Wild Pitch Ends Pitcher's Duel
Saturday, Jun 20, 2009 | Updated 10:30 PM PST
AP
San Francisco Giants' Nate Schierholtz, left, is congratulated by Randy Winn after scoring on a wild pitch from Texas Rangers' Jason Jennings in the 11th inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Saturday, June 20, 2009. The Giants won 2-1 in 11 innings. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
You wouldn't expect a classic pitcher's duel to end with a simple pitching mistake. But that's the game of baseball.
Saturday night at China Basin the Giants and Rangers were locked in a 1-1 tie through 10 innings, in the second of their three-game interleague series. Then in the bottom of the 11th, Texas reliever Jason Jennings made a critical mistake.
With two outs and Nate Schierholtz on third base, Jennings unleashed a wild pitch. Catcher Jared Saltalamacchia couldn't track down the ball, and Schierholtz jogged over the plate, giving the Giants the walk-off win, 2-1.
The final scorecard will say Matt Cain and Derek Holland did not earn a decision, but both starters played key roles in the game. Cain was denied a National League-leading 10th win, but allowed only one run on three hits and three walks in eight innings, while striking out eight. Holland, meanwhile, allowed just one run through seven.
Both of those runs came on solo homeruns. Aaron Rowand put the Giants on the board first with a blast to left in the third inning, making it 1-1. Cain's only mistake of the night came three innings later when Ian Kinsler hit the tying homer that would ultimately send the game to extra innings.
With the effort Cain further established himself as a front-runner for the N.L. All-Star roster, and the Giants are ensured of winning the series. Sunday afternoon they'll go for the sweep.
Posted Saturday, Jul 18, 2009 - 12:15 PM PST
