How Some Injuries Have Helped the San Francisco Giants

On Sunday, you saw an example of the San Francisco Giants. If you haven't seen them since May 24, you may have some questions.

Where's Andres Torres? Where's Jonathan Sanchez? What about Sergio Romo? Buster Posey? Pat Burrell? Freddy Sanchez? Brian Wilson?

The answer: They're all on the DL.

Just about every Giant has hit the disabled list or at least missed a couple games, due to injury. Right now, Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez are out for the year.

But they can still win, and they showed it Sunday against the Houston Astros.

Brandon Belt, who probably would see limited playing time if Andres Torres, Carlos Beltran, and Pat Burrell weren't hurt, has been doing well. He hit a three-run homer to help the Giants on Sunday.

And Pablo Sandoval, who was on the DL for a month and a half, hit the game-winning two-run homer in the eleventh. If Freddy Sanchez was back, Pablo would see a few less at-bats.

While the Giants have been plagued by many horrible injuries, such as Carlos Beltran and Buster Posey's injuries, they have had the opportunity to discover some new talents.

Dan Runzler's first career start may have been a huge bust as he gave up four runs in 1.2 innings of work, but the relievers saved him. One of them was Steve Edlefsen, who made his major league debut on Sunday, and it was a good one.

Edlefsen struck out Clint Barmes—the first batter he faced—on a nasty slider. He retired all four batters he faced, and was called up thanks to Brian Wilson's injury.

While the Giants would have liked to have (and use) Sergio Romo, they wouldn't have had Brandon Belt without the injury to Romo. Besides, the bullpen did well. All four runs in the 6-4, 11-inning win were given up in the short outing by Runzler.

Belt went a week without a hit, and then following up his previous Sunday's dominance when he hit two home runs in one game. He did it again in front of family and friends.

These Giants players have been given new opportunities thanks to injuries, and while the Giants wish they had every injured player back, they know how to win with the injuries.