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2B Daily News – Thursday, September 29, 2011 Giants end season with loss Departing Giants managing partner SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Each of the San Francisco Giants walked back onto the field after the final out and gathered near the pitching mound to offer their gratitude. What a drastically different encore than a year ago. No follow-up postsea- son run for the defending World Series champions to provide an extra month of thrilling baseball for the Bay Area. Kevin Kouzmanoff had three hits and drove in two runs, and the Col- orado Rockies sent the Giants into an early offseason, beating San Francisco 6-3 on Wednesday. ''This series, we weren't in it and we knew we were at home, but one of the most impressive things I've seen in baseball were the fans in this series. We felt this was a playoff type of situation, that's how much they were into it,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ''It's really overwhelming to see that kind of sup- port.'' Even if the Giants didn't win on the last day here the way they did last Sep- tember to capture that elusive division crown in dramatic fashion. Even if most of the regulars were on the bench or nursing injuries. Drew Pomeranz (2-1) outpitched fellow rookie Eric Surkamp (2-2) in their second matchup in two weeks and Jordan Pacheco added a pair of RBI singles for the Rockies, who snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Giants. San Francisco (86-76) wound up in second place in the NL West behind playoff-bound Arizona, becoming the first defending champion not to make the playoffs since the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals. This year, the remaining castoffs and misfits who grabbed everybody's hearts last October couldn't get it done in San Francisco's quest to repeat. That didn't keep the sellout crowd of 41,873 from taking every last chance to cheer the 2010 champs. Mark DeRosa hit a two-run single in what was likely his last game for the Giants. ''If I can keep playing, I'm going to keep doing that,'' DeRosa said. ''If I can't, I'm going to take a break and be a stay-at-home dad for a minute.'' Bill Neukom received a rousing stand- ing ovation and a ''THANK YOU BILL'' tribute on the center-field score- board before the seventh inning. Newly promoted CEO Larry Baer likely will begin discussions soon with general manager Brian Sabean about a contract extension. Pat Burrell, contemplating retire- ment if his troublesome right foot does- n't fully heal, ran in from left field to a standing ovation before the start of the seventh. An emotional Burrell hugged and high-fived his teammates and came back out of the dugout for a cur- tain call, waving to the fans while fight- ing tears. ''The thought that this might be the last day kind of took over,'' said Bur- rell, who won World Series rings in Philadelphia and San Francisco. ''If I have certain restraints, I would (try to play). But the reality is, I don't know if I can. I'm going to take some time and see how it feels.'' This was a drastic difference for San Francisco on the final day a year after the club clinched the NL West and the franchise's first playoff berth since 2003 by beating the rival San Diego Padres. That led to an improbable post- season run and the first championship for the Giants since moving West from New York in 1958. On Wednesday, Bochy replaced slugger Carlos Beltran in the fifth inning, calling him in from right field and inserting Andres Torres. Beltran finished with a .300 batting average after he went 0 for 2. He is eligible for free agency after joining the Giants in a July 28 trade with the New York Mets. ''I appreciate that from him,'' Bel- tran said of Bochy's gesture. It was a disappointing day for the Rockies (73-89), too. They had plans — and, on paper, all the talent — to make a run at the division title. These two clubs were considered strong contenders to win the West when the season began back in April, and both have busy winters ahead: Among the Rockies' top priorities is acquiring a front-line starter, while the Giants again need a big bat. Bochy and Rockies manager Jim Tracy went with young lineups to eval- uate who might make an impact come 2012. San Francisco's lineup featured only one starter from opening day in Burrell and only two players who were even on the 25-man roster on March 31 at Dodger Stadium: Burrell and DeRosa. San Francisco lost reigning NL Rookie of the Year Buster Posey to a devastating season-ending leg injury in a home-plate collision with Florida's Scott Cousins on May 25 and also went without second baseman Freddy Sanchez because of a shoulder injury that required surgery. Bochy made a late switch to Surkamp in the finale, resting work- horse Matt Cain on the final day. Many Rockies regulars sat out, too. No injured Carlos Gonzalez or Troy Tulowitzki, the two stars who received hefty new contracts last winter. Todd Helton is hurt, too. The Rockies completed their seven- game road trip at 3-4, bouncing back from a 7-0 shutout a night earlier to avoid a sweep. ''You always want to get a win to end the season, especially against the Giants,'' center fielder Dexter Fowler said. ''We ended up on a positive note. These aren't the expectations we have for ourselves. At the same time, we want to go out and have fun next year and exceed expectations.'' Giants left-handed reliever Dan Runzler left the game in the top of the seventh with a strained lat muscle behind his throwing shoulder. He was scheduled for an MRI exam but Run- zler said it wasn't considered serious and he should be able to heal with just rest. NOTES: Both teams' hitting coaches are going under the knife soon. Colorado's Carney Lansford needs a full right hip replacement, while Hensley ''Bam Bam'' Meulens of the Giants will undergo surgery on his right knee. ... The Giants' franchise- record attendance at 12-year-old AT&T Park was 3,387,303. The team sold out all 81 home games for the second time in franchise history, also done in 2000 for the first year of the waterfront ballpark. ... DeRosa — along with Oakland A's pitcher Dallas Braden — will serve as guest studio analyst for MLB Network during the postseason. McFadden off to fast start He scored just one OAKLAND (AP) — Coach Hue Jackson spent much of training camp telling people that Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden belonged in the conver- sation about elite backs in the NFL. McFadden has proven his coach right during the first three weeks of the season by leading the league in rushing and proving that last year's breakout campaign was no fluke for the former No. 4 overall pick, who struggled his first two seasons. ''He's the best in foot- ball bar none,'' Jackson said. ''Bar none.'' After rushing for a career-high 171 yards last week against a New York Jets defense that is known for its stinginess against the run, McFad- den leads the NFL with 393 yards rushing and is a major reason for the Raiders' early success this season. The days of being overshadowed by higher- profile backs like Adrian Peterson and fellow 2008 draftee Chris John- son are long in the past. ''I guess two years ago I was a bust. Now I'm the best running back in the league. So it's something I really don't pay attention to,'' McFadden said. ''I just keep going about it how I've been going, just going out there practic- ing hard and keep grind- ing.'' McFadden's attitude hasn't changed since his first two ineffective years in the NFL but his production sure has. After being picked 20 spots ahead of Johnson in 2008, he rushed for just 856 yards and aver- aged only 3.9 yards per carry while dealing with turf toe and shoulder injuries. touchdown in 2009 and had just one run of at least 20 yards during a 23-game stretch span- ning his first two sea- sons. That all changed last year, when McFadden finally showed the Raiders the skills he dis- played in college at Arkansas, where he ran for 41 touchdowns in three seasons, including nine that went for at least 50 yards. That turnaround began when Jackson came in as offensive coordinator and sat down with McFadden before last season to find out what plays he likes to run. ''He wanted to put you in a position that you could make plays,'' McFadden said. ''He felt like that was something they need to do, is ask me what plays I like to do. I just told him what I like to do, and he's going out there to put me in a position to make plays and I'm trying to make those plays when the opportunity is present- ed.'' McFadden has done that again this season with a 47-yard run in the opener in Denver, the 70-yarder against the Jets and three other runs of at least 20 yards to tie for the league lead in explosive runs. ''He's able to get from point A to point B faster than anyone I've seen,'' quarterback Jason Campbell said. ''He can get in a hole and shift out and make two guys miss and get down the sideline. He's just as fast as some of our receivers, and everyone knows we're a fast bunch.'' WNBA Finals Sunday: at Minnesota, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 5: at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Oct. 7: at Atlanta, 5 p.m. Oct. 9: at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Oct. 12: at Minnesota, 5 p.m. McFadden is also Oakland's leading receiver with 11 catches for 84 yards and does a good job picking up blitzes, which allows him to stay on the field in passing situations and has earned him praise for being a complete run- ning back. Offensive coordinator Al Saunders has com- pared McFadden to greats he has coached in the past like Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk and Priest Holmes. ''He's a special play- er,'' Saunders said. ''He's gifted, he brings such a dimension to any team, I've been fortunate to be around some great running backs, but he's one of those guys you put in that class. He's a young kid that has just tremendous speed and tremendous potential, he catches the ball extreme- ly well and I think he established what he is last year and he's contin- uing to follow in that way this year.'' McFadden's ability opens up the field for his teammates as defenses key on Oakland's best player. At one point against the Jets, McFad- den went in motion out wide to the left side of the field, bringing the cornerback with him. That forced a linebacker to guard receiver Derek Hagan, who took advan- tage of the mismatch for NCAA Top 25 Schedule Today's game No. 16 South Florida at Pittsburgh, 5 p.m. Saturday's games No. 1 LSU vs. Kentucky, 9:20 a.m. No. 2 Oklahoma vs. Ball State, 4 p.m. No. 3 Alabama at No. 12 Florida, 5 p.m. No. 4 Boise State vs. Nevada, 11:30 a.m. No. 6 Stanford vs. UCLA, 7:30 p.m. No. 7 Wisconsin vs.No.8 Nebraska, 5 p.m. No. 10 S. Carolina vs. Auburn, 12:30 p.m. No. 11 Vir.Tech vs.No.13 Clemson, 3 p.m. No.14 Texas A&M vs.No.18 Arkansas, 9 a.m. No. 15 Baylor at Kansas State, 12:30 p.m. No. 17 Texas at Iowa State, 4 p.m. No. 19 Michigan vs. Minnesota, 9 a.m. No. 20 TCU vs. SMU, 12:30 p.m. No.21 Georgia Tech at N.C. State, 12:30 p.m. No.22 West Vir.vs.Bowling Green, 12:30 p.m. No. 24 Illinois vs. Northwestern, 9 a.m. No.25 Arizona St. vs. Oregon St., 7:30 p.m. a 13-yard catch. That was payback for Hagan's key downfield block on McFadden's 70-yard run earlier in the game. Receiver Chaz Schilens also made a big block down field on the play that started with tight end Kevin Boss' seal at the line of scrim- mage. ''Shoot, you block a guy for two seconds and you look and he's 50 yards downfield,'' rookie guard Stefen Wisniewski said. ''It makes our job easy. Sometimes we make him look good, we open a big hole, and other times we miss a couple of people but he makes us look good any- way. So it works out well for everybody.'' Notes: FB Marcel Reece (ankle), CB Chris Johnson (hamstring), DE Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder) and 49ers' offense getting in gear BOARDMAN, Ohio (AP) — Coach Jim Harbaugh had the San Francisco 49ers pounding the pavement Wednesday. The 49ers' offense went through a brisk walkthrough on the concrete parking lot at the team's hotel before going to work for real at Stambaugh Stadium on the campus of near- by Youngstown State. ''It's the best spot I've found for a walkthrough,'' Har- baugh said. ''I got excited. It was a big slab of concrete with lines on it. It was great.'' The 49ers chose to stay in Ohio after last Sunday's game against Cincinnati, a 13-8 Niners victory, to practice for their upcoming game in Philadelphia. ''I like the part of changing the routine,'' Harbaugh said. ''Sometimes, the normal stuff sucks the life out of every- body. ''Here, we have so many opportunities as it relates to friendship. You can get to know two or three things about players, coaches, trainers. Guys are not heading to their cars and going home. They are together, eating meals, watching Monday Night Football.'' Harbaugh also wants the 49ers to experience a little foot- ball tradition, since the NFL was conceived in 1920 about 60 miles west in Canton. ''We've come back to the roots of the 49ers,'' Harbaugh said. ''This is football, the Canton Bulldogs right down the street. We'll see how good a decision it is when we play Sun- day. Right now, though, we have been treated like kings here.'' Quarterback Alex Smith said the 49ers have bought into Harbaugh's family approach. While not returning to Califor- nia to practice may appear unorthodox, Smith said it gives the offense a chance to become closer. ''There's no question we get to focus on football,'' Smith said. He said players often face distractions at home from fam- ily, friends or just household responsibilities. Wide receiver Joshua Morgan likes the change of pace. ''It's like training camp in college,'' Morgan said. ''We've got one thing to think about here, and that's playing the Eagles on Sunday. That's good because they are a tough opponent.'' The 49ers' offense could use a lift, especially if running back Frank Gore's sprained right ankle limits him. Gore was hurt in the second quarter in Cincinnati. Rook- ie Kendall Hunter filled in, scoring the decisive touchdown on a 7-yard-run. ''I'm not in his body. My educated guess, knowing how tough he is, is that he will play,'' Harbaugh said. Gore did not practice Wednesday. Even with him, San Francisco ranks 29th in rushing at 69.7 yards a game. They're not moving it through the air, either. The 49ers' 74 passes are third-fewest in the league. Smith was sacked five times by the Bengals and struggled to move the ball until late. Harbaugh considers the low-scoring win an enjoyable defensive battle rather than a series of offensive misplays. ''That was football,'' he said. ''Football is a struggle and it is tough. If you enjoy struggles, then you liked that game. I enjoyed watching the tapes. Things can get better when you know they are fixable. There can be a lot of positives on a negative play.'' One area that may be due for a change is at right guard. Starter Chilo Rachal allowed two sacks and had three penal- ties in the first half. Adam Snyder played most of the second half, though Harbaugh said he has yet to make a decision on who will start against the Eagles. Notes: Placekicker David Akers spent the previous 12 years with the Eagles, but says he has nothing to prove to them. ''I have to prove things for the 49ers, not them,'' said Akers, who is 7 for 7 on field goals since signing with San Francisco. A's to open season in Tokyo NEW YORK (AP) — The Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics will open next season in Japan with a two-game series at the Tokyo Dome on March 28 and 29. WR Louis Murphy (groin) missed practice. ... S Michael Huff was limited after leaving Sunday's game with a concussion. S Mike Mitchell (knee) practiced for the first time since early August and WR Jacoby Ford (hamstring) was back after missing the past two games. MLB West Division American League WL Pct GB x-Texas 96 66 .593 — Angels 86 76 .531 10 A's 73 88 .453 22.5 Seattle 67 94 .416 28.5 East Division WL Pct GB x-New York 97 65 .599 — y-Tampa Bay 91 71 .562 6 Boston 90 72 .556 7 Toronto 81 81 .500 16 Baltimore 69 93 .426 28 Central Division WL Pct GB x-Detroit 95 67 .586 — Cleveland 80 82 .494 15 Chicago 79 83 .488 16 Kansas City71 91 .438 24 Minnesota 63 99 .389 32 y-clinched wild card x-clinched division —————————————————— Wednesday's results Oakland at Seattle, late Baltimore 4, Boston 3 Detroit 5, Cleveland 4 Minnesota 1, Kansas City 0 Tampa Bay 8, N.Y.Yankees 7, 12 innings Texas 3, L.A. Angels 1 Toronto 3, Chicago White Sox 2 Seattle and Oakland had been scheduled to play there in March 2003, but the series was scrapped because of the threat of war in Iraq. The A's will be the home team in both games, the commissioner's office said Wednesday. The series could feature a pair of Japanese stars, the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki and Oakland's MLB West Division National League WL Pct GB x-Arizona 94 67 .584 — GIANTS 86 76 .531 8.5 Dodgers 81 79 .506 12.5 Colorado 73 89 .451 21.5 Padres 71 91 .438 23.5 East Division WL Pct GB x-Philadelphia102 60 .630 — Atlanta 89 73 .549 13 Washington 80 81 .497 21.5 New York 77 85 .475 25 Florida 72 90 .444 30 Central Division WL Pct GB x-Milwaukee 96 66 .593 — y-St. Louis 90 72 .556 6 Cincinnati 79 83 .488 17 Pittsburgh 72 90 .444 24 Chicago 71 91 .438 25 Houston 56 106.346 40 y-clinched wild card x-clinched division —————————————————— Wednesday's results Colorado 6, San Francisco 3 N.Y. Mets 3, Cincinnati 0 Philadelphia 4, Atlanta 3, 13 innings Milwaukee 7, Pittsburgh 3 San Diego 9, Chicago Cubs 2 St. Louis 8, Houston 0 Washington 3, Florida 1 L.A. Dodgers at Arizona, late Hideki Matsui, who is eligible for free agency. This will be the fourth Japan opener, following the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs (2000), the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay (2004), and Boston and Oakland (2008). Major League Base- ball and the players' association said the series will be dedicated to assisting rebuilding in Japan following this year's earthquake. MLS WESTERN CONFERENCE WL T Pts GF GA x-Galaxy 17 3 10 61 44 22 x-Seattle 15 6 9 54 49 32 x-Salt Lake 15 9 6 51 42 30 FC Dallas 13 10 7 46 36 33 Colorado 10 9 12 42 41 40 Portland 10 13 7 37 37 44 Chivas USA 8 12 11 35 39 38 San Jose 6 11 13 31 32 39 Vancouver 4 15 10 22 29 49 EASTERN CONFERENCE WL T Pts GF GA Kansas City 11 9 11 44 46 39 Houston 10 9 12 42 39 39 Columbus 11 12 8 41 36 40 Philadelphia 9 7 13 40 37 31 New York 8 7 15 39 46 41 D.C. 9 8 11 38 43 41 Chicago 7 8 15 36 39 39 Toronto FC 6 13 12 30 32 55 N. England 5 13 12 27 34 49 NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie. x- clinched playoff berth —————————————————— Wednesday's results Chicago 3, Real Salt Lake 0 Sporting Kansas City 2, Columbus 1 Today's game D.C. United at Philadelphia, 5 p.m. Saturday's games Kansas City at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. Chicago at Houston, 1 p.m. New York at Toronto FC, 4:30 p.m. Seattle FC at New England, 4:30 p.m. FC Dallas at Colorado, 6 p.m. Real Salt Lake at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. Sunday's games D.C. United at Columbus, 1 p.m. Portland at Vancouver, 1:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Chivas USA, 5 p.m.