No Barry Blast. But for the San Francisco Giants, no
problem.
No Barry Blast. But for the San Francisco Giants, no problem.
Though Barry Bonds remains at 713 career home runs four games into his team’s homestand, the Giants have a much bigger concern on the agenda – finding a way to win ballgames. And for the third time in four days, they managed to do just that.
After a disheartening Eastern road trip left the team reeling at three games under .500, there Giants returned home carrying the baggage of their cellar-dwelling status in the National League West. Forget Bonds’s pursuit of Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time home run list. This team was in desperate need of the type of moral boost that only a string of victories could begin to provide.
Bonds will hit No. 714 soon enough. But then what? Once the flashbulbs and the media frenzy die down, what are the Giants left with? An old, injury-prone team that has performed well below expectations thus far. That’s what.
Unless they start having more games like Thursday’s 9-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs at AT&T Park.
Even though the bulk of the fans surely had a Barry Blast as their primary wish for the day, the Giants’ loyal patrons got just about everything else they could have asked for. The local nine scored four runs before the Cubs managed to get an out, batting around in the first and taking a quick 5-0 lead. That proved more than enough of a cushion for starter Jamey Wright, who pitched scoreless ball into the eighth.
As it turned out, all the regulars with the exception of Bonds got in on the fun. And with the team so dependent on a 41-year old with creaky knees chief among his many hindrances, a nine-run output when Barry goes hitless was a tremendous boon. But even though he was the only Giants’ position player not to record a hit, Bonds still figured heavily in the offense, as usual.
Struggling first baseman Lance Niekro experienced the Rich Aurilia Phenomenon – making the most of the offerings in the pre-Barry lineup spot – crushing a two-run double to begin the blowout and later singling in the sixth. Bonds drew two walks, including one of the intentional variety after Niekro’s first-inning double, and was driven in both times by Pedro Feliz, who finished 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored.
On the heels of Jason Schmidt’s complete-game victory on Tuesday, San Francisco notched a sorely-needed series victory with the win. Yes, taking two of three from the even-more-lifeless Cubs is hardly reason to believe this season will end any differently than last season’s third-place finish. But beginning with Monday’s make-up game victory over Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros, San Francisco has shown one sign in particular that has management cautiously optimistic – the strong performance of its rotation.
Noah Lowry’s triumphant return from the disabled list – and victory over Oswalt – gives the team the needed ‘gamer’ it needs in the middle of the rotation. Schmidt’s second straight complete game and Thursday’s solid effort from No. 5 Wright offer hope that the starters might be ready to begin being a part of the solution, rather than the problem.
But San Francisco desperately needs Matt Morris to break out of his slump tonight against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the second slot, Morris may well be the key to the Giants’ hopes to contend for the NL West championship. Consistent outings from the other four starters will go a long way toward easing the burden on sophomore Matt Cain, but should Cain continue to struggle, Brad Hennessey looms as a solid, if unspectacular replacement.
Because Bonds garners the lion’s share of the attention for the club, his teammates have thus far skated beyond the stinging criticism that a team still tied for last place deserves. Once Bonds reaches and surpasses Ruth, any glaring weaknesses the Giants continue to exhibit will take center stage.
While the paid crowd of 38,132 exhorted Bonds to send one into the distance and 39 kayaks jostled for position in McCovey Cove to corral that blast, the slugger’s teammates were the ones to step up and shine in the limelight on Thursday.
For the Giants’ sake, let’s hope that continues.
