The Padres make a trip up to San Francisco for the second time this season to take on the Giants. The final 3 games in the month of April.
The Giants had Madison Bumgarner on the hill for game 1, looking to continue where he left off in Colorado with a 2 run complete game. He did not. His problem was commanding his off speed pitches because he was not able to throw them for strikes. He fell behind the Padres hitters often and had to throw too many fastballs. With a pitcher like Bumgarner, his curve and cutter are key in keeping opposing hitters off balance and guessing. He got through the first 3 innings without giving up a run but scattered baserunners everywhere. Rene Rivera had himself a day for the Padres, he came into the game with 0 RBIs on the season and ended up going 2-5, HR, 5RBIs. He saw the ball well off Bumgarner who gave up a two run double to Rivera in the 4th on a cutter that he left up in the zone. The Giants offense was able to come back in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-2 lead. That lead we erased quickly as Bumgarner gave up a 3-run homer to Rivera in the 5th on a slider that he left right over the middle of the plate. As a pitcher myself that also throws a slider, he threw it in the worst spot, I have done the same thing and have been burned badly. The Giants were put in a hole but got a solo home run by Brandon Hicks on a hanging curveball right down the middle that he hit over the center field wall. That was it for the offense for the Giants.
San Diego 6, San Francisco 4
Matt Cain was scheduled to start game 2 but before the game cut his index finger with a knive in the team kitchen when he was making a sandwhich. Yusimero Petit got the spot start for the G-men. He was fantastic. He looked like the pitcher he was at the end of the season last year with pin point control of his fastballs inside and outside. He made it easy on the plate umpire to call strikes because he hit the glove everytime. He got help from the Giants hitters in the bottom of the 1st as Angel Pagan hit a leadoff home run on a high fastball that he hit down the line. Padre starter Eric Stults had trouble keeping the ball down which led to giving up another homer to Buster Posey in the first. Petit was on cruise control for the Giants, inning after inning just mowing down the Padre hitters, who had trouble squaring up anything he was throwing. He went 6 shutout innings, striking out 4 and only giving up 3 baserunners. The offense scored more runs throughout the game and the bullpen completed the shutout.
San Francisco 6, San Diego 0
In game 3 the Giants sent their new ace to the hill, Tim Hudson. He has been masterful to start the season and continued to impress Giants fans on this night. He was dealing. His command was on as usual and his sinker especially helped him keep his pitch count down. He got ground ball after ground ball and the Padres could do nothing. He kept working at a good pace as he usually does which helps keep the defense on their toes and ready to go. In the bottom of the first the offense got off to another fast start with new Giant Mike Morse getting his 20th RBI of the season on a double. In the 2nd Brandon Hicks hit an opposite field bomb for his 5th of the year. Tim Hudson continued to cruise, his only blemish was a run he gave up in the 8th on a ground out. He entered the 9th with only 80 pitches thrown in 8 innings which in the Giants history the past years in a new sight that is rare. Giants fans are so used to high pitch counts and their starters usually going maybe 6 or 7. After 2 outs, Hudson made his only mistake of the night, on a 1-2 pitch to Yasmani Grandal he left a sinker right down the middle and Grandal parked it into the bay. Romo came in and locked down his 7th save of the season.
San Francisco 3, San Diego 2
The Giants now head out of town and to the east coast to start a 3 game weekend series with the Atlanta Braves, then the Pirates and finally the Dodgers before heading back home. San Francisco has now won 5 of their last 6 games and are clicking on all phases of the baseball.
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