National League Game Summary - Florida At San Francisco
POSTED: 11:14 pm PDT August 20,
2008
San Francisco, CA -- (Sports Network) - Bengie Molina had the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the San Francisco Giants held off a late rally by the Florida Marlins to win 6-5 in the middle installment of a three-game set. Randy Winn went 3-for-5, including a solo homer, for the Giants, who have won four of their last six games. Rich Aurilia, Fred Lewis and Emmanuel Burriss each drove in a run in the win. Matt Cain did not factor in the decision despite yielding only two runs on five hits over 7 2/3 frames. Instead, Brian Wilson (1-2) got the win after he gave up three runs on three hits in the top of the ninth. Wilson had been 24- for-24 in his last save opportunities prior to Wednesday's meltdown. "I feel pretty terrible about not being able to hold it for Cainy, but the bottom line is we won," Wilson said. "Giving up a three-run homer in the ninth is not a lot of fun to do." John Baker tied the game with a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the ninth for the Marlins, who are 2-5 over their last seven contests. Jeremy Hermida added a two-run blast in defeat. Marlins' shortstop Hanley Ramirez left in the bottom of the fourth after sustaining a thumb injury stealing second in the third. Florida starter Scott Olsen lasted six innings and was touched for four runs on nine hits. Matt Lindstrom (1-2) was saddled with the loss after he gave up Molina's run in the ninth. In the top of the ninth, Wilson was charged with protecting a 5-2 lead and gave up a leadoff double to Cody Ross. Two outs later, Alfredo Amezaga slapped a single to shallow left and pinch-hitter Baker tied the game as he belted a three-run shot over the left-field fence. San Francisco quickly countered in the home half. Pinch-hitter Dave Roberts walked and Winn hit a single off Lindstrom to start the frame. Ivan Ochoa sacrificed both runners into scoring position before Aaron Rowand was intentionally walked to load the bases. Molina then crushed a sac fly to deep center to plate the winning run. "I thought I made some good pitches but walking the leadoff guy, it's not good," Lindstrom said. "These guys fight so hard for the win and it unravels in five minutes. It's frustrating all the way around." The Giants took an early lead as Winn opened the first with a homer to left field. Florida took the lead, 2-1, in the fourth inning. Hermida pulled the first pitch he saw to deep right and off the top of the scoreboard for a two-run homer. The blast also scored Ross, who reached after he grounded into a fielder's choice. San Francisco grabbed the lead back in the sixth inning. Rowand opened the frame with a single and crossed home two batters later as Aurilia doubled to left field. Lewis kept it going with an RBI single and took second as Paul Lo Duca botched a pick-off attempt. Pablo Sandoval was then intentionally walked and Burriss came through with an RBI single to make it 4-2. Joe Nelson was on the hill for Florida in the seventh and gave up a leadoff single to Winn. Ochoa then went down swinging on a pitch-out, but his swing struck Lo Duca's glove, granting the hitter first base on catcher's interference. Rowand grounded it into a double play which moved Winn to third. Molina then laced an RBI single to right for a 5-2 Giants lead.Game Notes:It was the first pinch-hit homer for Baker...Cain gave up his first home run since June 4 (94 innings)...Florida hasn't won back-to-back games since July 30-31. The team has struggled for much of August, having compiled a 7-11 record so far this month...Olsen hasn't won in six starts since beating the Phillies on July 19...Florida won two of three tests from the Giants in Miami earlier this season. However, San Francisco is 11-5 over its last 16 encounters with the Marlins...Florida catcher Matt Treanor's wife, Misty May- Treanor, and Kerri Walsh completed their undefeated run through the women's beach volleyball tournament Thursday morning with a straight-set win in the gold medal match.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.











