Patience rewarded as Giants' power prevails again

If you were a starting pitcher (or a fan of low-scoring baseball), Sunday was the day to avoid AT&T Park. Runs were plentiful early on but only the Giants were able to sustain the flurry, toppling the Dodgers 9-6 and taking their third decision in the four-game set.

Bad start, great finish for Cueto (SFGate)

The Giants won their second series of the year, running their mark to 5-2 through the first week of 2016. LA slipped to 4-3 after opening the season 3-0, one game back of the NLWest-leading G-Men.

Starters Johnny Cueto and Scott Kazmir were each touched up more than a forged Picasso, surrendering six runs apiece before the game had reached its midway point.

Talk about a lousy start for Cueto. Making his AT&T debut, Cueto got the kind of reception one might expect for Ted Nugent at a meeting of pro-gun control oboe officianafos.

Eight pitches into the game it was 1-0 LA, the lead doubled three pitches later, and then it really got ugly.

Cueto hit Chase Utley to open the contest, consecutive singles plated him, and a sac fly produced the second run. Another walk and single loaded the bags with one out, and the Dodgers weren't finished. Another single scored two, and the Giants were reeling before they ever swung a bat.

A bunt to the right side resulted in miscommunication between Cueto and Brandon Belt, and the resulting infield single made it 5-0. A ground out and fly ball finally halted the carnage, but the game appeared it might never become competitive.

Not so fast.

The Giants dented the lead with some two-out magic. Buster Posey singled, Hunter Pence walked, then Belt and Matt   Duffy stroked RBI singles to draw the Giants to with 5-2 after the first. Jeez, seven total runs the first hot dog had yet to be digested.

San Francisco made up the rest of the gap in the third. Posey opened with a solo shot, and Belt launched a two-run blast to deep center behind a Pence single, tying to affair at 5-all. Posey's shot gave the Giants a homer in every game this year -- a seven-game streak that breaks the franchise record of six set in 1913 and equaled in 2000.

LA responded. "Slide Rule" Utley touched Cueto for a double to lead off the fourth. He would come around to score; notching a go-ahead run the Giants got right back when Angel Pagan snaked a solo shot just beyond the left field wall.

Kazmir was done after four but the Giants weren't. Pagan and Denard Span set the stage with a double and infield single to start the sixth. Joe Panik doubled both in, and Pence followed a Posey ground out with a sac fly to chase home Panik for a 9-6 edge.

Belt making good on new deal. (SFGate)

Cueto toiled on. He dodged trouble in the seventh, putting two on base before getting pinch hitter Micah Johnson on a hard liner for out number three. He finished the day having allowed six runs (all earned) on 10 hits and two walks. He struck out eight in Houdini-ing his way to the win. He would throw 104 pitches; 74 for strikes. 

After showing patience with Cueto, Manager Bruce Bochy used three arms to get the final six outs. He played mix-and-match with Sergio Romo and Josh Osich to get through the eighth. Santiago Casilla miraculously threw a clean ninth to end it.

The Giants finished with 12 hits. Belt, he of the new six-year deal, had three RBIs, Span, Duffy and Posey each had multiple hits.

It was a backwards series for both teams, with all four games decided in come-from-behind fashion. It also reminded the dodgers they can't play San Diego 162 times.

The Giants get their first off day tomorrow, beginning a six-game roadie at Colorado on Tuesday then heading to LA for a three-game weekend rematch.

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