Giants Lose to Orioles 5-2 in Vogelsong’s Return

Tonight I tweeted that I felt like I was in an emotionally abusive relationship with the San Francisco Giants. I really can’t think of any other way to describe the way I feel. I get my hopes lifted and think, this time it’s going to work. But, they continue to find ways to disappoint me. I think the worst part, the most discouraging part, is that they seem so close to figuring some things out. Yet, here we are – August 9, 2013. A record of 51-64, dead last in the NL West, and 13.5 games out of 1st place. Tonight was a 5-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in 10 innings. This is the first game of a three game series.

Credit: ©Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Vogelsong made his first start since returning from the disabled list. Vogelsong pitched 6 innings/103 pitches, and although he was a little shaky at first, he got out of the game giving up only 2 earned runs on 6 hits, including a 2nd inning home run to J.J. Hardy. He wasn’t dominate and the Orioles hit him, but he did get better at locating his pitches as the game went on. Hopefully he’ll be a bit of a shot in the arm for the starting rotation.

Credit: ©Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Belt hit a monster of a home run, his 13th of the season. He’s now just one home run behind Buster Posey and Hunter Pence for team lead. This home run was impressive and was hit about 421 feet – right to the deepest part of AT&T Park. That is consecutive night home runs for Belt. Whatever adjustments he’s making in the box and with his hands are certainly working. Before tonight’s game, Belt was hitting .450 in the month of August, with 2 home runs. Tonight he was 2-for-4 with the home run and a leadoff single in the 9th. In fact, he scored the tying run in the bottom of the 9th tonight to push the game into extra innings.

Pablo Sandoval and Posey went 0-for-3 tonight. Sandoval, prior to tonight’s 0-fer, is hitting just .097 this month. He’s 8-for-31. Ouch! Marco Scutaro was 0-for-5 tonight. That certainly won’t help make his case for staying in the leadoff spot, especially when he’s just been hitting .200 this month. Overall though, it’s nice to see Belt and Brandon Crawford hitting better. Pence also had a 2-hit night, knocking in the tying RBI in the bottom of the 9th. Javier Lopez gets the rare credit for the loss after giving up 3 runs on 3 hits in the top of the 10th.

Here is a .gif of the Belt home run, compliments of Carmen Kiew.

Just for fun, this is the song that is stuck in my head when I think of the Giants lately.