Giants' Bats Awaken in Rout of Cardinals

The offense of the San Francisco Giants finally awakened today in an 8-2 thumping of the St. Louis Cardinals. With the win, the Giants win the series taking two out of three and improving their season record to 8-11 and staying in 4th place in the N.L West.

The Giants would collect two hits in the first inning and with runners in scoring position, they would not score. One would think that is how the game was going to go because that has become an all too familiar scenario. But with Jonathon Sanchez on the mound, they would keep the Cardinals in check and then the bats would come alive in the third inning.

New leadoff man Fred Lewis led off the inning with a single and then Jose Castillo did the same. Ray Durham would then double to right scoring Lewis. A double by Molina and a Single by Rowand would drive home three more runs. Rookie John Bowker then hit his third home run of the season, putting the surprising youngster in a tie for the team home run lead. Giants lead 6-0 after three innings.

In the fourth inning, Lewis would again lead off with a single, steal second, and then Jose Castillo drew a walk. After a Durham ground out, Molina came through with another RBI hit and the Giants lead 7-0. Big free agent signing Aaron Rowand then knocked in the eighth run for the Giants before the inning ended.

Because of a high pitch count, flame thrower Jonathon Sanchez was lifted after five innings. He allowed only two hits, while walking four and striking out five. Keichi Yabu then relieved him and walked one while striking out two in two innings of relief. Merkin Valdez would then come in to pitch a perfect eighth inning while Vinnie Chulk finished the game with a shaky ninth inning, as he allowed four hits and two runs.

But, with Brandon Webb and the D-Backs the opposition tomorrow, maybe the Giants should have saved some runs for Barry Zito tomorrow, as he searches for his first win of the season.