This Week in San Francisco Giants’ History: May 16, 2004

May 16, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; View from outside AT&T Park

“This Week” will be a weekly series featuring historical moments in San Francisco Giants’ history.

I wanted to start this series off with what happened 10 years ago today, but after using some Google-Fu, I learned the Giants had an off-day. So instead, I decided to start this series off with what happened 10 years ago May 16, 2004. Because the 2014 Giants had the best record of the MLB May 16 going into their 2^nd of 4 games against the Miami Marlins, at 27-15, I thought it would be interesting to see where we stood, who played, and what happened on that day in 2004.

On that day 10 years ago, the Giants were 15-22 going into the rubber match against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Outfielder Barry Bonds was out of the lineup due to back spasms and Second Baseman Ray Durham was out with a sore hamstring.

The Giants’ starting lineup looked like this: Jeffery Hammonds (LF), J.T. Snow (1^st), Marquis Grissom (CF), Edgardo Alfonso (3^rd), A.J. Pierzynski (C ), Dustin Mohr (RF), Deivi Cruz (SS), Neifi Perez (2^nd), Jerome Williams (P), and Felipe Alou as our Manager.  The Pirates’ starting lined up was: Jason Kendall (C ), Jack Wilson (SS), Daryle Ward (1^st), Craig Wilson (RF), Rob Mackowiak (CF), Jason Bay (LF), Bobby Hill (2^nd), Chris Stynes (3^rd), Kip Wells (P), and Manager Lloyd McClendon.

The game was played at SBC Park, which is now known as AT&T Park, right in the South of Market district at 24 Willie Mays Plaza.

The score was 0-0 going into the second. Center Fielder Rob Mackowiak hit a long, deep drive into Center Field for a home run for the Pirates. The score remained 1-0 until the 4th inning after a Mackowiak line drive into Right Field bringing Wilson in. Left Fielder Jason Bay hit a line drive into left field for a base hit, bringing in Wilson.

I know – I was as confused as you probably are with 2 Wilsons on the team. But I decided to leave out their first names just in case I mixed up Craig Wilson for Jack Wilson and vice versa.

In true Giants’ fashion, they didn’t score until the bottom of the 4th inning. Sound familiar? I guess some things never change. Marquis Grissom hit a long drive deep into left field for the only run the Giants would score that day – a home run, putting the Giants on the board.

In the 6^th the Pirates scored 2 with a 2-run homerun hit by Mackowiak. The score was now 5-1.

I think “Giants’ Torture” was in existence long before the popular lexicon came to be amongst the social media frenzy.

In the top of the 9th, Matt Herges came in as the new Pitcher for the Giants. Abraham Nunez pinch hit for Saloman Torres; Nunez hit a long drive deep into right field for a home run. The score was now Pirates 6, Giants 1.

The Pirates ended up winning the game against the Giants 8-1.  This brought the Giants’ record 15-23, after a game lasting 2 hours and 56 minutes, with 40,705 in attendance on that Sunday afternoon.

The Giants scored 1 run, with 8 hits, and no errors; the Pirates had 8 runs, with 15 hits and no errors. Jerome Williams penciled in a loss to add to his resume, and Kip Wells added another win to his.

The team colors may be the same, but the staff has changed, a little. J.T. Snow is retired and 2014 was his first year of eligibility as a BBWAA (Baseball Writers’ Association of America) Candidate. Marquis Grissom was the first base coach for the Washington Nationals in 2009. He is now retired and working with his organization, the Marquis Grissom Baseball Association. Felipe Alou, former Giants’ Manager, was hired as Special Assistant to Giants’ General Manager, Brian Sabean in 2006; since then he finally earned a World Series ring with the Giants in 2010.

Today’s San Francisco Giants consist of new faces such as Tyler Colvin, David Huff, and Brandon Hicks, and they now have 2 World Series titles. Their record going into today’s game looks different than it did in 2004.  But the love and passion of the game has been mysteriously handed down by the players of 10 years ago.  You can still hear their voices and antics in the deep crevices of the dugouts, out on the field and in the locker room.