Giants’ five run fifth highlights Monday matinee

Mar 9, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman

(13) runs out of the batter

Another beautiful day at Scottsdale Stadium as the Giants take on the Dodgers, after losing both their split squad games yesterday.

Matt Cain started the Monday afternoon game, and it was his first time pitching in a game since bone spurs were removed from his elbow back in August. He looked very good, retiring all six batters he faced for a scoreless and hitless two innings of work. Ryan Vogelsong came on in the 3rd to relieve Cain, retiring another three straight batters.

It wasn’t until the 4th that Vogelsong got into a jam. After giving up a triple to the veteran Jimmy Rollins, he struck out Carl Crawford, but gave up a two-run home run to Yasiel Puig. The Dodgers pitchers were running on cruise control for the first half of the game, keeping the Giants relatively quiet.

The 5th proved differently for the Giants, as Brandon League put a wedge in the Dodgers pitching dominance for the afternoon. Adam Duvall singled, and as the Dodgers were about to turn a double play on Matt Duffy‘s ground ball, Kendrick miffed the throw which allowed Duffy to get to 2nd base.

Gregor Blanco was hit by the pitch, and Daniel Carbonell came in to pinch run for him. Brandon Hicks slashed a single to left, allowing Matt Duffy to score, and Jarrett Parker followed up with a single of his own to tie up the game at 2. Angel Pagan walked, which loaded the bases and prompted Don Mattingly to bring in Carlos Frias out of the bullpen.

Frias then had the weirdest of relief appearances, throwing wildly on his first pitch which scored Brandon Hicks. Then Joaquin Arias singled to Puig on the next pitch, and Parker scored on the play. Mac Williamson came in to pinch hit for Buster Posey, and hit a single on Frias’ third pitch, scoring Pagan. Frias then threw another wild pitch allowing Arias and Williamson to advance.

So after four pitches, the Giants mounted 3 more runs to pull ahead. That was all the scoring the Giants would do in that inning, and for the rest of the game. Chris Heston flashed good command in the top of the 6th, but struggled in the 7th to bring the Dodgers within one run as they chipped away.

Santiago Casilla came on in the 8th to try and hold the Giants slim lead, and after getting the first batter out, gave up a double and a single to Corey Seager and Scott Van Slyke respectively, tying the game at 5 runs a piece. After getting the next two batters out, the Giants went down in order in the bottom of the 8th.

Hunter Strickland responded by getting a 1-2-3 inning of his own in the top of the 9th, and with one half-inning left the Giants tried to squeeze out the victory. Carbonell singled to lead off the bottom of the 9th against Mike Thomas, Hicks was called out on strikes, but Parker walked. With runners at first and second, Guillermo Quiroz flied out to center and Arias grounded out to end the game at a 5-5 tie.

While the Giants did not end up winning the game, they had promising showings from their pitchers, and were able to overcome a 2-run deficit in a big way. Tomorrow the Giants will travel to the west side of the 101 loop, stopping at Peoria, to take on the Padres in a 1:05pm game.