The Cubs and Dodgers both lost last night, but, in one of the most painful games of the year, so did the Giants. To make matters worse, the Astros won, thereby giving themselves the lead in the NL Wild Card race.
For those of you who don't pull your own teeth, or at least submit yourself to the torture of watching the end of crucial late-season baseball games, we'll give you a rundown of how it feels. It's the bottom of the tenth and the Giants are tied 3-3 with the Padres. It's that time of year when every pitch is the most important one yet in the season and the next one's even bigger. Dustin Hermanson, the Giants' closer, is in there and your hopes are high. Padre catcher Ramon Hernandez, a known Giant-killer, hits a high chopper to third which Edgardo Alfonzo grabs on the run. The throw to first pulls Pedro Feliz off the bag and Hernandez is safe. Score that an error for Alfonzo. Pinch-hitter Kerry Robinson lays down a bunt, looking to sacrifice Hernandez to second. Giant catcher Yorvit Torrealba pounces on it, looks to second, decides to go to first, and throws it in the dirt. Journeyman infielder Brian Dallimore, covering the bag from second, can't scoop the ball and it gets away from him. Score that an error for Torrealba. Both runners advance, putting Padres at second and third with no outs. The Giants opt to walk Padre shortstop Ramon Vazquez to load the bases, giving them force-outs everywhere. Center-fielder and leadoff man Jay Payton grounds to second. Dallimore goes home, getting the out there, but pulling Torrealba off the plate, thereby keeping him from making an accurate throw to first and getting the second out of the inning. So here comes Mark Lorretta, hitting .340, third in the National League. Hermanson's got him to a 1-1 count and he hits a high popup to right. Dustan Mohr races over toward the foul line, hot to make the catch and get a throw home to try to nail Robinson who'll surely be tagging up at third. You're heart stops. Can he get to the ball? Will it be fair or foul? If he catches it, can he get the runner and prolong the game? He's right at the line! It's going foul! Drop it! It'll be strike two! Don't chance it! Ahhhrgh! Time stops as Mohr crosses into foul territory, catches the ball, stumbles over the Giants' bullpen mound, and falls into a heap, obviously in pain. Robinson scores and the Giants lose. Mohr's patella tendon is toast and so are your nerves. Yuck.
Tonight it's Jerome Williams, who hasn't pitched in two months, for the Gigantes and Adam Eaton for the Padres. For more analysis from the Lunatic Fringe, visit the sordid world of Giants blogs. And for news on goings-on over in Chokeland, check back later for an Athletics report from our august editor, Jackson West.