Crawford shines as Cain ably leads Giants

JustinVerlander35 · Jun 9, 2011

Matt Cain enjoyed Wednesday more than any other Giant, with the possible exception of Brandon Crawford.

Cain was at his dominant best, striking out 11 and allowing five hits in his 13th career complete game as the Giants subdued the Washington Nationals, 3-1. But while Cain gained statistical luster, Crawford picked up something more essential: Job security.

Asked whether Crawford would remain at shortstop when Pablo Sandoval returns to third base as expected next week, manager Bruce Bochy said, "I'll say he'll be out there quite a bit."

Bochy wouldn't thoroughly commit to starting Crawford, the 24-year-old rookie, over Miguel Tejada, the 37-year-old veteran who'll be displaced from third base when Sandoval leaves the disabled list. Comparing the situation to the decision he'll face when left-hander Barry Zito is activated and must be shoehorned into a pitching staff that needs no apparent changes, Bochy summarized, "We'll cross that bridge. But you have to like the job that Brandon's done."

Crawford did his job superbly in the series finale against the Nationals, tripling to drive in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. He also temporarily saved a run in the top of the inning. Thrilling the sellout crowd of 41,738, Crawford lunged to his left to spear Wilson Ramos' grounder up the middle, straightened and threw to first base for the out. Washington's Mike Morse, who was on second base, had to halt at third.

"I just wanted to knock it down and make sure that he didn't score," Crawford said.

Crawford, who joined the team on May 26 when infielder Mike Fontenot went on the disabled list with a strained left groin, plays with flash and dash that recent Giants shortstops have lacked. Veteran Omar Vizquel often flashed Hall of Fame-level form, but his range and arm strength were clearly diminished. Edgar Renteria, hero of the 2010 World Series, was less adept. Juan Uribe proved capable of making deft and sometimes difficult plays, but wasn't as spry as Crawford.

Bochy summarized all that history by saying of Crawford, "That play up the middle, we haven't seen that in a while."

Morse scored on Rick Ankiel's two-out double to forge a 1-1 tie, but that merely set the stage for Crawford to excel again. Batting with two outs and Cody Ross on first base, Crawford drove Sean Burnett's 3-2 curveball to deep right-center field, where it short-hopped the wall. It was Crawford's first hit off a left-handed pitcher in seven at-bats since joining the Giants. He later scored on Eli Whiteside's single to left-center.
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Crawford shines as Cain ably leads Giants

JustinVerlander35 Bringin' the Heat

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Crawford shines as Cain ably leads Giants

JustinVerlander35 Bringin' the Heat

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