Giants vs. Brewers: Giants Edge Brewers 2-1 For Series Win at AT&T

The Milwaukee Brewers have become a legitimate contender to the San Francisco Giants World Title defense, but have struggled at AT&T Park. Sunday was no different, and on the shores of McCovey Cove Madison Bumgarner and the Giants bullpen had terrific performances, keeping the Brew Crew in check, and winning by a score of 2-1. 

Bumgarner (W 6-9) lasted seven 2/3 innings this afternoon, keeping the Brewers to only one run after spraying eight hits against him, fanning eight in the process. The Brew Crew went 0-2 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base for the day, with their lone run coming from a Ryan Braun homer in the first, his fourth in the last five games and 20th of the season. Bummy gave up lead of hits to Milwaukee in the second, third, fourth, and sixth innings, but kept the Brewers from scoring every time. Sergio Romo finished off the eighth for Bummy with a ground out from Braun, while Brian Wilson secured his 31st save of the season with his second 1-2-3 ninth inning in a row for the Black and Orange with two strikeouts and a pop up from Rickie Weeks. 

Jeff Keppinger recorded his first RBI as a Giant with a single in the third that scored Bumgarner after he crushed a double into center field, followed by a Mike Fontenot sacrifice in the fourth that plated Nate Schierholtz. Brandon Belt went 2-2 with a walk, while Aubrey Huff went 3-4 with three singles. 

Yovani Gallardo (L 11-7) lasted for seven innings this afternoon, allowing six hits, two runs, one walk and five strikeouts in a losing effort for Milwaukee.

With the win the Giants move to 59-43 on the year, remaining 4 games ahead of Arizona in the NL West. Full box score can be found here. 

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. 

After a loss in game one, the Giants recovered nicely with a win in game two over the red-hot Brewers. All-Star Ryan Vogelsong (isn't that awesome to read? It's awesome to type) didn't last all that long, but he pitched well over five innings and now San Francisco is looking for a series victory this afternoon at AT&T Park.

Madison Bumgarner will be taking the mound for the defending world champions, and the kid is feeling good. He had a win in his last outing and moved to 5-9 on the season with a 3.72 earned run average. Bumgarner lasted eight innings against the Dodgers, striking out seven with no walks, giving up four hits and three runs. San Francisco won that game 5-3. He hasn't lost since June 21st, when he was shelled for eight runs in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins. Since then, he's picked up two wins and three no-decisions, all of which ended up being Giants wins.

He'll be looking for run support from a Giants offense that managed to "outgun" the Brewers with an "offensive onslaught" of four runs in game two. If that imagery isn't working for you, just note that Nate Schierholtz had two RBI, while Aubrey Huff had a sacrifice and Andres Torres added some insurance. Pablo Sandoval has been good of late as well, with hits coming all across the lineup. No one hitter is getting things done in San Francisco, and Bumgarner isn't picky about where his run support comes from. He just wants some.

If the trend continues, Bumgarner hasn't much to worry about this afternoon, as Yovani Gallardo has alternated wins and losses his last six outings, and will be pitching for the Brewers in the finale of the three-game set. Gallardo won his last outing, which consisted of six innings on the mound and three runs (one earned) off of four hits while walking one and fanning six. Before that, he lasted only four innings, giving up six runs off of eleven hits. As noted, alternating wins and losses continued for another four games.

He is 11-6 on the season, but that's a little inflated because the Gallardo of now is different from the Gallardo at the beginning of the season. He's sporting a 3.94 ERA and needs some help from the Brewers. He got it his last time out, when he allowed four runs to the Diamondbacks, his team put up eleven runs of support.

Call us risk-takers, but we'll go ahead and assume eleven runs would be enough to stifle Bumgarner and the Giants. The game is set for 1:05 p.m. on CSN Bay Area.

Another night at AT&T Park, another closely contested match for the San Francisco Giants. 

After falling to the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of the series Friday night the Giants were looking for a little payback, and had their All-Star Ryan Vogelsong on the mound to get the job done. And even though Vogey didn't last deep into the game, the bullpen dominated once again as the Black and Orange used some timely hitting to top the Brew Crew 4-2. 

Vogelsong (W 8-1) battled for five full inning tonight, allowing only two runs on seven hits with two walks and three punch outs. As many of his outings, Vogey had to deal with multiple base runners in multiple innings, but got out of all of the jams he was in aside for two, a Ryan Braun homer in the fourth, and a Nyger Morgan RBI double in the fifth. Then it was the bullpen's turn as skipper Bruce Bochy used Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt, Sergio Romo, Javier Lopez, and ultimately Brian Wilson for the last four innings of the game with Wilson earning his 30th save of the season on five pitches.

Nate Schierholtz powered the Giants offense early with a 2 RBI double in the fourth, finishing the night 3-4. Aubrey Huff's sacrifice in the fifth plated Aaron Rowand, while Andres Torres gave a little insurance in the eighth with an RBI single up the middle. 

With the win the Giants move to 58-43 on the year. Full box score can be found here. 

The Giants will go for the series win Sunday with Madison Bumgarner (5-9 3.72 ERA) taking on Yovani Gallardo (11-6 3.96 ERA). First pitch is set for 1:05 pm PT with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM. 

After the Milwaukee Brewers looked good enough to take game one of their series at AT&T Park against the San Francisco Giants on Friday, they'll have to deal with something they've never seen before on Saturday; Ryan Vogelsong. This will be the Brew Crew's first time facing the All-Star right hander, and with the way he's pitching this year, Milwaukee might be in for a long evening. 

Vogelsong (7-1 2.02 ERA) threw six 2/3 scoreless innings against the Dodgers on Monday, spraying seven hits and a walk and while fanning five. His seven wins so far this year are a career-high for the All-Star, and his ERA led the National League (before the break) after meeting the minimum inning requirement to qualify. Vogelsong will once again have enough to qualify if he can manage to last three innings on Saturday, put him right back up top in the NL.

Vogey is 4-1 with a 1.08 ERA at home this year, while Giants starters have thrown 11 quality starts now in their last 12 outings.

The Brewers will send out veteran Randy Wolf (6-7 3.58 ERA), who is coming off a tough luck loss in Arizona after he threw for seven 1/3 innings of three run ball along with eight hits, one walk and three strikeouts.  Wolf is 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA in nine career starts at AT&T Park, and 9-5 with a 2.77 ERA in 19 starts against San Francisco in his career. 

First pitch is set for 6:05 pm PT with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM. 

Coming into Friday night at AT&T Park the San Francisco Giants were looking to keep some of the hottest bats in the National League quiet in the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Matt Cain hung tough, Aaron Rowand hit a pinch-hit homer, but it all wasn't enough as the Brew Crew topped the G-Men by a score of 4-2.

Andres Torres began the game with a lead off double, was bunted over by his newest teammate Jeff Keppinger, than scored after Pablo Sandoval grounded out after lining one off the backside of Shaun Marcum. Yunesky Betancourt hit a two strike RBI double in the second to tie the game at one apiece, followed by a 2 RBI single from Jonathan Lucroy to make it 3-1.

The Brewers would strike back with another RBI from Betancourt in the sixth to make it 4-1, which Aaron Rowand responded to with a very impressive homer off a high and tight fastball that he somehow powered out of AT&T with alligator arms. Unfortunately the Giants offense would stop right there, unable to provide a fruitful rally after Jeff Keppinger's first hit as a Giant in the ninth off of closer John Axford. 

Matt Cain (L 8-6) fought through six innings of work tonight, allowing all four runs on eight his with only one walk and two strikeouts. The Brewers Shaun Marcum (W 9-3) lasted for seven innings of two run ball, along with four hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. 

With the loss the Giants remain 57-43 on the year. Full box score can be found here.

The Giants will send out Ryan Vogelsong (7-1 2.02 ERA) on Saturday to face the Brewers' Randy Wolf (6-7 3.58 ERA).  First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm PT with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM.

For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles to get in on the action.

The San Francisco Giants are going to be grinding down to the trade deadline wire, but their first acquisition of the season will make his first start in the Black and Orange Friday night.

Jeff Keppinger will get the start this evening at second base, batting second in the order behind Andres Torres. Aubrey Huff will play first while bat clean up tonight while Brandon Belt sits. Brandon Crawford will be at shortstop, Eli Whiteside will be behind the dish, and Matt Cain will be looking for his ninth win of the year.

Three quick facts:

The Giants have stole 13 bases since the All-Star break, second only to San Diego’s 16.

Matt Cain has the second lowest batting average against since June 1 at .189, and is third with 5 wins during that span.

The Giants bullpen has allowed only one run total in 23 2/3 innings since the All-Star break (0.38 ERA).

Your San Francisco Giants:

1. Andres Torres CF
2. Jeff Keppinger 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Aubrey Huff 1B
5. Nate Schierholtz RF
6. Cody Ross LF
7. Brandon Crawford SS
8. Eli Whiteside C
9. Matt Cain P

Milwaukee Brewers Lineup:

1. Corey Hart RF
2. Nyjer Morgan CF
3. Mark Kotsay LF
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. Rickie Weeks 2B
6. Casey McGehee 3B
7. Yuniesky Betancourt SS
8. Jonathan Lucroy C
9. Shaun Marcum P

First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 pm PT with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM.

For more discussion and analysis of the Black and Orange, head over to McCovey Chronicles and get in on the action.

The Giants had solid pitching in their last outing, but still succumbed in game three to the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropping a 1-0 game to avoid sweeping the NL West foes. Solid pitching will need to continue as they enter a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers, who sit tied atop the NL Central. Milwaukee lost in their last outing as well, a 4-0 setback to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Their record on the road hasn't been impressive this year, but the Giants will have their hands full nonetheless.

Matt Cain will be taking the mound for the defending champions, and he's already suffered a loss at the hands of the Brewers this season. He gave up five runs on eleven hits over six innings of work. He's 2-4 with a 4.73 in six starts against the Brewers and most definitely needs some help from the Giants this time out. Well, there's no such thing as "most definitely" in any sport, but Cain has his work cut out for him to be sure.

He gave up one earned run (three total) off of three hits while fanning nine batters in his most recent outing, a no decision in a Giants 4-3 win against the Padres. Cain is 5-2 at home this season and is 8-5 with a 2.99 ERA in 20 starts.

Shaun Marcum will be the counter to Cain, and he lost to the Giants in his last outing against them, in the same series in which Cain suffered the five-run shelling. Marcum also gave up five runs, his off of six hits, getting the loss in a 5-4 decision. He's 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA against the Giants all time, which includes just two starts. He's 8-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 20 starts, and had a win in his last outing, a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies, giving up two runs and four hits over five innings on the mound.

Pablo Sandoval should be back into the lineup for the Giants, after being held out of Wednesday's game against the Dodgers due to soreness. Jeff Keppinger might be a face we see more tonight, so far he's only had one at-bat, a pinch-hit flyout in Wednesday's game. Will Matt Cain get the kind of run support that he needs? Without the name "Matt Cain" there, it seems like a possibility, but given his history ... well, best to just say "who knows?"

The game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.