Yesterday's News

Catching up on the late games from Wednesday.

Greg Maddux had a rough start (6 IP, 4 R, 3 HR) and Trevor Hoffman had a rough finish (2/3 IP, 3 H, 4 R) including allowing a game-winning three-run homer by Lance Berkman as the Padres dropped their first of the year to Houston 9-6. Geoff Blum, Ty Wigginton, and Carlos Lee all hit solo homers for the Astros as well.

The Giants offense managed two runs to beat the Dodgers 2-1. Since rain was expected, San Fransisco decided to keep Tim Lincecum from starting to protect his young arm. He was put in to start the fourth and it promptly rained (for an hour 15 minutes) and then they inexplicably sent him back out anyway. He ended with the line 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 4 K and the win. The Dodgers had a similar plan with their young right-hander Chad Billingsley, but he didn't come back after the rain. The two Giants runs scored on (1) a fielding error by Andre Either (how long until Juan Pierre is starting again?) and (2) a sac fly to score Lincecum (the pitcher). Way to go offense. If I was Lincecum, I wouldn't expect to win too many of these types of games. The Giants have 4 runs in three games. I would count how many times teams have put up innings that large so far (I would guess around 15) but I don't feel like looking through the box scores at the moment.

The guy who came in for the save in the M's-Rangers game wasn't a reliever, it was 5th starter Miguel Batista. The guy did used to pitch in the pen, and I guess they were getting him some work as they won't need him to start for a little while, but it was still surprising to see.