Baggs' Instant Replay: Giants 3, D'backs 2

Share

BOX SCORE
PHOENIXOver the past six years, you couldnt bring up Barry Zito's name without mentioning his 126 million contract.But now the conversation is changing. Zitos value is topical beyond his direct-deposit stubs.This might be impossible to believe for anyone who watched Zito throw batting practice toward the end of spring training, but the veteran left-hander continues to turn an acceptable season into a solid one. He held the dangerous Arizona Diamondbacks to one run in 6 23 innings and the Giants 3-2 victory was their eighth consecutive on Zitos day to pitch.Thats right. The Giants are undefeated in Zitos last eight assignments. He hasnt lost since July 28. And the Giants are 18-10 overall in his starts -- an incredible record for a pitcher whom club officials merely hoped could five-and-dive as the No. 5 starter.Zito (12-8) set a single-season high for victories in his six years as a Giant.He made his run support stand up, as Buster Posey hit a tiebreaking, two-run home run in the fifth -- perhaps influencing MVP voters in the process. Angel Pagan hit his 13th triple of the season to start the game, breaking the San Francisco-era franchise record set by Willie Mays in 1960 and matched by Steve Finley in 2006. Pagan scored on Marco Scutaros ground out.Catcher Hector Sanchez made two remarkable throws to erase baserunners as the reduced their magic number to 10 to clinch the NL West.Starting pitching reportZito entered with a 5.86 ERA in 11 career games at Chase Field, but he established nearly all his pitches early and never let the Diamondbacks back him into a corner.He fell behind Justin Upton in the fourth and paid for a 3-1 cutter that he couldnt run far enough inside, yielding a tying, solo home run. But Zito made a terrific adjustment the next time he faced Upton in the sixth, getting that 81 mph cutter on his hands for a swinging strike and then coming back with a hump-up fastball that overpowered him. It was only 86 mph, but the way Zito set up the pitch, it was effectively much faster.Zito induced a double-play grounder in the seventh but gave up a ground-rule double to John McDonald, and manager Bruce Bochy opted to get the right-handed matchup against pinch hitter Chris Young.Zito finished an out short of becoming just the second Giants pitcher since Aug. 26 to complete seven innings. Only once in their last 16 games has a Giants pitcher (Matt Cain) recorded at least 21 outs.Bullpen reportSantiago Casilla stranded Zitos runner in the seventh but he issued a one-out walk in the eighth and Sergio Romo allowed an RBI single to Paul Goldschmidt. Romo remained in the game, and with some help from Hector Sanchezs golden arm behind the plate, recorded his 11th save in 12 chances.At the platePagan began the game with a drive that split the outfielders in left-center. The official scorer initially credited him with a double and gave an error to center fielder Adam Eaton, but immediately changed it to a triple upon reviewing the first replay.Pagans 13th triple tied him with Mays and Finley, and coincidentally, Finley was in the house to see it. He was one of many former Diamondbacks who were playing in an alumni game that followed Saturday nights contest.Scutaro hit a ground out that scored Pagan. Scutaro later collected two singles to give him 167 hits this season, good for third in the NL. Hes only seven away from matching his career high and has an outside shot (33 hits in 18 games) at reaching the 200-hit mark.The Giants continued to put pressure on left-hander Wade Miley but Joaquin Arias lined out to strand the bases loaded in the third. Posey came through with the two-out hit they needed, taking one of his classic, fluid swings on a 2-0 fastball for his 22nd home run of the season.Posey finished a triple short of the cycle and is now hitting .390 (80-for-205) with 20 doubles, 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 55 games since the All-Star break.Yep. MVP numbers.In fieldHector Sanchez was a difference maker behind the plate. He made an incredibly fast transfer and throw to gun down would-be basestealer Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth inning -- a huge play, since Upton followed with his home run. (Although its fair to say Zito might have pitched Upton differently with a base open.)But Sanchez made an even better throw in the ninth. He heaved the ball from his knees to throw out pinch runner Tyler Graham, a former Giants prospect who stole 60 bases (in 72 attempts) for Triple-A Fresno last year.It wouldve been impressive in any context, but it was even better to happen in a one-run game in the ninth.AttendanceThe Diamondbacks announced 39,169 for Matt Williams bobblehead day. I plan on trading mine for a Jeff Kent, a Julian Tavarez and a Jose Vizcaino. The Joe Roa bobblehead might be tough to find, though.Up nextThe Giants complete their road trip and series in Arizona on Sunday afternoon. Ryan Vogelsong (12-8, 3.40) gave up six runs in 3 13 innings against the Diamondbacks last weekend. Hell try to stem a six-start funk against left-hander Patrick Corbin (5-7, 4.19).

Contact Us