Giants offense goes Vesuvius; Dodger fans go dark

Do you have one of those friends who’s just obnoxious? You know who we’re talking about – the guy (or gal) who loves to twist the knife when they think they have the upper hand? Yeah? Probably a Dodger fan.

They were loud earlier today. The much-maligned LA pitching had blanked the Padres (the lowly, comic book Padres) for an entire series. You think they’d be less, uh, jerk-ish, especially since the Giants not long ago did it to them. But, no. They were mouthy, burning up Facebook and Twitter with claims of superiority.

Where’d they go?

The Giants’ 12-6 win over Los Angeles in Thursday’s AT&T Park lid lifter was the perfect muffler, a karmic ball gag that knocked The Hated Dodgers from the ranks of the unbeaten and ended LA’s shot at a long-standing record in explosive fashion.

The day certainly didn’t look like it would be cause for celebration. Despite all the pomp and pageantry that goes with a home opener, the Giants showed up late for their own party. Four innings in, the Dodgers had a 4-0 lead, the result of Jake Peavy being Jake Peavy, and the faithful were contemplating the possibility of bailing to beat traffic on the 280 South.

Peavy: Man, that was hit hard (SF Gate)

Some history, the 1963 Cardinals didn’t allow a run in their first 32 innings. By blanking the Giants through four, the Dodgers’ tally was 31. They had the record book open and erasers in hand. Then there was a literal awakening of sleeping Giants.

The avalanche started small. LA starter Alex Wood had allowed just three hits and the assembled had seen little to distract them from their garlic fries. Okay, maybe some were going to egg Peavy’s car but mostly there was big case of the ‘blahs”.

Brandon Crawford worked a full-count walk and Kelby Tomlinson, mercifully batting for Peavy, followed with an infield single. Angel Pagan’s grounder moved the runners up 90 feet and Denard Span cashed in Crawford with another ground ball out. Moral victory; no soup for LA. Cue Joe Morgan.

Then Joe Panik tripled in Tomlinson, Buster Posey followed with a double to push Tomlinson to third, and Wood uncorked a wild pitch. The Giants were gaining steam, and the Dodgers were finally facing someone who could fight back. The Giants had doubled their hit total and had drawn to within a run at 4-3.

Not a peep on Twitter. It’s like they knew what was coming. At least they didn’t have to wait. Chris Heston threw a quiet sixth, a respite just long enough to let the early doubters rethink their CalTrain and Muni escapes.

Matt Duffy and Crawford singled to open business. Ehire Adrianza sacrificed in Heston’s place, and Pagan cashed in both with a base hit to right: 5-4 Giants. Pagan would come around on a Panik single, and Panik scored when the Dodgers’ Scott Van Slyke uncorked a wild throw on Posey’s single. Now it was Giants’ fans turn to chirp.

Pence: So was that. (SF Gate)

Yeah, that’s a recipe for disaster. Joc Pederson went yard in the LA eighth, cutting the gap to 7-6. That nicely set the stage for Hunter Pence.

Poor Hunter. He’d started slow and through three games had already seem to leave a small village on base. It was so bad Lexi was probably thinking about giving back the ring. He needed, and provided, a bolt.

Gregor Blanco batted for Romo, completing an impressive day for Giants pinch hitters. T. Pagan and Span singled (Span’s never left the infield), loading the bases with none out. Panik singled in a run, it was becoming a habit, and the Giants had some insurance with the bases still filled.

You’ve seen this movie. Giant failures with RISP are already legendary, and they were prominent in countless frontal lobes when Posey fanned.

Hunter next. Hunter go “boom”. Good Hunter. Lexi must be proud. Jay Howell threw it, Pence hit it, and the sustainable garden got an unexpected visitor. Giants 12, Dodgers 6. Good night, Gracie.

The offensive fireworks helped disguise how truly awful Peavy was. Followers of this page know we’re not joining the fan club any time soon, but even we were struck by how ineffective he was.

A year ago he spent the most of the first half on the DL. He pitched like he was still there. The Dodgers were on him like a New York rat on a pizza. Out of 52 strikes recorded, Peavy got just two swing-throughs. The line: 5IP, 10H, 4ER. 

Peavy also had one bit of misfortune which directly led to a run; something we can’t blame on him –dammit! What appeared to be a double play to end the second was overturned by replay, putting LA’s second run on the board. For the first time the new slide rule came into play, and it bit the Giants. Calm down geeks, not that kind of slide rule. Cool your pocket protectors. Panik bailed early while making the pivot, turning two into one and extending the inning.

Overall it wasn’t a great day for pitchers. The Giant bullpen (Hunter Strickland and Javy Lopez joined Heston and Romo), did perform well despite Romo’s obligatory homer to a lefty, surrendering just three hits. Giants hitters unloaded on five LA arms for 17 hits. Panik had three hits a three RBIs, and Pagan drove in two with a pair of hits.

It wasn’t pretty but it was entertaining. It was a win, the home Opening Day crowd went home happy, and the 3-1 Giants drew even with LA atop division standings that are way too thin to track just yet.

The Giants complete their first trip through the rotation Friday night.at Matt Cain takes the hill against LA’s …. jeez, who the heck is Ross Stripling?  We’ll ask a Dodgers fan on Twitter … if we can find one tonight.

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