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What I Should Have Done...


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Two months into the season, what do you see as the Giants biggest need?  

37 members have voted

  1. 1.

    • There is no pressing need
      5
    • Another power bat
      19
    • Veteran reliever
      9
    • Everyday third baseman
      4


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April 13, 2007

Sixth Inning Miscues By Pittsburgh Lead To 2-1 Giants Victory

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PITTSBURGH, Penn. – Sometimes it’s better to be more lucky than good.

On a night that saw the Giants collect just four hits – all singles – the Boys from the Bay looked for other

alternatives to end their two-game skid. Their salvation would come in the sixth inning.

With the score tied 1-1, Todd Linden led off the top of the sixth with a walk from Tony Armas, Jr., who

walked seven on the day. Kevin Frandsen then attempted to sacrifice Linden to second, but an error

by Freddy Sanchez allowed Frandsen to reach safely – and a spectacular baserunning effort by Linden

put runners on the corners. The struggle wasn’t over for Pittsburgh though, as another error – this one

by catcher Ronny Paulino on a throw to second, in an attempt to catch Frandsen stealing – sent Linden

home with the go-ahead run.

Jonathan Sanchez was a little off today, falling behind 73% of the hitters he faced. But Sanchez stuck

with it and pitched out of jams – including a bases loaded situation in the second – to keep the Giants

offense in the game.

Giants phenom (v. 2) Tim Lincecum put up a 1-2-3 ninth to pick up his third save after struggling in his

last two outings.

The teams will face off tomorrow night with Pirates youngster Zach Duke (0-1) going up against Barry

Zito (1-0) of the Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm EST.

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Jack Wilson put the Pirates on the board first with a solo home run in the third inning.

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Bengie Molina singles in the fourth inning, driving in Todd Linden to tie the game 1-1.

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Freddy Sanchez fumbles a bunt by Kevin Frandsen in the sixth inning, allowing Frandsen to reach first

safely. On the play, Todd Linden showed tremendous hustle, going first to third as a result of Sanchez’s

misplay.

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(Left) Kevin Frandsen dives into second with a stolen base in the sixth inning. (Right) While attempting

to get Frandsen at second, Pittsburgh catcher Ronny Paulino overthrew Jack Wilson, allowing Todd Lin-

den to score to go-ahead run.

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John Grabow came into the game with one out in the seventh inning and dominated Giants hitters,

keeping the Pirates in the game. In 2.2 innings, Grabow allowed just one hit and struck out six. He also

contributed at the plate, singling down the left field line in the bottom of the seventh.

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Tim Lincecum rebounded tonight after struggling in his last two outings, picking up his third save with

a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Scoring

B3: Cameron solo HR

T4: Molina single scores Linden

T6: Linden scores on a throwing error by the catcher

W – Sanchez (1-0) L – Armas, Jr. (1-1) S – Lincecum (3)

Player of the Game:

Jonathan Sanchez 6 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 4 K

For Boxscore, click here

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April 14, 2007

Starting Pitchers:

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Starting Lineup:

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PITTSBURGH, Penn. – After pulling out a 2-1 victory last night, the Giants look to Barry Zito to ensure

a series win.

Zito has been stellar so far in 2007, posting a 1-0 record in two outings with a miniscule 1.26 ERA. Zito

has never faced the Pirates in his career.

Pittsburgh will counter with youngster Zach Duke. Duke has struggled this season, going 0-1 with a

8.71 ERA. In 10.1 innings, Duke has allowed 17 hits – including six home runs.

Duke has started two games against the Giants in his career, but has yet to get a decision. In 12.1

innings, he has posted a 2.19 ERA.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm EST.

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the la bums?

In the Brooklyn/New York days of the Dodgers/Giants rivalry, the moniker "Bums" was placed upon the Dodgers in the mid-30's by a newspaper cartoonist (if I remember right).

Dodgers fans actually liked the term, so it's not as derogatory as I wish it was...but I still would rather call them the Bums than the Dodgers. :D

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April 14, 2007

Sanchez’s Sixteenth Inning Single Secures Victory For Steel City

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PITTSBURGH, Penn. – When is one hit as good as seven? On this night – when your name is Freddy San-

chez.

Having gone 0-7 on the game, Sanchez stepped up to the plate with two outs in the sixteenth inning,

Chris Duffy on second base, and Jack Wilson on first. Sanchez got ahead of Giants pitcher Brad Hen-

nessey 2-0, forcing Hennessey to make a pitch that he normally wouldn’t have made.

“I had to get one over,†said Hennessey after the game. “In a situation like that, having just walked

Wilson, you can’t afford to load the bases. I got in a jam that I couldn’t get out of; I have to be better

than that if I’m going to help this team.â€

It wasn’t as if Hennessey wasn’t effective tonight. In the end, he went 4.2 innings, allowing four hits

and striking out three.

The Giants had a 2-1 lead until the bottom of the eighth, when Pittsburgh got the lead man, Duffy, on

with a single. The next batter, Wilson, attempted to sacrifice him over; but pitcher Brian Wilson elected

to throw to second and failed to get the speedy Duffy.

“I’m smarter than that,†said Wilson. “Obviously, in a situation like that, you get the out. I knew as

soon as I threw it that I had just put us in a sorry predicament.â€

Wilson got the next batter, Sanchez, before being lifted for Steve Kline to get a lefty v lefty matchup

against Andy LaRoche. Kline got LaRoche to fly out for the second out of the inning, bringing the red-

hot Jason Bay up. Tim Lincecum was brought in to face Bay and got ahead 0-1. The second pitch of the

at bat was a curveball placed perfectly down and away; but Bay wasn’t impressed, going with it for an

RBI double off the right field wall to tie the game 2-2.

“You just try to make your pitch,†said Lincecum. “If it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing to do but tip

your cap and move on.â€

The Giants will try to move on tomorrow afternoon in the rubber match of the series. First pitch is

scheduled for 1:35pm EST.

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Barry Bonds got the Giants on the board early with a solo shot in the second inning.

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Bengie Molina drove in Kevin Frandsen with a single for the second Giants run of the game.

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(Left) Brian Wilson fields a bunt by Jack Wilson; but attempts – and fails - to get Chris Duffy at second.

(Right) The decision would prove costly as Duffy would later score with two outs on a double by Jason

Bay.

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Omar Vizquel put out his best effort in the extra frames. In the top of the tenth, Vizquel stepped into a

high fastball from Salomon Torres to put the Giants up 3-2 (left). But things wouldn’t work out so per-

fectly in the bottom half of the inning, as a line drive from Jason Bay deflected off the end of Omar’s

glove, allowing Bay to reach first with a single and Chris Duffy to score the tying run (right).

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The marathon finally ended in the sixteenth when Freddy Sanchez got his only hit of the game, a single

to right field (left). Giants right fielder Todd Linden came up throwing; but the throw was offline, allow-

ing Chris Duffy to slide in with the winning run (right).

Scoring

T2: Bonds solo HR; Molina single scores Frandsen

B4: LaRoche double scores Duffy

B8: Bay double scores Duffy

T10: Vizquel solo HR

B10: Bay single scores Duffy

B16: Sanchez single scores Duffy

W – Grabow (2-1) L – Hennessey (1-1)

Player of the Game:

Jason Bay 6-7, 2B, 2 RBI

For Boxscore, click here

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April 14, 2007

Divisional Games

Colorado Rockies (6-5) 1, Arizona Diamondbacks (6-6) 2

San Diego Padres (3-8) 2, Los Angeles Bums (6-5) 3 (10 inn. - walkoff by Nomar Garciaparra)

League Injuries

CIN 3B Edwin Encarnacion was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right forearm.

WAS 1B Nick Johnson was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right forearm.

WAS SP Mike Hinckley is day-to-day with a minor concussion.

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(10 inn. - walkoff by Nomar Garciaparra)

Wow since when was Nomah so clutch? All of a sudden, he's getting all these clutch hits, starting last season.

WAS 1B Nick Johnson was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained right forearm.

Who didn't see that coming? The guy is almost as bad as Glass Pavano.

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April 15, 2007

Starting Pitchers:

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Starting Lineup:

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PITTSBURGH, Penn. – With the series on the line following a heartbreaking sixteen-inning loss to the Pir-

ates last night, the Giants look to young stud Matt Cain.

In his first two starts of 2007, Cain is 1-0 with a 2.02 ERA. In his last outing, Cain went 7.1 innings in

San Diego, allowing just one run on eight hits while striking out four. Seven of the eight hits were sin-

gles – the only extra-base hit being a double by Marcus Giles to lead off the fourth.

Cain struggled in his only career start against the Pirates, lasting just four innings, allowing three runs

on seven hits while walking four and striking out two. That start was in San Francisco; Cain has never

pitched at PNC Park.

To counter Cain, the Pirates send out Ian Snell, a 25-year old from Dover, Delaware. Off to a quick start,

Snell has posted a 1-0 record with a diminutive 1.69 ERA so far in 2007. In 16.1 innings, Snell has allow-

ed just ten hits and has collected 16 strikeouts. His victory came on April 3 in the form of a complete

game shutout of Houston, a game Pittsburgh won 4-0. It was both Snell’s first career complete game

and his first career shutout.

His only start against San Francisco came last year at AT&T Park on June 10. Snell went seven shutout

innings for the win, allowing just three hits while walking three and striking out five in a 2-0 Pirates vic-

tory.

At PNC Park, Snell is 8-9 with a 5.40 ERA.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:35pm EST.

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April 15, 2007

Snell Stifles Giants, Pirates Take Rubber Match 5-1

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PITTSBURGH, Penn. – On a beautiful day in Pittsburgh, the Giants offense was caught smelling the roses.

The first batter of the game for each team effectively foreshadowed the rest of the contest. For the

Giants, Randy Winn led off by lining the first pitch down the left field line; but it went foul by about two

feet. The next pitch was grounded to second for the first out of the game.

“We hit the ball hard today – hell, we have all year,†said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “It just isn’t

going our way right now. These guys are putting out the effort; eventually the ball will start finding the

holes.â€

The Pirates on the other hand can’t do wrong. Matt Cain handcuffed Chris Duffy to start off the bottom

of the first for Pittsburgh, sending the ball bouncing down the third base line. But the ball bounded high,

leaving third baseman Rich Aurilia in no-man’s land and without a play at first.

From there the Pirates kept pounding out hits, collecting twelve hits off Cain in 5.1 innings, plating five

runs to give Ian Snell a comfortable lead.

“No matter where I threw it,†Cain said after the game, “they were hitting it. Up, down, at ‘em…didn’t

matter. I’m just going to have to erase this game from memory and try again in five days.â€

Snell would go the distance, improving to 2-0 on the season. The Giants would only manage three hits

on the day; but pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney helped San Francisco avoid the shutout with a solo home

run with one out in the ninth.

The loss forced the Giants to drop their second straight series and sends San Francisco into Colorado

for a short two-game set on a two-game skid. First pitch tomorrow night in Denver is scheduled for

6:35pm MST.

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Chris Duffy reached on an unplayable high bouncer in the first inning. Things went downhill for the

Giants from there.

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Ian Snell draws a bases loaded walk from Matt Cain in the third inning, scoring Adam LaRoche to put

the Pirates up 4-0.

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Ian Snell (left) did it all today, holding the Giants to just three hits while also picking up an RBI with a

bases loaded walk – and collecting a single in the bottom of the sixth (right).

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Matt Cain couldn’t catch a break today, giving up five runs on twelve hits in 5.1 innings.

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Mark Sweeney was the lone bright spot for San Francisco today, blasting a pinch-hit home run in the

top of the ninth to prevent Ian Snell from getting the shutout.

Scoring

B1: Sanchez single scores Duffy

B2: Duffy single scores Castillo

B3: Castillo sacrifice fly scores Sanchez; Snell walks, LaRoche scores

B6: Sanchez double scores Snell

T9: Sweeney solo HR

W – Snell (2-0) L – Cain (1-1)

Game Notes:

The box score published with this story has an error – Ian Snell should have been credited with an

RBI for his bases loaded walk in the third inning.

Player of the Game:

Ian Snell 9 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 K; 1-3, BB, RBI

For Boxscore, click here

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April 16, 2007

Starting Pitchers:

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Starting Lineup:

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DENVER, Col. – Coming off their second straight loss, a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Ian Snell and the

Pirates in which they were held to just three hits, the Giants make a short two-game stop in Colorado

for their first meeting with the Rockies this season.

Both teams sit at 6-6 and enter the two-game series with two-game losing streaks. The Giants will

look to young lefty Noah Lowry who is 1-0 on the season with a 3.07 ERA. In his last outing, Lowry

picked up a no decision, going 6.2 innings in San Diego, allowing three runs on nine hits, including two

home runs. The Giants lost that game 5-4 in ten innings.

Against Colorado lifetime, Lowry is 1-4 with a 7.74 ERA. In 43 innings, he has allowed 52 hits while

striking out 24 and walking 23. He hasn’t faired any better at Coors Field, going 1-3 with a monstrous

11.03 ERA. In 23.2 innings, he has allowed 40 hits while striking out just 12 and walking 15.

The Rockies will counter with Rodrigo Lopez, who was acquired from Baltimore for Jim Miller and Jason

Burch this offseason. Lopez has been in the AL since 2002 after starting his career with San Diego in

2000. Lopez has only one start against the Giants in his career, getting a no-decision in 2004 when

he went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, including two home runs. The Giants won the game

9-6 in 11 innings, scoring four runs in the top of the eleventh. Lopez has never pitched at AT&T Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm MST.

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April 16, 2007

Lowry Goes The Distance, Holds Colorado To Five Hits In 3-0

Shutout

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DENVER, Col. – For Noah Lowry, nothing matters but the present.

Entering the game, Lowry had posted a career 11.03 ERA at Coors Field – and a 7.74 ERA versus the

Colorado Rockies. Two and a half hours later, had his fourth career complete game and third career

shutout under his belt.

The Giants offense didn’t exactly beat down Rodrigo Lopez today, collecting just two hits and one run

off the right-hander in six innings. But Barry Bonds’ solo home run in the fourth was enough for their

young lefty.

“I felt great tonight,†said Lowry after the game. “All four pitches were working – especially my change-

up. It’s the first time I’ve been calm pitching in this stadium. Usually I’m trying not to give up ten home

runs; tonight, I just thought about the next pitch.â€

The win didn’t come without a price though as right fielder Todd Linden left in the top of the second af-

ter sliding into second with a double. The extent of the injury isn’t know at this time and Linden wasn’t

available to comment following the game.

Colorado was also bitten by the injury bug when Garrett Atkins left the game in the bottom of the

seventh after trying to break up a double play. Atkins was holding his shoulder as he left the field. He

was also unavailable after the game.

The teams finish their short two-game set tomorrow night with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm

MST.

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Barry Bonds deposited one in the upper deck in the fourth inning to give the Giants their first run of the

game.

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In what’s becoming a seasonal tradition when Colorado and San Francisco face off – one that Omar

Vizquel would just as soon be broken – Vizquel was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning.

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Jeremy Affeldt (left) was brought into the game in the seventh inning and struck out the side. He struck

out his fourth straight batter, Lance Niekro, in the top of the eighth before Bengie Molina (right) solved

his riddle, blasting a solo home run into the left field seats for a 2-0 Giants lead. It was Molina’s first

home run of the season.

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Both teams saw key players go down tonight – both while sliding into second base. (Left) Todd Linden

slides into second base with a double in the second inning. (Right) Garrett Atkins slides into second in

an attempt to break up a double play in the seventh. He failed as the twin killing ended the inning.

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Noah Lowry was brilliant today, allowing just five hits in a shutout of Colorado. Fittingly, Lowry fielded

a weak grounder from Matt Holliday to end the game.

Scoring

T4: Bonds solo HR

T8: Molina solo HR

T9: Aurilia single scores Vizquel

W – Lowry (2-0) L – Lopez (1-1)

Player of the Game:

Noah Lowry 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 K

For Boxscore, click here

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April 16, 2007

Divisional Games

Los Angeles Bums (8-5) 4, Arizona Diamondbacks (7-7) 0

San Diego Padres (4-9) 9, Chicago Cubs (6-7) 3

League Injuries

NYM SP Orlando Hernandez is day-to-day with a PCL sprain.

KC SP Brian Bannister was placed on the 15-day DL with a torn left shoulder muscle. He is expected to miss at least a month and a half.

HOU SP Ezequiel Astacio is day-to-day with a strained ribcage.

COL 3B Garrett Atkins was placed on the 15-day DL with a torn left shoulder muscle. He is expected to miss at least a month and a half.

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April 16, 2007

Linden Shelved, Ortmeier Called Up

The Giants got some bad news today as Todd Linden was placed on the 15-day DL with a pulled groin.

"Actually," said manager Bruce Bochy, "it could be worse. The groin is a tender area, so we don't want

to take any chances - especially this early in the season. It's my understanding that he could be ready

within a week; but it's more important that he heal completely than it is for him to risk returning too

soon."

Linden, 26, has been battling to crack the starting lineup the last couple of years, but has continued to

be held back because of an aging Giants outfield. This season though, Linden finally got his chance to

show what he could do; and he has shown the ability to handle the gig. In 13 games so far, Linden is

second on the team with a .277 average. He has hit one home run and has driven in two while posting

a .333 on-base percentage.

To fill Linden's open spot, the Giants have called up Dan Ortmeier, 25. Ortmeier has been in the same

boat as Linden, trying to prove himself worthy of a spot on the 25-man roster. This season in AAA Fres-

no, Ortmeier has hit .296 with no homers and five RBI while putting up a .341 on-base percentage.

Fred Lewis will get most of the playing time in right field in Linden's absense, with Ortmeier taking over

Lewis' job of relieving the aging Bonds in left.

Ortmeier will report to Denver tonight and should be in uniform for tomorrow night's game against the

Rockies. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm MST.

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April 17, 2007

Starting Pitchers:

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Starting Lineup:

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DENVER, Col. – Well, the Giants can’t lose this series.

But they can sweep the short two-game set with Colorado with a victory tonight before heading home

to face St. Louis in another short series.

The Giants look to former Cardinal Matt Morris to make that happen. So far in 2007, Morris has yet to

get a victory, sitting at 0-2 with loses to the Dodgers and the Padres. In those two starts, Morris has

posted a 5.54 ERA. In his last outing, he went seven innings in San Diego, allowing five runs on eleven

hits while striking out two.

“I’ve just got to pitch better,†said Morris. “There’s no way around it. This bulls--- can’t continue.â€

Against Colorado in his career, Morris is 5-4 with a 5.46 ERA. At Coors Field, he has posted a 1-2 record

with a 7.30 ERA.

The Rockies send out Brian Lawrence, acquired as a free agent this past offseason. Lawrence missed

the entire 2006 season with a torn labrum and a torn rotator cuff. He is 1-1 in 2007, but has only pitch-

ed 10.2 innings in his first two starts while posting a 6.75 ERA.

Over his career, Lawrence is 4-5 against San Francisco with a 4.09 ERA.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm MST.

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April 17, 2007

Bonds Blasts Three Home Runs, Drives In Six As Giants Conquer

Rockies

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DENVER, Col. – San Francisco – we have an offense. On this night anyway.

From the opening bell, San Francisco jumped on Rockies pitcher Brian Lawrence, starting when Randy

Winn lined the third pitch of the game down the right field line for a single. Following a stolen base by

the Giants center fielder, Omar Vizquel singled as well, driving Winn in for an early 1-0 lead.

Then the man everyone loves to hate showed the stroke that has him chasing a legend. In the third

inning, Barry Bonds made his presence felt for the first time tonight, blasting a two run shot for a 3-0

Giants lead. Bonds would add a three run shot in the fifth and a solo shot in the seventh to blow the

game open and send the Giants back to San Francisco on a two-game winning streak.

“I was getting pretty sick of Randy Winn talking about his eight home runs,†said Bonds in a rare inter-

view after the game. “I feel very good right now. The knees are great, the legs are great – good things

are going to start happening.â€

Lost in the firepower was a stellar outing by Matt Morris, who went the distance tonight, allowing two

runs on seven hits – with both runs coming in the bottom of the ninth.

“For the first time in a long time,†said Morris, “I felt great. My control was good, the curveball was

hooking. This is what I’ve been trying to do for these fans. Hopefully I can carry this success over into

my next start and get on a roll.â€

That’s just what the Giants hope to do tomorrow night when they return to San Francisco for another

short two-game set against St. Louis before hosting Arizona over the weekend.

First pitch tomorrow night is scheduled for 7:15pm PST.

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Omar Vizquel singles in the first, plating Randy Winn for an early 1-0 Giants lead.

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The number one story of the game (or what we’ll call Story 1A) was the offensive performance by fu-

ture Hall of Famer Barry Bonds. Bonds blasted three home runs on the day and drove in six RBI as the

Giants beat down Colorado 7-2.

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But, “Story 1A†wouldn’t have meant much if “Story 1B†didn’t hold off the Rockies offense at Coors Field.

And Matt Morris did just that, going the distance, allowing two runs on seven hits – with both runs com-

ing in the bottom of the ninth. Morris also struck out five on the day, his last victim on a failed check

swing by Brad Hawpe to end the game.

Scoring

T1: Vizquel single scores Winn

T3: Bonds two run HR

T5: Bonds three run HR

T7: Bonds solo HR

B9: Holliday double scores Taveras; Iannetta single scores Holliday

W – Morris (1-2) L – Lawrence (1-2)

Game Notes:

Every Giants hitter - even Matt Morris - got a hit tonight except for Rich Aurilia and Travis Ishikawa...

Following his start last night, Rodrigo Lopez pitched 1.1 innings of relief for Colorado tonight. He allow-

ed two hits but no runs.

Player of the Game:

Barry Bonds 4-5, 3 HR, 6 RBI

For Boxscore, click here

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April 17, 2007

Divisional Games

Los Angeles Bums (9-5) 6, Arizona Diamondbacks (7-8) 1

San Diego Padres (4-10) 0, Chicago Cubs (7-7) 6

League Injuries

PIT SP Shawn Chacon is day-to-day with strained ribs.

NYY SP Humberto Sanchez was placed on the 15-day DL with knee tendonitis.

ARI SP Brandon Webb is day-to-day with a bruised ankle.

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