Giants Solid in 9-Game Homestand

Although the Giants didn't finish off their 9-game homestand with a victory Sunday, they have to feel pretty good about what they were able to accomplish throughout the last 3 series vs. arguably the leagues best teams.

Any time you take 2 of 3 from a division favorite, that's a good series, and the Giants did that to 3 different division favorites(St. Louis, Philadelphia and Colorado). Jonathan Sanchez got roughed up a little by the Rockies on Sunday, which cost the Giants a 3-game sweep of the pre-season NL West favorites, but they still won 2 of 3 from them to keep that series winning streak alive. Sanchez started out strong, but his wildness got him into trouble in the 4th and 5th innings and knocked him out of the game. His line for the day was 4 2/3 innings, 3 hits, 3 earned runs, 5 walks and strikeouts. He didn't give up too many hard hit balls, but all those walks allowed too many baserunners and the Rockies cashed in on their opportunities. Offensively, the Giants couldn't really get anything going on Sunday, a problem that they haven't really had on this homestand. They only mustered up 4 hits against the Rockies young righty, Jhoulys Chacin and 3 relievers and their only run came on Aubrey Huff's 4th big fly of the season and 3rd in the last 5 ballgames. That's a very positive sign for the Giants to get Huff's power bat going. It seemed like he was a little discouraged hitting at AT&T Park for the first part of April, but it looks like he's settling in, and surprisingly has hit all 4 of his homers at home.

The Giants also got a few important pieces to their lineup back in Aaron Rowand and Juan Uribe. Uribe only missed a handful of games, but immediately showed is value by driving in 5 runs over his first two games back in the starting lineup (Friday and Saturday vs. Colorado). Rowand was activated from the 15-day DL on Sunday as well, and everybody hoping he picks up right where he left off before he got beaned in the face by Clayton Kershaw a couple weeks back. In the 7 games prior to that one, Rowand was hitting .412 with a homer, 6 runs and 6 RBI. Getting both Uribe and Rowand back in their everyday should further boost the offense, which put together and overall solid homestand. They got a good showing out of Matt Downs, who filled in nicely for Uribe, and now for Edgar Renteria. Downs is hitting .375, albeit in just 16 at-bats, but he's showing some pop as 4 of his 6 hits have been for extra bases ( 1 hr, 3 2b). The showing by Downs, and the recent improvement by Andres Torres, allowed both guys to keep roster spots after Rowand's activation. Instead, the Giants sent down seldom used reliever Waldis Joaquin. The Giants starting pitching (outside of Sanchez on Sunday) has been so good lately, that Bochy feels the Giants can roll with just 6 relievers for the time being.

On Tap: The Giants start their brief 6-game East Coast trip with three games in Florida starting Tuesday, then 3 in New York vs. the NL East leading Mets. Both these teams are playing pretty well, so things aren't getting much easier. Then they return home for a showdown with the division leading Padres... Coming up next here at The GBB will be our Giants Minor League Report.