San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies (4)

Did somebody say 'sweep'

Today's game was a day game - only the third of my trip so far.  The Giants were going for a sweep.  They got it behind Matt Cain's struggles on the mound, giving up 5 runs in 5 innings.  Afterwards Bruce Bochy indicated that he would have pulled him in the 5th inning if any more Rockies had come to the plate.

The Giants have trouble scoring runs.  Apparently.  Torres got on to start the game and Fontenot promptly hit a 2-run home run.  Pablo Sandoval hit a triple.  In the 4th inning, Sandoval led off with a home run.  Later in the same inning, following homers from Belt and the pitcher Cain (2-run shot), Sandoval hit another one to cap an 8-run explosion that sealed the game.  The Giants added a couple more on to complete a 12-5 victory.

One of the differences between the teams was getting the clutch hits.  Both teams sent 6 batters to the plate in the first inning - the Giants scored 2, the Rockies left the bases loaded and scored nothing.  Odd things happened in today's game too.  With Huff on first base and JC Romero pitching for Colorado, he span around to try to pick him off, except Huff was standing on the bag and the Rockies' first baseman was on the outfield grass waiting for a normal pitch, and the pitch just hit Huff in the backside, much to the amusement of everybody.  During the singing of Take me out to The Ballgame during the middle of the 7th inning, it is traditional here for the broadcasters to throw peanuts to the crowd below - except tonight, they managed to hit one of the wires holding the net behind the plate, which tore the packet open and rained peanuts down on a section of the crowd below.  The T-shirt launchers have also managed to hit these wires!

After an absence of a month, San Francisco's opponents can Fear The Beard once again, as Brian Wilson was activated today and pitched the 8th inning.

Fear the Beard!  Brian Wilson pitches the 8th inning

From my seat, which is just on the 1st base side of the club area, right next to the press box, there's a view of the Rockies in the distance which I've not been able to see until now because of the game times:

The Rockies form a backdrop to the view

So that's it for my Giants this year.  They have a faint chance, but realistically need to win out and get some help from the Pirates to beat up the Diamondbacks.  Only three more games left now, and those are in New York starting on Tuesday.  Tomorrow is a travel day, with no game.