Giants-Astros: San Francisco Gets Off to Great Start, Sweeping Houston

If the San Francisco Giants get solid starts from Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito, and Matt Cain, and Edgar Renteria continues to get eight hits every series, they are going to be one tough team to beat during the regular season.

I know it is only one series, but the Giants looked mighty impressive against the Houston Astros. I am not sure if that is a sign of how good the Giants will be or how bad the Astros are going to be in 2010.

Regardless, the reality is that the Giants outscored the Astros 18-6 in three games to sweep the series. And while the Giants’ offense did its part, it was the pitching staff who set the tone.

Lincecum: seven innings, four hits, zero runs, and seven Ks

Zito: six innings, three hits, zero runs, and five Ks

Cain: 6.2 innings, six hits, three runs, and five Ks

That is some serious pitching. Perhaps the most impressive stat is that the trio only allowed one walk in 19.2 innings. That just proves that if you pound the strike zone good things will happen.

Giants closer Brian Wilson was also solid in this series, closing out two of the games and retiring every batter he faced over 1.2 innings.

The Giants had all three facets going in Houston: starting pitching, bullpen, and offense.

San Francisco is off Thursday and will head home to open a six-game homestand against the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

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