Arias Drives in 5, As Giants Complete Sweep of Dodgers, 8-4

A Buster Posey-less lineup is generally a sign of the Giants salvaging a game, but Wednesday night was quite the opposite. Perhaps Joaquin Arias sniffed an opportunity to shine in the wake of Posey’s hamstring injury. The utility infielder pumped out five RBIs, including a two-run homer in the first inning that sparked a good overall offensive night for the Giants who prevailed 8-4.

The definition of a catalyst has essentially been Angel Pagan during this three game series against the Dodgers. Once again, he led off the game with a hit (double), and scored the first run of the contest. After he trotted across home plate on Pablo Sandoval’s sacrifice fly in the first inning, it marked the third straight day that he scored the first run of the game.

Matt Cain, who was working without his battery mate in Posey, seemingly clicked with Hector Sanchez behind the dish. The big right-hander yielded the Dodgers’ bats to just a lone run over seven innings. Hunter Pence looked like a lost duck while attempting to track down Andre Ethier’s fly ball. He spun around multiple times only to have the ball drop on the warning track. His misplay led to the first Dodgers’ run, and Cain’s only blemish.

The Giants kicked their offense into full gear during a three run sixth inning. Pagan led off the inning with yet another hit, Marco Scutaro followed with a ground rule double that hopped over the short left field wall. Sandoval would drive in Pagan, Arias would drive in Scutaro, and Justin Christian capped off the inning with a bases loaded walk to extend their lead.

The Dodgers wouldn’t go down easily, though. A three-run eighth inning kept the tiny hope alive to craft a comeback. Clay Hensley began the inning, but after coaxing two straight hits to the heart of the Dodgers’ lineup, he was lifted from the game in favor of Jeremy Affeldt. Affledt wouldn’t help the situation, though. He loaded the bases, forcing skipper Bruce Bochy to bring in Santiago Casilla, who inherited the tense situation. He wasn’t able to close the gap as Luis Cruz slapped a two-run broken bat single into shallow centerfield. Though he stopped the bleeding by starting an inning-ending double play.

Cain surrendered five hits, but didn’t allow any free passes, walking none and striking out five en route to his 13th win of the season.

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