April 5 - April 7 v Los Angeles

Opening day... SF 4 LAD 2 - Jason Schmidt got off to a shaky start as light-hitting Cesar Izturis smacked a lead-off homer to open the Dodgers' season. In the second, new LA catcher Jason Phillips sac'd in a run and it was 2-0 Blue. SF got both runs back in the fourth on Edgardo Alfonzo's line drive homer to left field off of former Red Sox Derek Lowe. In the seventh, SF was putting together a rally, and a throwing error by Jose Valentin with 2 out allowed Ray Durham to score what would be the game winning run. In the eighth, after an Alfonzo double, another Dodger error allows Fonzi to score and make it 4-2. New Giant closer Armando Benitez give up a single to Kent, but then a double play and ground out gives SF the game, and Benitez his first save. Beat LA... →AP recap

LAD 10 SF 4 - Wednesday night, Kirk Rueter pitched a pretty good five innings, allowing just 2 Dodger runs. However, the relief entered in the sixth, and was no relief. Tyler Walker, Jason Christensen and Matt Herges were all hit hard in the late innings, and LA exploded for five runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh. SF added some late runs, but lost 4-10. Jose Valentin, the Dodger goat in game one, got hits from both sides of the plate and was a double short of the cycle. That Rueter only lasted five didn't help matters, but that's about how long he lasts thesedays. Manager Alou was serving a suspension from 2004... →AP recap

LAD 6 SF 0 - In Thursday's rubber match, SF was simply flat in their 6-0 loss to Los Angeles. The Giants were able to get runners to third base in only the first and ninth innings as Jered Weaver and threw eight strong innings. Brett Tomko kept trouble at bay until the Giants allowed a Dodger run in the fourth, with help from a Grissom error. Three more Dodgers scored in the sixth as little ball did the trick - three scoring singles. Jeff Fassero then threw some relief and was fine. Jim Brower was brought in, and it was his turn to stink - like Walker the night before - and JB allows 2 more Dodger runs in the ninth. SF looks listless as they can't seem to string hits together, and just aren't playing great baseball... →AP recap

April 8 - April 10 v Colorado

SF 10 COL 8 - Rockies in for three... Before the game, Moises Alou went on the disabled list with a calf strain. Lance Neikro was called up and started at 1st Base... Marquis Grissom smacked a three-run walk-off home run to left field to cement SF's 10-8 come from behind win over the Rockies on Friday night. SF had built a 6-0 lead, behind 3 Alfonzo RBI and Jason Ellison's 2nd career MLB HR, before the relievers melted down in the seventh and allowed eight Rockies runs, ruining Noah Lowry's fine start, going six plus innings and allowing only four hits. Finally, a game where SF's bats came alive, after a couple of frustrating games against LA... →AP recap

SF 4 COL 2 - Saturday afternoon, Jamey Wright tossed a great game for the Rockies, allowing just three hits before being lifted in the eighth, with one runner on base. The Rockies relievers proceeded to fill the bases with Giants and Michael Tucker took the first pitch he saw and deposited the ball into McCovey Cove for his first Grand Slam, and put SF up 4-1. The Rockies did get one in the ninth, but Benitez shut down the Rockies to earn his second save in as many chances. Jerome Williams was also great, striking out five and allowing five hits in his seven innings. Final, SF 4 - Colorado 2... →AP recap

SF 11 COL 4 - Sunday afternoon SF got their sweep against the Rockies behind the arm of Jason Schmidt and a seven run fifth inning in the 11-4 victory. Schmitty struck out seven over six innings with no earned runs and collected his second victory of the year. Fortunately the Giants offense was able to score plenty of runs as the three relievers were each charged with an earned run. The offense was effecient, with nothing greater than four doubles, but collected some early inning runs on simple outs, nibbling at Rockies starter Joe Kennedy until SF was able to pile it on in the fifth, which included two singles by Schmitty - in the same inning!... →AP recap

April 12 - April 13 at Los Angeles

Tuesday, the Dodger's home opener... LAD 9 SF 8 - After a great start to the game, the Giants found a new way to lose. Whereas last week the middle relievers stunk, today it was closer Benitez with a big assist from Jason Ellison, as the Dodgers scored four in the bottom of the ninth to beat SF 9-8. Three of those runs came on a ball that ran under Ellison's glove to seal the Blue victory. SF had a great start, with five scoring singles in the first inning, and a three-run blast from Pedro Feliz to right center to put SF up 8-3. SF committed four errors on the day and Benitez gets his first blown save... →AP recap

LAD 4 SF 1 - Wednesday night Odalis Perez allowed only four hits in 6.1 innings as LA beat the Giants 4-1, for his second good outing against the Giants in 2005. Brett Tomko gave up home runs early to Choi and Kent in the third inning. Jason Ellison started in right, and had trouble with two balls hit his way in the fifth, which allowed the fourth Dodger run to cross the plate. Tomko wouldn't last five innings and was charged with all four runs. SF offered nothing offensively outside of a wasted Alfonzo double. Durham continues to struggle. This is the kind of anemic Giants squad I hope we don't see often this season... →AP recap

April 15 - April 17 at Colorado

SF 13 COL 6 - Friday night in the thin air of Denver, SF unleashed their .500 playing frustration against the Rockies, pounding out a 13-6 victory. Noah Lowery wins and remains undefeated in his 22 MLB starts. Pedro Feliz helped the cause with a grand slam -third of his career- in the fourth that made the score 9-1. Grissom got his 2nd homer of the year the next inning. Jamey Wright, who was great in his start aginst SF last week, though getting no decision, was chased after four plus innings and absorbing nine earned runs. That's pro ball in Denver, for ya...→AP recap

COL 5 SF 4 - Saturday night Rockies starter Joe Kennedy out dueled Jason Schmidt, got 2 hits to help his cause and left in the seventh with a 4-2 lead, and getting 2 hits to help his cause. The Rockies stole five bases off Schmidt, who suffered his first loss in nine chances at Coors. The Giants collected 5 doubles and 2 homers. For SF, Jerome Williams made his first relief appearance in the majors, entering in the fifth to get some work in and gave up what would be the winning run, though Schmidt gets the loss. SF did score a pair in the ninth off a Tucker home run, but the Rockies were able to hold for only their second win, and snapped their eight game losing streak...→AP recap

SF 8 COL 6 - Sunday afternoon, SF was down 5-3 to the Rockies in the seventh inning and it was Michael Tucker to the rescue. The bases were loaded and Mr Tucker took Kim's toss into the Rockies bullpen. Just Tucker's second gramd slam in his career, and a week apart at that for the veteran. SF got an insurance run in the eighth, and Benitez allowed a run in the ninth, but earns the save, his 3rd in 4 chances. Kirk Rueter did not have a good outing, giving up 5 runs on 10 hits in just 3 innings of work. Fortunately, the bullpen was up to the challenge. Fonzie went 4-3 and is now batting .488...→AP recap

April 18 - April 19 at San Diego

SD 7 SF 2 - A quick 2-game series in San Diego and Jake Peavey for the Padres and Brett Tomko were keeping the hitters confused all night. In the sixth, Lance Niekro did connect on a Peavy pitch and put it in the second deck beyond left field - a monster blast of a first career MLB homer. Brett Tomko got in a jam in the seventh, but Alou decided to keep him in. Following a couple of walks, and a bobble by Vizquel that allowed Roberts to load the bases, Mark Loretta took the first pitch and wacked it for a double, clearing the bags. After an intentional walk, the next batter, Nevin, cracked a double and the two on base scored, as the rout was on. 7-2 final to the Padres, and it all happened on 4-5 pitches in the seventh, as Tomko's outing is wasted...→AP recap

SD 5 SF 2 - Tuesday night San Diego was able to hit the ball into the gaps as they begin to master Petco Park and defeated Jerome Williams and the Giants, 5-2, sweeping the short series. After San Diego picked up a run in the second, SF answered with two in the fourth. But the Padres countered quickly with three scoring hits to go up 4-2, and added their fifth run the in the fifth off of reliever Fassero. Jerome pitched just four innings in the loss and Brian Lawrence finally had a good outing for San Diego, going eight and earning the victory...→AP recap

April 20 - April 21 v Arizona

AZ 2 SF 1 - 2 games back home versus Arizona... Wednesday night...UGH! ARRGGH! The Giants get eleven hits, and can't plate a run til a B.S. gift run in the bottom of the ninth. Diamondbacks get 2 runs in the third, and don't get their third and final hit until the ninth inning, but they get the victory, 2-1. SF hit into THREE double plays. Noah Lowery was OK, but earns his first loss in the majors in 23 tries, though he allowed just 2 hits (1 each - third and fourth innings) - and struck out four - but walked FIVE. The Giants need a closed-door soul searching meeting. NOW. This is infuriating. Add insult to injury, Dodgers get a 10th inning victory at San Diego...→AP recap

SF 4 AZ 3 - Thursday night, Jason Schmidt faced old buddy Russ Ortiz - now a Diamondback. The D'Backs nibbled on Schmidty in the fourth, and Chad Tracy smacked a three run homer. SF got 2 back when Ortiz left a hanging slider for Lance Niekro and he hit the ball into the left field bullpen. In the eighth, off of the AZ reliever, SF tied it as Durham worked his way around the bases, coming in on the Feliz sac fly. Into extra frames and in the 13th, SF got three consecutive hits, matching their hit total in the PREVIOUS 12 innings and beat Arizona 4-3...→AP recap

April 22 - April 24 v Milwaukee

MIL 6 SF 1 - Brewers visit SBC Park... M. Alou off the disabled list - Torcato back down... Friday night, off Kirk Rueter, the Brewers strung together 4 straight hits to take a 3-0 lead in the second, which included a 2-run HR by Spivey. In SF's half of the second, Feliz cracked a triple and was brought home quickly on an RBI groundout by Fonzie. Then, both pitchers settled down until an error by Alou ended opened the door for the Brewers to get a run following Woody's removal. The Brew Crew got two more on a ball that fell past Alou and the hurt was on. He tried. SF goes down 6-1 and Santos gets a complete game for Milwaukee. The light hitting Giants are back and Rueter deserved better...→AP recap

SF 6 MIL 2 - Saturday afternoon Brett Tomko earned his first victory of the year, and helped himself at the plate with a 2-RBI single in the fourth inning as SF earned a 6-2 win over the Brewers. Milkwaukee scored in the third, but Yorvit Torrealba answered in the bottom of the inning with a solo HR to center field. Milwaukee's Branyan then homered in the fourth, but again SF answered, this time with 4 runs, including Tomko's scoring single. SF got one more in the eighth to make it 6-2 and Benitez came for a 5-out save. Moises Alou got his first hit as a Giant...→AP recap

MIL 8 SF 5 - Sunday just wasn't SF's day as Milwaukee wins the game 8-5, and takes the weekend series. Carlos Lee homered twice for the Brew Crew, bringing home Geoff Jenkins each time. SF played catch up the entire game after the first, when Snow singled in Vizquel. Alou hit his first homer of the season in the fourth, to left field. Jerome Williams gave up 6 earned runs in 5 innings and is now 0-2. SF left 13 on base in the game, and it appeared the Giants weren't very aggressive rounding third...→AP recap

April 25 - April 27 v San Diego

SD 3 SF 2 - San Diego visits for three. Before the game, the Giants optioned Jerome Williams to Fresno, and called up veteran Al Levine. Jerome needs to find his groove... as for the game: Noah Lowery got in a jam out of the gate Monday but held the Padres to a single run in the first. SF got the run back before Geoff Blum hit a 2-run dinger. 3-1 Padres after two. SF put together some hits in the fifth to score 2 and tie the game. In the sixth, Lowry let a run in, then replaced by Levine and he gave up a run making it 5-3 Friars. SF could get nothing going, and Hoffman strikes out the side in the ninth to secure the victory for San Diego. Lowry takes the loss...→AP recap

SF 6 SD 5 - Tuesday was a back and forth affair, as each team took the lead only to relinquish it. SF got the better of the deal, however, as a flare single by Snow brought in Jason Ellison for the go-ahead run in the eighth in what would be a 6-5 SF victory. Armando Benitez did blow a relief appearance, but earned the win, however, it came at a cost. On the last play of the game, covering first, he came up lame in his right leg. Maybe a cramp or a hammie. He got the out, though, trooper he is. JT Snow was 4-4 at the plate. SF stole 2 bases and took advantage of many Padres miscues. Tonight's win was Alou's 200th victory as skipper of the Giants...→AP recap

SF 10 SD 3 - Wednesday's getaway daytime affair was a soggy affair, but it was good enough for Kirk Rueter and Pedro Feliz, as the veterans along with youngster Jason Ellison's 3 hit day help lead San Franciso to a 10-3 victory over the Padres. Feliz led off the scoring with a 3-run birthday homer in the fourth inning, and SF would lead 6-0 by the end of inning. Ray Durham added 2 RBI in the sixth. Rueter only allowed 1 earned run in his 5.2 innings, against 4 hits and 0 K's. Armando Benitez was put on the 15 day disabled list with a major hamstring injury and is now disclosed to miss four months, so right Scott Munter was called up from Fresno. SF next travels to Pittsburgh and Phoenix...→AP recap

April 29 - May 1 at Pittsburgh

SF 3 PIT 2 - Friday night in Pittsburgh, SF got a great start from Brett Tomko. The Giants went up early on a pair of runs in the first on singles by Vizquel and Alfonzo. In the bottom of the fourth, the Bucs were able to tie on a double and sac fly. SF got what would be the winning run on a 2-out homer to left by Matheny in the sixth inning. Tomko would allow just one walk the rest of the way, in earning the complete game 3-2 victory, and allowing just four hits. With Benitez out of action, it was a soothing start to a road trip. Props to Alou for showing patience and letting Tomko settle down after he gave up the runs in the fourth. SF returns to .500 ball...→AP recap

SF 7 PIT 6 - Saturday night in chilly Pittsburgh, and Felipe Alou made up for having Tomko go the distance the night before. Felipe went through SEVEN relievers, with the longest outing by Brower, who came in last and earns the save as SF held off the Pirates, 7-6. Four Giants had 2-hit nights and Deivi Cruz hit his first homer of the season in the first inning, and three Giants hit doubles. The scoring was spread through the game, with each team making an error to allow a run. Jason Ellison scored two runs and is settling down - currently batting 14-30 - a .467 average. SF ends April above 500 and only 3 games back of first...→AP recap

SF 8 PIT 3 - In beating Pittsburgh 8-3, and earning the series sweep Sunday, SF first six hits all came with 2 outs. Despite 2 home runs by Pirate Daryle Ward, SF had Moises Alou, who went 3-3 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored. Lance Niekro also had 3 RBI with his 2 hits, including a homer. Brad Hennessey replaced Munter on the roster and had a great start, going 7 innings, with 3 earned runs, 5 hits allowd and 6 strikeouts, as well as picking up a hit and RBI for himself. The Giants have been hitting very well against lefties, 85-263, a .323 avg...→AP recap

May 2 - May 4 at Arizona

SF 9 AZ 8 - Monday night, Mike Matheny, batting in the 8 hole, cracked a grand slam in the third inning and Ray Durham singled in a couple of runs give SF a nice cushion. But Arizona fought back and tied the game in the seventh before JT crushed a solo homer in the eighth, only to have Luis Gonzalez smack one of his own in the bottom of the ninth to tie. In the 10th, Moises Alou doubled to bring home Fonzie and Tyler Walker would hold a nail-biter to get the win for SF 9-8. Neither Schmidty nor Az's Russ Ortiz figured in the decision... Before the game, Hennessey was sent back down, Accardo was called up from AA ball, and Benitez went on the 60 dy DL, and has surgery on Tuesday...→AP recap

AZ 3 SF 2 - Tuesday night in the desert, Kirk Rueter would last seven innings, allow just 2 runs, 1 earned, and 5 hits, but came away with no decision as the relievers were no help, and the D'Backs snapped SF's 6-game winning streak. SF hit a pair of solo homers in the game [Niekro and Feliz], the second which tied the game at 2. But in the eighth, Herges gave up a lead-off single to Clayton, and replaced by Eyre, who give up two singles, including the tiebreaking hit by Tony Clark that scored Clayton. Arizona Lyon held for the 3-2 victory over the Giants. Vizquel stole his eighth base of the year in nine attempts...→AP recap

AZ 6 SF 2 - Wednesday afternoon, SF ended their road trip on a down note, losing to the D'Backs 6-2. Brett Tomko, now 2-4, allowed four runs in the fourth inning on five singles and a double, after he recorded 11 consecutive outs to open the game. Pedro Feliz picked up both RBI for SF, knocking in runs in the fourth and sixth. Brandon Webb struck out seven Giants in his six innings. It was announced that Bonds underwent another surgery to clean our an infection in his surgically repaired knee...→AP recap

May 6 - May 8 v Washington

WAS 9 SF 3 - The Washinton Nationals make their first visit to SBC park, and in the Friday opener, beat SF 9-3, scoring four runs in the fourth and five in the eighth. Noah Lowry earns the loss, but he actually pitched well, aside from the fourth inning mess. Giant relief pitching was pourous, once again, and the offense showed little pop. Washington seems a team reborn as they settle into their location change from Montreal, and under skipper Frank Robinson, they are playing better than the Giants, who lose their third straight, fall back to .500, and drop to fourth place in the NL West, four games behind the leaders, the Dodgers...→AP recap

WAS 11 SF 8 - Saturday afternoon was thoroughly frustrating. In a game of big innings, Washington got what they needed in an 11-8 victory over SF. In the third, Moises Alou put the Giants up 4-0 with a grand slam. But the Nats answered in it's next at-bat, scoring seven and knocking Jason Schmidt out of the game. In the fifth, SF bounced back and scored four off of the Nats' reliever, going up 8-7. To the ninth, and Alou goes with the young rookie Jeremy Accardo, who blows the save opportunity, and earns the loss after Brower came in and gave up a bases-clearing double to DC's Church. Just awful. Loss streak at four now...→AP recap

SF 4 WAS 3 - On a soggy Mother's Day series finale, SF got a 13th inning hit from Omar Vizquel to score Jason Ellison, as SF survives two ran delays to avoid a sweep by beating Washinton 4-3. In breaking their four-game skid, SF played catch up all day, matching each Nats run. Kirk Rueter started and pitched well, going seven innings and allowing 2 earned runs. However, moving into the late innings the relievers kept the Nats away, and it was Jason Christiansen who gets the win. Vizquel's hitting streak is at ten games now...→AP recap

May 9 - May 11 v Pittsburgh

SF 2 PIT 1 - Monday night, Brett Tomko and Mark Redman both went the distance on the mound, but Tomko and Giants prevail with a 2-1 victory in the opening game of the series at SBC. The game lasted all of 1 hour 49 minutes, as Tomko would retire the final 21 Pirates he faced. The only run Tomko allowed was on a single by Redman in the second, and Redman allowed a single by Vizquel - extending his hitting streak to 11 games - and a sac fly by Niekro in the third, who brought in Tomko and Ellison, respectively. Each pitcher allowed six hits, and Tomko struck out seven in moving to 3-4 on the season...→AP recap

PIT 5 SF 2 - Before Tuesday night's game, Jason Schmidt went on the 15 day DL with a shoulder strain. 132 pitches a few outings ago, then he was shaky v the Nats Sunday, so I am not surprised. On to the game... Jeff Fassero makes the spot start for SF, and only gave up 1 hit in his five innings. Lance Niekro hit a 2-run homer in the fifth for SF, so it was looking good. Then Brower relieved and gave up a 3-run homer to Jason Bay. Jose Castillo and Humberto Cota each later added solo homers for the Bucs. Final 5-2, Pirates, in another short game, about 2:12. The Giants are a great .500 ball club...→AP recap

PIT 7 SF 2 - Wednesday afternoon Pittsburgh hit 3 homer en route to a 7-2 whipping of SF. The bloom is off Lowry, as he is saddled with his fourth loss of the season. JT Snow missed the game again, four now with flu-like symptoms. The best SF could do was a pair of doubles. Alou, Durham and Ellison each had 2 hits. Niekro's sac fly gave SF the lead until the Buccos late inning run production ramped up and suffocated the Giants...→AP recap

May 12 - May 15 at Houston

SF 6 HOU 3 - Young Brad Hennessey, just called up to start and replace Al Leither - DL neck sprain - was rocked in the first for 2 solo Astro homers, to Biggio and Ensberg. In the fifth, Biggio took him deep again, and it was 3-2 'stros. But SF would score 2 in the sixth to go up 4-3 and not look back. SF added 2 more in the ninth off of normal closer Brad Lidge to make the final 6-3, and give Manager Felipe Alou a victory on his 70th birthday. Hennessey went 6 innings with 7 K's and 3 earned runs. He gets the win and Tyler Walker the save. Alou and Matheny each with 2 RBI - and Houston committed four errors...→AP recap

SF 4 HOU 2 - A day after he turned 70, Felipe Alou notched his 900th career victory as a big league manager, when SF defeated the Astros, 4-2. Kirk Rueter was in good form again, tossing 7 innings, and allowing just six hits and one eaned run, in becoming the all-time lefty winner in SF Giants history. Ahead 2-1, SF's Jason Ellison hit a pinch hit home run in the eighth, the first of two important late-inning insurance runs. The Astros scored one but that was all. SF is now 17-3 all-time at Minute Maid Park...→AP recap

HOU 4 SF 1 - Saturday night the Giants faced Roger Clemens, and he was in fine form. He struck out ten Giants and only gave up five hits and one earned run in 8 innings as Houston beats SF 4-1. Tomko went six, and did fine until the bottom of the sixth, where he gave up back-to-back homers to Biggio and Berkman. SF's only extra base hits were two doubles [Durham and Ellison] that created the Giants run in the third inning...→AP recap

HOU 9 SF 0 - Sunday night on ESPN, SF stunk. The Giants pitchers allowed four home runs - three for Ensberg - in beating SF 9-0 - SF's first shutout suffered in 05. Fassero made a rotation start and was not close to his good outing against Pittsburgh last Tuesday. JT Snow played for the first time in about a week. Backe earns the complete game four-hit shutout for the Astros, just the second shutout SF has suffered this season...→AP recap

May 17 - May 19 at Colorado

COL 9 SF 4 - The Giants lost Tuesday in Denver 9-4 as the Rockies got on Noah Lowry early, going back-to-back in the second, and added another dinger in the third. After three full innings it was 6-0 Colorado. Soon after, the Giants scored four runs in the fourth inning to shrink the gap. The Rockies would add some insurance and crusie to the 9-4 win. Lowry drops to 1-5 on the season. Jerome, where are you? SF has now lost its third straight game, and fifth out of the last seven...→AP recap

SF 3 COL 2 - Wednesday evening in Denver, after allowing a pair of first inning runs to the Rockies, Giant Brad Hennessey calmed down and lasted into the seventh. Giants Matheny, in the third, and Feliz, in the seventh - hit solo home runs. Tied at 2 in the ninth, with Feliz on, big Deivi Cruz tripled to right, plating Feliz. The bottom of the ninth was easy for Tyler Walker, who gets save number four, and Brower takes the win in the 3-2 final...→AP recap

COL 3 SF 1 - Thursday afternoon's getaway game was a sour one for the Giants, losing 3-1 in sunny Denver. Though collecting ten hits, including three by Deivi Cruz, SF only scored one run on a homer by Lance Niekro in the top of the sixth. Former Giant Dustan Mohr started for the Rocks and struck out 4 times. Brett Tomko takes the loss, and really, holding a team to three in the thin air shouldn't be a problem. Leaving ten on base is no way to give run support to your pitching staff...→AP recap

May 20 - May 22 v Oakland

OAK 8 SF 4 - Before the interleague matchup with Oakland, SF moved Barry Bonds to the 60 day DL, as his rescue moves to recovery. Brian Dallimore called up. Grip went the 15 day DL with a knee boo boo... SF got a nice 2-run homer from Moises Alou to straightaway center in the fifth to tie the game at two. Tied at 3 into the sixth, and SF's relief once again cost the team dearly as a 3-run homer by Keith Ginter, off Brower, put the A's up 8-3. Prior to the big fly, Munter was vexed by Alfonzo's error, and Christiansen allowed a scoring single [charged to Rueter], an INT walk and a scoring sac fly. Rueter is saddled with the loss...→AP recap

SF 3 OAK 2 - Saturday night, playing with 'Gigantes' across the front of the unis in honor of Juan Marichal weekend, SF scored all three of its runs in the first inning. A single by Snow, a double by Alou, and a sac fly by Durham each did the trick. Jeff Fassero did his part in his third start with six good innngs - earning his first Giants victory just 2 earned runs allowed on 5 hits and 4 strikeouts - and Tyler Walker gets his fifth save....→AP recap

SF 3 OAK 1 - Sunday night on ESPN, the Giants get enough from Noah Lowery as SF beats Oakland 3-1, to take the series. Lowry got back to his winning ways, going seven innings, and allowing just one earned run. Moises Alou cracked a line drive 2-run homer to left field in the sixth as the announcers were chatting with Alou family-friend and Giant great Juan Marichal. SF added a run on Ginter's error in the eighth, to seal the win. Tyler Walker gets save number six, and has appeared to become the defacto closer for the time being. Whatever it takes...→AP recap

May 24 - May 26 v Los Angeles

SF 5 LAD 3 - Thanks to the return of Jason Schmidt to the rotation, SF climbed back to .500 with a 5-3 win over the Blue on Tuesday. Schmidty came off the DL to strike out seven over five innings AND he hit a solo home run to help his cause. Mike Matheny hit a 3-run homer which chased Jeff Weaver in the fourth. SF cracked five extra-base hits: 2 HR and 3 doubles. Tyler Walker earns the save again, number seven. He seems to be relishing that role...→AP recap

SF 10 LAD 2 - Wednesday night, SF's bats came alive against Wilson Alvarez. Specifically the bats of Moises Alou and Pedro Feliz, who each cracked two home runs as SF routed the Dodgers, 10-2. Ellison and Alfonzo also had 2 hits apiece for the good guys. Alvarez only lasted three innings while Tomko had another nice outing, giving up just five hits and striking out five over eight innings. With the win, SF is back over .500 and tied for third with LA. LA is in a slump, just 2-8 in their last ten...→AP recap

LAD 6 SF 4 - Thursday night tied at three, Ricky Ledee did something he never did as a Giant. Got a hit. And meaningful too. The top of the ninth bases-loaded single scored two Dodgers to break the tie, as the Blue win 6-4 to avoid being swept. Kirk Rueter started for Los Gigantes, allowed 3 runs, a 2-run homer by Antonio Perez in the second and another RBI to Perez later. Rueter went 7.1 on 109 pitches. Dodger starter Penny was good til the eighth, when a pinch-hit homer by Deivi Cruz started the rally that tied the game after eight. After the Dodger damage in the ninth, SF did get a run to make it interesting...→AP recap

May 27 - May 29 v San Diego

SD 9 SF 3 - SF welcomed San Diego to SBC Park for the weekend and the Padres made for terrible guests Friday. The surging Padres pounded out 15 hits to win 9-3 in the series opener. Padres starter Brian Lawrence went the distance allowing only six Giants hits, just one for extra bases. Brad Hennessey started for SF and didn't last three innings, tagged with four earned runs. The same amount was charged to Matt Herges over his two innings of relief. Ray Durham hit his first homer of the year leading off the second inning and also singled and scored twice...→AP recap

SD 5 SF 3 - Before Saturday's game, SF made a trade. The Giants sent Jerome Williams and David Aardsma to the Cubs for setup man LaTroy Hawkins and cash, as SF desperately tries to shore up the bullpen. The game? Well, the relief provided none, again. Phil Nevin hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the eighth off of reliever Tyler Walker to put the Padres up 5-2. SF did get one run in the ninth, but there would be no more and the Padres continue to roll, 5-3...→AP recap

SD 9 SF 6 - Sunday, before the series finale, to make room for LaTroy Hawkins the Giants designated Matt Herges for assignment and have 10 days to trade or release him. See ya, Matt. Hawkins was in uniform Sunday and threw an uneventful eighth inning with the game knotted at six. Tyler Walker threw the ninth, and was tagged for three runs on four hits in one-third of an inning. Fassero had to finish. In the bottom of the ninth, Jason Ellison doubled with one out, but Hoffman closed with ease. SF who had battled back to tie all day, couldn't this inning, and loeses 9-6 and is swept by the Padres...→AP recap

May 31 - June 2 at Philadelphia

PHI 5 SF 2 - Tuesday night in Philly, and the Giants were no match in losing their fifth straight. Tomko tried, going five innings but allowing a 3-run Philly third. In the eighth, the relievers combined to allow 2 more Phils runs, which made Jason Ellison's ninth inning 2-run homer a mere footnote, rather than a rally-sparker. Omar Vizquel did go 3-5 and Lance Niekro got a pair of hits but early inning chances at scoring were wasted...→AP recap

PHI 10 SF 6 - The Giants losing streak continues, with a wrenching 10-6 defeat at Philadelphia Wednesday night. SF and the Phils had battled all night, and tied at six in the eighth, LaTroy Hawkins had the misfortune of giving up a two-out, pinch-hit grand slam to Chase Utley. Overall, the Phils pounded out 19 hits while SF had 11, including three from Alfonzo. Rueter started and gave up 3 earned over 5 innings, and knocked in an RBI in the 2nd inning. Felipe Alou was ejected after arguing a blown call in the seventh that brought in a key Phillies run...→AP recap

PHI 6 SF 5 - Thursday night SF let the Phils complete the sweep with a 5-6 win over SF. Brad Hennessey only lasted 2+ innings, charged with all six Phillies runs. After Philly got 4 in the second, SF rallied to tie in the third, including back to back jacks by JT Snow and Moises Alou. The Phils took the lead, 6-4 with 2 in the bottom of the third. SF's relievers only gave up 2 hits the rest of the way, but the Giant offense could only plate one more run, after Dallimore got a pinch hit double in the seventh and was brought home by a Jason Ellison double to make it 6-5. Billy Wagner gets the save for Philadelphia...→AP recap

June 3 - June 5 at NY Mets

PPD - Friday's certiain loss was nicely postponed before the drubbing began. This game will be made up Sunday afternoon as part of a doubleheader. The late game Sunday was already skedded to be on ESPN. In an off the field move, SF traded "designated for assignment" reliever Matt Herges to Arizona for minor leaguer Doug DeVore...

NYM 5 SF 1 - Though they collected eleven hits on Saturday afternoon in New York, the Giants could plate just a single run. The Mets, naturally, scored more and handed SF their eighth straight defeat, a 5-1 loss. The streak is SF's longest in five years. Tom Glavine had a solid start for the Mets, but Noah Lowery was again vexed, giving up 4 runs and 9 hits in 4.1 innings, and dropping to 2-6. The relievers did pretty good, just three hits and one unearned run in the last 3.2 innings. Moises Alou was the hitting bright spot, going 4-4, including a double and the only SF run on a homer in the fourth that tied the game for a while...→AP recap

SF 3 NYM 6 - In Sunday's make-up for Friday's rainout, Lance Niekro and Deivi Cruz each cracked three hits as the all-right handed starting line up beat Kaz Ishii and the Mets, 6-3, breaking the losing streak. Brett Tomko was great, lasting into the eighth inning while allowing just one earned run. He also contributed with the bat, cracking a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning to provide the margin of vicotry. The relievers allowed a pair of runs, but Walker did get the save, his eighth...→AP recap

NYM 12 SF 1 - Sunday's nightcap, the ESPN game, saw SF return to its losing ways, falling badly, 12-1, and giving the series to the Mets. Jason Schmidt had an off day and only lasted 4 innings, allowing six runs and striking out just three. The relief wasn't much good either, as Brower allowed two of NY's four dingers. SF heads home with their tail between their legs, but dreaming of beating up on the Royals who come-a visiting Tuesday...→AP recap

June 7 - June 9 v Kansas City

KC 8 SF 1 - Tuesday night, interleague play resumed in NL cities, and in SF it was "Hit Off Kirk Rueter Night" as the MLB-worst Royals had a blast in pounding SF 8-1. Rueter gave up 5 earned on 9 hits and 0 K's in just 4.1 innings. KC scored in five separate innings. SF got an RBI single by Snow in the first, then made 16 consecutive outs. For the Royals, Bay Area local DJ Carrasco got the start, and his first carrer complete game win, allowing just five hits, one a double. ...→AP recap

KC 4 SF 1 - Wednesday night, SF was only half as bad as the night before, losing only 4-1 to the lowly Royals. The Royals got 2 in the first and added another in the second off SF spot starter Jeff Fassero, who gets tagged with the loss. SF's only extra base hit was a homer to right field by Ray Durham in the fourth, his second dinger of the year. SF grounded into three double plays. The Giants have no spark right now, having now lost 11 of their last 12 games, and still sitting 9 games behind the Padres...→AP recap

SF 9 KC 7 - The Giants salvaged a win Thursday in sunny SF, beating KC 9-7. Noah Lowry got the start and did a good job until he got in trouble in the sixth. SF had an early 1-0 lead jump to 4-0 in the fifth, thanks to a rally sparked by Noah Lowry's 2-out double. KC answered in the next half inning with a fourspot to tie at four. Then SF came back with five more to make it 9-4. The Royals would bring a few more runs across, but SF held on. Lance Niekro did well, with 3 RBI and Michael Tucker had 3 hits and 3 runs scored. No hit in the game was more than a double...→AP recap

June 10 - June 12 v Cleveland

CLE 10 SF 2 - Friday night, Cleveland made their first vistit to SF and SBC Park and the Giant relievers handed them the ninth inning, allowing five runs of Indian insurance in their 10-2 massacre over SF. Brett Tomko started and allowed five runs in seven innings, while his counterpart, CC Sabathia, allowed just five hits in eight innings en route to a 10-2 massacre by the Indians. Moises Alou scored both runs, first on a Niekro double and later by cracking a solo home run to make it 3-2 Tribe, before it all went to pot...→AP recap

CLE 7 SF 6 - Saturday afternoon, SF found themselves playing catch up once again. This time, they were down 7-3 into the bottom of the ninth. SF had put together one nice inning in the fourth, stacking up hits and plating three runners. The bottom of the ninth was much the same, SF puting together some hits, and scoring three, but JT Snow struck out with runners on 2nd and 3rd and the thread and game was over. Cleveland 7 SF 6. The Giants are now 10 games under .500 for the first time since 1996...→AP recap

CLE 5 SF 3 - Sunday, Cleveland completed the sweep, winning 5-3. SF goes 1-5 hosting the AL this homestand and is now 2-14 in the last sixteen games. Just awful. SF was down 5-0 before the Giants picked up a pair of unearned runs. Then in the seventh, Mike Matheny hit a home run to prove he still has a bat. Michael Tucker picked up his 1,000th hit. After the drubbing, Jim Brower was designated for assignment...→AP recap

June 14 - June 16 at Minnesota

MIN 4 SF 3 - Tuesday night, SF visited the Twin Cities, and suffered their 15th defeat in 17 games with a painful 4-3 loss in eleven innings. Jesse Foppert made his first big league start in almost 2 years and pitched a good five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Ray Durham picked up three hits, including a double and a home run, but also committed an error in the sixth that allowed the Twins to tie at three. SF's offense was quiet the rest of the way, and Minnesota got an RBI single from Shannon Stewart to seal the victory...→AP recap

SF 8 MIN 4 - Wednesday, SF plated four runs on four hits in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead, and added to it with a sac fly in the third. The Twins would put a pair of 2-run innings on the board, but SF topped that with a three-spot in the ninth to seal the 8-4 victory. SF had 14 hits on the night, including 3 doubles and Omar Vizquel's 9th inning insurance homer. Moises Alou went 4-4. Noah Lowry pitched well enough for the victory, and improves to 3-6...→AP recap

SF 14 MIN 7 - Thursday night, former Husker Adam Shabala made his major league debut, starting in left field. While he was 0-4 with a walk in the scorebook, he did pick up 2 RBI to help the Giants to a 14-7 drubbing of the Twinkies. Minnesota did get a 4-spot in the first but could not hold the lead. Behind 7-6 in the eighth, SF's Feliz scored on a Vizquel single to tie at seven. In the ninth, SF went nuts, exploding for seven runs via a double, four walks, a wild pitch and two singles. That nice scoring outburst handed the victory to Jason Christiansen, and gave SF their first series win in about three weeks...→AP recap

June 17 - June 19 at Detroit

SF 4 DET 0 - Friday night in Detroit, SF's first visit ever, and Jason Schmidt looked like the ace of old. He threw eight great innings, allowing just four hits and no runs. In the ninth, he allowed the bases to get loaded, but Tyler Walker came in and struck out the side to get the save and give SF and Schmidt the 4-0 victory. Schmidt's run support came in the form of a 2-out 2-run single by Matheny in the second, and solo runs via outs in the fourth and fifth. This is SF's third victory in a row and magically, they are just seven games out of first... LaTroy Hawkins has gone on the 15-day DL, retro to June 10. Brandon Puffer had his contract purchased from Fresno...→AP recap

DET 8 SF 2 - Saturday night SF got a pair in the first inning, but that would complete the Giants' scoring, despite collecting twelve hits in the 8-2 loss to the Tigers. Kirk Rueter allowed runs in the first, second, third and fifth, before being yanked for reliever Brandon Puffer who allowed three more runs in the fifth to complete the scoring. SF did threaten in the ninth with bases-loaded and just one out, but that threat was ended by a strike out and a ground out. Rueter gets the loss and Jason Johnson takes the win...→AP recap

DET 10 SF 8 - Sunday's finale in Detroit looked promising, but in the end SF found themselves shanghai'd. Todd Linden cracked a three-run homer to right field in the eighth to open up an 8-5 SF lead. However, Detroit would answer on two late inning homers, a 2-run shot to tie at 8 in the ninth by Chris Shelton off Tyler Walker, and a 2-run blast to left in the tenth by Placido Polanco off Scott Eyre for the walk off and series winner, giving Detroit a 10-8 victory. Adam Shabala, hitting in the ninth spot, collected his first pair of MLB hits and two more RBI with a 2nd inning single. Foppert didn't last long today, leaving in the fourth with four earned. SF ends the road trip 3-3...→AP recap

June 20 - June 23 v Arizona

SF 8 AZ 3 - The D'backs in town for a short homestand and on Monday night, SF put together a solid game in earning an 8-3 victory over Arizona. Noah Lowry tossed 5.2 innings of shutout ball, and gets the win. Ahead 4-2, SF plated four runs in the seventh, three from a Pedro Feliz home run to the arcade in right, followed immediately by a Matheny homer to left, both off of reliever Lance Cormier. This offensive burst was after Scott Eyre got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the inning. Arizona's now dropped five straight...→AP recap

AZ 6 SF 4 - Tuesday night, SF found themselves frustrated in their 6-4 loss to Arizona as the Giants went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Young Todd Linden picked up 2 RBI on a homer and RBI groundout as SF worked to take the lead after five innings. Arizona would follow in the sixth with their second 3-run inning of the game. Tomko actually lasted another inning, but SF could add no more offense to the mix, and the D'backs break their losing streak at the Giants' expense...→AP recap

SF 4 AZ 0 - On Wednesday, the Giants beat Arizona 4-0 behind Jason Schmidt, who reminded everyone just how great he can be as the popular righty struck out ten and allowed just five hits in his 8.1 innings. The Giant offense gave him just a one run cushion until the seventh, when SF got three scoring singles to plate Matheny, Durham and Vizquel and give the Giants the insurance they wanted. In the ninth, SF struck out the side to close the game with a strikeout each to Schmidtty, Eyre and Walker, who would get the save...→AP recap

AZ 7 SF 2 - Before Thursday's late-afternoon series finale, SF picked up Alex Sanchez, who had been waived by Tampa Bay following a steroid infraction. About the game, Arizona was ahead 3-2 going into the eighth, when the D'backs plated three off of Jason Christensen off soem sinles and an Alou error. Arizona added one more in the ninth, for the 7-2 victory and earn the series split. Kirk Rueter started and lasted into the seventh, with 7 hits, 3 earned runs and 4 K's, but he gets the loss and drops to 2-7 on the season...→AP recap

June 24 - June 26 at Oakland

OAK 4 SF 3 - The interleague series finale at Oakland... Friday night, Jesse Foppert was pulled from his start and in his place, Jeff Fassero got the start and let Oakland nibble to a 4-0 lead until Foppert relieved him. In the seventh, SF's bats awoke off of A's starter Blanton and Pedro Feliz cracked a 3-run homer [his 10th] to bring SF close at 4-3. Oakland would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Eyre pitched out of that jam. SF threatened in the ninth, with Sanchez on third to tie, but couldn't plate him as Feliz struck out. Oakland wins 4-3 ... Before the game, rookie and former Husker Adam Shabala was sent back to Fresno to make room for Alex Sanchez. Adam collected a pair of hits and 4 RBI during his stint...→AP recap

OAK 6 SF 3 - Saturday afternoon, and SF continues to have issues on the defensive side of the ball, committing FIVE errors in losing at Oakland, 6-3. Off of starter Lowry, Nick Swisher cracked a three run blast in the 2nd to put the A's up 3-0. SF got one back on a homer by Matheny in the third, but Oakland would add two in the fifth and one in the eighth. Moises Alou hit a ninth-inning solo homer, plua a double and single, and scored twice as DH. Lowry absorbs the loss and his college teammate Heran gets the win for Oakland. SF's now lost something like 21-28 games...→AP recap

OAK 16 SF 0 - Good thing I didn't watch Sunday's game. Oakland pounded SF 16-0 for the series sweep, the Athletics' first against SF, scoring their runs in the first five innings and limiting SF to one single by Deivi Cruz in the fifth. Nick Swisher hit a pair of 2-run homers for the A's in consecutive innings, and the team hit six doubles to boot. SF starter Brett Tomko lasted less than 3 innings and was tagged with 6 earned runs for his third consecutive loss. Relievers Puffer and Christiansen each allowed five earned runs. This was one ugly game... →AP recap

June 28 - June 30 at Arizona

SF 11 AZ 3 - Out in the desert, SF scored six times in the ninth inning to shake off the awful Oakland series and put a hurt on the D'Backs enroute to an 11-3 victory Tuesday night. Jason Schmidt pitched a nice six innings, with the third inning his trouble spot, when he allowed all the AZ runs off a Counsel HR and a Glaus double. Schmidtty gave up 9 hits, 3 earned runs, and struck out six, including one to end a bases-loaded threat in the fifth. SF got some good breaks during the game, for a change, and made the most of those opportunities, including a wild throw home by Glaus. Schmidt wins his third stright, and Brad Halsey takes the loss. Moises Alou was 2-4 with 3 RBI and his batting average is .318... Before the game, Tomko found himself demoted to the bullpen and SF recalled Jeremy Accardo and outrighted Brandon Puffer to Fresno...→AP recap

SF 4 AZ 2 - Wednesday night, SF secures the series win in Arizona with a 4-2 victory over the D'Backs. Moises Alou and Omar Vizquel each had 3 hits. Moises picked up 2 RBI in the third and Omar collected the game winning hit in the seventh that broke the 2-2 tie. Pinch hitter Michael Tucker added an insurance run in the ninth with a single bringing home Linden. Tyler Walker let two D'Backs get on in the ninth, but he found his groove and shut down Arizona for the save. In relief of Rueter, Jason Christiansen gets the win, and Brandon Webb eats the loss. JT Snow was thrown out in the fifth for arguing an awful call at first base. SF did have two errors on the night that actually came on the same play and would eventually result in Arizona's second run...→AP recap

SF 9 AZ 2 -Thursday night, SF ends their visit to the Valley with a 9-2 win and series sweep of the Diamondbaks, ending June nine games back of the division leading Padres. In the second inning off ex-Giant Shawn Estes, SF scored five runs as six Giants reached base in a row, including Lance Niekro, who smacked a 3-run HR to left field. After a Torrealba RBI groundout in the third, SF starter Noah Lowry helped himself with a 2-run double in the third. In the fifth, Durham cracked a solo homer to make it 9-0, one of his three hits on the night. Arizona picked up two runs on a pair of solo homers, in the fifth and eighth innings, but those would matter little in the outcome. Tomko came in for the long relief and actually earns the save, his first since 2000. He gave up a lot of fly balls and his demeanor was subdued following his demotion to the bullpen, but this was a positive outing for him. This was SF's first 3-game sweep at Rrizona in five years...→AP recap

July 1 - July 3 at Sam Diego

SF 3 SD 2 - Before the game Friday in San Diego, pitcher Jesse Foppert was put on the DL with a strained neck, and that cleared the way for Kevin Correia to come up from Fresno to make the start. Correia, despite tossing 36 pitches in the first, calmed down and lasted through five, leaving with the game tied at 2. His counterpart for SD, Jake Peavy, was on a roll strking out 9 through his six innings of work. In the eighth, PH Todd Linden was hit, and would score on a Khalil Greene throwing error to put SF up 3-2. Tyler Walker was asked to get the five out save, and he did great, striking out three to earn that save as SF beats the Padres 3-2...→AP recap

SD 5 SF 3 - The Giants' four game winning streak was snapped Saturday night in San Diego, as the Padres were able to hold off SF's advances. With SF leading 1-0 on a Ray Durham first inning single, the Padres put a 4-spot on the board in the third inning off of starter Jeff Fassero. San Diego would get another run in the fourth, and SF would get single runs in the sixth and eighth innings, but any other chances were quashed and the Padres win 5-3. Trevor Hoffman gets the save for the Padres. JT Snow had a double and went 3-4 with and RBI, as did the Padres Eric Young, back from the 60 day DL...→AP recap

SD 9 SF 6 - Sunday's getaway game was a bad experience for Jason Schmidt. The righty lasted just four innings and ate the loss as the Padres put together a five-run third inning to build a pad en route to a 9-6 victory over the visiting Giants. Geoff Blum as emerged as the lastest Giant killer, going 2-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. SF did get some runs to crawl back to a 2-run deficit at 7-5 and 8-6, but the Padres were able to score keep SF away. Todd Linden is struggling, batting just .172 following a 0-4 game and committing an error... Moises Alou was selected as a reserve outfielder for the All-Star game and is SF's only selection this season...→AP recap

July 4 - July 7 v Cincinnati

CIN 11 SF 10 - The Giants got out early to a 6-1 lead over the Reds Monday afternoon, but Kirk Rueter could not hold the lead, giving up three homers, and lasts only 4 innings, continuing a string of shaky outings. SF did tie it in the fourth at 7, and were up 8-7 until the Reds added four more in the sixth off a trio of SF relievers. The Giants plated a couple of runs and in the bottom of the ninth, cracked a couple of doubles and had the tying run on base before Jason Ellison just missed legging out a hit. SF loses 10-11 and hits the halfway mark 13 games below .500 and 10 games behind the Padres. JT Snow was 3-4 with 2 RBI and Alou's average is up to .326... Todd Linden was sent down to Fresno to make room for the returning reliever LaTroy Hawkins...→AP recap

CIN 7 SF 4 - News flash: SF loses again at home. SF got three runs over the first two innings as Niekro homered and starting pitcher Noah Lowry picked up a groundout RBI, but SF would not score again until the ninth, when PH JT Snow singled, and made his way home via two wild pitches. The Reds got three off of Lowry in the second, including a 2-run Adam Dunn HR. Fassero, moved to the bullpen today, gave up 2 earned and Taschner gave up one. The Reds weren't flashy, they just hit 'em where the Giants weren't. Michael Tucker did make a nice defensive play after entering the game in teh seventh, but offensively, struck out twice. No Giant picked up more than one hit on the night. Brett Tomko found that his stint as a reliever would be a short one, as he is scheduled to be a starter on Thursday...→AP recap

SF 7 CIN 2 - Kevin Correia made the start for SF on Wednesday night, and in his five innings allowed only 2 runs courtesy of an Adam Dunn broken-bat bloop single in the third inning. SF's bats took a while to warm up, but in the fifth, SF plated four on a Deivi Cruz single, Ellison forcing a bad Aurilia throw to first, and pinch hitter Lance Niekro's 2-run hit to Triples Alley. SF added a run in the sixth on a Mike Matheny double, and two more insurance runs in the eighth when Alex Sanchez cracked a double to the Alley, scoring Matheny and Ellison, before himself being thrown out at third. Cruz was 3-4 on the night and Correia gets the win - his first of the season - and Hudson the loss for the Reds... In off the field news, Kirk Rueter has been moved to the bullpen as he is suffering the worst season in the bigs. Also, Kevin Correia, despite winning, was sent to A-ball San Jose to keep working over the break. Dallimore was called up from Fresno...→AP recap

SF 5 CIN 1 - Thursday night, SF earned a split in the series as Mike Matheny batted in 4 runs: a 3-run homer in the fifth and a double in the seventh, to lead SF over Cincinnati. Lance Niekro hit a pinch-hit double in the seventh for SF's other RBI. Former Red Brett Tomko returned to the starting rotation and earns the win, allowing just one fourth inning earned run in his 5+ innings of work. He let the bases get loaded with no outs in the sixth, but Christiansen and Munter shut down the Reds. Relievers Eyre, Hawkins and Walker each pitched an inning of relief and only Walker gave up a hit. Of note, Munter's ERA is 2.02 and Eyre is 2.72, so those are some bright spots in the pen. Jason Ellison showed some nice speed in the outfield...→AP recap

July 8 - July 10 v St Louis

STL 3 SF 1 - Jason Schmidt threw seven innings, but gave up 2 home runs, including a first inning 2-run homer to Larry Walker - which landed in the Cove - and a solo shot in the fourth to former Giant Reggie Sanders, who cracked his 18th of the year to left field. Former Athletic Mark Mulder returned to the Bay Area and scattered the Giants hits, giving up just 4 and holding SF scoreless in his seven innings. SF did get a run in the eighth from a Pedro Feliz home run, and threatened a bit in the ninth, but the Cardinals held for the 3-1 win... Before the game, Tony LaRussa presented Mike Matheny with his Gold Glove award as the best NL catcher in 2004, when Matheny was behind the dish for the Redbirds... Dallimore was sent back down and Hennessey will be brought up to start on Saturday...→AP recap

SF 2 STL 0 - Saturday afternoon, San Francisco notched only its third shutout of the season as spot starter Brad Hennessey led SF to a 2-0 win over the Cardinals. Hennessey gave up only three hits over seven innings. Hawkins and Walker were perfect in relief, with Walker earning save number thirteen on the season. SF scored their runs in the fifth inning, when Alou and Durham singled, followed by a Michael Tucker single to score Alou. Pedro Feliz was next and though hitting into a double play, Durham came home to score. The Cardinals starter Matt Morris would go the distance in the six-hit loss as the hour fifty-nine minute game featured a grand total of six strikeouts and one walk by the four pitchers. Feliz hit the only extra base hit of the game, a double in the eighth, but wouldn't score... Before the game, Robb Nen was honored for his service in a Giant uniform. Also, some SF fans rallied to bring back the 1984 maligned mascot, Crazy Crab. The next SF win will be number 10,000 for the franchise, according the to AP..→AP recap

STL 4 SF 3 - The Giants remained stuck on 9,999 franchise wins, notched loss number 50 for 2005, and have a losing mark at the All-Star Break for the first time since 1996, as SF lost to St Louis, 4-3. An ugly second inning doomed the Giants and saw four Cardinals score, in part to a botched fly ball in the sun/fog that Alex Sanchez couldn't track down. SF did pick up a run in the first, thanks to a similarly botched fly to right fielder Larry Walker dealing with that late afternoon sun/fog combo. SF scored two more to make it 4-3 in the seventh as Cruz grounded out but brought home Feliz and Sanchez singled in Ellison. In the ninth, Michael Tucker advanced third with two out on a Vizquel single, but Lance Niekro was caught looking on breaking ball, and that was that. Lowry takes the loss and is now 5-9. Sanchez and Vizquel each had three hits...→AP recap

My take at the Break...

Wow, what to say, what to say... The Giants find themselves lucky to be only ten games back at the All-Star Break. The Padres are the only team in the NL West over .500 and they don't look that great. Let's look at the positives. Pedro Feliz has 51 RBI. Catcher Mike Matheny has 42 RBI and is solid behind the dish as has Torrealba. Moises Alou is batting .316 with 12 homers and 41 RBI. Ellison is getting better in Center field by the day and has great speed. Vizquel is a total pro at short. On the mound, a few relievers are doing OK as Munter's ERA is under 2. Batters hit .187 off of Eyre. Tyler Walker has 13 saves and enjoys being the closer. Schmidtty has but six wins and 88 K's. That is really where the bad begins. Starting pitching has been a big trouble spot this year as Tomko and Rueter have both seen demotions, with Tomko recently getting a win as a starter once again. Injuries have certainly played their part as Bonds hasn't played an inning, and really, should just sit out 2005. Also, expensive closer Benitez is out for a while with that bad hamstring rupture and currently Grissom, Alfonzo, and Foppert are all nursing strains. A lot of rookies have seen playing time, and that will probably continue. I don't believe it's over until you are eliminated, but this is SF's most difficult season in a decade. Go Giants!

July 14 - July 17 at Los Angeles

SF 4 LAD 3 - Omar Vizquel cracked a 3-run homer off of the right field fair pole screen in the seventh inning to help give the Giants franchise win number 10,000 with SF's 4-3 win over the Dodgers. Fittingly, Jason Schmidt gets the win after throwing six innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven. LA drew first blood in the fourth, but SF tied it in the sixth with three 2-out singles off of DJ Houlton, who had replaced Blue starter Brad Penny, ejected for being a fool after a run to first base in the third inning. The relievers, Munter and Hawkins let LA back into the game, giving up 2 runs in the seventh, but Hawkins had a good eighth and then closer Tyler Walker earned save number 14, after letting a Dodger get on base... Former Husker Adam Shabala was called back up, and had a hit and run scored in the seventh for SF...→AP recap

SF 6 LAD 0 - Friday night featured Noah Lowry and his change-up, and he allowed only 2 hits and 3 walks and striking out seven as SF shutout Los Angeles 6-0. The Dodgers' only hits were a double in the fourth and a single in the fifth, and it was back to back walks that had Lowry lifted for Eyre in the eighth. The Giant offense was productive, as SF hammered out fifteen hits, as Tucker and Durham were both leading the charge, each going 4-5 from the plate. SF scored in innings 1, 2, 3, and 5, which included solo homers by Tucker [lead off] and Feliz, and two scoring doubles by Durham, one bases-clearing and the other scoring one. Tucker also made a very nice run-saving sliding catch in right in the eighth...→AP recap

LAD 5 SF 4 - Saturday afternoon, SF was ahead 4-3 and just one out from moving to third place in the NL West when Tyler Walker walked Saenz, and watched his chance for a save unravel. Robles then hit a single, and Izturis followed with a double to tie the game. After walking Kent to load the bases, Phillips hit a single to score Robles and the Dodgers eeked out the 5-4 win. The Giants opened the scoring in the second with 2 runs - one off a double by Cruz to score Alou, and a single by Snow to score Cruz. After SF blew a chance to score in the third, as Torrealba was on third with no outs, LA took the lead on Tomko in the bottom third, but SF tied in the fourth on Ellison's single to bring home Cruz. In the sixth, Ellison legged out a bunt and would come around to score. SF's offense was empty handed after the sixth inning, as the Dodger relief did their job. After the game, a few Giants were ejected for arguing a check swing call that went against SF and would have punched out Phillips and pushed the game to extra frames...→AP recap

SF 4 LAD 1 - A pair of two-out homers propelled SF to a 4-1 victory and series win over the Dodgers Sunday afternoon. Michael Tucker was the hero with a ninth inning 3-run homer off Yhency Brazoban. SF took the lead when Ray Durham cracked a solo homer to right off of Blue starter Jeff Weaver in the fourth inning. LA got the run back in the fifth off of starter Brad Hennessey, who lasted into the seventh inning, throwing 113 pitches. LaTroy Hawkins earns the save by pitching a perfect ninth, spelling a sore Walker, who had a bad outing on Saturday...→AP recap

July 18 - July 20 v Atlanta

ATL 6 SF 1 - Monday night's spot start by Kevin Correia was wasted in the first inning as Andruw Jones cracked a 2-run homer to left, followed immediately by a solo homer to deep right center by Chipper 'The Cracker' Jones. A. Jones hit another homer in his second at bat in inning three, and after four innings, Correia was done. Rueter came in from the bullpen and went the final five innings, giving up just one hit and one earned run. SF left eight players on base, including six by Feliz, who left bases loaded twice in the early innings. Atlanta starter Sosa gave up six hits and four walks, but kept SF from scoring until the sixth when Feliz doubled and Ellison grounded out to score Pedro. Not a great game, but Rueter looked pretty good...→AP recap

SF 5 ATL 4 - Jason Ellison's third hit of the night, a 2-out ninth inning bloop to left, brought home Deivi Cruz all the way from second, who slid under the tag at home to give SF a 5-4 win and put the Giants in a tie for 3rd with the Dodgers in the NL West. Jason Schmidt pitched seven strong innings with 10 Ks and 2 BBs. SF was down 3-1 in the seventh inning but opened their half with a double and a single when a 3-run homer by Pedro Feliz to left field gave SF the lead at 4-3. After a quick eighth by LaTroy Hawkins, Tyler Walker is credited with the win, despite blowing the save by giving up a solo homer in the ninth to allow Atlanta to knot the game at four...→AP recap

ATL 4 SF 1 - In Thursday afternoon's getaway game, Braves starter John Smoltz wins over San Francisco for the first time since 1996 by throwing eight solid innings and holding SF to just seven hits, including a homer to Pedro Feliz for SF's only run in the fourth inning. SF starter Noah Lowry wasn't bad, giving up just 4 runs [3 earned] on six hits and seven K's. Jeff Francoeur homered off Lowry in the second inning to score two; ex-Husker Adam Shabala made an error in the sixth that allowed Kelly Johnson to score, and Smotlz helped his cause with a double in the seventh to score Jeff Francoeur. The offense just couldn't help Lowry. Durham was the only Giant with two or more hits...→AP recap

July 22 - July 24 v Florida

SF 8 FLA 5 - SF's bats got the best of Oakland native Dontrelle Willis Friday night, chasing him after three innings. SF had seven on the board by then, with three in the second and four in the third, with 2 key runs coming from a Pedro Feliz home run. While Tomko allowed four runs in the 8-5 victory, including homers in the first and second, he settled down and lasted through six, and earns the win. Alfonzo returned from the DL and was 1-3 with 2 RBI. The infield D, Durham and Vizquel, specificaly, made some very sharp plays to keep the Fish off the bags. Hawkins was great again in setup and Walker closed for the save. SF was out hit, 12-8. Feliz had 3 hits for SF, while LoDuca and Cabrera each had three hits for Florida... Ex-Husker Shabala sent back to Fresno...→AP recap

FLA 16 SF 4 - Saturday night was a losing night for the NL West as all five teams went down to defeat, including SF's 16-4 thrashing thanks to the Fish. SF starter Brad Hennessey allowed 8 runs on 9 hits in 4.1 innings and suffered from the boo birds. Reliever Kirk Rueter fared no better, allowing 7 earned in 3.1 innings. Three Fish had three hits apiece; four had two. Only Mike Matheny had two hits for SF; Ray Durham hit a second inning solo homer, and the Giants did hit four doubles, but that was no match for the Marlins hit attack - six doubles, two homers including Delgado's 2-run shot into the Cove. A game to shake off and forget, but the night featured the retiring of righty Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry's jersey - Way to go, Gaylord!...→AP recap

FLA 4 SF 1 - Sunday saw Barry Bonds' 41st birthday as well as Miguel Cabrera homer off of Giants pitching for the third stright day. Giants starter Kevin Correia also gave up dingers to Fish starting pitcher AJ Burnett and Juan Encarnacion in the 4-1 loss to the Marlins. SF, who hasn't won a series at home since late May, saw their best threat in the third when they plated a run with the help of two Marlins errors in the inning. SF did get players on the corners in the bottom of the eighth, but Lance Niekro grounded into a double play to end the inning. Correia takes the loss, Burnett the win. Ray Durham was activated before the game, while Alex Sanchez went on the DL with a strained elbow...→AP recap

July 25 - July 27 @ Chicago

CUBS 3 SF 2 - Felipe Alou made FIVE pitching changes in the eighth inning with SF leading 2-1 Monday night, and it backfired. After SF filled the bags with Cubbies, Alou went to Tyler Walker. One pitch to Neifi Perez and the game was tied at 2. SF was weak at the plate in the ninth, while the Cubs were able to get what they needed for the 3-2 win. I swear, if Felipe could have 8 position players and 17 pitchers on the active roster, he would. Oh, Pedro Feliz hit a homer, so some good came out of the game....→AP recap

SF 3 CUBS 2 - Tuesday night's game was delayed close to three hours and when play resumed, Cubbie pitcher Greg Maddux notched strikeout number 3,000, becoming the 13th pitcher to do so. As in Monday's game, nothing more than a single run in any inning. LaTroy Hawkins gave up a game-tying solo home run in the eighth to the Cubs' Barrett, and it was looking bad. But SF held into the 11th, when the Ellison singled to score Deivi Crus. Tyler Walker earns the save, with a nice sinker to get the Cubs to ground into a double play. Lance Niekro had three hits, two of them doubles, and two RBI...→AP recap

CUBS 4 SF 3 - Wedesday afternoon again saw late inning Cubs runs that would doom the Giants. After scoring two in the eighth to go up 3-2, SF gave up a single run in the eighth to allow Chicago to tie, and the game winning single by Burnitz in the ninth to give the Cubs the game and the series. Tomko pitched well enough that he might just be traded, 7.0 innings, 6 k's, 2 earned runs on 5 hits. Eyre blew a save chance, but Correia gave up the walk that would come around to score the winner. The Giants did commit three errors on the game, one early by Ellison that cost SF a run. Vizquel was 3-5, and made a rare error in the eighth that didn't help matters...→AP recap

July 28 - July 31 @ Milwaukee

SF 3 MIL 0 - It was Brad Hennessey v the Milwaukee Brewers for Thursday's series opener as the Giant pitcher threw seven innings of scoreless 3-hit, 7-strikeout ball and provided the Giants scoring via his first career homer, a three-run blast to left-center in the fifth inning. Munter and Walker each pitched an inning in the 3-0 victory. The Giant offense could only muster four hits as it was, so Hennessey's homer came along at the right time...→AP recap

SF 7 MIL 6 - Kirk Rueter only lasted 3.2 innings on Friday, giving up five runs in the fourth inning, but the Giants were able to put a 5-spot of their own on the board in the eighth to secure the 7-6 win. Alou homered in the first to make it 2-0 SF. In the ninth, Tyler Walker did allow a solo homer to Brady Clark, but was able to hold for the save. Pedro Feliz hit his 17th homer in that eighth inning offensive outburst. SF's seven runs came on eight hits and six walks...→AP recap

MIL 7 SF 1 - SF's offense only brought one run home, and that was in the first inning Saturday as Tucker Sac'd in Vizquel following Omar's triple to open the game. Jason Schmidt started and tossed seven innngs, but allowed 4 earned on five hits with 8K's and 2 walks. Not a bad outing for Schmidty, but the Brewers' Ben Sheets pitched a six-hit complete game and that took was that, especially after Fassero allowed a 3-run homer to Wes Helms...→AP recap

MIL 5 SF 1 - Once again, SF showed little life at the plate on non-waiver Trade Deadline Day, collecting just three hits in the 5-1 loss to Milwaukee. SF's lone run came in the seventh when Alfonzo singled in Feliz. Brewer starter Capuano gave up just 2 hits in his eight innings. Lowry suffers his eleventh loss giving up 4 earned runs despite striking out eight. As for trades, SF acquired Randy Winn from Seattle for backup catcher Yorvit Torrealba and surgically repired Jesse Foppert. Bye guys, take it easy...→AP recap

August 2 - August 4 v Colorado

COL 4 SF 3 - Before Tuesday's game SF designated oft-injured Marquis Grissom for assignment. Grip, take care. SF also placed Mike Matheny on breeavement leave, to attend the funeral of his grandfather. As Torreala was traded, SF brings up Haad and Knoedler, who have one MLB at-bat each. The game? Their catcher was better than our catcher. Rockie Closser hit an RBI double in the first. SF backstop Haad started and threw out a runner in the fourth [good], then dropped a foul ball off Closser [bad], who would end up hitting a triple and eventually scored in what became a 3-run inning. SF's three runs came from JT Snow, 2 on a double in the fourth, and one on a groundout in the fifth. Tomko started and eats the loss as SF goes down 4-3...→AP recap

COL 3 SF 2 - Cellar dwellers Colorado secured an road series win with their 3-2 victory over SF Wednesday night. Closser got a single off Tyler Walker in the ninth and that would prove to be the winning run. SF's runs came in the first and seventh innngs, as Feliz sac'd in Vizquel in inning one and Alfonzo singled in Tucker, who tripled, in the seventh. The Rockies two early runs came in the second off back-to-back homers by Shealy and Gonzalez. After that, Hennessey settled down and gave up only five hits over seven innings. Hawkins held in the eighth, before Walker's shaky outing. Alou is out with a sore knee...→AP recap

SF 6 COL 4 - SF salvaged a game in the series Thursday afternoon, as the Giants were looking at defeat until they hung a five-spot on the board in the eighth inning and defeated the Rockies 6-4. All of SF's runs were charged to Rockie reliever Dan Miceli, as the Giants hit seven consecutive hits [5 singles off Miceli, double and single off Williams]. Niekro's double provided the margin of victory. The win goes to Munter, the save to Walker, but starter Correia did well, just 2 earned in six innnings, and a career high six K's. Nice to see a late inning rally by the Giants. Matheny returned from bereavement leave...→AP recap

August 5 - August 7 v Houston

SF 4 HOU 0 - Jason Schmidt threw eight innings of 3-hit ball with five k's leading SF to a 4-0 victory over Houston on Friday at SBC Park. Lance Niekro cracked a 2-run homer in the first off of Astros starter Andy Pettite. Pedro Feliz singled in Winn in the third, and Winn would score for the third time in the game in the eighth after an error following a failed back end of a double play throw by Houston SS Everett. Hawkins closed the ninth, spelling Walker...→AP recap

SF 5 HOU 2 - Saturday afternoon Noah Lowry was an ace. The lefty allowed just one hit over seven innings while striking out eight in the 2hr 27min game. SF put three on the board in the second off Oswalt, in large part due to Ray Durham's smart baserunning. SF made it 4-0 in the third when Alfonzo singled in Durham for the second straight inning. In the eighth, Matheny hit a solo homer to make it 5-0 SF. Hawkins was great in the eighth and Walker did allow a 2-run homer to Ensberg to make the final 5-2 SF. Alou missed his fourth straight game...→AP recap

HOU 8 SF 1 - Before the game, Kirk Rueter was put on the DL with gout in his right big toe, retro to July 30. Brian Cooper was called up from Fresno to start Sunday's finale versus Roger Clemens and the Astros. Cooper was great, leaving after seven innings with the game tied at one, and he allowed just four hits, two walks, and struck out three. He even picked up hist first big league hit against Clemens in the third. Scott Eyre relieved in the eighth and just stunk today. With two out, he allowed a two doubles, a walk and home run and just like that it was 5-1 Astros. After that, SF just gave up and allowed 3 more Astros runs in the ninth. Final 8-1. Nice. Longest road trip of the season is just ahead...→AP recap

August 9 - August 11 @ Atlanta

ATL 7 SF 1 - Brad Hennessey had a terrible start, giving up four runs in the first as the Braves cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Giants Tuesday. Rookie Jeff Francoeur had four hits for the Braves, plus an RBI and run scored. SF got three hits from Lance Niekro and SF's only RBI, hitting a single to bring home Vizquel in the third. Hennessey would be charged with three more runs in the Atlanta third, bringing his ERA to over 5.5. The bottom three places in the lineup were 0 for 11...→AP recap

ATL 5 SF 4 [12] - Wednesday night, SF was down 3-0 after seven innings before the bats showed signs of life. Smoltz was fine through seven, then gave up a run in the eighth and was charged with three runs in the ninth, leaving without an out. SF's runs in the ninth tied the game and the Braves were able to plate a run in the 12 via a Giles 2-out single to win 5-4. Alfonzo, Snow and Metheny each had two hits. Kevin Correia had a great start until a mound problem threw his rhythm. He struck out seven through four innings. SF used Noah Lowry as a pinch hitter to avoid using the hurt Alou...→AP recap

SF 5 ATL 3 - Thursday night SF were down 3-1 after six innings, again having trouble collecting timely hits. In the seventh, the Giants got to Braves starter Tim Hudson, hitting two singles before Lance Niekro pinch hit for Schmidt and grounded into an RBI out. Next up was Randy Winn, who hit a deep fly to the right field bleachers, to put SF up 4-3. SF would add an insurance run in the eighth when Snow singled in Feliz. Munter and Hawkins held their relief and Walker earns save number 20 as SF holds on to salvage a game in the series with the 5-3 win...→AP recap

August 12 - August 14 @ Florida

SF 1 FLA 0 - Before Friday's game, SF put Moises Alou on the DL, retro to Aug 3. Munter also to the DL with an elbow problem. Todd Linden and Jeremy Accardo called up from Fresno. As for the game, SF got a great start from Noah Lowry, striking out six, while allowing just 4 hits and 2 walks in 7.1 innings of shutout ball. Accardo did his part and Walker saved as SF held on for the 1-0 shutout victory Friday night at Dolphins Stadium. SF's lone run came off Fish starter Dontrelle Willis as Randy Winn homered to deep left on the first pitch of the at-bat. Willis is now 0-3 lifetime vs SF. Winn has homered two nights straight...→AP recap

FLA 2 SF 1 - Saturday night, young Josh Beckett held off SF for a 4-hit complete game 2-1 victory despite SF's advances in the late innings helped by walks and an error and saved by catcher Treanor absorbed Todd Linden coming home and held on for the out. SF's only run came when Pedro Feliz led off the second with a homer to center to open the scoring. Florida's two runs came in the second and a homer in the fourth. Tomko otherwise was OK, lasting into the seventh...→AP recap

FLA 4 SF 1 - Before the game, SF said goodbye to Kirk Rueter, designating him for assingment after he returned from the DL. A sad end for a Great Giant. In Sunday's finale, SF showed little life and lost the rubber match of the series 1-4, with their run coming in the eighth via three singles and a Alfonzo groundout. SF would threaten a bit in the ninth, but twas not to be. Starter Brad Hennessey gave up a pair of runs in both the third and fifth innings, and lost his fifth game of the year. Backup catcher Haad collected his first MLB hit in the third... SF's bats were awful, scoring three runs the ENTIRE weekend, just one a game...→AP recap

August 15 - August 18 @ Cincinnati

SF 7 CIN 3 - Monday night Cincinnati hit 3 solo homers, but Randy Winn did em better. Mr Winn, in his 13th game as a Giant hit for the cycle in his first four at bats, using both sides of the plate to accomplish his first career cycle. It was SF's first cycle since 1999. SF also got a homer from Todd Linden in the fourth and he singled in Feliz in the fifth. Kevin Correia earns the victory in the Giants 7-3 win, and Adam Harang suffers his 11th defeat. Armando Benitez did not pitch but came off the DL following 3.5 months of rehab after having his hamstring surgically repaired. Cooper goes to Fresno...→AP recap

SF 10 CIN 8 - SF pounded out 19 hits in their victory over the Reds Tuesday night, led by 5-5 hitting by BOTH Pedro Feliz and Deivi Cruz. Deivi picked up five RBI as well, three from a homer in the fifth, and Feliz crossed the plate four times in the 10-8 win. Jason Schmidt had an off night and was hit above the knee in the second inning, and that may have contributed to his poor outing. As it was Cincinnati's bats were pretty hot as well, with two two-run homers from former Giant RichiePoo Aurilia and a solo shot from Griffey. Randy Winn hit a homer for SF and is batting .327. Fassero picks up the win and Walker snags the save, his 22nd...→AP recap

SF 3 CIN 2 - Wednesday night saw Noah Lowry throw 8.1 innings of 7-hit, 7K ball before leaving due to a blister, with SF leading 3-2. To close the game, Eyre got a strikeout and Hawkins takes the save getting Sean Casey to fly out to preserve the win. SF got all three runs in the fifth inning as all nine Giants batted. Ellison sac'd in Durham, Lowry singled home Linden, and Lowry himself scored on a bases loaded walk to JT Snow that ended Reds starter Luke Hudson's evening. Todd Linden went 3-4 on the night. SF looks to sweep Thursday afternoon...→AP recap

CIN 4 SF 2 - SF lost the chance a sweep Thursday afternoon despite out hit the Reds 10 to 5. SF starter and former Red Brett Tomko gave up two 2-run homers to the Reds, in the first and fourth innings. SF got a run in the 4th on a massive blast down the right field line by JT Snow, and Niekro brough home Linden on a single in the seventh, but Ramon Ortiz was able to get the defense he needed to earn the win. SF did have a chance in the ninth, but couldn't get past second. Linden picked up another three hits on the day. JT's homer was just his third of the season. Armando Benitez made an appearance in the game, his first since surgery 3.5 months ago...→AP recap

August 19 - August 21 @ St Louis

StL 5 SF 4 - Wow, what a terrible loss. Hardest of the year, pehaps. Everyone should be fired. SF in St Louis for the weekend and they face arch nemesis Tony LaRussa. SF was up 2-0 thanks to solo HRs by Vizquel and Durham. Brad Hennessey gave up no runs in 7.1 innings, but was pulled with a small jam in the eighth. Relievers Hawkins, Eyre and Walker are needed to finish the eighth. SF picks up 2 big insurance runs in the ninth to go up 4-0. In the bottom of the ninth, it unravels. Walker has neither velocity nor location and is tagged with 3 runs. In his place is Accardo who gets two key outs but give up one single. Then Christiansen comes in to face Edmonds, and Jimmy cracks the first pitch to the right field wall to score 2 and give the Cardinals the 5-4 win. Accardo eats the loss, but it was Walker who BLEW IT. Felipe too, overmanaging once again. Just ugly. BTW, Ellison was sent down to make room for Moises Alou, returning from the DL...→AP recap

StL 4 SF 2 - SF stumbled again against the Cardinals on Saturday afternoon. For starter Matt Morris, St Louis took a 2-run lead to the sixth, where SF tied it up on a Ray Durham double that scored Vizquel and Feliz. But the Redbirds would regain the lead in the bottom frame as Grudzielanek and Molina each picked up an RBI, via a single and suicide squeeze, respectively, and the Cards go on to win 4-2. Correia takes the loss. Fassero was fine in relief, and had to be, as Felipe burned everyone else the night before... Looks like the Giants get one more visit to Woody's Shed, as Reuter invited his former teammates over for a bash...→AP recap

SF 4 StL 2 - Magically, San Francisco won Sunday afternoon in hot n steamy St Louis, salvaging a game in the series with a 4-2 victory over the Redbirds. Jason Schmidt was the star, tossing seven innings of 4 hit shutout baseball for the Giants. SF got three runs across in the third, all unearned, after StLou committed two errors and simply looked very sloppy. After SF relief gave up a run in the eighth, Armando Benitez came in for the save in the ninth, but was shaky, allowing a run himself before ending the game with the potential winning run at the plate, striking out Taguchi to end the threat and the game. Finally the road trip with out a day off is over, but no time off. Philly comes to SF Monday night... Sunday, reliever Tyler Walker went on the DL (retro to Aug 20) with an inflamed shoulder. Brian Cooper was called back from Fresno...→AP recap

August 22 - August 24 v Philadelphia

SF 5 PHI 0 - Monday night and finally back home... Noah Lowry was one out from a complete game 5-0 shutout of the Phillies when ol' 'Cream of Wheat' pulled him after an infield hit. It was Lowry's fifth hit allowed on the night to go with his six strikeouts and one walk. Hawkins would come in to strike out Burrell to end the game. SF put four on the board in the third as the Giants tagged first-pitch hits off Lieber and plated a run before Moises Alou hit a 3-run homer to left field. SF added a run in the sixth when Lowry sac'd in Michael Tucker. SF turned a nice double play in the seventh that followed a strikeout and helped squash a bases-loaded no out situation. Former Giant Aaron Fultz relieved in the eighth, picking up a strikeout and hiting Tucker, but allowed no runs...→AP recap

PHI 10 SF 2 - SF met loss number 70 on Tuesday night as Brett Tomko only lasted three innings and allowed five earned as SF lost 10-2 to the Phils. The Giant offense could muster only three hits off winner Vicente Padilla, all doubles at that - Winn scored after his double in the first, and a pair of doubles in the sixth by Linden and Vizquel that scored Linden. But offensively, that was it. Of the releivers, Fassero fared well, throwing three innings of one-hit ball. Christiansen was tagged with 3 earned runs in just 1/3 of an inning...→AP recap

PHI 7 SF 4 - Wednesday night, SF found themselves tied at four after three innings versus the Phillies at SBC Park beore losing 7-4. Brad Hennessey took the loss, allwoing seven hits and four runs in the first two innings. Phils run number five came in the fifth as they singled and walked to the go-ahead run. Moises Alou tripled in the third and scored on a Durham ground out, and SF didn't threaten again until the seventh, but that was squashed by a double play. Randy Winn led off the Giants half of the first with his 1,000th career hit, a single...→AP recap

August 26 - August 28 v NY Mets

NYM 1 SF 0 - Before the game, SF released Christiansen and outrighted Cooper to Fresno. In their place, SF brings back Jack Taschner and 20 year old phenom Matt Cain, who is expected to start Monday... Now, Friday night saw a pitching duel between Kevin Correia and Steve Trachsel, and Trachsel and the Mets would win 1-0. Both pitchers went eight innings, but the Mets got a solo homer to that David Wright placed deep in the left field bleachers to give the Mets all they would need. Trachsel was making his first start of the 2005 season, following since undergoing back surgery in March. Correia struck out SEVEN and walked NONE, in his first-ever game pitching into the eighth. SF only had three hits on the night. Eyre and the Mets' Looper pitched the ninth and each did their part...→AP recap

SF 2 NYM 1 - Before Saturday's game, SF traded Michael Tucker to Philadelphia for minor league talent. All the best, Tucker. Ellison recalled... Saturday afternoon saw another pitching duel between the Mets and Giants as Tom Glavine faced off versus good-guy Jason Schmidt. SF picked up two runs in the second via an RBI groundout and a Matheny double. That would prove to be enough for the Giants in their 2-1 victory. Schmidt was able to keep the Mets' bats quiet, giving up just three hits in his seven innings of work. He did walk five, including walking the bases loaded in the seventh, but got a weak popup to end the inning. Eyre and Benitez finished out for SF. Glavine lasted six...→AP recap

SF 4 NYM 1 - Sunday was a quiet affair as the bats waited until the sixth to open the scoring. Noah Lowry and Kris Benson each allowed a hit here or there, but in the sixth, the Mets struck first after Beltran scored on a strikeout wild pitch to Woodward. But Lowry pitched a perfect 7th and 8th, before Benitez would come in to save. SF got three in the bottom six as JT Snow hit a solo shot followed three batters later by a 2-run homer by Pedro Feliz to make it 3-1. SF would add one more run in the eighth as Snow drove in Winn. Final SF 4 Mets 1 and the Giants win the weekend series. 20 year old Matt Cain is scheduled to make his big league debut, starting Monday versus Colorado...→AP recap

August 29 - August 31 v Colorado

COL 2 SF 1 - Twenty-year Rookie Matt Cain was tapped to start the series opener Monday night at home facing the Rockies. He pitched great, with the exception of a 2nd inning homer by __ that gave Colorado a 1-0 lead, a lead the Rockies would be able to hold. Cain lasted five, ending that inning with a 14 pitch duel with Helton that ended with a fly out. But __ for Colorado kept SF's bats quiet, so just like that, it was over in 2:24 1-0 Rockies and Cain suffers the loss. Way to go, bats...→AP recap

SF 4 COL 3 - Before Tuesday's game, SF announced two trades. Deivi Cruz to the Nats, and Jason Christiansen to the Angels - both deals for minor leaguers. SF also called up Angel Chavez from Fresno... As for the game, SF were down 3-1 after six and a half innings before SF plated a run in the seventh and a pair in the eighth for a late innings rally to beat the Rockies 4-3. Ray Durham had three hits and scored twice. SF's 3 RBI's all scored with two out. Hennessey gave up 3 earned over seven innings, but Taschner takes the win. Call up Chavez started for Vizquel and batted 0-4, but was solid in the field...→AP recap

SF 5 COL 3 - Wednesday afternoon, SF clobbered four solo home runs en route to beating Colorado 5-3 to win the series. Alou and Matheny connected in the second, while Durham hit his homer in the fourth, and Linden homered in the sixth. SF added insurance in the seventh, when Matheny singled in Niekro. Correia started but left early, after injury. Fassero, the first of five relievers, gets the win; Benitez the save...→AP recap

September 2 - September 4 @ Arizona

SF 6 AZ 3 - As SF beat Arizona Friday night 6-3 at Bank One Ballpark, SF moved into third place in the NL West. Go figure. The game was tied at one, when, in the sixth, Ray Durham cracked a 3-run homer to put SF up 4-1. In the next inning, Vizquel doubled in two more and it was 6-1 SF. The D'Backs did plate two in the seventh, but that was the end of their scoring. Schmidt pitched into the seventh, ending with 10 K and only 4 hits allowed. Benitez would earn his tenth save of his shortened season...→AP recap

SF 9 AZ 4 - Saturday, SF continued to be one smokin' baseball team. With a 9-4 victory over Arizona, the Giants settled into second place in the NL West. GO FIGURE. Noah Lowry was shaky in the first, giving up three runs on three hits. SF came back in the third when Winn homered soon followed by an Alou 3-run blast. Up 4-3, SF added four more in the seventh, where a pair of walks, pair of doubles, a single and a stolen base did the damage. Winn would hit a solo homer in the eighth for his second of the game. Arizona would get a fourth run in the ninth, but that was the end. 9-4 SF - Lowry gets the win, Taschner has 3Ks in 2 innings of relief. Munter gave up the run in the ninth...→AP recap

SF 3 AZ 2 - Before the game, SF recalled Dan Ortmeier from AA Norwich... In Sunday's Phoenix finale, rookie phenom Matt Cain was again handed the ball, and allowed just one D-Backs run, a groundout RBI following a triple, one of just three hits Cain allowed. By the time this seventh inning run was scored, SF had built a 3-0 lead, singling in runs in the first, sixth and seventh innings. Winn was in on all three scores. In the eighth, Hawkins relieved but found himself in trouble. In came Eyre, who was able to hold the lead, on a wacky play up the middle. Benitez closes the ninth, but gave up a solo homer, so SF wins 3-2 and sweeps the series and moves to within 5.5 games of the Padres. Matt Cain has MLB win #1 Hummmm Baby!...→AP recap

September 5 - September 7 @ Los Angeles

SF 3 LA 1 - Cooper and Ramirez up from Fresno... Dodger errors led to 2 SF Giants runs and Moises Alou tracked down a fly ball with a nice slide to prevent LA from scoring in the sixth as the Giants held off the Blue 3-1 to move to within five games of first place in the West. Kill me now as SF has won six in a row. Ray Durham picked up two hits and scored twice, the last, the third run, on a double steal, or so they say. Durham hurt his right hammie on the play. Hennessey was good with just one earned in 6.1 innings, but Hawkins get the win. Benitez did run into trouble in the ninth to make it interesting, but he struck out Hee Seop Choi to make it academic. Save number 12 for the big guy...→AP recap

LA 4 SF 2 - Tuesday night LA got a theth inning homer from Jeff Kent to beat SF 4-2. The Blue also got a homer from another former Giant, Jose Cruz Jr. Tomko made it through seven innings, giving up just the Cruz homer in the second, and giving up no hits in innings 4-7. Hawkins let the tying run scoot through in the eighth. Angel Chavez got his first two hits, a single followed by a double, and would come home on a squueze bunt laid down by Randy Winn that put SF up 2-1 in the seventh inning. Jeremy Accardo gave up that 10th inning home run, but I am thinking that poor Jeremy shouldn't even have been on the mound in the extra frame. Oh, and let's hear it for Jayson Werth. pbbbbbhhhffft. I am on to your scam...→AP recap

LA 9 SF 8 - Wednesday was a real crappy loss. SF lost Schmidt after a right groin tweak in the fifth, down 4-2 to LA. SF tied it at 5 in the seventh off of Mike Matheny's 3-run homer, and took the lead a couple of batters later when Randy Winn smacked a solo homer that sent Blue starter Weaver to the showers. In the eighth, SF added insurance as the Giants plated 2 more to go up 8-5. LA battled back with a solo homer by Cruz in the eighth, his second of the day, to make it 8-6. In the ninth, the Dodgers scored three for their second walk-off win in as many days. Benitez stunk in the closer role, and Accardo was forced into a bad situation and was shaky. Earlier, after Fassero had relieved Schmidt to satisfaction, Felipe began his "Parade of Relievers" that included Tyler Walker's return from the DL and he was shaky, with a ugly walk given to Kent in the seventh. No damage done there, at least...→AP recap

September 8 - September 11 v Chicago Cubs

September 12 - September 14 v San Diego

September 15 - September 18 v Los Angeles

September 19 - September 22 @ Washington

September 23 - September 25 @ Colorado

September 29 - September 29 @ San Diego

September 30 - October 2 v Arizona