SB Nation Bay Area - Giants Clinch NL West, Beat Padres Behind Jonathan Sanchezhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2010-10-03T16:47:08-07:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14891192010-10-03T16:47:08-07:002010-10-03T16:47:08-07:00Giants Pitching Behind Jonathan Sanchez Delivers NL West Title
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<p>San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Jonathan Sanchez and five relievers combined on a four-hit shutout and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/san-francisco-giants">San Francisco Giants</a> captured the NL West title with a 3-0 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/san-diego-padres">Padres</a>, eliminating San Diego from playoff contention on the final day of the regular season.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> lost the first two games of this season-concluding series, but are now in the playoffs for the first time since 2003 when they won the NL West. They'll host the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/atlanta-braves">Atlanta Braves</a> on Thursday in the opener of that Division Series with NL East winner Philadelphia set to battle NL Central champion Cincinnati in the other first-round best-of-five series.</p>
<p>Sanchez tripled and scored the game's first run, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/68908/buster-posey">Buster Posey</a> put the exclamation point on the win with a lead-off homer in the eighth inning.</p>
<p>Atlanta's 8-7 home win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/philadelphia-phillies">Phillies</a> earlier Sunday put the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> a half- game ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a> in the race for the wild card spot. The Padres, who entered the day also a game behind the Giants in the division, could have forced a three-way tie for the final two postseason spots, but instead were kept on the outside for a fourth straight year.</p>
<p>The Padres (90-72) were ahead by 6 1/2 games on August 25, but then endured a 10-game skid as the Giants (92-70) got back in the race. San Francisco eventually carried a three-game lead into this weekend, but lost 6-4 on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday to set up the dramatic conclusion.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/4386/brian-wilson">Brian Wilson</a> pitched the final inning for his 48th save as the Giants gave their orange-clad fans a big celebration. Wilson, who tied Rod Beck's single- season save record set in 1993, fanned <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/33206/will-venable">Will Venable</a> to end the game. The Giants then mobbed the mound.</p>
<p>Sanchez (13-9) allowed three hits and five walks, while fanning five over five-plus frames. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/29/santiago-casilla">Santiago Casilla</a> benefited from a double play in the sixth and pitched through the seventh.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-giants/2010/10/3/1728711/san-francisco-giants-pitching-jonathan-sanchez-national-league-west-titleAvinash Kunnath2010-10-03T16:36:43-07:002010-10-03T16:36:43-07:00Giants Clinch The NL West, Buster Posey Leaps For Glory
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<p>Sometimes a pictures says a thousand words. A moving picture says ten thousand words. And Buster Posey tells it all here. <a href="http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2010/10/3/1728656/in-play-off-s#48419638" target="new">Courtesy of McCovey Chronicles</a>.</p>
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https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-giants/2010/10/3/1728700/san-francisco-giants-clinch-the-nl-west-buster-posey-leaps-for-gloryAvinash Kunnath2010-10-03T12:34:38-07:002010-10-03T12:34:38-07:00Giants Looking For That Elusive Win
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<p>(Sports Network) - The National League West is on the line this afternoon when the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a> try to complete a three-game sweep of the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a> and possibly force a one-game playoff to decide the division on Monday.</p>
<p>The Giants entered this weekend's series with the Padres at AT&T Park needing just one win to clinch the first playoff berth and division title since the 2003 season.</p>
<p>After Matt Cain was denied in Friday's series opener, <span>Barry Zito</span> had a chance to redeem himself with the fans and media on Saturday, but lasted just three innings and allowed four runs - three earned - to fall to 9-14 this season. <span>Juan Uribe</span> homered and <span>Pablo Sandoval</span> drove in a run in the 4-2 loss, San Francisco's second straight since a four-game win streak.</p>
<p>"We'll come here tomorrow and continue to fight," said San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy.</p>
<p>So now if the Giants lose today and the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a>, who are tied with San Diego atop the wild card standings, defeat Philadelphia, San Francisco and San Diego will meet Monday in a one-game playoff for the division title at Petco Park. The loser would then visit the Braves on Tuesday to decide the final postseason spot in the National League.</p>
<p>However, a San Francisco loss coupled with a Braves loss would give San Diego the NL West crown by virtue of a 12-5 edge in the season series with the Giants entering Sunday's play. The Giants would then take the wild card.</p>
<p>San Diego, though, would play the Braves on Monday if both clubs lose.</p>
<p>Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez will try to get it done when he takes the mound this afternoon. He's 12-9 with a 3.15 ERA over 33 games (32 starts) this season. Sanchez has won four of his last five decisions and is coming off Tuesday's 4-2 triumph over Arizona in which he held the D'Backs to a pair of runs in six innings.</p>
<p>Sanchez posted a no-decision at San Diego on Sept. 10, despite hurling five scoreless innings of one-run ball with four K's. He also walked seven batters and is 2-5 with a 2.69 ERA in 18 career games (11 starts) against the Padres.</p>
<p>Padres starter <span>Tim Stauffer</span> pitched 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball for the win on Saturday and <span>Heath Bell</span> allowed a run on three hits in the ninth to post his 47th save. <span>Miguel Tejada</span> had two hits and drove in a run, while<span>Chase Headley</span> ended with two hits as well.</p>
<p>San Diego, which hasn't been to the postseason since 2006, sends promising young right-hander <span>Mat Latos</span> to the mound Sunday and hopes he can put the brakes on a four-start losing streak. Latos' last win was Sept. 7 versus Los Angeles and dropped his latest outing versus the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Chicago Cubs</a> on Tuesday from Petco Park.</p>
<p>Latos was reached for four runs -- two earned -- in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-2 loss to the visiting Cubs, falling to 14-9 in 30 starts and raising his earned run average slightly to 2.92. San Francisco beat Latos on Sept. 12 this season and reached him for five runs in four innings of a 6-1 setback. Latos is 2-1 in five career starts against the Giants. He's also 9-5 in 18 road starts overall.</p>
<p>San Diego is also 7-1 at AT&T Park this season.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-giants/2010/10/3/1728201/giants-looking-for-that-elusive-winJames Brady2010-10-02T20:57:35-07:002010-10-02T20:57:35-07:00Giants Division Lead Down To One, Still Need One More Win
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<p>San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/4260/tim-stauffer">Tim Stauffer</a> pitched effectively into the seventh inning, and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/san-diego-padres">San Diego Padres</a> remained in postseason contention with a 4-2 win over the NL West-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/san-francisco-giants">San Francisco Giants</a>.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">Padres</a>, who improved to 12-5 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> this season and are 7-1 at AT&T Park, trimmed San Francisco's lead atop the division standings to one game. San Diego will also enter the final day of the regular season Sunday tied with Atlanta in the wild card race after the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/atlanta-braves">Braves</a> lost to the NL East- champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/philadelphia-phillies">Phillies</a> on Saturday.</p>
<p>"We need to do what we've done the last two days," said San Diego manager Bud Black. "Come out and pitch well, score enough runs and play our game."</p>
<p>San Francisco still needs just one win to clinch its first playoff spot and division title since 2003.</p>
<p>Stauffer (6-5) gave up an infield single to the second batter he faced, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/697/mike-fontenot">Mike Fontenot</a>, and didn't allow another hit until <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/165/juan-uribe">Juan Uribe</a> launched his career- high 24th home run of the season with one gone in the seventh.</p>
<p>When <span>Pablo Sandoval</span> stroked a single to right field, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/34211/luke-gregerson">Luke Gregerson</a> replaced Stauffer and retired the next two batters to end the inning, preserving a three-run lead in the process.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/34947/mike-adams">Mike Adams</a> tossed a 1-2-3 eighth for San Diego, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/254/heath-bell">Heath Bell</a> gave up consecutive one-out doubles to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/191/pat-burrell">Pat Burrell</a> and Uribe in the ninth before Sandoval cut the Giants' deficit to 4-2 with an RBI single. However, pinch- hitter <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/1061/jose-guillen">Jose Guillen</a> grounded into a game-ending double play.</p>
<p>Bell recorded his 47th save, tying him with San Francisco's <span>Brian Wilson</span> for the most in the majors.</p>
<p>"We'll come here tomorrow and continue to fight," said San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy.</p>
<p>Giants starting pitcher <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/328/barry-zito">Barry Zito</a> (9-14) lasted only three-plus innings. The veteran southpaw yielded four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and four walks.</p>
<p>San Diego jumped out to an early lead when Zito walked in two runs in the first inning.</p>
<p>Zito then gave up back-to-back singles to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/34/miguel-tejada">Miguel Tejada</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/199/adrian-gonzalez">Adrian Gonzalez</a> to put men on the corners to begin the third. After the next two batters struck out, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/689/scott-hairston">Scott Hairston</a> reached first on Sandoval's throwing error which allowed Tejada to score.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/45/chris-ray">Chris Ray</a> took over on the mound for the Giants after Zito issued a leadoff walk to Stauffer in the fourth. A <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/4300/chris-denorfia">Chris Denorfia</a> single and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/942/david-eckstein">David Eckstein</a> sacrifice bunt placed runners on second and third before San Diego's lead grew to 4-0 on a run-scoring single by Tejada.</p>
<p>Stauffer ran into trouble in the sixth after the first two batters were quickly retired. A fielding error by third baseman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/246/chase-headley">Chase Headley</a> on a ball hit by Fontenot extended the inning and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/9/aubrey-huff">Aubrey Huff</a> drew a walk. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/68908/buster-posey">Buster Posey</a>, though, was called out on strikes to defuse the rally, leading to a vehement argument from Bochy, who was subsequently ejected by home plate umpire Mike Everitt.</p>
<p>Bell has converted each of his last 34 save opportunities...The Giants have hit 18 home runs in their last nine games...San Diego finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-giants/2010/10/2/1727223/san-diego-padres-4-san-francisco-giants-2-nl-west-lead-oneAvinash Kunnath2010-10-01T23:28:32-07:002010-10-01T23:28:32-07:00Padres Survive Another Day, Giants Toil Another Day
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<p>The Giants entered game one against the Padres needing just one win to vault themselves into the playoffs. They'll have to wait at least one more day for that win if they ever do get it, as Adrian Gonzales and his three-run homer set the pace for the series to give the Padres a 6-4 win.</p>
<p>Matt Cain, the Giants current "ace," was given the loss after only four innings of play. He gave up 9 hits, six runs with three homeruns while striking out four. Not exactly the way the Giants expected things to go in this series. Still, Cain had himself a good year, and with any luck, will be able to get his redemption in the playoffs.</p>
<p>Both teams had 11 hits, but the Padres had the long ball. Ryan Ludwick and Matt Stairs hit solo homers of their own off of Cain. Aaron Rowand for the Giants hit a home run of his own, but it just wasn't enough. The Giants will look forward to the game tomorrow and for Barry Zito to put up a better performance than Cain.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-giants/2010/10/1/1725818/padres-survive-another-day-giants-toil-another-day-2010-mlb-playoffsJames Brady2010-10-01T16:29:27-07:002010-10-01T16:29:27-07:002010 MLB Playoffs And The San Francisco Giants
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<p>The NL West is in reach for the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>, as they hold a three-game lead on the <a href="https://www.gaslampball.com/">San Diego Padres</a>, and the two teams are set to begin play tonight on their <a href="http://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-giants/2010/10/1/1725078/giants-host-padres-for-final-series-to-decide-nl-west-mlb-playoffs" target="_blank">final three games of the season at AT&T Park.</a> The magic number for the Giants is one, just one win in this series and they take the division. </p>
<p>The Padres could come back, of course. It would require a three-game sweep of the Giants, followed by a one-game tiebreaker to decide who wins it. The Giants are sending out <span>Matt Cain</span> tonight, perhaps their best pitcher of late, and they feel good about their chances to clinch.</p>
<p>If the Giants clinch and the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> continue leading and win the wild card race, the Giants will play their first playoff game on Thursday, October 7th against the Braves. The game would be in AT&T Park. For more on the 2010 MLB Playoffs and scenarios, SB Nation has some <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/section/2010-mlb-playoffs" target="_blank">coverage at this link</a>. The Braves hold a 1.5 game lead over the Padres in the wild card race.</p>
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<p>From my <a href="http://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-giants/2010/10/1/1725323/2010-mlb-playoffs-and-the-san-francisco-giants" target="_blank">commentary post</a> at Bay Bridge Banter here on SB Nation Bay Area.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-giants/2010/10/1/1725376/2010-mlb-playoffs-and-the-san-francisco-giantsJames Brady2010-10-01T14:33:51-07:002010-10-01T14:33:51-07:00Giants Host Padres For Final Series To Decide NL West
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<p>It may sound like a broken record at this point, what with the usage of the word "critical," around here. Critical, crucial, and downright important are words you could use to describe every Giants series for the past couple months, but now that we've come down to it, this is the most crucial of all: the final three-game series of the season.</p>
<p>A homestand, against the NL West rival San Diego Padres, a team the Giants hold a three-game lead over in the division. The three game lead means the Giants need to only win one game to clinch the division, and the Padres would need to complete a three-game sweep, and then win the one-off playoff eliminator tiebreak directly after. The Padres are two games back of the wild card at the present time, as well.</p>
<p>Matt Cain is perhaps the Giants best pitcher at the moment, and he takes the mound tonight against the Padres. In four starts, Cain is sporting a 2.45 ERA with a 4-0 record in his last seven starts. He's allowed only two runs in his three starts and pitched a complete game against the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockies</a> last Sunday. In that game, he struck out eight, giving up two runs on three hits.</p>
<p>Cain has a losing record against the Padres overall, sporting a 5-8 record with 3.13 ERA in 22 starts against them. His last outing on September 9th was a 7-3 win, in which he gave up the three runs over eight innings.</p>
<p><span>Buster Posey</span>, <span>Pat Burrell</span> and a resurgent <span>Pablo Sandoval</span> all have their eyes on Padre's pitcher Clayton Richard, who takes the mound tonight against the Giants. Richard isn't doing well in recent starts, going 1-4 with a 4.42 ERA in his last six outings. He lost to the Giants earlier this month, giving up only one run in a 1-0 defeat. He's 3-2 in six starts against the Giants, and is 7-3 in 15 appearances as the visitor this season. The Padres have defeated the Giants 10 of 15 times this year, including a 5-1 record at AT&T Park.</p>
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<p class="game-info"><span>Friday, Oct 1, 2010, 7:15 PM PDT</span><br> AT&T Park</p>
<p class="pitchers"><span>Clayton Richard</span> <b>vs.</b> <span>Matt Cain</span></p>
<p class="weather"> Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-15 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 75.</p>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<td class="td-first">Sat 10/02 - <span>Tim Stauffer</span> <b>vs. </b><span>Barry Zito</span>
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<td class="td-last"><span>1:10 PM PDT</span></td>
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<td class="td-first">Sun 10/03 - <span>Mat Latos</span> <b>vs. </b>Jonathan Sanchez</td>
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<td class="td-last"><span>1:05 PM PDT</span></td>
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https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2010/10/1/2321895/giants-host-padres-for-final-series-to-decide-nl-westJames Brady