Cain, Ross lead Giants past Phillies in NLCS Game 3

Added on Oct 19, 2010 by Ted Sillanpaa in

MLB

Matt Cain outpitched Cole Hamels and the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0 Tuesday for a 2-1 lead in the NL championship series on Tuesday.

Cody Ross continued to lead the Giants’ limited attack, singling and driving in a run as the Giants took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.

Joe Blanton starts Game 4 on Wednesday night for Philadelphia. He faces 21-year-old left-hander Madison Bumgarner.
Charlie Manuel considered his ace Roy Halladay on short rest. Blanton hasn’t pitched since he worked one inning of relief on the final day of the season, an 8-7 loss at Atlanta, and has not started since Sept. 29.

Bumgarner will face the Phillies for the first time. He pitched the division series clincher at Atlanta after going 7-6 and posting a 3.00 ERA during the regular season.

“I would say tomorrow is the biggest game we’ve played so far,” Manuel said.

The Giants will have Tim Lincecum ready to pitch Game 5, facing Halladay, on Thursday in San Francisco.

Ross hit an RBI single in the fourth inning after Hamels walked Pat Burrell on four pitches to break a scoreless tie. Aubrey Huff followed with an RBI-single to make it 2-0.

“He’s definitely hot,” Hamels said of Ross. “He’s been battling and hitting pitches that most normal people can’t hit at this time.”

Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who retooled his lineup and batting order for Game 3, agreed.

“He plays with no fear,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “That’s what you love about the guy.”

Bochy moved Ross to the fifth spot in the batting order. Veteran Aaron Rowand, who hadn’t started a game since mid-September, got the call in center field ahead of struggling Andres Torres. Juan Uribe moved from shortstop to third base to make room for Edgar Renteria, who batted lead-off for one of the few times all season.

Renteria singled to start the fourth-inning rally. Rowand doubled and scored the third run of the game on a single by Freddy Sanchez.

“You feel good for them. They’re pros,” Bochy said of Rowand and Renteria. “They’ve done a great job of setting aside their ego. We’ve got guys who are used to being out there every day. Aaron kept himself ready and gets a start today, gets a big hit, scores a run. They’ve been a big part of this.”

Cain showed no signs of a long layoff. Pitching on 10 days’ rest since a no-decision in Game 2 of the division series against Atlanta on Oct. 8, Cain beat the Phillies for the first time.

“That’s what Matt has done for us all year, for a couple years, really,” Bochy said. “He goes out there and pounds the strike zone. He’s a competitor. Maybe he doesn’t get the attention some other pitchers get, but he’s pitched real well for us.”
Bochy visited Cain after the right-hander hit Carlos Ruiz and then walked pinch-hitter Ross Gload with two outs in the seventh, but stuck with him. Cain retired Shane Victorino on a groundout.

Chase Utley, batting second for the second straight game, came in 7 for 15 with three home runs against Cain. He went 0 for 4. As did Placido Polanco and Raul Ibanez, who grounded into a game-ending double play.
Ibanez is in an 0-for-15 funk dating to the division series with Cincinnati.

“There’s not enough time to analyze situations. Let’s go out there and worry about tomorrow,” Victorino said. “Let’s not sit back and reflect on what we haven’t done.”