The San Francisco Giants kicked off their 2009 season with a 10-6 win over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers at AT&T Park today, ending a three-year skid of Opening Day losses, and providing their fans with a sense of optimism for the upcoming year. Though 2008 National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum struggled in his first start of the season, giving up 3 runs and lasting just three innings, the Giants pulled together as a team, and with a combination of solid pitching and aggressive offense, came up with the victory.
Manager Bruce Bochy sent in a total of six relievers during the three hour and twenty-two minute game, including winner Joe Martinez and Brian Wilson, who secured the last out by fanning the only batter he faced, Jason Kendall.
During Spring Training this year, Giants’ hitters sent quite a few pitches into the bleachers, and that trend continued today, with center fielder Aaron Rowand, catcher Bengie Molina, and right fielder Randy Winn all homering at Milwaukee. New first baseman Travis Ishikawa quickly announced his arrival in the lineup by driving in the first three runs of the game in the bottom of the first with a bases-clearing triple off of Brewers’ starter Jeff Suppan, who gave up six of the Giants’ 10 runs in four innings of work.
Despite Lincecum’s apparent shaky start, he did help out a little with San Francisco’s offense in the bottom of the second when he singled to left field, advancing Emmanuel Burriss to third base, who was then driven home by Randy Winn’s sacrifice fly to the outfield.
All in all, the Giants looked good in their first game of the 2009 season, working well together on both offense and defense, giving fans hope that they will break their skid of posting losing records for the last four seasons.
Festivities
Opening Day in Major League Baseball is always a big affair; it can be viewed as an attempt to continue the previous years’ good luck, or it can seen as an opportunity for a fresh start to make up for last season’s disappointments. No matter what a particular team’s circumstances may be, Opening Day is a time of celebration, and appropriately, the first game of the new season is always surrounded by special events and ceremonies, and today’s festivities at AT&T Park were no exception.
This morning’s rain almost put a damper on the goings on at the shores of McCovey Cove, but the drizzle let up just before the ceremonies were set to begin—but not before Lou Seal was able to make the most of the situation and have some fun frolicking on the water-drenched tarp covering the infield while wearing some over-sized flippers. The Giants’ mascot then removed the shoe wear and picked up a bat, pretended to swing for the fences and then ran along the base paths, launching his rotund belly into the air and diving at the four corners of the diamond to the cheers of the audience.
Once the tarp was removed and the field was deemed fit for play, the traditional microphone stand was set up, and broadcaster Jon Miller, “The Voice of the Giants,” announced the Opening Day lineups for both San Francisco and Milwaukee. Among the notable additions to the Giants’ 2009 roster was pitcher Randy Johnson, who received a warm welcome from fans, as did returning players such as Rich Aurelia and hitting coach Carney Lansford, who is back for his second season with San Francisco.
After a moment of remembrance was held for Giants’ alumni who have passed away in the last year, including former manager Herman Franks and former pitcher Dave Roberts, the field was prepared for the singing of the national anthem. A military color guard walked onto the field, followed by dozens of people carrying a large American flag, all while former American Idol winner Taylor Hicks sung “The Star Spangled Banner,” which finished with a rush of fireworks being shot out from behind the center field scoreboard.
Danville resident and all-around current American hero Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who safely landed his U.S Airways jet in the Hudson River earlier this year, saving 155 lives, threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game, for which he was greeted with thunderous applause from the sold-out crowd.
During the game, another recent addition to the Giants’ organization was recognized, the return of former first baseman Will Clark, who has signed on with San Francisco to be a special assistant, helping coach younger players, and representing the team in the local community.
The six-time All Star was watching the proceedings from a VIP box, and enthusiastically waved to the crowd when he was shown on the scoreboard’s big screen between innings. If anybody can inspire this Giants team to approach each and every game with a winning attitude and a “never give up” mentality, it is certainly Will “The Thrill.”
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