Giants’ All-Star ace, Tim Lincecum got through six innings with a lead against the Mets and his team was able to hold on and win 3-1, as he picked up his seventh victory of the year, and his second against the Mets this season
Mets’ starter, Chris Capuano was arguably just as good as Lincecum, but was not as strong as Timmy out of the gate. Lincecum limited the Mets to Daniel Murphy’s first inning, two out RBI double off the right field wall.
The Giants answered back quickly as, eight men came to bat in the bottom of the first, but only two, Miguel Tejada and Pablo Sandoval, came around to score in the frame and answer the Mets lone first inning run.
After his first inning hiccup, Capuano retired the next nine batters he faced before walking Tim Lincecum on a very close ball four in the fifth inning. He finished the night allowing the first inning earned runs (two) with four hits and four walks over six innings. He also got five different Giants to strike out.
On a normal basis this would usually result in a winning decision. However the Mets’ offense could not help their starting pitcher, as they could not capitalize on their specialty, after their first inning: two out RBI opportunities.
New York’s best opportunity came in the fifth with two outs and the Mets down by a run. Justin Turner took Lincecum to right field for a double. Carlos Beltran followed up with a 10-pitch walk, setting up Murphy to try and add to his RBI double in the first. But all Murphy could do was turn around and head back to the dugout after whiffing on Lincecum’s 1-2 curveball.
The Giants added to their one-run cushion in their half of the seventh against the usually solid Bobby Parnell. Back-to-back one out singles by Aaron Rowand and Miguel Tejada set up Pablo Sandoval with runners on the corners. Sandoval made the game 3-1 with an RBI fielders choice that erased Tejada at second, but scored Rowand from third.
The Mets final chance to score came in the ninth, after reliever Javier Lopez was lifted with two outs and the tying run at the plate. Instead of going to closer Brian Wilson, Giants skipper Bruce Bochy opted for Sergio Romo to face Scott Hairston as the potential tying run.
Bochy’s decision was understandable, as last night Hairston hit his go-ahead pinch-hit homerun off of Wilson. He was not going to chance lightning striking twice in two nights. The decision paid off as lightning did not strike twice when Hairston struck out swinging to end the game.
With the loss, the Mets are now 1-2 amid their four game span facing All-Star pitchers. They will go up against another Giant All-Star in Matt Cain.
Game Notes & Injury Updates:
With his MLB leading 28th double of the season, Carlos Beltran has reached base safely in his last 22 games.
Beltran also says he would waive his no-trade clause for San Francisco. The Giants will have an opportunity to woo Beltran further as he and Reyes will fly with the Giant’s All-Stars to Phoenix for Tuesday’s All-Star game.
David Wright is almost running at full speed, as he attempts to come back from a stress fracture in his back. Wright will run the bases and slide on Monday, and if all goes well he can start rehab games on Wednesday.
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