San Francisco Giants End Skid, Beat San Diego Padres

Apr 19, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (15) and starting Tim Lincecum (55) prior to the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

This game had everything. A Buster Posey home run, Tim Lincecum throwing nasty pitches, and a replay review that helped change the course of a game. When all was said and done, the Giants ended their 3 game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Padres.

The Giants had scored only 1 run in each of their last 3 games. Buster Posey made sure today was not a repeat by blasting a 2 run home run in the top of the 1st inning to get the Giants on the board quickly. Posey hit the first pitch he saw from Padres starter Robbie Erlin over the left center field wall after Hunter Pence reached with a 1-out walk.

The scoring continued for the Giants in the top of the 2nd inning. Brandon Hicks walked with 1 out and Brandon Crawford moved him to 3rd with a base hit up the middle. Lincecum then tried to advance Crawford with a bunt, but Erlin was unable to keep the ball in the zone and walked him.

Angel Pagan came through with a line drive up the middle to score the Brandons and make it 4-0 Giants. It gave him 12 RBI on the season, good enough for the team lead. It was the first time this season Pagan drove in a run with less than 2 outs.

Things got a little wacky in the bottom of the 3rd inning. With 2 outs Will Venable (Max & Molly’s kid if you hadn’t heard) singled. Seth Smith followed that with a single and Lincecum loaded the bases with a 4 pitch walk to Xavier Nady. On a 3-1 pitch Chase Headley yanked one down the RF line and into the corner. Venable scored and Smith scored. Nady tried to follow them in and was called safe at the plate. The Giants challenged that Posey had tagged him and after a short review, Nady was called out and the score stayed at 4-2. Replay worked the way its supposed to work.

Then the pitchers took over. Robbie Erlin retired 14 straight Giants after Pagan’s single. He was pulled after 6 innings of work and 100 pitches. The Giants did not take advantage of the fact Erlin was out of the game. In fact, the Giants only had 3 hits all game, none after the 2nd inning.

Tim Lincecum showed improvement again. Aside from the trouble in the 3rd he only allowed a solo home run to Nick Hundley in the bottom of the 7th. In a little over 6 innings Lincecum struck out 7 and walked 3. He didn’t have the pin-point control he has shown lately, but the bite on his curve ball was working for him all day.

The Giants bullpen did a fine job. Jeremy Affeldt retired all 3 batters he faced after Lincecum left the game. Santiago Casilla faced 1 batter in the 8th and got a 5-4-3 double play. Sergio Romo got the save after a lead off walk to Headley. His 5th this season.

The Giants head to the mountains and begin a 3 game set in Coors Field tomorrow night. First pitch is 5:40 PT as Ryan Vogelsong (0-0, 5.40 ERA) takes on Jorge De La Rosa (0-3, 7.58 ERA).