struggled against the Nationals. He was again his own worst enemy, walking six and allowing five hits on the way to surrendering five earned runs over five innings -- he was lifted with a pitch count of 93 -- in the final game of San Francisco's 10-game road trip. Cliche, it's not: "Walks will come back to haunt you." You hear it all the time, and it's not hollow chatter. Sanchez issues consecutive walks to New York's eighth- and ninth-place hitters with two out in the second inning, and Jose Reyes promptly cashed them in with a triple to center field that capped a three-run rally.RECAP: Sanchez loses control; Giants fail to sweep Mets
Small man, big fly: Diminutive Mike Fontenot, who served as the Giants' No. 3 hitter in all three games of the Mets series, doesn't look like much of a power hitter, but looks are deceiving. Make a point to get out to AT&T Park a little early next time you take in a game and watch him take batting practice. More than likely, you'll see him launch a few bombs similar to the upper-tank shot he slammed off Mets starter Mike Pelfrey on Thursday to get the visitors on the board for the first time.Regulars resting: Buster Posey, Freddy Sanchez and Pat Burrell all were left out of the starting lineup for the day game after a night game, but two of the regulars who look like they need a blow as much as anybody -- Cody Ross and Miguel Tejada -- were run back out there and continued to struggle. Combined they went 1-for-8 and are still stuck with batting averages below .200.Mota mows: Veteran righty reliever Guillermo Mota, a non-roster invitee to spring training who had to battle for a spot on the opening day roster, has been extremely consistent for the Giants all season, and he put together one of his best outings of the season in working two perfect innings to give the Giants a chance at mounting a late comeback. Mota's ERA fell to 2.08 for the year.Mission accomplished: The goal for every team at the start of every season and every road trip is to do no worse than play .500 ball away from home. This was an ugly trip for the Giants in many respects, but the bottom line is that they won two of three series and packed up for their return to the Bay Area with a 5-5 roadie record.