San Francisco Giants drop opener against Cubs in Chicago, Crawford hits home run number 19

Aug 6, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) celebrates after hitting a two run home run during the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

Ouch. My mama said there’d be days like this.

Chris Heston, our amazing rookie pitcher took one on the chin Thursday night and was TKO’d after four innings. Truthfully? I was surprised when Heston came out to pitch the third. And even more surprised when Bruce Bochy took Heston out in the fifth‒just when he looked like he was settling in.

Earl Weaver once said: “The key to winning baseball games is pitching, fundamentals, and three run homers.” In the beginning of Thursday night’s game, the Cubs had the key and the Giants needed to call a locksmith.

I guess it’s safe to say the game started badly. It went downhill from there. And then, abracadabra, presto change-o, Heston was back and the Giants bats woke up.

In the first inning of Thursday night’s game, Heston was giving away first base like he was Santa Claus and it was Christmas Eve. He walked two hitters and hit one with a pitch. The first Cubby to actually hit the ball knocked in a pair of runs.

He didn’t give away bases in the second inning, but he started it off by giving up back-to-back hits. He struck the next guy out, and then gave up a home run. There’s that three run homer Earl was talking about.

For the first three innings the only Giants hit was Matt Duffy’s single in the first. But in the fourth inning, with two out‒yeah, yeah, I know, two out thunder, got it‒Hunter Pence roped one up the middle for an extra base hit. How do you top that? Well, with a Brandon Belt home run. The Giants are on the board.

Hunter got another  hit, a single in the sixth, and it was Brandon Crawford’s turn to bring him home. So Crawford did. With a home run. Just so you know, the Giants had two outs when he hit–they’re going to make us believe in “two out thunder” before the season ends.  The Giants were saved from being shut out by Hunter and the Brandons.

The bullpen came in and did a great job, especially Sergio Romo, who faced three hitters in the eighth and got all three to swing and miss, striking out the side. The final score was: Giants 4, Cubs 5

Using my “always look on the bright side of life” approach…the best thing about Thursday night’s game? We’re in Chicago, no more tomahawk chop.