Fuente: © San Francisco Giants
http://www.sfgiants.com/

MLB: GIANTS: Morris does it all in Giants' victory

Starter contributes to seventh-inning outburst with single, run

/noticias.info/ SAN DIEGO -- For two innings, even in the sunshine at PETCO Park on Sunday, it looked like a dark day for the Giants and starting pitcher Matt Morris.

The veteran gave up three hits and two walks and hit a batter for a quick two-run San Diego lead, while Padres pitcher Chris Young was on a brilliant four-game winning streak, boasting a minuscule 0.93 ERA, and fanned four Giants in his first two frames.

A bad omen.

Yet wonder of wonders, San Francisco would emerge from a four-inning funk, strike initially with Ray Durham's solo homer in the fifth, then erupt for five runs in the seventh to win, 6-2, and split the four-game series.

The victory gave Morris (7-7) a four-game winning streak and kicked off July on the right note after a solid 3-1 record and 2.19 ERA in June.

Funny thing about Morris -- well, it was funny for the Giants -- who with two out and Eliezer Alfonzo on first with a single in the seventh, rapped a hit himself to ignite the five-spot, with Omar Vizquel singling in the go-ahead runs and Pedro Feliz's three-run blast securing the win. Randy Winn battled through an 11-pitch at-bat, fouling off seven balls, to earn a walk and keep the rally alive for Vizquel.

Morris batting for himself? No pinch-hitter with the club trailing 2-1?

"That's a dumb move there," laughed manager Felipe Alou. "Some of the moves I make show I'm really optimistic.

"If we had had a lot of pitchers, I might have made the right move and hit for him," he added. "You saw what happened [in the eighth]. ... I had to bring in a kid [Brian Wilson] who had 35 pitches yesterday. That's not the kind of stuff you want to do, especially in the seventh."

Wilson literally walked himself out of Saturday's first game of a doubleheader, walking three batters and getting charged with four runs in a 7-4 defeat. But the rookie shut out the Friars over the final 1 2/3 innings, escaping a bases-loaded jam by reliever Steve Kline.

Morris said he lobbied for a chance to hit, knowing he had blanked San Diego since the second and was feeling strong.

"I'm saying I feel good and know the bullpen had been used the last couple days, and after the first two outs, Fonzie [Alfonzo] has a big hit and Randy Winn had the at-bat of the game to get on base and Omar comes through," said Morris.

The right-hander's stretch of five scoreless frames began with a rally-killing, bases-loaded double play by the Giants to end the Padres' half of the second.

Suddenly, Morris was at his best, as he allowed only one single and a walk and fanned six of the next 18 batters.

"I started to get a better rhythm, better feel," said Morris. "I told Rags [piching coach Dave Righetti] I'd go as long as I could."

As for being determined to whack the ball hard during his crucial at-bat, Morris chuckled, "If I did that, I'd foul one into their dugout. I felt lucky I had the chance, got a ball up, got it in the right spot."

Morris slid at home plate on Vizquel's big blow and noted it was his first slide since high school.

"I'm a little torn up, but it's exciting to try to score from second, do things pitchers aren't usually a part of," he said.

Vizquel seemed an unlikely offensive hero Sunday, as he was hitting only .091 on the road trip, but he broke the cycle with a sixth-inning single, then slugged the important safety in the seventh.

The shortstop was enthralled with the team's effort, especially considering this 10-game road swing to San Diego, Colorado and Los Angeles is so vital heading into the All-Star break.

"We had a two-out rally, Morris got a huge base hit, Randy Winn got an unbelievable at-bat and then I came in with a key hit and Pedro with a homer -- the whole inning was awesome," said Vizquel. "It was really good.

"I thought [Alou] was going to pinch-hit for Morris ... but something told him not to," he said. "That was a big decision because that could have been the game right there."

As for not being selected to the All-Star Game, Vizquel -- a three-time selectee -- wasn't that disappointed, explaining other candidates had better power numbers.

Left fielder Mark Sweeney was hit on his right elbow by a Young pitch in the fourth inning and was forced from the game.

"I'll be fine," said Sweeney, wearing a wrap on his arm. "He got me pretty good, but hopefully it'll be fine tomorrow. It'll be stiff for a while." notas_de_prensa_archivo