Rockies Sweep SF, Take Back 1st Place

It started off with one of Tim Lincecum's wildest starts of his big league career, and little help from the bullpen, in an ugly 7-4 loss, dropping his record to 3-4. Game 2 started out well, but finished up in very much the same fashion, as the Giants dropped both games of the 2-game set to Colorado, and their possession of first place in the NL West.

You could tell early on in Monday night's game that it was going to be an interesting one. Tim Lincecum was all over the place early, walking guys, and getting tattooed like Lincecum rarely does when he did come into the zone, just because he was always behind in the count. He walked 6 guys and threw a ball into center field when trying to turn a double play. He allowed 9 hits (2 HR, albeit 1 one was F9 anywhere else) while not even making it out of the 6th inning. It was an outing you'll rarely see the 27 year-old right hander make, and It'll occupy his mind until he laces them up next this week in LA. And it was finally a game in which you really couldn't blame the offense. Although they came up with a few big hits, Nate Schierholtz's 3-run blast to right along with Andres Torres solo job to dead center, you expect 4 runs to be enough for your ace to work with, but the Rockies rallied, as they so often do, in their home ballpark for the late inning victory. Speaking of Torres, that guy has been a godsend since returning from the DL, and hopefully he's just what they need to help kick-start the sputtering offense.

Game 2 started out a lot like game one did, with the Giants jumping out to an early lead, except for this time, Jonathan Sanchez was absolutely dealing (up until that 8th inning). Through the first 7, Sanchez allowed just 3 hits, 0 walks and 5 strikeouts, his one mistake being a solo home run to Troy Tulowitzki, but outside of that, he was the Jonathan Sanchez we all expect to see when he takes, tough to hit. But then the 8th inning rolls around and he ran into a little bit of trouble. He allowed 2 quick singles to Spilboroughs and Iannetta and I think right then and there is when his concentration drifted, cause the next batter laid down a bunt and Sanchez, trying to get the lead runner, threw the ball into center field, which ended up opening the flood gates in a 4-run Rockie inning. I know it's hindsight now and I was only just thinking about it at the time, but after the 2 quick singles in the 8th, I began to think that was it for Sanchez. Problem is, the Giants had nobody ready in the bullpen yet, and Boch couldn't make a move right then and there. The only lefty who Boch has any kind of confidence in right now out of the pen is Javier Lopez, and he's been getting a lot of work. He had to get the call, and he wasn't himself either, allowing a few hits and a run.

On Deck: So now the Giants are down a game to the Rockies in the standings, and it's only mid-May, so it really means nothing in the long scheme of things, but there are some issues I'm a little worried about as the team heads to LA for Part. 2 of their mid-week mini-series. First off, the LH bullpen situation is starting to become a problem. Santiago Cassilla (albeit a righty) is close to being ready, and when he comes back, he has to take Dan Runzler's spot. Bochy should not be using the Lefty vs. Lefty as a priority, at least until the 7th or 8th inning of really close games, but you cannot over-work Lopez. They need to start looking at RH relievers who have success at getting lefties out, and use them vs. left-handed pitching when Lopez is out and Affeldt struggling. Again, another reason to bring Zito back in relief!