San Francisco Giants: June 2012 Highlights

June was a crazy, crazy ride for the San Francisco Giants.

Highlights included a sweep of the Dodgers, a couple of important walk-off wins, solid pitching performances and of course, a perfect game.

The perfect game is undoubtedly the top moment of the month (maybe the year) for the Giants—the other moments are just as good.

Here are the top five moments in the month of June for the San Francisco Giants.

No. 5: Madison Bumgarner Making a Stand

Usually when you think about Giants starting pitchers leading in stats, the first names who come to mind are Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.

Not in June 2012.

Madison Bumgarner was the starter who has been more impressive than any other outside of June 13.

Here's the short version of MadBum's June—five wins (team best), 2.42 ERA, 45 strikeouts (2nd best on team), eight walks (best) in 44.2 innings, which is also the highest on the team.

Look for Bumgarner to stay hot in July.

No. 4: Free the Belt

Fans were becoming impatient on Brandon Belt in the month of May.

Then, on the eve of the Perfect Game, Belt finally came out of his shell.

In the month of June, Belt hit .296 in the month of June with a .400 on-base percentage. He also had an .800 slugging percentage, which is fourth-best on the team.

If he can continue these numbers, Belt will likely land the everyday spot over at first base.

No. 3: Fans Send Three Giants to All-Star Game

Giants fans know how to support their boys—and reward them as well.

Even though the All-Star rosters were announced in July, voting lasted all throughout June and Giants fans spoke loudly.

Four Giants—Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Melky Cabrera and Matt Cain—are all headed to Kansas City for the 83rd MLB All-Star Game.

Posey, Sandoval and Cabrera all got their spot thanks to fans while Cain was selected by NL manager Tony LaRussa.

Some say Sandoval is less deserving than Mets third baseman David Wright, but the fans had the last word and helped Panda make yet another All-Star appearance.

Posey and Cabrera will make their first appearance and Panda will return for his second.

Some also believe Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun is more deserving than Melky, but like it or not, Giants fans came together to take four San Francisco representatives to KC.

No. 2: Dodgers Get Swept and Shutout

Not only does a team like to beat its rival—it's also just as enjoyable to sweep them.

Within the final week of the month, the Giants outscored the Dodgers 13-0 in the three game stand that included Tim Lincecum receiving his first win in nearly two months.

The Giants had never done this to LA, but back in April 1954 they swept Philadelphia with three consecutive shutouts.

San Francisco jumped right beside the Dodgers in standings with a share of first place thanks to the sweep.

No. 1: 27 Up, 27 Down

June 13 was one of those unforgettable nights Giants fans will never forget.

As Cain fanned 14 Astros en route to a perfect game, fans were treated to a gem of a performance.

According to the Bill James Game Score method, Cain's perfect game was the second greatest pitching performance of all-time, only behind Kerry Wood's 20K masterpiece early in his career.

But it wasn't just Cain who showed fans a masterpiece of a game.

A game of this nature requires a defensive gem—Gregor Blanco had the privilege in this one.

In the seventh inning, Jordan Schafer hit a fly ball to deep right center field at AT&T Park, which is a long way from home plate.

Blanco played over more toward the gap and had a good jump off the fly ball. He covered what looked like to be 70 feet as he dove toward the ground to save the eventual perfect game.