Giants Lose Sixth Straight With 2-1 Loss To Rockies

Yes, you read the headline correctly. Yes, I triple checked to make sure it was really six straight losses. But it feels like 100 to be honest.

This is the San Francisco Giants’ longest losing streak in three years, but there is still hope. In 2010, the Giants lost six (actually seven) in a row a from June 26-July 2, 2010. At the end of the losing streak, their record was 40-39. The Giants were also in 4th place (like now) but 5.5 games behind the first place San Diego Padres. Today on June 29,2013, the Giants are four games behind the first place Arizona Diamondbacks, who thankfully lost to the Atlanta Braves today 11-5.

We need to stay positive. The San Francisco Giants finished 2010 with a record of 92-70 and went on to win the World Series.

Matt Cain was nothing short of amazing today.  The first two innings were a little shaky with the Rockies scoring in the first inning off a RBI  single from the Michael Cuddyer who extended his hitting streak to 26 games.  The Giants recorded two errors in the second inning on the same play from Juan Perez and Pablo Sandoval.

Interesting stat: The Giants have recorded 58 errors this season. The Washington Nationals have the  highest number of errors in the National League at 59 with the Giants tied for second highest (58) with the Chicago Cubs (58) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (58).

Jun 29, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher

(18) before the start of the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Cain went on to retire his last 20 batters, going eight innings, 105 pitches and allowing just three hits and one run. I seriously hope he beat the crap out of the rest of the team in the locker room. He deserved a win and the team didn’t provide any run support which unfortunately these days is pretty common for the Giants.

Jeremy Affeldt (1-4) can’t get a right handed batter out lately to save a game and recorded the loss for the Giants. Everyone would like to see him back where he was at the end of 2012 but the reality is with no run support it’ll be tough for any pitcher to win or save a game.

The  Giants need to find a way to score runs. They need to play small ball and start bunting to get runners in scoring position. They need to remember how to steal bases and not get caught stealing every time. They need Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval to get hot again. Both are only hitting .243 (Pence) and .222 (Pablo) in their last 10 games.

As Duane Kuiper said post-game, “They need to create more opportunities and they just aren’t doing that.” Kruk answered later on in regards to The Giants’ starting pitching, “Matt Cain can’t pitch any better.”

Keep hope alive with Madison Bumgarner (7-5, 3.20 ERA) starting tomorrow vs Drew Pomeranz LHP (8-1, 4.34 ERA in AAA) making his first start of 2013 for the Rockies. It’s time to put an end to this losing streak and start winning some games.