Giants Snap Losing Streak: 9-7

Cain did his job; now it's Sanchez's turn.

Matt Cain is the 2010 stopper. Lincecum was the go-to guy last year; whenever the Giants had a losing streak, he would stop it; which is actually not surprising at all, considering that he pitched behind Joe Martinez and Randy Johnson for a good part of the season, and he was a Cy Young winner. This season, Matt Cain is becoming that guy. With consecutive bad performances from Sanchez, Bumgarner, Lincecum, and Zito, Cain stopped the bleeding. It wasn't a brilliant outing: 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 K; but it got the job done nevertheless. The relief was terrible, except Brian Wilson, of course. Casilla, Affeldt, and Lopez combined for 4 ER and 5 H in 1.0 IP. But Wilson came in and shut the door for 1.2 innings.

Five Giants had multi-hit games:

• Freddy Sanchez - 3 for 5, 2 RBI
• Andres Torres - 2 for 4, 2 RBI
• Matt Cain - 2 for 3, 1 R
• Eli Whiteside - 2 for 4, 2 R
• Pablo Sandoval - 2 for 4, 2 R 

It's nice to be seeing Freddy Sanchez and Pablo Sandoval on this list on a daily basis. It legitimizes their "return to form". 

Notes:

• It's nice to see Cody Ross in the lineup. He didn't have a hit, but did get a sacrifice fly in the 7th inning. And he's an obvious defensive upgrade over Burrell. 
• Props to Jose Guillen: he had a clutch hit in the 7th that ultimately was the difference in the game. With runners on second and third, he singled to center to make the score 7-6. Finally, his offense comes at a timely manner. 
• It will be interesting to see if Posey catches tomorrow. He's probably recovered by now from his left-forearm strain, but typically Whiteside catches Jonathan Sanchez, because of their rapport since he caught his no-hitter. I'd bet Posey's playing if he's fine. 
• Freddy Sanchez: 15 for his last 24 (.625 avg); He had a nice 2-strike opposite-field double to give the Giants an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. 

Tomorrow: Jonathan Sanchez will pitch against the Rockies' Jorge De La Rosa, who has a 4.54 ERA. The Giants should be able to win this game: the Rockies are 25-40 away from home, and some Giants (Sanchez, Ross, Uribe) have good numbers against him. Sanchez is 6 for 14 against him in his career with 1 HR.

Jonathan Sanchez, meanwhile, has good numbers against Colorado. They bat a collective .243 against him in their careers with just 1 HR in 107 AB. Watch out for Troy Tulowitzki though: 7 for 17 lifetime with a HR vs. Sanchez.