Well the sweat can be wiped from the brow, the Giants hot hitting is definately still effective against the Dodgers talented pitching staff, the proof is in the pudding and more than that on the score board, getting twelve hits and nine runs for the game. The start of the Dodgers batting order looked almost like a shaky start for Bumgarner but the risk was quieted with a few quick outs.
Those Giant's bats, boy did they come to play, in the bottom of the first Panik doubled to left followed by a Buster Posey RBI double to left, Hunter Pence singled to center and got to second as the throw to catch Posey at home came after he had scored from second. Panda flied out to center allowing Pence to tag and make it to third, Arias singled to right bringing home Pence, a wild pitch gave Arias second, Gregor Blanco was walked followed by Brandon Crawford hitting an RBI double to right bringing home Arias and Blanco wisely stayed at third, Bumgarner struck out looking to end the bottom of the first inning. All in all a four run five hit inning for the Giants who went through their entire batting line up, not bad to start off the game.
Dodgers started the second with a double by Ramirez to deep left, yet Madison Bumgarner pitched a strike out, a ground out, and a pop up out to leave Ramirez stranded in scoring position.
No surprise the Dodgers went to the bullpen early as Ryu was relieved by Perez, Pagan was walked then stole second, Panik's fly ball was caught in center field, Buster Posey was walked, then Hunter Pence hit into a double play ending the inning.
Even with a pinch hitter for the pitcher Perez the Dodgers got three kick outs and left the top of the third with still only one hit in the game down by four runs and already using their third pitcher of the game. Panda hit a single to start the bottom of the third, Panda got to second after Arias hit a single, Giants hit three straight hits with Blanco singling to center, though the excitement of the bases being loaded disapated with three straight outs. The fourth inning was uneventful other than Ramirez getting hit by a pitch most likely revenge for a forgotten home run three months ago, though who can really tell when a great pitcher can make it look like an accident, and it is no secret that these teams do not like each other.
The top of the fifth was Los Angeles' best chance to put points on the board, getting two hits and the bases loaded in the inning yet still couldn't muster an RBI. As if the wind wasn't thouroughly remove from the Dodger's sails Brandon Crawford hit a two run home run in the bottom of the fifth, pushing the lead to a daunting six to nil. The only Dodgers pitcher to last more than an inning (Frias made it three innings) was done after the end of the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh the iconic AT&T Park classic sprung from Ishikawa's bat, a three run splash hit home run, to make things even brighter for Giants fans a guy with a McCovey cove shirt kayaked to the ball and gathered it up with aid of his paddle.
After allowing only three hits in seven innings pitched Madison Bumgarner picked up the win with ease his fifth win in a row leaving him at 18-9 in his starts for the season, Giants starting pitching maintains their quality showing of late as all true baseball fans know is the key at this point in the season.
Buster Posey went 2-4 an RBI and a walk leaving his batting average at .310 for the season, Hunter Pence went 2-5 and an RBI, his average is sitting right under three hundred at .295. Arias hit 2-4 with an RBI, Crawford went 2-3 and 3 RBI's, Ishikawa's only at bat was a 3 run blast to McCovey cove.
Giants bats might as well be on fire with a couple home runs in the game and 12 hits, this team seems to be focused on getting back into the MLB postseason after missing their chance to defend their World Series title last year.
Giants sit one game back from the Dodgers in the division who they play tonight with Tim Hudson starting against Zack Greinke, and if the Giants continue to play the way they have they have a good chance to be sitting tied in the division with another home game to play for the lead in the division.
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