One-for-Three is Okay in Hitting, But Not in Series

On Friday night, Barry Bonds and Yorvit Torrealba both homered in the second inning but the Giants couldn't get anything else going despite loading the bases against Eric Gagne in the ninth. A two run shot by Yom Kippur observer Shawn Green and a solo shot by Jose Hernandez, both in the fourth, were just enough to win the game 3-2. Saturday proved another thing all together. The two teams battled back-and-forth to a 5-5 tie in the eight inning. The Giants managed to load the bases for Pedro Feliz with Bonds on deck and Feliz stepped up to the plate in a big way, belting a grand slam and giving the Giants a 9-5 lead Dustin Hermanson locked down in the ninth. Disappointment returned on Sunday as the Giants played lousy baseball all game long, committing three errors which all led to Dodger runs and pitching like high school gymnasts. Bonds hit yet another homer (his 45th the year, number 703 lifetime), but left the game with a gimpy leg after beating out an infield single in the midst of a ninth inning rally that didn't happen.

The Giants play three games in San Diego tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday, and then play the last three games of the regular season over the weekend at Dodger Stadium. Visit El Lefty Malo for a layout of what needs to happen this week in order for the Giants to still be playing next week.

As for the A's and the Angels, Oakland won Friday but lost Saturday and Sunday. The Angels are now trailing the A's by one small game with seven to play (and the Rangers are just one game behind them). The Athletics come home today to close out the season with four games against Ichiro and the Mariners and three against the Angels of Death. Because it's the A's, tons of tickets are available.