Pablo Sandoval powers SF Giants over Brewers

Pablo Sandoval and the San Francisco Giants continued to stay hot on their road trip as they took Game 2 against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday night, 7-4.

The Giants jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and went through the entire batting order before the unthinkable happened. Ryan Vogelsong came to the plate in the top of the 1st with bases loaded and two outs. You may say, Hey, it’s the pitcher, he’s not expected to do much. So what if he makes the 3rd out. We’re up 3-0 already. You would be right except for how he made the third out. I can’t find video anywhere, so I’ll do my best here.

Bases loaded and Vogelsong steps to the plate, works the count to 2-1 count. He hits a soft hopper to Brewers short stop Jean Segura that is picked up right behind second base. Segura runs the short distance to step on second base and force out Brandon Crawford, except Crawford slid and ended up being safe. Segura stops for a moment, realizing the blunder and assuming that in the meantime Vogelsong had made it to first base.

He hadn’t.

Once Vogelsong saw the caught ball, he assumed what everyone on the field did – that Crawford would be out at second base. He stopped running, looked down, and didn’t look up again and realize what had happened until it was too late. He ran the last few feet to first base, but by that time Segura had regrouped and realized he could still make and out that first base. And he did. The run from third didn’t score and Hunter Pence missed a shot a hitting with bases loaded.

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Angry Vogey was out, walked in the dugout, slung his helmet, and got his glove. You knew either one of two things would happen when he reach the mound. He’d either use his blunder as fuel to pitch a spectacular game, or he’d let it get to him and get blown up. After Vogelsong faced the Brewers first batter,

, you were certain it was going to be the latter.

Vogelsong gave up a leadoff home run to Gomez, the Brewers were back within two runs, and Vogelsong had now cost the Giants and equivalent of two runs.

But that’s where it ended for Vogelsong, who managed to re-group to pitch 6 innings. He allowed 7 hits on the night, but aside from the home run, he gave up no more runs. He had a quality start, got the win, and yet again this season, was able to fight through mistakes and limit the damage when the other team threatened. I’m sure we will never see another ballplayer as gutsy as Ryan Vogelsong. He earned his second win on this road trip, after throwing a complete game against the New York Mets and continues to give the Giants a chance to win nearly every time he’s on the mound.

As for the Giants hitting, Pablo Sandoval continued to stay hot. He was 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs and  a home run in the 8th inning. He’s hitting .350 in his last 10 games, and has had 3 RBIs in this last three games. He’s got a 7-game hitting streak going, and has hit home runs in back to back games in Milwaukee.

But it wasn’t just the Panda that brought his bat. Michael Morse, fresh off two days of rest, seemed to find his groove again, and while he wasn’t launching the home run ball, he added in another 3 RBIs for the Giants and went 2-for-4.  He had just 11 RBIs total in the months of June and July, so getting three in one game had to be encouraging for the slumping Morse.

Joe Panik also had 3 hits on the night, going 3-for-5 and raising his batting average to .261. Considering the production from 2B this year, Panik seems to be using his bat to tell the world he is ready and wants to be at 2B for the foreseeable future. He had 1 RBI last night, and seems to be getting more and more comfortable with each game. Funny how the promotion of Matt Duffy seemed to spark something in Panik. Competition can do that to you.

Santiago Casilla gave up a home run in the 9th inning, a solo shot to Khris Davis. It’s only the second home run allowed by Casilla this season. Of course, he only allowed two home runs in all of last season, so let’s hope he’s done giving them up this year.

Overall, the Giants had 14 hits on the night and left 12 runners on base. There were a lot of missed opportunities for them, but at least their putting up runs on the board.