Matt Cain Suicide Watch Begins Today
Apr 2nd, 2008 by DoctorD
The Giants played mostly mistake-free in the field, made some clutch pitches and did some good things in their second game of the season Tuesday night.
But reduced to its essence, they were left with this familiar outcome: Matt Cain pitched shutout ball and the Giants couldn’t reward him in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cain, who didn’t deserve his 7-16 record last season, found little luck in his first start of the year. He held the Dodgers scoreless over 5 2/3 innings but the Giants didn’t score until the seventh.
And the bullpen, asked to protect its first lead of the season, failed to hold it. Brad Hennessey allowed a tying, two-run single to Rafael Furcal in the bottom of the seventh.
Keiichi Yabu gave up pinch hitter Delmon Young’s game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth, which never left the infield but still scored Furcal from second base.
Second baseman Ray Durham smothered Young’s grounder and made a vain throw to first base. Furcal took occasion to make an aggressive play, slid in front of catcher Bengie Molina’s tag and the Dodgers poured onto the field in celebration.
It was the last of many lumps for Durham, who came up short on several diving attempts and jammed his left shoulder earlier in the game when James Loney toppled him on a clean takeout slide.
The Giants had 10 hits but little punch. All were singles. They have 15 hits in two games - none for extra bases.
Just a reminder that this guy has a lifetime WHIP that runs close to 1 and still has a 22-29 record.
But, seriously, isn’t this the point in the season where they bring in the down on his luck manager given one last shot in the bigs brings together a talented yet underachieving team?
What I’m saying is…