BASTA: Giants Trounce Nationals 10-3

((HT: BASTA their own selves))

Wow. The Giants looked GOOD today. The offense was probably the best we've seen since the All Star Break. The top and middle of the lineup clicked for a few huge innings like the fourth and ninth of three and four runs respectively.

Buster Posey continued his hot streak from yesterday hitting his second home run in two days, his fifteenth of the season in the sixth inning. Posey also had an RBI double hard off the right field wall, bringing his numbers to 2-5 with two runs and two RBIs on the day. However, even this great performance overmatched by rookie second baseman Joe Panik. He went 4 for 5 today with some amazing at bats where he looked to be in complete control through his at bats. He hit his first home run of his career, a three run blast to center in the fourth to round out his great day. He finished with two runs scored and three RBIs. Backup first baseman Travis Ishikawa, who is currently filling in for the injured Brandon Belt, continued his hot streak today as well. He only had one hit in five at bats today, but that one hit was a two run double in the eighth that provided the Giants some insurance runs.

The Nationals had a ten game winning streak going on before this week, but the Giants who have been pretty hot too as of late broke that today. The Nats opened up the scoring on a Panik error in the first, one that he more than made up for with his hitting. However, the Giants came back with Panik's homer in the fourth which was followed by the Nats scoring another run in the bottom of the inning, bringing the score to 3-2. The Giants then scored seven runs straight in the sixth, eighth, and ninth, giving them the huge lead of 10-2. They allowed one run in the bottom of the inning, but held them to that one to put the final score at 10-3 Giants.

In addition to the stellar offense today, there was some great pitching too. Starter Tim Hudson had a short but strong outing of 5.1 innings giving up two runs, but only one earned, and he earned his ninth win of the season and his first since July 16. Javier Lopez, Jean Machi, and Sergio Romo together pitched a scoreless fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, recording four strikeouts over the innings while only giving up one hit collectively. Juan Gutierrez had a little trouble in the ninth, giving up a run, but he managed to limit the damage and close out the game safely.

Here's postgame where Duane and Mike caught up with Panik about his August
((HT: CSN Bay Area))


The Giants stay 3.5 games behind the Dodgers with this win, but they seem to be heating up, as they have won two series in a row, three games in a row, and have won six out of their last eight games. Hopefully they can take this great game and continue playing at this caliber to take this series and make a great run at the division title and the postseason. Let's hope for some good times ahead, halfway through the dog days of August, and a run deep into October for the Giants.

NOTES:
–Centerfielder Angel Pagan left the game with an upper calf injury and is currently day-to-day.