And it wasn’t even that close. The Diamondbacks did not score until the ninth inning and only because the Giants could not turn a game-ending double play.

Looking at this game from the larger perspective of the playoff race, the problem wasn’t so much that Giants’ starter Tim Lincecum was lights out for 8.1 innings (9 strikeouts), but that, once again, the Diamondback starter could not keep the team in the game. Yusmeiro Petit lasted only 2.2 innings, giving up 5 runs. As Tigger told me several times last night: “Your pitching is really weak if the Giants are hitting you.” The starting rotation was the Diamondbacks’ strength. The stretch run is the worst time for it to fall apart.

Last night was particularly unfortunate because the Dodgers lost. With no more games head-to-head against LA, the Diamondbacks need to take every opportunity they can to win when the Boys-in-Blue lose. Such was not the case last night, and so the Dodgers can simply cross another day off their calendars.

Time’s a-wastin’, guys.

ByrnesBlogger1

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