BOX SCORE
PHOENIXThe Giants wore their new alternate road uniforms, which were inspired by their look in the 1980s.Then the Arizona Diamondbacks gave them one heck of a flashback, coming back from a six-run deficit to beat them 7-6 on Sunday and complete a three-game sweep at Chase Field.Shockingly, the Giants couldnt hold a 6-0 lead with Matt Cain on the mound. And for the first time since 1984, they are 0-3 to begin a season.Cain gave up five runs in six innings and the Giants disintegrated in the seventh, as relievers failed to throw strikes and the infield defense couldnt make a play.Giants manager Bruce Bochy didnt survive to the end of the seventh. He was ejected after a bases-loaded play at the plate, when third baseman Pablo Sandoval threw wide and catcher Buster Posey failed to keep his foot on the plate.Replays showed that plate umpire Mike DiMuro made the correct call. Posey, who didnt argue, was charged with an error as Aaron Hill scored the tiebreaking run.Starting pitching reportEven against a power-packed lineup, the Giants had to feel blindsided after Tim Lincecum, Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain gave up 14 earned runs in 15 13 innings in this opening series.Unlike the first two pitchers, Cain worked a scoreless first inning. But like Lincecum and Bumgarner before him, Cain allowed a pair of home runs. Ryan Roberts hit a two-run homer in the sixth and Lyle Overbay made it back-to-back shots to get the Diamondbacks within a run.Bullpen reportBochys frontline relievers worried him late in the spring as they began to run deep counts and give up hits. Those concerns manifested themselves in the seventh, as they failed to protect the first lead handed to them. Jeremy Affeldt retired just one of three hitters and Santiago Casilla looked completely out of sorts while walking Justin Upton.Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo got the ground balls the Giants needed, but the plays werent made behind them.Meanwhile, closer Brian Wilson remains extremely well rested as he waits for his first save opportunity.At the plate
Brandon Crawfords first hit of the season gave the Giants their first lead of 2012. He doubled down the left field line to put the Giants ahead 2-0 in the second inning, but he was only credited with one RBI because Gold Glove left fielder Gerardo Parra momentarily bobbled the ball.Posey hit a two-run homer in the third that carried to the opposite field and nearly splashed into the swimming pool to give the Giants a 6-0 lead. Poseys Easter Sunday home run was his first in the big leagues since April 24 of last season -- which also happened to be Easter Sunday, strangely enough.The Giants quieted down as soon as right-hander Josh Collmenter departed, thougha momentum stoppage they later would regret.Posey struck out with two runners aboard to end a frustrating, stunning loss.In the fieldCenter fielder Gregor Blanco momentarily saved Cain with a sliding catch of Ryan Roberts sinking line drive in the fourth inning. Lyle Overbay followed with a two-run double, though.The Diamondbacks made four errors in the fourth through sixth innings, but the Giants failed to capitalize on them against left-hander Wade Miley.Then the defense melted down in the seventh. A backpedaling Crawford turned a potentially inning-ending double-play grounder into a bases-loaded, one out situation when he botched Monteros ground ball. Chris Young followed with a grounder to Sandoval, whose throw was offline but shouldve been close enough to get the forceout.Posey, who is coming back from a devastating left ankle injury, looked tentative at several junctures during the game. Interestingly, he tried to keep his right foot on the plate as he received Sandovals throw.Earlier in the game, Posey made a weak throw to second base and couldnt catch a foul pop that was near the screen.AttendanceThe crowd of 24,193 was the smallest of the season10,000 fewer than the previous afternoonbut it had less of a pro-Giant undercurrent than years past.Up nextThe Giants will stand on the chalk line at Coors Field on Monday as the Colorado Rockies celebrate their home opener. Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will start for the Rockies against left-hander Barry Zito, who couldnt sneak a pitch past anyone in his last two Cactus League starts.
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