Giants set San Francisco-era record in topping Phillies, 15-2

Jul 10, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Hunter Pence (8) third from left is greeted at home plate by second baseman Joe Panik (12), catcher Buster Posey (28), and third baseman Matt Duffy (5) after hitting a grand slam home run in the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

A week ago when I started to write about that night’s game, I said I was “speechless…blown away really.” Make that a double.

My friend and fellow Gamer Babe, Kandy, is married to Dave, the self-proclaimed number one Giants fan. He could very well be. When I sent him birthday wishes on Facebook yesterday, I wished for him a couple of Bye, Bye Babies, and maybe even a splash. Can you think of a better gift for the number one Giants fan? You’re welcome, Dave.

Friday night’s game was billed as the “Battle of the World Series MVPs” Madison Bumgarner (2014 MVP) for the Giants, and Cole Hamels (2008 MVP) for the Phillies. Since both teams were trotting out their big guns, it promised to be a pitching duel of epic proportions. Someone should have told Hamels that you’re supposed to use a loaded weapon.

Bumgarner pitched a good game, but he got into a few jams. After the game, manager Bruce Bochy said Bumgarner did a good job, but he took him out because we had a pretty good lead and Bumgarner had already thrown 103 pitches. He told reporters after the game: “…we had a pretty good cushion there, I didn’t want to overwork him.”

Bumgarner pitched five and two thirds innings, giving up two runs (one was a home run) on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven batters.

But the real story of the game? The offense. We’ve been waiting, somewhat patiently, for the Giants bats to wake up. Friday night they were so awake, it was like someone spiked the pine tar with espresso.

The Giants racked up 22 hits. That’s more hits than the Giants had over the previous 3 games’s combined. It’s also the most hits in a nine inning home game since the Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958.

The big hit of the night came off Hunter Pence’s bat. During the fourth inning with the bases loaded, Pence hit a high fly ball that bounced off Levi Landing. A total of eight runs were scored in the fourth inning. It was an embarrassment of riches. May I have another?

Angel Pagan led off the seventh inning with a double and Joe Panik plated him with a home run. It was a multi run, multi hit, multi RBI night. Pagan scored three runs, three hits and two RBIs, Panik had two runs, four hits and three RBIs, Duffy–one run, four hits and two RBIs, Belt scored three runs on two hits and two walks, Maxwell had a great night with three runs, four hits, two RBIs and a walk.

Even Bumgarner gave at the offense.  Never one to shy away from the batter’s box, he ended up with one run and an RBI on two hits. The final score was:
Giants 15, Phillies 2

It was an amazing night. Should we get bumper stickers that say “My World Series MVP can beat up your World Series MVP”? Too much? I don’t care. I like it, but I might have ticked off the baseball gods.