Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/410423
| CHAMPIONS | 4 B WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM ★ March April RESULTS 17 wins 11 losses STANDINGS WATCH Giants by 1½ games over Dodgers TheGiantsburstoutofthestartinggatesimpressively,usinguncharacteristicpowertostakeanearlyclaim as a legitimate N.L.West contender.And they upped the drama quotient often, winning in final home at-bats. Opening Day omen? March 31: The Giants rally from four runs down — their biggest Opening Day comeback since 1968 — and win at Arizona 9-8 on Buster Posey's two- run homer in the ninth. Early in the season, they would live by the long ball. Rockies meet MadBomb April 11: Madison Bumgarner hits grand slam (right), accounts for five RBIs in a 6-5 win over Colorado. April 13: Brandon Crawford's 10th- inning homer — his first splash hit — gives Giants 5-4 walkoff win against Rockies. Even Hicks has the power? April 27: Brandon Hicks, filling in for an injured Marco Scutaro at second base, keeps the Giants'April homer barrage rolling, knocking a three-run walkoff with two outs in the ninth for a 4-1 victory and a home sweep of Cleveland. Wrong kind of cutter for Cain April 29: Matt Cain misses his start after cutting a finger making a sandwich."Affeldt was in there helping me out,"Cain joked afterward, referencing Jeremy Affeldt, who suffered a similar accident in 2011. ERIC RISBERG/ASSOCIATED PRESS May RESULTS 20 wins 9 losses STANDINGS WATCH Giants by 7 games over Dodgers Michael Morse kept Giants fans raving about his offseason acquisition, hitting four home runs for the month after clubbing five in April. Contributions like that aided the most successful month of the Giants'2014 season. Bad break, good trip May 9: Brandon Belt, second in the N.L. with 9 HRs, suffers a broken left thumb (right) when L.A.'s Paul Maholm hits him. May 11: Brandon Hicks'seventh homer punctuates a trip in which Giants go an impressive 7-3. Cain, Casilla battle injuries May 21: Matt Cain and Santiago Casilla injure hamstrings. Casilla is expected to miss four weeks; Cain's prognosis is uncertain. May 24: With 2-1 win over the Twins, Giants (31-18) overtake Detroit for the best record in baseball. Pence, scooter reunited May 28: A 5-0 victory over the Cubs plays second fiddle to the return of Hunter Pence's beloved scooter, stolen from the ballpark two days earlier."We can all sleep tonight," says manager Bruce Bochy. Pound Cards, end big month May 30: Pence gets things started with a three-run homer in the second inning and Giants pummel Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright in 9-4 victory. Could this be NLCS foreshadowing? DANNY MOLOSHOK/ASSOCIATED PRESS June RESULTS 10 wins 16 losses STANDINGS WATCH Tied for first with Dodgers (Giants a single percentage point up in standings) They don't call it a"June Swoon"for nothing.All the dominance the Giants had channeled in May gave way to doubt, losses, underachievements and demotions in June. It also allowed the Dodgers to get right back in the race. Solid start to the month June 4: Juan Perez, batting .048, hits a two-run homer in a 3- 2 win at Cincinnati. June 8: After sweep of Mets at AT&T, Giants (42-21) have best record in MLB and a 9½ game lead in the N.L.West. Slip sliding they go June 14: For the second time in 24 hours, Sergio Romo (right) blows a ninth-inning lead at AT&T. It's his fourth blown save. June 17: Giants lose 8-2 to the host White Sox, their seventh loss in eight games. Lincecum up, Cain still down June 23: Matt Cain falls to 1-6, losing to a horrendous Padres lineup; Joe Panik makes his debut. June 25: Tim Lincecum makes better use of those bad San Diego bats, throwing his second career no-hitter. Romo removed as closer June 28: Romo blows another save — his third in five chances — and is removed as the closer. Santiago Casilla and Jeremy Affeldt will share the role, manager Bruce Bochy says. NHAT V. MEYER/STAFF July RESULTS 12 wins 14 losses STANDINGS WATCH Dodgers lead by 3 games over Giants The summer months continued to treat the Giants harshly as the injury bug wouldn't leave Bruce Bochy's roster alone. These weren't just any injuries but injuries to key cogs in the lineup: Pagan, Cain, Belt.The losses kept mounting. More DL disco to start month July 1: Angel Pagan, due to return, instead suffers a setback, ruled out indefinitely. July 4: Brandon Belt's return from a broken thumb suffered May 9 provides no help as 2-0 loss in San Diego knocks Giants out of first place. Timmy rolling; nod to Hudson July 7: Hunter Pence and Madison Bumgarner named all-stars.Tim Hudson replaces Bumgarner. July 11: Tim Lincecum continues to recapture his old magic, wins fourth straight; leads staff at 9-5 overall. Belt lost again, as is Cain July 19: Giants lose Belt to another freak injury, getting hit in face by a ball thrown in BP. July 21: Matt Cain (2- 7, 4.18) goes to the DL with elbow problems, his third stint of the season and just fourth of his entire career. Sanchez hurt; Peavy added July 25: Catcher Hector Sanchez (left) joins Belt in getting shelved by a concussion. July 26: Jake Peavy acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Heath Hembree and Edwin Escobar. Peavy is 1-9 with a 4.72 ERA. ASSOCIATED PRESS Aug. RESULTS 16 wins 12 losses STANDINGS WATCH Dodgers lead by 2 games over Giants The Giants somehow pushed onward despite the onslaught of injuries and late-summer wear and tear.As Tim Lincecum was headed out of the rotation,Yusmeiro Petit was establishing himself as a little-known force to be reckoned with. No stop to injury news Aug. 2: Matt Cain needs elbow surgery for bone chips, likely done for the year. Aug. 9: Brandon Belt, a week after returning to action, goes back on the DL with post-concussion symptoms. Lincecum now in a free fall Aug. 25: Tim Lincecum, 1-4 with an 8.24 ERA in his last seven starts, is removed from the starting rotation. "We're going to give Timmy a break,"manager Bruce Bochy says. Petit makes some history Aug. 28: Yusmeiro Petit (left) sets an MLB record for consecutive batters retired, setting down 46 in a row over a 38- day span that includes two starts and six relief appearances. It is the equivalent of a perfect game, plus 19 more outs. Ending month on a roll Aug. 31: The Giants'15-5 victory over the visiting Brewers is a season-best sixth straight and the first series win over a winning team since June 1. It also clinches the Giants' first winning month of baseball since May. TONYAVELAR/ASSOCIATED PRESS Sept. RESULTS 13 wins 12 losses STANDINGS WATCH Giants (88-74) finish 6 games back of Dodgers in N.L.West, earn second wild-card spot The Giants, left for dead by many during the dog days of summer, entered September on a six-game tear and with a very palpable chance of surpassing the Dodgers and winning the N.L.West. Surging into September Sept. 2: Michael Morse is shelved with an oblique strain. Sept. 6: Red-hot Buster Posey homers off new Detroit ace David Price, pacing Giants' ninth win in the last 11 games.Two games back of the Dodgers. Dodgers make big statement Sept. 13: With a chance to pull within a half game of first place, the Giants lose 17-0 to the Dodgers. Sept. 19: Angel Pagan, Brandon Belt and Michael Morse are back. Giants lose 5-0 in San Diego, falling 3½ games back. Wild-card time it will be Sept. 24: N.L.West race ends with Giants losing 9-1 to Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium. Sept. 25: Before the Giants take the field at AT&T Park, they clinch a wild-card spot by virtue of Milwaukee's loss to Cincinnati. Heading in as 'Yes' men Sept. 28: "Do you guys want to see another game here at home?" Hunter Pence (left) asks fans after the Giants win the regular season finale against the Padres. It sets up a cheer that has marked the season. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" KARL MONDON/STAFF Forging their identity