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Game 54: Rain and SF Homers Make Duke Miserable

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I didn’t think this one would be played. The game was delayed nearly three hours and by the time the game was in its waning innings, the two extra kids spending the night at my house were finally asleep. And so was I.

Jonathan Sanchez was very stingy. He allowed four singles and double and two walks in 6-1/3 innings. If not for some good fortune in the second inning, the Pirates would likely have been shutout. In the second, the Pirates had two runners on with two out and Zach Duke up. Rookie sensation Buster Posey botched a grounder. That allowed Ryan Doumit to score and put runners on second and third. Andrew McCutchen followed with a two run double. Neil Walker’s RBI single scored Cutch and it was 4-0.

Two runs from the Giants in the fifth, including a solo homer from Eli Whiteside, cut the margin in half. In the sixth, San Fran took the lead for good with some two out magic. Juan Uribe homered with Freddy Sanchez aboard to tie it. After Posey singled Aubrey Huff launched one over the fence to put the Giants up 6-4.

After Walker’s RBI single in the second, Sanchez (the pitcher not the 2B) retired 13 straight. The Pirates managed just one hit after the second inning off of Sanchez and three relievers. Brian Wilson finished up for the save. Duke allowed six runs and 10 hits in six innings. He walked none and whiffed five.

The Good
Walker had two more hits. Andy LaRoche also had two knocks.

Buc pitchers walked none.

The Bad
The rain, the longballs, the continued struggles with the bat and the losing.

I have a bad feeling that Tim Lincecum will throw a shutout on Sunday.

The Rest
Freddy Sanchez, who missed the first month-and-a-half of the season had three hits in his first game in PNC as a visiting player since 2003 when he was with Boston. He has an 8 game hitting streak.

Duke is now 2-4 against SF. Sanchez is 2-1 versus the Pirates with both wins coming in 2010.

Walker has three hits in two games in June. It took Aki Iwamura 13 starts to get three hits in May.

This was the third game the Giants have had three homers in 2010. The Pirates have a pair of three homer games and one four homer game.

Last time the Pirate pitching staff didn’t yield a free pass was May 5th. This was the third time in 2010 the Pirates have done that. The 2009 staff did it seven times.

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