big joe
09-28-2005, 11:57 AM
San Diego was within one out from reducing its magic number to two for clinching the National League West on Monday before Trevor Hoffman blew a save for only the third time in 44 chances.
The dramatic victory moved San Francisco to within three games of the Padres heading into Tuesday's action. This is the closest the Giants have been since May 14. The loss, San Diego's third straight and fifth in its last seven games, dropped its record to 77-79. This is the latest in a season a team has led a division with a losing report card.
Felipe Alou is hoping that Jason Schmidt (12-6, 4.29 ERA) will be ready to take the mound on Wednesday and continue San Francisco's Cinderella run. The Giants ace may not pitch because of groin problems. He skipped last Friday's opener at Colorado and hasn't started since Sept. 17.
Alou would likely turn to lefty reliever Jeff Fassero if Schmidt is unable to take his turn.
Schmidt hasn't fared well against the Padres this year, dropping two of three decisions while being tagged for 14 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.
Bruce Bochy, the captain of the Padres' sinking ship, hands the ball to Pedro Astacio in what could become his biggest start of the season. Astacio has been used on a sporadic basis the past two months, but he has come through when called.
Astacio is 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his last three appearances. He beat the Diamondbacks last Friday, yielding two runs and six hits in six innings. Astacio will be making his initial start this year versus the Giants.
San Diego, leading the season series 9-6, has won four of six versus San Francisco at Petco Park. The Giants have won 23 of 38 on the road as dogs of up to $1.25 and cashed 18 of 28 away from home when the line was between minus $1.25 and plus $1.25. San Francisco has also prevailed in 24 of its last 34 on the road in September.
Most offshore sports books opened San Francisco as a $1.25 road favorite, with the total set at 7 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.25)
The dramatic victory moved San Francisco to within three games of the Padres heading into Tuesday's action. This is the closest the Giants have been since May 14. The loss, San Diego's third straight and fifth in its last seven games, dropped its record to 77-79. This is the latest in a season a team has led a division with a losing report card.
Felipe Alou is hoping that Jason Schmidt (12-6, 4.29 ERA) will be ready to take the mound on Wednesday and continue San Francisco's Cinderella run. The Giants ace may not pitch because of groin problems. He skipped last Friday's opener at Colorado and hasn't started since Sept. 17.
Alou would likely turn to lefty reliever Jeff Fassero if Schmidt is unable to take his turn.
Schmidt hasn't fared well against the Padres this year, dropping two of three decisions while being tagged for 14 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.
Bruce Bochy, the captain of the Padres' sinking ship, hands the ball to Pedro Astacio in what could become his biggest start of the season. Astacio has been used on a sporadic basis the past two months, but he has come through when called.
Astacio is 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his last three appearances. He beat the Diamondbacks last Friday, yielding two runs and six hits in six innings. Astacio will be making his initial start this year versus the Giants.
San Diego, leading the season series 9-6, has won four of six versus San Francisco at Petco Park. The Giants have won 23 of 38 on the road as dogs of up to $1.25 and cashed 18 of 28 away from home when the line was between minus $1.25 and plus $1.25. San Francisco has also prevailed in 24 of its last 34 on the road in September.
Most offshore sports books opened San Francisco as a $1.25 road favorite, with the total set at 7 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.25)