Marlins Shut Out Posey-Less Giants To Complete Sweep
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) - Anibal Sanchez threw a five-hitter for another complete game in San Francisco, leading the Florida Marlins to a 1-0 win Thursday over a Giants team still stunned by the loss of Buster Posey.
A day after the star catcher sustained a broken lower left leg when Scott Cousins crashed into him at the plate—likely ending Posey's season—the Marlins finished off a three-game sweep.
Sanchez (4-1) struck out eight and walked two for his fifth career complete game and second this season. He pitched a one-hitter against the Giants last July 29 in his previous appearance at AT&T Park.
Logan Morrison's RBI single in the sixth inning off Ryan Vogelsong scored Chris Coghlan for the only run. Vogelsong (3-1) struck out three and scattered eight hits in eight innings for his first loss in six starts.
Freddy Sanchez doubled with one out in the Giants ninth before Aubrey Huff and Cody Ross grounded out.
Cousins, who went to college at the University of San Francisco and lives in the Bay Area, did not play. Tears welled up in his eyes when he talked before the game about the severity of Posey's injury.
Posey was put on the 15-day disabled list. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year who helped the Giants win the World Series last year was hurt when Cousins plowed him over scoring the go-ahead run in the 12th inning Wednesday night.
The Giants had runners on first and second with one out in the first, setting the stage for Huff to do some damage. But he grounded into a double play to end the inning, a familiar theme throughout the day.
Aaron Rowand doubled with one out in the second but was stranded when Miguel Tejada struck out swinging and Eli Whiteside—filling in for Posey at catcher—grounded out. Huff, who replaced Posey in the cleanup spot, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, a double play and a groundout with the tying run at second in the ninth.
Chris Coghlan led off the sixth with a double and Emilio Bonifacio's sacrifice bunt moved him to third. Morrison followed with a bloop single to center field to give the Marlins a 1-0 lead.
Emmanuel Burriss singled and stole second with two outs in the Giants third, then Sanchez settled into a groove. He retired 14 of the next 15 batters until pinch-hitter Pat Burrell walked with one out in the eighth.
The Marlins blew plenty of chances, too.
The biggest came in the seventh when they loaded the bases with two outs against Vogelsong. Coghlan flied out to left field.
This was the fourth time the Giants were shut out this season, and the fifth time the Marlins have held an opponent scoreless.
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