Recap: San Francisco vs. Pittsburgh
Sports Network | September 07, 2008
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Pablo Sandoval went 2-for-3 and drove in five runs, including a three-run double in San Francisco's 10-run fourth inning, as the Giants came back to down the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-6 in the rubber match of a three-game set. Sandoval's three-run double cost the Pirates more than just the game, as it ricocheted off the face of All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth, cutting him above his left eye and forcing him to leave the game. Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits in three innings. Osiris Matos (1-2) picked up the win despite allowing two runs in one inning of relief. Randy Winn went 2-for-5, knocked in a run and scored for the Giants, who have won three of four. Jeff Karstens (2-5) gave up eight runs -- five earned -- on six hits in three- plus innings to take the loss. Jason Michaels went 2-for-3, drove in two runs and scored for the Pirates, who have dropped three of four and 17 of 22 overall. Pittsburgh's loss, its 82nd of the season, guaranteed a losing campaign, its 16th straight. The streak ties the longest in major league history. The Philadelphia Phillies also had 16 straight losing seasons, from 1933-1948. Trailing 5-0, the Giants exploded for 10 runs in the fourth. San Francisco quickly loaded the bases with no outs against Karstens, and Sandoval's line drive bounced in front of a diving McLouth, off his face, and into left, allowing all three runs to score. McLouth needed three stitches for the cut, and was replaced in center by Nyjer Morgan. Fred Lewis' RBI single kept the inning going, and Travis Ishikawa followed with an RBI double to left. Eugenio Velez's sacrifice bunt was misplayed by Steve Pearce, allowing another run to score. T.J. Beam came out of the bullpen to relieve Karstens, and pinch-hitter Dave Roberts greeted him with an RBI groundout. Winn then singled in a run and Emmanuel Burriss doubled to left. Nate Schierholtz singled in Winn, and Sandoval knocked in his fourth run of the frame with a sacrifice fly before Scott McClain flied out to finally end the inning, the first in which the Giants plated 10 runs since September 23, 2003 in Houston. Sandoval added another sac fly in the sixth. Pearce's RBI double in the eighth cut Pittsburgh's deficit to five runs, but that was as close as the Pirates would come. Michaels got the Pirates started in the third with an RBI single, and Robinzon Diaz singled in one run later in the frame, with a third Pirates run scoring on an error by Velez on the play. McLouth added an RBI double in the fourth, and Michaels gave the Bucs a 5-0 lead with a sac fly. Game Notes Matos picked up his first career win...Diaz had his first career hit and stolen base...Sandoval's five RBI are the most in a game by a Giants rookie since Damon Minor knocked in five in a game in 2003...The Pirates' last winning season was 1992, when they went 96-66, won the NL East, and lost in the NLCS for the third straight year. That was also Barry Bonds' last season in Pittsburgh. Game Notes Matos picked up his first career win...Diaz had his first career hit and stolen base...Sandoval's five RBI are the most in a game by a Giants rookie since Damon Minor knocked in five in a game in 2003...The Pirates' last winning season was 1992, when they went 96-66, won the NL East, and lost in the NLCS for the third straight year. That was also Barry Bonds' last season in Pittsburgh.
New FanShot
