Giants in “Rough Water”

June 25, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) celebrates after scoring a run in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Despite a 9th inning rally, the Giants and Mike Kickham were defeated by the Dodgers and Stephen Fife tonight by a score of 6-5. Both Buster Posey and Brandon Belt hit home runs, but even two home runs and a late rally couldn’t save the Giants from themselves. With two runners on base and two outs, Marco Scutaro hit a fly ball to the warning track that took quite a bit of effort from Matt Kemp to catch. But the catch was made, and the ballgame was over…leaving the tying and go ahead runs stranded.

By the way, the Giants are now a below .500 team.

Kickham pitched better tonight than his first start in Oakland. In fact, there were some signs that he may not be so bad after all. He only allowed 2 ER through the first 5 innings, it was just the first 1/3 of the 6th inning and reliever Jake Dunning that did him in tonight.

With injuries and piss-poor playing abound, the Giants fan base seems to be getting restless and the cautious despair slowly sinking inside. Even Giants GM Brian Sabean had a few things to say about his team, according to Henry Schulman of the SF Chronicle.

"“You earn your way to winning a division, you earn your way to be able to go to the World Series and you earn your World Series trophy by doing it on the field,” Sabean said before Tuesday night’s game. “Right now we’re not doing too much of it on the field. We’re in rough water right now.”"

Rough water or not, the All-Star break is fast approaching, which means the last half of the season is on its way too. The Giants have to figure out how to win and how to stay healthy if they are going to be contenders for the NL West Divisional title.

Tomorrow the Giants look to stop the sweep with Tim Lincecum facing Clayton Kershaw. If that doesn’t make you nervous, my friends, you have some nerves of steel.