Wounded Giants Return to Bay for Homestand
Posted by beaston26 on August 22nd, 2011
To say the San Francisco Giants recent 10 game road trip was a trying time is an understatement. Each day a new face (or faces) made his way to the trainers’ room with an injury. All-Stars Brian Wilson and Carlos Beltran were placed on the disabled list. Joining them on the DL were set-up man Sergio Romo (elbow), Eli Whiteside (concussion), and Andres Torres (leg). The list of players missing time on the trip was quite extensive. Jeff Keppinger missed a few games after injuring his wrist during a collision with Atlanta first basement Freddie Freeman. Jonathon Sanchez was also hurt in Atlanta, spraining his ankle fielding a bunt and missed his next scheduled start Sunday. Orlando Cabrera sat out with a sore groin. Aaron Rowand was unavailable nursing a ribcage injury. Pablo Sandoval had to come out of the opener against Atlanta after fouling a ball off his foot. The Kung Fu Panda also missed a game with left shoulder soreness that limited the switch-hitter to hitting strictly from the left side. Additionally, Nate Schierholtz missed action with an ailing hip.
With the injuries piling up at an alarming rate, it is pretty remarkable that the Giants finished 4-6 during the trip. After taking 2 of 3 versus Florida, the Giants dropped 3 of 4 against Atlanta with all 3 losses coming by 1 run. The series opener was a 5-4 loss where the bearded wonder Wilson blew a 2 run lead by surrendering 3 in the ninth (his last appearance). Game 2 was a walk-off for the Braves in extra innings. San Francisco took game 3 behind a dominant effort from Matt Cain, but dropped the finale with 1-0 shutout. Ace Tim Lincecum pitched 7 strong innings allowing only one run on a location mistake that Chipper Jones sent into the right field seats. The Giants can take a deep sigh of relief after a gritty 11 inning win Sunday to avoid being swept in the final game of the swing to the lowly Houston Astros, especially after Arizona dropped 5 of 6 and was swept by Atlanta, allowing the Giants to decrease their deficit to 1.5 games in the NL West.
After a day off Monday (to hopefully receive much needed treatment and heal up), the Giants begin a twelve game homestand, their longest of the season. The stand starts with 2 games against an improving San Diego Padres squad, 4 games with the Astros, 3 with the Cubs, and concludes with a huge series against division leading Arizona, the first of the final two series between the NL West contenders. The Giants have their fingers crossed that one of their fallen soldiers with be able to return during the week with Beltran eligible to come off the DL Tuesday. Beltran’s return would provide the paltry Giant offense with some much needed punch. If the Giants are to regain their health and winning ways for a stretch playoff run, this homestand would seem like the perfect springboard to do so.
