Giants 8, Cubs 6

The Giants remain undefeated on the road (and without a win at home) as they beat the Cubs at Ho Ho Kam Park in Mesa today. The Giants were outhit by the Cubs 10-12 and had 4 errors to the Cubs 1 but still managed to pull out a win.

Matt Cain had a very nice first spring start. No other pitcher had a 1-2-3 inning as the Giants jumped out to a 6-1 lead and after a few tense moments in the 7th, 8th and 9th won the game 8-6.

A few things I didn't cover in the photos. Rajai Davis did not have a good offensive day as he went 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Rajai's bat just looks very slow right now. Eliezer Alfonzo also went 0 for 4 but had an RBI on a groundout in the 5th. Alfonzo continues to hack away. In his first 2 ABs he made 2 outs and swung at all 4 pitches he saw. Aaron Rowand played the first 4 1/2 innings in CF, going 1 for 2 with a single, a walk and a stolen base. The Giants stole 6 bases on the day. Maybe they are serious about this running thing.

As has been the case more than once already this spring....the defense was not good. In addition to the 4 errors I already detailed......Pablo Sandoval lost a foul popup in the wind which prolonged an AB that resulted in a run on a SAC fly charged to Williamson.

Good starting pitching.....poor relief pitching.....sounds like last year. The difference was that the Giants offense scored enough runs to overcome spotty relief work and poor defense. Some good.....some bad.......just like many Spring Training games.

Tomorrow will be the Giants vs the Rangers back at Scottsdale Stadium....as the Giants try to win their first home game.