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Sacrifice fly by Molina lifts Giants past Marlins

Aug 21, 2008 - 6:47 AM By Al Barba PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Bengie Molina's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the San Francisco Giants to a 6-5 victory over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday.

After Brian Wilson (1-2) surrendered a game-tying three-run homer to rookie John Baker with two outs in the top of the inning, pinch hitter Dave Roberts walked to lead off the bottom half.

"Obviously, giving up a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth is not a lot of fun to do," Wilson said. "The beauty of it is we get to come back to work tomorrow."

After Randy Winn singled past leaping shortstop Alfredo Amezaga, rookie Ivan Ochoa bunted the runners over to second and third.

Reliever Matt Lindstrom (1-2) intentionally walked Aaron Rowand to load the bases for Molina, who plated Roberts with a fly ball to deep center field.

"It's frustrating. I thought I made some good pitches," Lindstrom said. "Walking the leadoff guy is not good. Randy hit a good pitch over the shortstop's head. Guys fight so hard for the win and it unravels in five minutes. It's frustrating all the way all around."

Florida's rally in the ninth snapped a streak of 24 consecutive saves by Wilson and denied San Francisco starter Matt Cain a victory.

"I feel pretty terrible about not being able to hold it for (Cain)," Wilson said. "But, the bottom line is we won."

Cain allowed two runs and five hits in in 7 2/3 innings, walking four while striking out four.

"He (Wilson) doesn't have to apologize to me," Cain said. "I know he's not happy with what happened. He made a good pitch and when a guy throws as hard as he does and the guy puts pretty good wood on it, it's definitely going to carry.

"This ballpark was definitely playing a little different today. It was carrying a little more to left field than it normally does."

Baker's home run came as a pinch-hitter, replacing Paul Lo Duca, who injured his left hand while attempting to catch a pitchout in the seventh inning. Lo Duca was called for catcher's interference and stayed in the game.

"I was not trying to do anything special. The guy throws a 100 miles an hour," Baker said. "I went back to my Little League days when my coach said against a hard thrower, swing easy let him supply the power."

The only mistake by Cain came in the fourth inning, when Jeremy Hermida launched his 16th home run with two outs to give Florida a 2-1 lead. The home run was the first allowed by Cain in 94 2/3 innings - a span of 13 starts.

"These guys are aggressive and we were just trying to get them to swing early and get some outs," Cain said. "I was just trying to stay aggressive and get these guys to put the ball in play."

Cain outdueled Marlins starter Scott Olsen, who surrendered four runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out two in six innings.

The Giants jumped to a quick lead against Olsen as Winn homered to lead off the bottom of the first. It was his seventh blast and second to lead off a game.

San Francisco erased a 2-1 deficit by scoring three times in the sixth.

Rowand opened the frame with a single before Rich Aurilia tied the score with a double down the left field line. Fred Lewis put the Giants ahead with an RBI single and rookie Emmanuel Burriss capped the scoring with a base hit.

"Their guy (Olsen) was pitching well. After the first inning, he was going right through us," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It was a tight ballgame and that is what you are looking for - to break through. Richie got a huge hit and Freddy, Burriss. We had a lot of big hits in that inning that put us ahead. That is what you are looking for in a tight ballgame."

Molina increased the advantage to 5-2 with an RBI single to right field in the seventh.