San Francisco Giants lose series in the desert after dropping one-run game

Sep 9, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants base runner Kelby Tomlinson dives back to first on an eighth inning pickoff attempt against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants kept my hopes up all the way through the ninth. That’s why they call San Francisco Giants baseball torture. Because that’s exactly what it is. 100 percent, pure, unadulterated, Grade A torture.

The road trip is over—and that’s the good news. The Giants won three out of ten games on the trip. It’s time to come home, lick their wounds and come out fighting. Chris Heston started out well, and his outing wasn’t that bad overall. I know that doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement, but I’m having some trouble with my pep.

My pep seems to have left my step. Maybe it’s the heat (I’m melting here) maybe it’s the Giants game, but whatever it is, It’s time to snap out of it!

Anyway…Heston: he made a simple mistake in the fourth and it exacted the ultimate price. The Arizona catcher, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, hit a home run with a runner on board. Heston kept the game close for the remainder of his outing. He allowed just the two runs on two hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings pitched, while striking out five.

The bullpen stepped in to relieve him and their combined efforts kept Arizona from scoring again.

The Giants scored one run in the sixth when Alejandro De Aza was brought into the game to pinch hit in the pitcher’s spot. He was hit by a pitch and was awarded first base, he moved over to second when Angel Pagan drew a walk, advanced to third on Joe Panik’s ground out and scored on a wild pitch that Saltalamacchia wasn’t able to contain. The final score was: Giants 1, Arizona 2

One thing happened that causes me some worry. Panik went after a ball in an attempt to make the play at first, but his dive didn’t end well. He didn’t get the ball, the runner made it to first and he ended up having to leave the game early because of his back.

The Giants were up Tuesday night, down again Wednesday night. The problem was the same old song‒the Giants get a runner or two on board…and then leave them stranded. I’m going to state the obvious‒they need to knock that off. Someone has got to come through with some clutch hitting.

I know they can do it. You know they can do it. They know they can do it…we’re a very knowledgeable group. But it’s time to pull the trigger and‒in the words of the famous shoe god‒just do it. The old “plenty of baseball left” thing is rapidly disappearing.

I still believe. But we’re running out of time.