Twenty-six (26) runners left on base, 17 walks issued, and a grand total of five runs crossed the plate.

Yes, it was the Padres and the Giants at their finest, with the Padres being just a little finer in a 3-2 win in China Basin on Tuesday. San Diego took the first game of this three-game series that should be known as the “first to three runs wins.”

It was like watching the most recent season of “24,” but instead of Jack Bauer manipulating evidence out of suspects he uses the kids from “Glee” to draw out the valuable information with their catchy musical numbers. Or, as Duane Kuiper calls it, “2010 Giants baseball: torture.”

For the first time this season Zito was below average, allowing a season-high seven walks and suffered his first loss of the year. He also missed a chance to become the first Giants left-hander to win six straight games since Noah Lowry did it in ‘05.

Zito blamed his poor showing on an “inconsistent release point,” among other things:

“Timing was off tonight, didn’t have any command of anything. Sometimes it just happens where you just don’t feel as good as other times.

“It was a battle the whole night, starting with that first at bat (against Scott Hairston) that was 11 pitches or something. So they put up good at bats and I wasn’t throwing enough strikes and they worked their walks.”

It was a familiar tune for Zito, who has struggled against the khaki and blue of the Padres. In 16 career starts against San Diego, Zito is now 3-7 with a 4.23 ERA.

The Giants failed to beat the Padres for the fourth straight time in 2010, and now trail the NL West leaders by 1 1/2 games. But, even with the mini relapse, Giants; manager Bruce Bochy didn’t seem concerned with Zito’s effort.

“He’s been so good, you know, he’s gonna have an off night and even with that he gave us a chance,” Bochy said. “He battled, competed out there, and, despite the walks, he kept them to three runs and that’s not bad. We had our chances and we were just a hit away form taking the game.”

David Eckstein continues to haunt the Giants like a bad case of two-year $12 million dollar contracts to mid-level veterans.

The “Gift from God” went 2-for-2, drove in a pair with a two-out, second-inning single and also drew three walks and stole a base. As a team, the Giants have allowed a National-league leading 35 stolen bases. Only the Red Sox (44) and Royals (36) have been burgled more.

The Padres put 21 base runners on, and drew 12 walks from Giants pitching, but only managed to score the three runs. It was enough for San Diego’s stellar bullpen, which is the main reason behind the Padres’ fast start.

Ryan Webb, Luke Gregerson, Mike Adams and closer Heath Bell pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and a walk. It was the necessary remedy after Padres’ starter Wade LeBlanc was inconsistent, too.

LeBlanc pitched a shaky 4 2/3 innings but, like his counterpart Zito, gave his offense a chance.

“They’re very underrated,” Bochy said, “if you look a the second half last year, how (the Padres) played, it’s a good ball club over there.”

Pablo Sandoval hinted that his hibernation may be coming to an end. The Panda laced a triple into the right-center gap and eventually scored on an Aubrey Huff single in the third. In the fifth, Huff singled in front of Juan Uribe’s triple to make it 3-2.

Still, it’s the week anniversary of the Giants win over the Marlins, so let’s celebrate by mocking a teenaged organization with two World Series titles.

Seriously, we’re mocking them, turn up the volume. Hope you liked Creed.

Friday night the San Francisco Giants sustained a big blow from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense and starter Vicente Padilla. Though Aaron Rowand may disagree, the Giants’ arch rivals waited until the eighth inning of Sunday’s rubber match before delivering the knock-out punch.

Pinch hitting with a runner on and one out, Manny Ramirez hit career home run 548 off Giants reliever Sergio Romo (0-1), lifting the Dodgers to a 2-1 win, and spoiling one of Barry Zito’s best career starts as a Giant.

Zito was masterful in 7 1/3 innings, scattering four hits, fanning three, and allowed just one run, which was a result of a walk to pinch-hitter Garrett Anderson – the last hitter he would face — who scored on Ramirez’s blast. Ramirez hadn’t played in the series since departing part way through Friday’s contest with a strained calf. It was also just the second pinch-hit homer in Ramirez’s 18-year career.

“Romo, he’s been throwing as well as anybody,” Bochy told reporters. “He’s one of our setup guys. I like him out there. He’s made some great pitches. I’ve got him and (Jeremy Affeldt). That is their role, to pitch in the seventh and eighth innings.”

Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw was nearly just as good. The 22-year-old Dodger lefty pitched into the seventh, allowing just four hits and a run, while striking out nine, and walking four. The lone run allowed was on a Juan Uribe (1) solo-homer in the seventh, which came after a long battle, from which Uribe fell down 0-2 before battling back in the at bat.

Without the presence of veterans Mark DeRosa (hamstring), and Aaron Rowand – who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday – the Giants missed two right handed mainstays in their lineup that may have proved to be helpful against Kershaw.

Eugenio Velez led off and played left field, while Andres Torres filled in in center, hitting eighth. The duo combined to go just 1-for-7 with a walk, and three strikeouts. The Giants also wasted a lead-off double from Aubrey Huff in the fourth, and they left the bases loaded in the eighth when Ramon Trancoso got Uribe to ground out to end the inning.

Second guessing is a part of baseball, and over 162 games a skipper is going to have plenty of chances to be questioned. Giants manager Bruce Bochy will no doubt receive some heat because of the fashion his team lost this one.

But there’s a reason Ramirez holds the record for postseason homers with 28, and is a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer – he’s clutch, and he’s really, really good.
And pitching match-ups, execution, and righty-lefty showdowns often stand out more than assigning blame where it may more easily fit.

The Giants stranded eight runners on Sunday, and had lead-off runners on in three separate innings, and none of them scored. The result was the first series loss for the Giants in 2010, and prevented Zito from improving to 3-0 for the first time in his career.

Re-printed with permission of the author.

Theo is a staff reporter and feature writer for the Marin Independent Journal where he covers local prep and college sports. As an Associate Production Manager for ESPN, he helped produce Sunday Night Baseball among other national ESPN and ABC Sports telecasts. Besides his contributions to Examiner.com, the I.J. and Sports Climax, Theo is the play-by-play voice for Sonoma State University baseball and softball.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax™