BOX SCORE
This game felt a lot like last years National League Championship Series, without the cool weather, of course.
The San Francisco Giants beat the Phillies in a close one. Giants' right-hander Matt Cain pitched deep into the game and did not allow an earned run. Giants' lefty reliever Javier Lopez got some big outs. Their closer, Brian Wilson, the guy with the weird beard, got the save. The Phillies did little with runners in scoring position.
It all added up to a 2-1 loss for the Phils at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night.
Cain got the win, just as he did in Game 3 of last years NLCS when he pitched seven shutout innings against the Phils. This time he allowed just one unearned run in seven innings in out-pitching Cole Hamels, who was the losing pitcher in Game 3 in October.
Hamels pitched a solid game, holding the Giants to two runs over 7 23 innings. He was let down by his defense and the bats, which produced just one hit in six chances with a runner in scoring position. The Phils lost the NLCS to the Giants last year largely because they hit just .178 (8 for 45) with runners in scoring position in the series.
Cain held the Phillies to four hits, only one of which was an extra-base hit. Lopez and Wilson combined for the last six outs and looked as dominant as they were in Ocotber. The Phils have scored three or fewer runs in 53 of their 103 games. No wonder general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is out there trying to land a hitter before Sundays trade deadline. The Giants, for their part, have already landed their stretch-drive hitter. Carlos Beltran is expected to be in their lineup Thursday night.
MLB
In a close game like Wednesday nights, every little thing is magnified. This is why Domonic Brown got so much attention after the game. The rookie rightfielder had a tough time on a play in the seventh inning and it may have led to a run. He dived rather awkwardly for Nate Schierholtz sinking liner and missed the ball by several inches. The ball rolled away from Brown and Jeff Keppinger, who was on second, was able to score the Giants second run of the game.
Brown probably should have played the ball on a hop, kept Schierholtz to a single, and possibly held Keppinger at third.
Brown considered the play a learning experience.
I was trying to make a good play for my pitcher, Brown said. I thought I could catch it. You live and learn.
Manager Charlie Manuel didnt have much to say about Browns play.
I would have to look at it on video, he said.
If the Phillies do anything against Cain, Browns play is easily absorbed. But when you dont hit
He was throwing four pitches for strikes and spotting up on the black, Brown said of Cain. Its tough when a pitcher of that caliber does that.
Hamels has lost two of his three starts after the all-star break. He was routed by the Mets on July 16. This one was more a matter of poor run support. Hamels has been there before.
Hamels definitely pitched good enough to win, manager Charlie Manuel said.
The left-hander gave up a two-out, RBI triple to right to Aaron Rowand on a 1-1 fastball in the third. He wasnt happy with the pitch.
I left it up just a little, Hamels said. You never want to give up the first run of the game because it could be the one that really matters.
In a tight game, they all matter. The only run that the Phillies gave Hamels was unearned.
The Phils havent lost two straight games since the first week of June. They wont have an easy task avoiding that on Thursday night as they will face either Tim Lincecum, the two-time NL Cy Young winner, or Ryan Vogelsong, the NL ERA leader. Lincecum has been ill. He will get the call if he is feeling better.
The Giants can throw some pitching at youstarters and relieversand they did on Wednesday night.
It felt a lot like the 2010 NLCS, which is not a good memory for the Phillies.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.