Giants vs White Sox

Today's game was strange for a couple of reasons. First, the Giants finally won a game. Second, the Giants started 7 of 8 starting position players for the first time in I don't know how long. And third, both teams played the 8th inning like the game really counted. Bottom line is the Giants won 3-2 on a well pitched, well played game by both teams. The White Sox also played mostly regulars, but in their case many of them never came out of the game. Darren Erstad, Tadahito Iguchi, Paul Konerko, Jermain Dye, Joe Crede and Brian Anderson all played the entire game.

I didn't keep score and I didn't take many photos. As the end of Spring Training nears......it doesn't take much for me to get distracted, drink a few beers and talk baseball with my neighbors a lot more than I do earlier in the spring. Today...I did all of the above. I can't believe the Giants have only 1 home and 1 away game left in Arizona. It seems like just yesterday that I flew from San Francisco to Phoenix.

Offensively, besides Winn, only Bengie Molina had a multiple hit game. Bengie went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a nice hit and run single. He is another guy that started out slowly, but is hitting much better the last few games. Other than that.....the Giants didn't have much going offensively. Just enough to win.

Defensively of note, Kevin Frandsen got his first innings of the spring in the outfield. Frandsen said in February that he wanted to learn the outfield....but he was not given the chance until today. Frandsen had an unusual defensive line today. He replaced Ray Durham at 2B when he came out of the game. Replaced Bonds in LF when he came out of the game. And replaced Omar Vizquel at SS when he came out of the game. Frandsen had no chances (that I remember) in LF.......too bad.

As far as the pitching goes......Kevin Correia replaced Hennessey and gave up the 2nd run of the game on Iguchi's solo HR. Correia, also gave up a single to put 1 man on base with 2 out. This is where the gamesmanship began. As the Sox brought lefty PH Rob Mackowiak to the plate with 2 out......the Giants brought in lefty Steve Kline. When the Giants brought in Kline.....the Sox brought in righty PH Eduardo Perez. In a very disappointing couple of ABs....Kline allowed a single to Perez and a walk to Anderson to load the bases with 2 out. The Giants then brought in Armando Benitez who got Gustavo Molina to fly out harmlessly to LF to end the inning. It is pretty rare that you see this kind of maneuvering in a Spring Training game. It was kind of nice to see......reminded me of REAL baseball. Mando then pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning with 2 strikeouts (including Iguchi). His slider was nasty. I don't know........he is beginning to win me over.....god help me.

That's about it for today. Like I said.....no scorekeeping today so this entire recap is based on my memory (never a good thing). At any rate...a good game with an 8th inning that reminded me of a hard fought regular season game. Good stuff........especially Benitez' continued resurgence.

Tomorrow is the Giants in Peoria against the Mariners in the final away game in Arizona. Should be Matt Morris against Horacio Ramirez. Morris had a good game last time out.....it would sure be nice if he could continue the good vibes.