Giants Destroy Rockies Playoff Hopes

Matt. Cain.

I think that says enough, don’t you?

In fourteen starts since the All-Star break, Matt Cain has compiled a 2.48 ERA along with a 0.65 WHIP. A 0.65, people. In addition, his batting average against is down to a paltry .189 and he’s just under a strikeout per inning in that time frame. Needless to say, Matt Cain has been the fucking man. Even Buster Posey might be scared of Matt Cain’s awesomez

Cain again dominated (something he’s done to the Rockies all season, going 3-0 with a 1.69 era and 0.78 whip in 4 starts versus the Purple People Eaters) taking a no hitter into the seventh inning before Jay Payton broke it up with a near routine ground ball to shortstop. The ball was hit a little slower than normal and Juan Uribe double clutched his throw, both situations combining to make the play much closer than it should have been which allowed Payton to beat the throw by a millisecond. Cain struck out the next batter, Miguel Olivo, but gave up a two run blast to Melvin Mora right after that. The Rockies added one more hit, a single by Carlos Gonzales in the 9th, but Matt Cain appeared unfazed as he tossed his fourth complete game of the 2010 campaign.

It was the biggest and most critical game of the season (thus far) for the G-men and Cain just dominated. You couldn’t have asked for more.

As for the offense, well, it worked. Freddy Sanchez went oddly deep for the second game in a row – a two strike, two run bomb into the left field corner that was a few whiskers away from grazing the foul pole. Either way, it staked the Giants to a super early 2-0 lead and it eventually proved to be the difference in the two run victory. The Giants missed a few golden opportunities (what a shocker) to really dig the Rockies hole for them, but Matt Cain figured he’d just do that on his own. The Rockies now sit a distant 4.5 games behind with only 7 to play (6, for the Giants). Mathematically they’re still in it, realistically….

The pitching continues to be of historic natures and the offense seems to be putting it together (even though it’s patchwork) just enough. It’s a bit worrisome that the Giants continue to rely on the homer so much, but, I guess it is what it is.

With the Giants win, they reclaimed first place as the Reds took out the Padres in Petco (in which the hometown Padre fans heavily boo’d their own…which was shocking).  The Braves fell victim to the curse of the sleeper as the Washington Nationals took two of three in DC, dropping the Braves to a full game behind the Giants (assuming the Giants lead the Wild Card, which they don’t…but I’m a fact giver. Yea. A fact giver. Suck it).

As it stands now, for home field/matchup purposes:

Philly – 93-63

San Fran – 88-68

San Diego – 87-68

Cincy – 87-69

Atlanta – 87-69

Colorado – 83-72

The Giants have today off (Padres host the Cubs, Braves host Florida), so whatever the case, the Giants will wake up tomorrow leading something, be it a tie in the NL West or the Wild Card by a half game.