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SAN FRANCISCO —A month ago, the Giants trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers by a
season-high 7 1/2 games, and Melky Cabrera almost singlehandedly produced the
offence. Joel Dreessen Jersey . Suddenly, San
Francisco is right back in the chase, and well before the All-Star break.
Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run double and sacrifice fly to help Barry Zito end a
three-start losing streak, and the Giants beat NL West-leading Los Angeles 8-0
on Monday night. Angel Pagan and Hector Sanchez each drove in two runs as the
Giants pulled within two games of the Dodgers for their closest position to
first place in the division race since April 7. “Considering where we were, its
good to be in this situation,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “Theres so much
baseball left, and youre where you want to be, which is right in the middle of
things. Even at this stage of the season its important. You dont want to be too
far back.” Zito (6-5), who had allowed 17 runs in 14 1-3 innings for a 10.67 ERA
during the skid, defeated the Dodgers for the first time in 10 appearances and
nine starts. He was 0-4 since his last win in the rivalry on May 8, 2009. It
didnt start well when he walked leadoff batter Dee Gordon on five pitches. But
Elian Herrera grounded into a double play, and Andre Ethier also grounded out as
the left-hander escaped unscathed. The Dodgers are 0-for the Bay Area so far
after they got swept at Oakland last week. This is their first trip to AT&T
Park in 2012. “Everybodys building this series up like its a big deal,” Dodgers
catcher A.J. Ellis said. “For us, its one game. Its a long season, a long grind.
We play these guys a lot more throughout the year. Talk to me about the series
in August or September and Ill talk about if its a big series or not.” Cabrera,
coming off consecutive hitless games for just the third time this year, singled
in each of his first two at-bats, had an RBI and scored two runs as the Giants
gave Zito plenty of support. San Francisco emphatically took the opener to win
the first game of a series for the 10th time in its last 12. The Giants have
also won 11 of their last 16 versus Los Angeles in their waterfront ballpark. An
impressive way to kick off a challenging stretch with three straight series
against clubs that began the week in first place—also Cincinnati and
Washington. “Its big,” Zito said. “Theyre pretty banged up over there and weve
got to capitalize on that.” Pagan staked Zito to a quick lead with an RBI double
against winless Dodgers rookie Nathan Eovaldi aided by a nice bounce off first
base. San Francisco got four straight one-out hits off Eovaldi in its four-run
first—and the chants of “Beat L.A.!” from the sellout crowd of 42,164 began.
Sanchez added an RBI single in the inning, prompting a mound visit from pitching
coach Rick Honeycutt. It marked San Franciscos biggest first inning this season.
Sanchez doubled in a run in the fifth. “Thats one of those games where you sit
there and everything kind of goes their way,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly
said. Zito allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings, struck out four and
walked three. Two relievers completed the five-hit shutout, San Franciscos
seventh. Los Angeles was blanked for the fourth time and second in seven games.
Eovaldi (0-4) was tagged for a season-high eight runs and 10 hits, stretching
his winless stretch to 11 starts since a victory in his major league debut last
Aug. 6 at Arizona. The 22-year-old right-hander, making his 12th career start,
struck out one and walked one in five innings. “Its a good experience for him.
Hes going to be fine,” Mattingly said. “Hes not the kind of kid whos going to
get rattled over that.” Eovaldi retired nine in a row starting with Sandovals
second-inning sacrifice fly before the Giants slugger doubled off the
right-field wall in the fifth. Sandoval spent some extra time studying and
chatting with hitting coach Hensley Meulens beforehand. “The last couple days
for me were tough. I was swinging too hard,” Sandoval said. Bochy sat catcher
Buster Posey to rest his tender ankle and went with Zitos regular backstop,
Sanchez. That means Posey is likely to catch Tim Lincecum in Wednesday
afternoons series finale as the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner (2-8) looks
for his first win in 11 starts since winning at San Diego on April 28. Notes:
RHP Brad Penny, signed to a minor league contract May 18, is nearing a promotion
as he prepares for his second stint in San Francisco by pitching for Triple-A
Fresno. Bochy said the Giants might stretch him out so hes available for a spot
start or long relief. “We signed him to come up and help us,” Bochy said. “Wed
like to stretch him a little bit and keep our options open.”... Dodgers GM Ned
Colletti, formerly a Giants assistant GM, on San Francisco: “Its become a great
baseball city.” ... Aubrey Huff, on the Giants DL since June 15 after he
sprained his right knee jumping the dugout rail to celebrate Matt Cains June 13
perfect game, is close to being able to return. Bochy would like him to do a
rehab assignment considering he has missed so much time this season after also
spending a stint on the DL with anxiety disorder. ... Reigning NL Cy Young Award
winner LHP Clayton Kershaw (5-3) pitches Tuesday nights middle game against
Ryan Vogelsong (6-3). Peyton Manning Broncos Jersey . When
something happens on the football field and when I think of why, and I do not
know, it makes me feel uneasy, insecure and almost incompetent. Rahim Moore Jersey .J. —Tim Tebow was
surrounded by dozens of cameras and reporters—a backup quarterback with
unmatched star power. http://www.denverbroncosfansprostore.com/brandon-stokley-jerseys
.S. national team in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles Clippers say Dr. Neal ElAttrache
of the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic performed the surgery. Griffin returned to Los Angeles
last Thursday after experiencing discomfort in the same knee that bothered him
during the playoffs. Jacob Tamme Jersey . —The best in golf
returned to Indiana for the first time in more than 20 years, and based on the
All-Star performance that broke out Saturday in the BMW Championship, this show
might leave these golf-hungry fans even more mesmerized. Wesley Woodyard Womens Jersey . The Jays
halted the five-game skid by topping the New York Yankees, 10-7, on Sunday in
the finale of a three-game set. Rajai Davis drove in five runs and made a superb
defensive play, as Toronto avoided the sweep.ST. PAUL, Minn. – One word could
sum up Edmontons late-season surge and current playoff run: Bold. Goaltender
Aaron Bold has been solid for the Rush since they acquired him in trade at the
2012 National Lacrosse League entry draft. On Saturday night in St. Paul, he was
simply brilliant. After upsetting top-seeded Calgary last week, Edmonton rolled
over Minnesota 15-3 in the West Division final at Xcel Energy Center. Bold
stopped 39 of 42 shots for the victory. At one point, the goaltender went 37:50
without allowing a goal—a lifetime in the lacrosse world. “Hes incredible.
The best goalie in the league,” Rush assistant captain Ryan Ward said. “Hes our
backbone and were here because of him.” The Rush started the season 2-7, but now
with Bolds help they are one win away from their first NLL title. They will
travel to Rochester, N.Y., to face the Knighthawks in next Saturdays final. Bold
appeared calm, cool and collected in the West final as he stuffed Swarm
attackers point-blank. His defence was rock solid, but Minnesota generated
several good looks and scoring chances, most of which were quelled with minimal
rebounds. “I thought our defence was outstanding. We really executted the system
very well,” Rush head coach Derek Keenan said. Steve Atwater Jersey. “But when we had
breakdowns and they have some guys that can make plays, he was there. He made
some outstanding saves.” Leading up to Saturdays game, Keenan stressed the
importance of limiting Minnesotas offensive outbursts. While the defence held
up, the offence broke out, highlighted by a 11-goal run stretched late in the
third quarter. Edmonton lost six games this season while scoring less than 10
goals. They posted 11 in the first half alone on Saturday. Two former Swarm
standouts produced for the Rush. Ward scored four goals and three assists. Aaron
Wilson added three goals and four assists. Shawn Williams added six points and
Corey Small finished with five points to bolster the offence. These two teams
split their regular-season series 1-1 with two gruelling overtime battles, but
Saturdays game couldnt have been any more lopsided. “A couple months ago,
everyone was dogging us and saying that were terrible and everything else, and
now were in the championship game,” Ward said. “Its all about peaking at the
right time and playing together and believing, and were doing that.” ’ ’ ’