Final
Cain nearly flawless as Giants down Buccos
Apr 14, 2012 - 12:39 AMVideo
"It took a couple innings," the Giants right-hander said.
And several more for anyone on the Pirates to figure him out.
Cain carried a perfect game into the sixth inning Friday and struck out 11 batters in a one-hit shutout, leading San Francisco to a 5-0 victory over Pittsburgh in an emotional home opener.
The only hit allowed by Cain was a two-out single slapped through the left side of the infield by Pirates starter James McDonald with two outs in the sixth.
Cain (1-0) threw 73 of his 106 pitches for strikes and faced one batter over the minimum, picking up his first win since signing a six-year, $127.5 million contract extension earlier this month.
"He was getting ahead early, throwing the heck out of his changeup," said Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen. "I thought overall we were just chasing pitches out of the zone."
McDonald (0-1) took the loss in the opener of the three-game series, giving up three runs on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Giants catcher Buster Posey, in his first home game since suffering a broken leg and torn ligaments in a collision at home plate last May, knocked in the first run with a double to the center field wall in the first inning.
But the game had an earlier emotional kickstart when Bryan Stowe, the Giants fan beaten nearly to death outside Dodger Stadium last year, appeared on the big screen in center field while his 13-year-old son, Tyler, threw out the first pitch.
Cain picked up his fifth shutout -- first since 2010 -- and 14th complete game while leading the Giants to their third win in four games since an 0-3 start.
The 27-year-old righty fell behind in the count, 2-1, to McDonald and threw him a fastball over the plate that was knocked in between short stop and third base.
San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said Posey came to him during the game and told him he could tell Cain "was on, was locked in."
"And he's one of the best when he's locked in," said Bochy.
The Giants, opening a six-game homestand, took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Aubrey Huff followed Posey's double with an RBI single. Nate Schierholtz added an RBI base hit in the sixth and Huff roped a two-run homer into the right field seats in the eighth.
Game Notes
The Pirates have lost four in a row and are 0-4 on a nine-game road trip. They were just swept by the Dodgers in Los Angeles...The Giants were 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
- PITTSBURGH: 0
SAN FRANCISCO: 5
Final
Apr 13 6:46 PM - Aubrey Huff two-out, two-run Home Run (1) to right scored Melky Cabrera. Nate Schierholtz due up.
Pirates 0, Giants 5 Bot 8, 2 OutsApr 13 6:40 PM - Nate Schierholtz singled to center scoring Pablo Sandoval with two out. On the play, Aubrey Huff advances to third. On the throw. Schierholtz advanced to second. Runners on second and third and Brandon Crawford due up.
Pirates 0, Giants 3 Bot 6, 2 OutsApr 13 6:05 PM - 126
roots - 105
roots - 55
roots - 34
roots - Aubrey Huff single to right scored Buster Posey with two outs. On the play, Huff out at second, right to short to first to end the inning.
Pirates 0, Giants 2 End 1Apr 13 4:49 PM - Buster Posey double to center scored Melky Cabrera with two outs. Runner on second and Aubrey Huff due up.
Pirates 0, Giants 1 Bot 1, 2 OutsApr 13 4:47 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
SAN FRANCISCO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 13 4:36 PM
Related News
- Monday BP: Merry Christmas Dec 25
- The ‘help, everything is awful the Dodgers have ruined everything we love but hey I guess it’s the holidays maybe that will make us feel better probably not though’ mailbag Dec 23
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 6 - Drew Maggi gets his moment Dec 23
- The Pirates got it right with Andrew McCutchen Dec 22
- 2024 Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List No. 4 Dec 22
- Holiday Weekend BP: Heavy sigh Dec 22
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen makes comments after signing Dec 22
- Pirates targeting first baseman in upcoming MLB Draft Dec 22
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto rejects the Giants, signs with the Dodgers Dec 21
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates sign Ryan Mattson Dec 21
- Player Review: Austin Slater Dec 20
- Patrick Bailey out-bonuses Camilo Doval in the pre-arbitration bonus pool payouts Dec 20