The San Francisco Giants looked like Sports Illustrated had called it right in their pre-season prediction when the season began, going 2-7 in the first nine games which included only winning two of six against their new division rivals, (San Diego) and getting swept, (0-3) in the middle of this stretch by their longtime rivals the Los Angeles Dodgers.
SI had predicted SF to come in dead last in their division, and by the 11th of April, who could have argued. SF was in last place.
But some one woke up these sleeping Giants. Since winning the first game in Pittsburg and getting rained out the next three, and splitting a pair in Colorado, the Giants have been the best team in the majors completing their eight game winning streak with a sweep of the Dodgers at Chevez Ravine putting the Giants in first place in the National League West.
Timely and clutch hitting complemented by a pitching staff and a defense that has become stingy with passing out runs, the Giants have gone from pitiful to stellar in just a few short weeks.
With starter Russ Ortiz struggling last night, (allowing 10 Dodgers on base in the first three innings), the Giants found themselves down by only a 3-0 deficit. The Giants held the Dodgers scoreless for the next five innings while scratching out three of their own, tieing the game in the sixth, and going ahead in the eighth with two more. Armando Benitez sent the Dodgers to their fourth loss in a row in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the Giants eighth straight win.
While the Giants may very well finish last in the NL West, it appears (for now) their going to go down swinging........and winning. Welcome to the top you Giants, you've earned it.
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