The Chicago Cubs came to AT&T Park this weekend fresh off a sweep of their own after a 12-game losing streak, though the San Francisco Giants had other plans in store. And after taking care of business in the first three games in this set, Monday was no different as the Black and Orange rallied for the 3-2 victory and first series sweep of the season.
Ryan Vogelsong (W 4-2) was steady once more, giving up a pair of RBi singles in the second inning before locking it down there on in. All in all Vogey would finish with seven innings of two-run ball, allowing eight hits and no walks along with three strikeouts. Then it was the offense's turn to back him up. It was his seventh straight start he lasted into the seventh inning while allowing two runs or less.
Brandon Crawford smacked and RBI double in the bottom of the second to get the Giants on the board, but an egregious mental error by Starlin Castro tied the game in the fifth after he forgot how many outs there were with the bases full of Giants. San Francisco would load them again in the seventh, as Buster Posey scored the go ahead run on a double play ball from Joaquin Arais.
Cubs start Jeff Samardzdja got a no decision after his five innings of work, though the loss was tagged to Carlos Marmol, his second L of the season. Jeremy Affeldt earned his first save of the year for his two perfect innings to close the game.
Posey walked four times this afternoon, the first time in his career to do so and the first done by a Giants since Juan Uribe in 2007. For some perspective, Barry Bonds has 16 such games in his career, even had three with five walks. Angel Pagan extended his home hitting streak to 28 after his 2-4 day, while Ryan Theriot went 2-4 with a stolen base as well as some very nice defensive plays as well.
The Giants now head down to San Diego for a three game set with the Padres. Tim Lincecum takes the bump on Tuesday for San Francisco, with first pitch on Tuesday is set for 7:05 p.m. PT with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM.