Bear
06-23-2008, 08:50 PM
Tuesday, June 24 Progressive Field | 4:05 PM PT
Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (6-4, 4.23) Giants (32-44) @ Aaron Laffey, LHP (4-4, 2.98) Indians (35-41)
Scouting Report:
Giants: In his last outing, Sanchez no-hit Detroit for five innings, striking out seven and issuing two walks in that span, before Curtis Granderson singled cleanly to open the sixth. Sanchez lasted three batters into the eighth inning, marking the second time in 15 starts this year that he had pitched into the eighth. Sanchez is averaging a little more than a strikeout per inning (88 in 87 1/3), harnessing his fastball and employing his slider to greater effect. The inconsistency he displayed early in the season is becoming more and more of a memory with each outing.
Indians: Laffey continues to find ways to work himself out of trouble, which is a testament to his confidence in his sinkerball. Facing the Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday, he gave up eight hits with three walks and a hit batter in just six innings of work but limited the damage to three runs, mainly because he induced three double-play balls. Still, he took the loss, because of a lack of support. Opponents are batting .177 off Laffey with runners in scoring position this season. This will be Laffey's first career appearance against the Giants.
Wednesday, June 25 Progressive Field | 4:05 PM PT
Barry Zito, LHP (2-11, 6.32) Giants (32-44) @ Jeremy Sowers, LHP (0-2, 6.57) Indians (35-41)
Scouting Report:
Giants: After a promising May in which he turned in a 3.49 ERA in five starts, Zito's problems have returned in June, reaching a low point in his last start, in which he only made it through two innings while falling to 2-11. Zito has walked at least four batters in all four of his June starts, which has added to the problem. Zito is 5-3 with a 2.71 ERA against the Indians in nine career starts.
Indians: Sowers gave up 10 hits to the Rockies on Thursday, but several of those were of the infield variety. Sowers took the loss by giving up four runs (three earned) with no walks and four strikeouts in six innings. Still, this outing was an improvement over the two that preceded it. Sowers will remain in the rotation for a while, as Fausto Carmona suffered a setback on his road to recovery from a hip strain, so the young left-hander will look to be more efficient and, yes, a little more lucky against a Giants team he's never faced.
Thursday, June 26 Progressive Field | 4:05 PM PT
Matt Cain, RHP (4-5, 4.31) Giants (32-44) @ Cliff Lee, LHP (10-1, 2.45) Indians (35-41)
Scouting Report:
Giants: Could Cain be ready to turn his season around? It sure appeared that way Friday night in Kansas City. He gave up three runs in the first and then dominated. Cain went eight innings, allowing just those three runs and striking out eight. He said he's felt more comfortable in his last few starts mainly because he's been taking an approach where he goes at the hitters more with his fastball. Cain has won two of his last three outings.
Indians: Lee was dominant early and resilient late in his last start against the Dodgers on Friday. When the Dodgers put the heat on Lee in the game's later innings, he didn't blink. He left runners stranded on the corners in the sixth and two runners stranded in scoring position in the seventh. In all, he allowed just a run on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts in the close ballgame, but he was unable to come up with his 11th win because his bullpen let him down. Still, Lee seems to have successfully readjusted after a brief stretch where his early season dominance departed him. He is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in one career start against the Giants and is 10-2 overall in Interleague Play.
The Giants will be lucky to win one game in this series!:(
Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (6-4, 4.23) Giants (32-44) @ Aaron Laffey, LHP (4-4, 2.98) Indians (35-41)
Scouting Report:
Giants: In his last outing, Sanchez no-hit Detroit for five innings, striking out seven and issuing two walks in that span, before Curtis Granderson singled cleanly to open the sixth. Sanchez lasted three batters into the eighth inning, marking the second time in 15 starts this year that he had pitched into the eighth. Sanchez is averaging a little more than a strikeout per inning (88 in 87 1/3), harnessing his fastball and employing his slider to greater effect. The inconsistency he displayed early in the season is becoming more and more of a memory with each outing.
Indians: Laffey continues to find ways to work himself out of trouble, which is a testament to his confidence in his sinkerball. Facing the Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday, he gave up eight hits with three walks and a hit batter in just six innings of work but limited the damage to three runs, mainly because he induced three double-play balls. Still, he took the loss, because of a lack of support. Opponents are batting .177 off Laffey with runners in scoring position this season. This will be Laffey's first career appearance against the Giants.
Wednesday, June 25 Progressive Field | 4:05 PM PT
Barry Zito, LHP (2-11, 6.32) Giants (32-44) @ Jeremy Sowers, LHP (0-2, 6.57) Indians (35-41)
Scouting Report:
Giants: After a promising May in which he turned in a 3.49 ERA in five starts, Zito's problems have returned in June, reaching a low point in his last start, in which he only made it through two innings while falling to 2-11. Zito has walked at least four batters in all four of his June starts, which has added to the problem. Zito is 5-3 with a 2.71 ERA against the Indians in nine career starts.
Indians: Sowers gave up 10 hits to the Rockies on Thursday, but several of those were of the infield variety. Sowers took the loss by giving up four runs (three earned) with no walks and four strikeouts in six innings. Still, this outing was an improvement over the two that preceded it. Sowers will remain in the rotation for a while, as Fausto Carmona suffered a setback on his road to recovery from a hip strain, so the young left-hander will look to be more efficient and, yes, a little more lucky against a Giants team he's never faced.
Thursday, June 26 Progressive Field | 4:05 PM PT
Matt Cain, RHP (4-5, 4.31) Giants (32-44) @ Cliff Lee, LHP (10-1, 2.45) Indians (35-41)
Scouting Report:
Giants: Could Cain be ready to turn his season around? It sure appeared that way Friday night in Kansas City. He gave up three runs in the first and then dominated. Cain went eight innings, allowing just those three runs and striking out eight. He said he's felt more comfortable in his last few starts mainly because he's been taking an approach where he goes at the hitters more with his fastball. Cain has won two of his last three outings.
Indians: Lee was dominant early and resilient late in his last start against the Dodgers on Friday. When the Dodgers put the heat on Lee in the game's later innings, he didn't blink. He left runners stranded on the corners in the sixth and two runners stranded in scoring position in the seventh. In all, he allowed just a run on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts in the close ballgame, but he was unable to come up with his 11th win because his bullpen let him down. Still, Lee seems to have successfully readjusted after a brief stretch where his early season dominance departed him. He is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in one career start against the Giants and is 10-2 overall in Interleague Play.
The Giants will be lucky to win one game in this series!:(