San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago Cubs for the first time this year

Aug 26, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Duffy (5) steals second base against Chicago Cubs second baseman Starlin Castro (13) during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time this season, the San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago Cubs. I know it’s tough to say out loud. Just keep repeating it, it gets easier with repetition. To be honest it’s pretty hard to believe.

Duane Kuiper said of the opening play of Wednesday night’s Giants game, “so that did not start out well.”

And I’ve been calling myself Captain Obvious.

ICYMI (in case you missed it) in the top of the first, the Cubs lead–off hitter popped up a high fly ball in the infield, between the pitcher’s mound and home plate. Buster Posey ripped off his mask, and did the pop-up dance with his back to the mound. Jake Peavy was behind Buster doing his own pop-up dance.

I don’t know if Peavy called it, but it seemed that he must have, because suddenly Buster peeled away, and Peavy was thrown off balance. Peavy landed on the grass on his pine warmer and the ball landed safely next to him.

The Cubs hitter should be commended–instead of watching the Giants battery do the pop-up tango, he lit out on the base paths. When the ball landed on the grass, he was in scoring position with a double. Of course, he eventually scored, along with another Cubs hitter.

The Giants were down two runs when they took their first turn at the plate. They used their half of the inning to even the score. Nori Aoki hit the second pitch offered to him “high and deep to right” according to our favorite announcer’s call, it was “outtahere!”

Matt Duffy drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third when Buster flied out. Marlon Byrd and Kelby Tomlinson both drew walks, and the bases were loaded when Juan Perez came up to bat.

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Perez hit the ball to the shortstop–who chose to go after Tomlinson at second, why not? he was closer, instead of throwing Perez out at first. By the time the shortstop threw to second, Tomlinson was already safely on base, man that kid can run! Duffy made it home, tying the game. If it hadn’t been for Tomlinson’s “outstanding hustle” (Kruk and Kuip’s words), Duffy’s run wouldn’t have scored.

The Giants pulled ahead in the sixth. Brandon Belt roped a line drive to left, legging out a triple. Buster hit a double, scoring Belt and Kelby hit a double scoring Buster, giving the Giants a two-run lead.

Peavy turned in a stellar outing. He pitched six and ⅓ solid innings, allowing two runs, five hits and three walks, while striking out three.

The bullpen did a great job in relief. All together no runs, hits or walks were allowed after the bullpen took over. Sergio Romo pitched a 1, 2, 3 shut down eighth inning and Santiago Casilla did the same in the ninth. The final score was: Giants 4, Cubs 2

There is one bad thing I have to say about Wednesday’s game: our third baseman, who is one of our key players, got tangled up at first when the Cubs attempted, unsuccessfully, to pick-off Duffy at first. Although Duffy avoided the pick-off, his ankle wasn’t so lucky. Manager Bruce Bochy said they’ll know more Thursday. In the meantime, Bochy said Buster may have to play third. How about we tell the Cubs to back off our boys–how many are they planning to take out?

I just keep repeating to myself: the Giants beat the Cubs for the first time this season. And then I shorten it to: the Giants beat the Cubs.

That’s what I’m talking about.

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