Recap: Giants Bats Wake Up, Beat Marlins 14-10

Aug 16, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) connects for an two run RBI double during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
A funny thing happened at Marlins Park in Miami tonight, the Giants bats woke up. They broke out with 19 hits in a 14-10 victory over the Marlins. Back in June when the Marlins played 4 games at AT&T park, the Giants only scored 8 runs total. Tonight they had 12 runs after 4 innings.

The middle of the order stepped up as Buster Posey got the night off. Yes, the Giants scored 14 runs and Posey didn’t even get in the game. Go figure. Brandon Belt and Pablo Sandoval each tied career highs with 4 hit games. Hunter Pence went 3 for 6 and fell a HR short of the cycle. You’ll forgive him, he drove in 5 runs.

The Giants did not waste any time getting this hit-fest under way. The first three hitters in the Giants order all hit singles. Hunter Pence came to the plate with the bases loaded an no one out. He hit a rocket on the first pitch towards shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria that looked like a sure double play and a rally killer. But fortune smiled on the Giants and the ball kicked of the fielder’s glove in to left field to score 2 runs.

Pablo Sandoval followed with a 2 run double, and Giants fans everywhere felt confused as to what team we were watching.

Bruce Bochy said the other day that Pablo was finding his swing, tonight it came back in full force for Sandoval. The Giants forced Marlins starter Nathan Eovaldi to throw 42 pitches in that first inning. They fouled off 13 of them, a big key to that inning.

The second inning was more of the same for the Giants. After Brandon Crawford reached on a one out single and Belt reached on an error, Pence drove one to deep CF for a double. Sandoval followed with a single and the Giants stretched the lead to 10-0. In all the team that was hitting .189 with RISP went 10 for 20 on the night.

Chad Gaudin was not particulary effective. The Marlins scored 4 in the bottom of the 3rd inning. It was all started with a hit by the opposing pitcher. Logan Morrison hit a two out, two run double, and Placido Polanco drove him in with a single. Gaudin loaded the bases, but finally got out of it by getting Jeff Mathis to pop out.

Giants fans were worried, but the players weren’t. The Giants immediately came out and took control of the game back from the Marlins. Belt led off with a ground rule double, Pence followed with a double down the RF line. After Sandoval singled Hector Sanchez came to the plate. Posey got the night off and hey, the guy just hit a 3 run game winning HR yesterday. Sanchez hit a bomb to deep RF that landed at the back of the bullpen. He doesn’t want out of the lineup. We got this little nugget from Alex Pavlovic.

The Giants stretched the lead to 12-4 and the rout was on. The Marlins tried their best to come back. They scored 4 in the bottom of the 5th to drive Gaudin from the game. Jose Mijares limited the damage as best he could, but the Marlins drew close making it 12-9.

Sandy Rosario came in and saved the game for the Giants. One day after taking a line drive off his sternum, he delivered 2 innings of shutout ball. It was amazing to see him out there just one day later, pitching 2 full innings. Rosario is a gamer.

The Giants tacked on 2 runs in the 7th inning as Belt and Pence hit back to back triples. In fact, each of those two players were a HR short of the cycle. The Giants totaled 8 extra base hits after going 27 straight without hitting more than 3. The 8 XBH ties a season high for the Giants. Some more fun stats from the Giants Twitter account.

The Giants and Marlins will continue their 3 game series tomorrow at 4:10 PT at Marlins Park. It will be Matt Cain (7-8, 4.44 ERA) against Henderson Alvarez (2-1, 3.18 ERA) as the Giants try to guarantee at least a .500 road trip.