Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game
Aubrey Huff. The ballplayer whose name sounds most like a Brazzers star or perhaps a member of an all-girl pop group went 3-4 with a double, home run and a walk. He also scored two runs and drove in three. Honorable mentions go to Pablo Sandoval, Matt Cain, Freddy Sanchez, and Bill Bray.
Key Plays
- Remember how we probably shouldn't have been counting on Volquez for anything this season as he was recovering from surgery? Anyway, he walked Andres Torres to start off the first inning, then gave up a single to Buster Posey. Aubrey Huff then double and drove them both in. Then Pat Burrell doubled and drove in Huff. Volquez uncorked a wild pitch and Burrell moved on to third. But Edinson struck out Jose Guillen! But Pablo Sandoval singled, and Burrell scored, then Juan Uribe walked. Freddy Sanchez hit a double, which was enough to drive in Sandoval. Pitcher Matt Cain grounded out, but Volquez walked Torres again to load the bases. By this time, Dusty had had enough, and yanked Volquez after 2/3 of an inning. Jordan Smith came in and struck out Posey. Giants lead, 5-0.
- The Reds were in a big hole, particularly with their starter not able to give them anything useful. But they've made their hay on comebacks, and it looked like they might battle back into the game in the third inning. With two outs, Laynce Nix reached on an infield single to the first baseman. Joey Votto then hit a ground rule double to put runners on second and third. Scott Rolen then hit a blast to center field to score them both. Giants lead, 5-2.
- The Giants studied at the Throat-Crushing School of Lead Protection, though. Freddy Sanchez led of the bottom of the third with a single. Matt Cain failed in his attempt to advance Sanchez with a bunt, but it didn't matter. Andres Torres hit a home run, and the Giants lead, 7-2.
- The Reds couldn't get anything going against Matt Cain for the rest of the game, but Jordan Smith and Bill Bray did a good job of stopping the bleeding after the third inning, as well as sparing some of the bullpen by pitching a combined 6.1 innings. Logan Ondrusek, who has been excellent this season, experienced a rather dramatic regression in the eighth inning. Aubrey Huff led off with a home run, and the Giants continued to hit the ball hard. New Giant and noted Red-killer Cody Ross singled, Nate Schierholtz doubled, and Pablo Sandoval doubled to drive them both in. A wild pitch put Schierholtz on third, where a groundout by Freddy Sanchez was all that he needed to score. Giants win, 11-2.
Other Notes
- Both Laynce Nix and Jim Edmonds left the game with injuries. Nix had a sprained left ankle while Edmonds had a right oblique strain, the same injury that has kept Orlando Cabrera from playing the last three weeks.
- Matt Cain retired the final 14 batters he faced.
- The five runs the Giants scored in the first inning was the most they'd scored since getting six against the Mets on June 2, 2008. This was Edinson Volquez's shortest start of his career.