Foul Ball: Giants Start With Torture, End With Rout

San Francisco 9 Texas 0, Giants Take 2-0 Series Lead: This game started out as a typical Giants game. Reaching base, leaving men on. Starting pitcher is dominate, so the Giants are still in the game. Some scrub (Edgar Renteria) hits a home run for the Giants to give them the lead. Giants pitcher allows hitters to reach base, but somehow doesn't allow them to score. Just your typical tortures Giants game.

Then all hell broke lose in the eighth inning. Rangers reliever Darren O'Day was able to get out the first couple of Giants hitters. Then Ron Washington went to his bullpen, but instead of bringing in his closer, Washington brought in Derek Holland. Why he didn't bring in his closer in a tight game (the Giants were only up by two runs) will be something that will haunt Washington for the rest of his life if the Rangers don't win this series.

Holland couldn't find the strike zone to save his life. He walked the first three hitters he faced to load the bases. Then he walked Aubrey Huff, which would score a run. Mercifully Holland was pulled in favor of Mark Lowe. One problem though, he started to walk hitters. Lowe walked in two runs himself. Just an amazing meltdown by the Rangers relievers. Aaron Rowand and Edgar Renteria would drive in runs the old fashion way during that inning, but the damage had already been done to the Rangers. They were too shell shocked to realize that Guillermo Mota was closing out the game.

Matt Cain pitched another beautiful game. Cain went seven and two-thirds innings giving up four hits, two walks, along with two strikeouts. Fanhouse brings the stat of the night with this little gem about Matt Cain: "Cain this postseason has three starts of at least 6 2/3 innings and no earned runs. The only other pitchers to do that are Waite Hoyt in 1921, Christy Mathewson in 1906 and Kenny Rogers in 2006." 

The series now shifts to Dallas, to a ballpark that favors the Rangers more than the Giants. The Rangers will be in their comfort zone and will face Jonathon Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner to try and tie this series.

Bruce Bochy Quote: Bochy will never be the greatest quote. From the AP; “You take all the runs you can get,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s nice to have a cushion going into the ninth.”

Ron Washington Quote: At least Ron has a positive attitude. From the AP; “I don’t think we caught any breaks yet,” Washington said. “We certainly don’t feel like we’re defeated. We’re heading home. They took care of us in their ballpark, now we’re headed to ours.”

Create a Caption: Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray showing his support for the Giants.  

Create a Caption: This photo says it all, doesn't it? 

Video of the Day: In honor of Steve Perry attending the game.