Sandoval’s slam helps Cain win 10th
July 7, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—All-Star or not, Pablo Sandoval(notes) is having the time of hislife.
Sandoval boosted his bid to be named the final NL All-Star by hitting hisfirst career grand slam and helped Matt Cain(notes) earn his 10th victory, and the SanFrancisco Giants withstood a late rally to beat the Florida Marlins 5-4 onMonday night.
Sandoval delivered on the night the Giants began their “Vote Pablo”campaign for the All-Star game—complete with stickers, signs, advertisingbehind home plate and onsite computers for fan voting. Sandoval is one of fiveplayers vying for the final National League spot, to be chosen by the fans. Hehopes to join Cain (10-2) and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum(notes) atthe Midsummer Classic next week in St. Louis.
“There’s big support for me, from the fans and my teammates,” Sandovalsaid. “It’s one of the biggest moments for me. It’s fun.”
“Yeah, I’ll go online,” manager Bruce Bochy quipped about casting hisvote.
Many of the 26,995 fans chanted “Let’s Go Pablo!” when he stepped in tobat against Sean West(notes) (3-3) in the fifth inning. Sandoval clobbered a 1-0 pitchdeep into the left-field seats, pumping his fist as he neared the end of histrot. He came back out of the dugout for a curtain call—also his first—andthe crowd roared again when he ran out to his spot at third base in the top ofthe sixth.
Series at a Glance Florida 4 San Francisco 5 Mon, Jul 6 – Final Florida at San Francisco Tue, Jul 7 – 10:15 pm ET Florida at San Francisco Wed, Jul 8 – 3:45 pm ET
It was Sandoval’s 13th homer this year and second grand slam of the seasonfor San Francisco. Edgar Renteria(notes) had the other on April 21 against San Diego.
“He’s definitely making his case, even though he shouldn’t have to make hiscase,” closer Brian Wilson(notes) said. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t vote a milliontimes.”
Nate Schierholtz(notes) added a sacrifice fly as the Giants won for the sixth timein nine games.
Cody Ross’(notes) ground-rule double in the second was Cain’s only baserunner inscoring position until Chris Coghlan(notes) reached on Renteria’s fielding error atshortstop in the fifth and advanced on Emilio Bonifacio’s(notes) double. Coghlan laterscored on a wild pitch, then Jorge Cantu(notes) singled in Florida’s second run.
A 13-game winner during his standout rookie campaign in 2006, Cain ended athree-start winless stretch and has his second-most victories during five yearsin the majors. He struck out five and walked two in 6 2-3 innings, allowed oneearned run and five hits. Wilson allowed two runs in the ninth and missed aroutine double-play ball with the bases loaded that allowed one of the runs toscore, throwing to second rather than home. He survived for his 22nd save in 26chances, retiring Bonifacio with the winning run on first on his 37th pitch.
San Francisco Giants' Pabl… AP – Jul 6, 11:44 pm EDT
“I had it in my mind already. Yeah, I should have gone home,” Wilson said.“I didn’t. We’ve all had those. Not everybody has them in the ninth.”
West loaded the bases in the fifth after consecutive one-out walks to Cainand Aaron Rowand(notes). Sandoval came up big two batters later.
Cain has been the hard-luck guy in recent years lacking run support, so hesure enjoyed seeing Sandoval’s power stroke.
“I don’t know how you could ask for anything better than that,” he said.“I don’t know if anybody in the states is not going to know his name aftertonight.”
Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez held shortstop Hanley Ramirez(notes) out of thestarting lineup for the second straight day with a right hip flexor. Ramirez,who won All-Star fan voting to be the starting shortstop for the NL, was hurtrounding the bases Saturday against Pittsburgh.
The Marlins had won five of six, but couldn’t produce enough timely hits asthe club kicked off a seven-game road trip before the All-Star break.
“We had some life in the ninth, we had some good at-bats there,” Gonzalezsaid. “Wilson was able to get the last out.”
NOTES: The Giants lost LHP Randy Johnson(notes) for at least two starts, placingthe Big Unit on the 15-day DL with a strained throwing shoulder. … InjuredMarlins RHP Anibal Sanchez(notes), sidelined with a sprained shoulder, threw a lightbullpen session. … San Francisco OF Randy Winn(notes) got the night off. … KevinFrandsen(notes), called up from Triple-A Fresno to take Johnson’s roster spot, came inas a defensive replacement in the seventh.
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