The Giants were so dominant in the 2010 postseason that Matt Cain had no chance to match Cole Hamels? feat from 2008. Hamels went 4-0 and his team won all five of his starts as the Phillies marched to a World Series victory.
Cain, on the other hand, pitched just three times as the Giants cleaned up two years ago. Starting once each series, he allowed only one unearned run over 21 1/3 innings as San Francisco won its championship.
Until now, that was the only time the Giants had reached the postseason in Cain?s seven big-league seasons, meaning Cain entered his Game 1 start tonight with a 0.00 ERA. Unfortunately, it didn?t last for long. Cain left a curveball up to Brandon Phillips in the third, and Phillips deposited it into the stands in left for a two-run homer. In the fourth, Jay Bruce was able to yank a changeup out to right, making it 3-0.
With the Giants yet to score, Cain was removed for a pinch-hitter after five. He was at just 75 pitches and likely would have been good for two more innings, but this is the postseason and the Giants needed offense. They went on to lose 5-2.
For Cain, it was the first time he allowed two homers since the July 21. It happened five times during the regular season, yet two of those five outings came against the Reds.
The early exit makes Cain a candidate to come back and pitch Game 4 on short rest. The Giants haven?t announced their starters beyond Madison Bumgarner on Sunday, but expectations were that it?d be Tim Lincecum in Game 3 and Barry Zito in Game 4. Cain in Game 4 now seems a whole lot more likely, particularly if the Giants are down 2-1.
But that probably doesn?t scare the Reds. Cain has allowed 11 runs over 18 innings the three times he?s faced Cincinnati this year. While he?s plenty good, he suddenly appears vulnerable.
charlie st cloud celtics josh hamilton nba playoffs rosario dawson young jeezy world wildlife fund
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.