Giants Strand 10 RISP In 3-2 Win Over Red Sox

Ryan Vogelsong started out a little shaky but settled down after the Red Sox scored in the first inning and Shane Victorino homered in the third inning. Then he was absolutely amazing.  Vogelsong retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced. Overall his fastball velocity was down, topping around 88 MPH. But he was pissed and he was ON. He pitched a season high 7 innings, allowing 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO, 1 HR. 103 pitches-63 strikes. 1 hit since the 3rd inning shows how amazing Vogelsong got as the game went on.

August 20, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32) delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at AT

Jake Peavy, the 11 year veteran that spent eight years with the Padres, was more fired up than Vogelsong. He dropped an F-bomb by the time Scutaro came up to bat in the first inning then a run on of words going back to the dugout.

Xander Bogaerts (20 years old) made his major league debut tonight at shortstop for the Red Sox. He signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent in August 2009 and worked with Bam Bam Meulens in  the World Baseball Classic this year. He went 0-for-3 tonight and left five men on base for the Sox.

The Giants averaged six runs a game on the recent road trip and they couldn’t get it going at home in SF. Belt hit a triple to lead off the 4th inning but the Giants could not bring the runner home. This is baffling to me. Why is no one bunting? Peavy is known for getting people to ground out so if I know this, surely Bochy knows this. Why not run the squeeze play with Belt on 3B? C’mon Bochy – shake things up a little bit and score a run!

"A 410 ft triple, and still the Giants come up empty.- Jon Miller"

In the next (5th) inning, Roger Kieschnick singled and Joaquin Arias (who was at 3B w/ Pablo scratched with back soreness) hit a triple.  This was now 4 chances with a runner on 3B. Could they bring home Arias in the 5th inning to at least tie the game? Nope. Even Kruk and Kuip mentioned the squeeze play. There were five times in the last four innings the Giants didn’t even need a hit to get the runner home.

Why not experiment now? Get the team doing something different out there and stop playing it safe. It’s a one run game! Nope. Giants now 0-10 with RISP.

The 8th inning… FINALLY we get Scutaro home to tie the game with a Posey sac fly to right which was foul. I’m still confused on why Victorino didn’t let the ball land in foul territory but we’ll take it.

Sergio Romo retired the Red Sox in 10 pitches in the 9th inning. He’s had a fantastic season with the Giants this year. 30-for-34 saves for the Giants.

The anti-climactic bases loaded walk by Scutaro ended in a Giants walk-off win. A literal walk-off. The Giants haven’t had a walk-off win since June 22 vs the Marlins. They are now 32-32 at home this season.