Marlins 8, Giants 1:
Giancarlo Stanton’s home run streak ends, but Miami’s offense still pours it on in San Francisco’s road trip finale.
MIAMI — Giancarlo Stanton did not hit a home run for the first time in seven games. That was the Giants’ consolation prize in Wednesday’s 8-1 loss to the Marlins.
“I’d rather he hit a home run and we win the game,” manager Bruce Bochy said. No such luck. Matt Cain was charged with four first-inning runs, three of which were unearned because of Nick Hundley’s catcher’s interference and Brandon Crawford’s rare dropped liner.
Cain, who lost his ninth straight, exited after four innings, and Crawford was removed with him in a double switch after batting in the top of the fifth. Cain threw 73 pitches and said he was “kind of at the end of the leash,” partly a result from going in and out of the rotation and not being able to build stamina.
Stanton has homered four times against Cain, tied for the most he has hit off any pitcher. Wednesday, Cain gave up a bloop single to Stanton and plunked him on a 3-2 pitch.
“We tried to mix it up and change speeds on him,” Cain said. “Obviously, he’s been pretty comfortable in there, and we tried to keep him off balance. We were able to do that for the most part today.”
Bochy removed Crawford when pulling Cain for Albert Suarez. Crawford’s hitting .225, and Bochy said he might give the shortstop a break on the homestand.
Crawford said the sizzling liner that he dropped off Derek Dietrich’s bat tailed away, which he didn’t expect. Two runs scored when the next batter, Tomas Telis doubled.
“It’s frustrating,” Crawford said when asked about the double switch. “There’s been a lot of stuff frustrating all year. I wasn’t mad about that. You do what you’ve got to do when you bring in a new pitcher in the fifth inning.” Gomez’s role: Miguel Gomez took grounders at second base before the game. He’s due to come off the disabled list Saturday (he’s shelved with knee inflammation) and first will play a couple of games for Class A San Jose.
With Joe Panik on the concussion DL, Gomez could get some serious playing time.