Quick Hits for Wednesday, June 13, 2012 (Game 63)
TONIGHT’S GAME…The San Francisco Giants host the Houston Astros in the 2nd game of this 3-game series…Giants’ right-hander Matt Cain (7-2, 2.41) will face Astros’ left-hander J.A. Happ (4-6, 4.54).
ABOUT LAST NIGHT…LHP Madison Bumgarner became just the 3rd Giants pitcher since 1900 to hit a home run and strike out at least a dozen batters in the same game. Juan Marichal accomplished the feat on Sept. 12, 1963 at New York-NL (HR, 13 Ks) and so did Mike Krukow on Aug. 13, 1985 vs. Houston (HR, 12 Ks) (Elias)… Bumgarner also became the 1st pitcher in the Majors to record 12-or-more-strikeouts and a hit homer in the same game since Chan Ho Park (HR, 13 Ks) did so on Sept. 29, 2000 at San Diego (w/LAD) (Elias).
CAIN IS ABLE…RHP Matt Cain (pictured here with Ryan Vogelsong and Chris Berman) has earned a win in each of his last 6 starts…with a win tonight he can match his longest career winning streak when he won a career-best 7 consecutive decisions from May 7-June 14, 2009… Cain’s win streak is currently the 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors.
NATE SCHIERHOLTZ… Reached base in all 4 plate appearances last night, going 2-for-2 with a walk and HBP…has hit safely in 3-straight games at a .555 clip (5-for-9) with a 2B, 3B and 1 RBI… Has started the last 4 games after starting only 5 of his SF’s previous 35 contests… His .261 avg. (6-for-23) with runners in scoring position ranks 3rd on the club.
PABLO SANDOVAL… Overall, is batting .292 (31-for-106) with 6 2Bs, 5 HRs and 16 RBI in 27 games this season… Has hit .276 (8-for-29) w/RISP.
BUSTER POSEY... Leads the club with 7 HRs and 33 RBI… Is 10-for-his-last-28 (.357) with runners in scoring position and 17-for-58 (.293) overall this season, which is highest on the club.
MELKY CABRERA… Went 2-for-4 with an RBI after missing the previous 3 games with a tight hamstring… Leads the NL with a .366 batting avg., 89 hits, 29 multi-hit games and 7 triples… Is batting .408 (20-for-49) in his last 12 games.
