Call-for-Posey talk can cool off … for now

Giants 6, Pirates 0


WP: Sanchez (1-0)
Giant HRs: Huff (1), Whiteside (1), Rowand (1)
Record: 7-2, 1st in NL West, 2 games ahead of Arizona and Colorado (both teams player later Wednesday)
The call of Giants fans to bring up Buster Posey from Fresno likely will quiet down a little bit after Wednesday’s 6-0 victory by the Giants over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Backup catcher Eli Whiteside had a good game both at the plate and behind as the Giants won the rubber match of the three-game series.
Whiteside, who entered the game 1 for 7 this season, pounded a three-run home run in the second inning and he later added a double. He finished 2 for 3.
And he caught a good game. Starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez struck out 11 Pirates, while allowing just three hits in eight shutout innings. You’ll remember it was Whiteside who was behind the plate when Sanchez threw his no-hitter last July. Wednesday’s outing was possibly Sanchez’s best since that day last July.
Whiteside was in the game because manager Bruce Bochy decided to rest Bengie Molina, despite his hot bat. Bochy is looking to rest Molina more this season, especially on day games that follow night games.
The next day game that follows a night game comes Saturday at Dodger Stadium. But that is also the day Tim Lincecum pitches, and the Giants prefer to have Molina catch Lincecum. So we’ll have to see how that plays out.
By the way, down at Fresno, Buster Posey is hitting .360. He started the season 9 for 18, but has gone 0 for his last 7. Fresno plays at Las Vegas Wednesday night.
Other notes from Wednesday’s game:
  • The power that the Giants were hoping to see from Aubrey Huff when they signed the first baseman showed up on Wednesday. Huff belted his first home run, although it didn’t come in the usual fashion. For the second time in three nights, Huff hit a ball deep into right center, normally where home runs go to die in AT&T Park. But this second-inning drive, hit off the No. 8 arch way and took a funky bounce back toward right field. By the time the Pirates got to the ball, Huff had rounded the bases and slid home for an inside-the-park home run. Huff also had a fly out to the warning track in center and doubled off the right-field wall on Wednesday.
  • Brian Wilson struck out two while pitching a scoreless ninth. It was Wilson’s first action since Friday’s extra-inning win over the Braves. The Giants have not provided Wilson with a save-opportunity situation since the second game of the season. And that’s a good thing. There have been a lot of comfortable wins.

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