I was aware of the streak. The fact never escaped me that the Giants hadn’t led in a game since before Lady Bird Johnson was a sexual position. And with a 1-0 deficit early in the game, it appeared I may have to turn the “We’re Going Streaking” section into an exercise in futility.

Not today. 3-10 with runners in scoring position. Posey singles with a runner on third and nobody out. I don’t know who these Gigantes are, pero me gusta. Play like a major league team, get a major league win.

The doom and gloom of the last week should be abated. The Marlins squeaked out the squeakiest sweep ever squeaked. We scored a handful of runs against Zach Grienke and lost. He’s a pitcher, don’t ya know. And the Giants exercised their lupine demons in defeating Randy Wolf, who, last time I checked was 22-0 with a water molecule for an ERA against the Giants. So while the panic button remains in the control room, we can send George Jetson home for the day.

We’re Going Streaking:

19: Angel Pagan, everyone! Just one away from where Panda’s streak ended, and he leads the league. The Giants have been toying with the leadoff spot, dropping Pagan down in the order in favor of Gregor Blanco, who is getting on base at a ridiculous clip. The Giants will look to get Blanco more at-bats, but with Huff coming off the DL on Monday and Brett Pill looking to start in the outfield against lefties, it may be tough to get Blanco to the dish.

Brandon Watch 2012:

With a lefty starter in Randy Wolf, only Belt saw action as a defensive replacement in the 9th. Though reports have been filed that Brandon Crawford was seen kicking baseballs around the dugout.

Stats of the Day:

41: The number of consecutive innings the Giants failed to lead a game. I just wish Eric Karros and Orel Hersheiser had been announcing so I could have done my best Mr. Burns impression, rubbing my hands together and saying “Dine on crow, Dodger Boys.”

5: The number of times Brewers leadoff hitter Aoki hit the ball hard, with zero hits. BABIP’d.

3: The number of hits the Giants had with runners in scoring position. And this time, dudes scored.

2: The number of Giants who have hit triples in consecutive games this season, first Angel Pagan and today Melky Cabrera

1: Games I’ve watched on Fox that didn’t involve Eric Byrnes

0: The number of times I thought I would ever make a Lady Bird Johnson joke

The Marlins can’t hit. The Giants can’t hit. Fortunately, getting a hit isn’t the only way to reach base. Someone alert Sir Bam Bam. Eleven Marlins reached base without getting a hit. Ten walks, one reached on an error. See, it’s easy!

Zito didn’t have a good game. This is a disgusting understatement. But since it is his first hiccup of the year, I’ll leave the jokes to the Lunatic Fringe. Which I think I’m on. Oh well, I need a night off.

I was keeping track of the Giants’ inability to hit with runners in scoring position until the Giants decided not to even bother with runners anymore. Phew, no more math. Then Heath Bell ruined all of the fun. With his big head and his big…legs. And his stupid pitches that the Giants could actually hit. If only Ozzie Guillen was a traditional manager who refused to pull his closer despite said closer not having his stuff. If only. That’s two days in a row Guillen has made a great decision late in the game. I think he’s juicing.

The Hector Sanchez experiment is over. He starts when Zito pitches and in day games after a night game. Watching Brandon Belt flail is much better than watching Hector Sanchez flail. I don’t know why, but it just is.

Joaquin Arias has been quite a find. Another two hits and a dazzling play at short. Rot, Manny Burriss, rot with your singles and your other singles. Arias will play almost everyday because of his position flexibility. He plays second, short, and can back up at third.

Oh and Pablo Sandoval has a lot of pain in his hand. Probably one of those hambone things. See? Told you Arias was going to play more.

Stat of the Day:

Walks. So many walks.

The reason the Giants aren’t in first place can be summed up perfectly by two things: Matt Kemp, and that 8^th inning. Leadoff double. Bases loaded with one out. Christ Posey at the plate. In play, out(s). Inning over. Friggle fraggle frig.

The Marlins manager looks like a genius. Intentionally walking Panda to face Posey, the bringing in a sinkerballer with force outs all around the diamond. Starting to think this Castro guy is onto something. His name is Guillen? He’s not even Cuban? Then what was all the fuss about?

I would say that Matt Cain got Cain’d, but you aren’t supposed to use the word you are defining in the definition. Matt Cain got f*cked. Hard.

Giants with RISP on the season: .008/.012/.016. Or maybe that was just today. Nope, that is in fact from the last five seasons. All the candy and unicorns in the world can’t convince me that even if the umpire makes the right call and gives Theriot a 2-out double in the 9^th, that Sanchez knocks him in. Wasn’t gonna happen. The game was lost in the 8^th.

Matt Cain loses a game 2-1. Color me surprised.

Stats of the Day:

5: Grounders to first for unassisted putouts induced to left-handed hitters by Nolasco (3 in a row by Belt)

3: The number of bases stolen by Marlins today

2: The number of balls hit by Cain that went further than Stanton’s home run

1: The number of 0-fers Pablo Sandoval has taken this year. Astounding.

0: The number of defensive innings Pablo Sandoval has missed this season (Burriss pinch-ran for him the first game of the season). Astounding.