The second-place Giants entered the day tied with the Texas Rangers for the third-best record in the major leagues, behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals.
The Giants left it looking nothing like an elite team. Not with such a punchless offense that was missing the likes of Melky Cabrera, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval. And not with Barry Zito not as sharp as he was in his last outing.
Because while the Rangers look perhaps even better than they did two years ago, the Giants on Friday night looked nothing like they did in beating the Rangers in five games to win the 2010 World Series. The result, a 5-0 Rangers victory at AT&T Park. And the Giants were shut out for the first time this season, in their 59th game, their longest such streak since 1924, per baseball historian David Feldman. It took until the New York baseball Giants' 72nd game that year to get blanked.
[REWIND: 2010 Rangers-Giants World Series]
It ended a lackluster streak for the Rangers, who last beat the Giants in San Francisco on June 26, 1998, a skein of 13 games including Games 1 and 2 of said Fall Classic 2010. How long ago was that previous Rangers victory here? Orel Hershiser started for the Giants at Candlestick Park and Will Clark -- 'member him? -- homered for the Rangers, off John Johnstone.
This time, Craig Gentry had a career-high five hits and left-hander Matt Harrison threw a five-hit shutout on 111 pitches.
Starting pitching report
Sports
Barry Zito did not face the Rangers in that 2010 Fall Classic as the lefty was not on any of the Giants' three postseason rosters. Two pitches into the game, Ian Kinsler reminded Zito why, taking him deep for a leadoff solo homer. By the time Zito departed, he had given up four runs on nine hits with two walks, one intentionally, two strikeouts and a wild pitch in six innings. Zito threw 95 pitches, 58 for strikes.
Bullpen report
Right-hander Shane Loux threw two innings of scoreless relief while giving up three hits and fellow righty Steve Edlefsen gave up a run in the ninth inning after walking two batters and surrendering two singles.
At the plate
Angel Pagan's 28-game home hitting streak, and 15 overall games, came to an end as the center fielder was 0-for-4 with three ground outs and a strike out, all from the right side. In fact, no Giants base runner reached second base on the night, except for Zito, who over-ran the bag and was tagged out.
In the field
A Joaquin Arias throwing error in the first inning contributed to the Giants' MLB-leading total of 56 miscues, though shortstop Brandon Crawford had a pretty run-and-catch of a towering Josh Hamilton pop up in the third inning. Crawford ran from nearly behind second base to the foul line behind third on the play. Also, catcher Hector Sanchez threw out Craig Gentry by a step -- on a well called pitch-out -- trying to steal second base in the eighth. Sanchez has thrown out seven of 17 attempted base-stealers this year.
Attendance
The Giants announced a paid crowd of 41,163 for the club's 114th consecutive home sellout.
Up next
Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (4-2, 2.38 ERA) faces Rangers righty Scott Feldman (0-4, 7.01) in the CSN Bay Area-televised game Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Vogelsong has twice faced the Rangers in his career, throwing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with two hits, one strikeout and a walk.
