The Giants received multi-hit games from the heart of their order, coupled with Ryan Vogelsong’s seven strong innings of one run ball, as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Tuesday night, in the second game of a three game series.
Melky Cabrera, Buster Posey, and Angel Pagan combined for all of the Giants seven hits, with Cabrera going 3-4 and scoring twice.
Cabrera’s hits first tied, then broke a new San Francisco record for most hits in the month of May with 50 (passing Willie Mays record of 49 set back in 1958), and it also marked his 25th multi-hit game this season, which leads the major leagues.
Posey drove in two of the Giants three runs, the first with a double he crushed in the bottom of the sixth inning, tying the game at one a piece. He drove in his second run in the eighth inning, a go-ahead sac fly that scored Ryan Theriot.
Later in the inning, with bases loaded and one out, Joaquin Arias hit a ground ball to Aaron Hill at second base. Hill flipped the ball to the shortstop John Mcdonald for the 4-6-3 double play, but Arias beat out the throw allowing Cabrera to score the Giants third run.
After the game, Giants manager Bruce Bochy had high praise for Cabrera, comparing him to hall of famer Tony Gwynn, commenting “he takes what they give him, he doesn’t try and do too much, he’s just a great hitter.”
Bochy also commented on the poise of Vogelsong to battle through some tough innings and keep the Giants in the ballgame. Vogelsong gave up six hits and walked three, but was able to make pitches when it counted only allowing the one earned run.
Vogelsong’s ERA in the month of May is 1.51 ( seven earned runs in 41.2 innings pitched), and he hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in ten straight home starts dating back to August 25th of last year. Tuesday night also market the 6th time this season Vogelsong has pitched at least seven innings.
Casilla pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances.
Tomorrow, the Giants go for the sweep, as they send Tim Lincecum (2-5) to the hill to face Arizona’s Ian Kennedy (3-5).
