‘Mad' Giants ready to move past Dodgers' sweep

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SAN FRANCISCORyan Vogelsong is mad. Not at his offensefor failing to score against Clayton Kershaw. Not even at Marco Scutaro for hiserror that led to an unearned run. Instead, the Giants veteran right-hander ismad at himself for failing to pick up his teammate after the error. I need to pick him up right there, Vogelsong said ofScutaros two-out, sun-induced blunder that led to the Dodgers second run ofthe fourth inning. I felt worse about not picking him up after that play thananything else today.The lingering anger from Sundays 4-0 loss to cap athree-game sweep that creates a tie for first place in the N.L. West shouldserve the Giants well moving forward, according to Vogelsong.If anything, this makes us a little mad, Vogelsond said.You have to take it out on the Mets.The New York Mets are in town for the first of four gamesstarting on Monday to face a Giants team with a familiar perspective. After aseason-high 13 consecutive days atop the standings, the Giants are back tofighting for sole possession of first place with the Dodgers, who leaveNorthern California with their first back-to-back shutout wins in San Franciscoin franchise history.Giants manager Bruce Bochy didnt express anger like hisstarter did. As the skipper of a floundering club, he stayed positivethroughout his postgame press conference. Unfortunately in this game youre going to get it handed toyou some times and your lineup, theyre going to go through their tough times,Bochy said. I dont care who you are or what club you are, its going tohappen. Whats important is how we deal with this.The only thing you do is press on. Thats the only thing we can do.The Dodgers went through a similarly tough time earlier thisseason and responded by acquiring Hanley Ramirez, who drove in six runs in thesweep. Bochy wasnt ready to say the Giants need to make a move to match theirrivals headline-grabbing trade. Ive got 25 guys here that were going to battle every daywith, Bochy said. Thats all I can be concerned with. Thats all they need tobe concerned with, not were getting this or that. If were doing that, thenwere distracted. Angel Pagan, who had one of the Giants five hits Sunday,said the team just needs to focus after Kershaw struck out seven and didntallow an extra-base hit in his fifth career shutout, two of which have comeagainst San Francisco.He kept the ball down and over the plate and he didnt make many mistakes,Pagan said. Turn the page and keep going. Its no fun losing games but wecant panic.Pagan had the best chance to snap the Giants scorelessstreak back in the second inning, when he reached first on a one-out error byDodgers shortstop Luis Cruz. But he was picked off just before Scutaro andBrandon Belt put together back-to-back singles, helping Kershaw escapeunscathed.Where the Giants failed, the Dodgers succeeded, as theyturned Scutaros error into a run in the fourth inning. Vogelsong was on theverge of dancing out of danger like Kershaw did in the second, but came up justshort. The Dodgers had runners at first and third with one out when Ramirez hita sharp ground ball to third. Scutaro made a quick turn to get the force out atsecond, but Ryan Theriots relay to first was a split-second too late.Ramirezs hustle paid off even more when he came around to score afterScutaros error kept the inning alive.Despite throwing 41 pitches in the fourth, Vogelsong stillstayed on the hill for six innings and has now worked at least that deep intoall 19 of the games hes started this season. Only one of his two runs wereearned and he struck out five Dodgers on the afternoon.Ill take that start any time, Bochy said.While Vogelsong earned his managers seal of approval, he knows he has a thinmargin of error to work with when dueling Kershaw, who he beat in two priormatchups this season.Thats what happens when youre facing one of the bestpitchers in the game right now, Vogelsong said. One mistake, one run can costyou the game.One run will cost the Giants any game if they continue tolook so helpless at the plate. The top of the Giants lineup, which consistedof Gregor Blanco, Theriot, Melky Cabrera and Buster Posey, combined to go1-for-15 with a walk and five strikeouts. The lone hit came from Posey on aground ball to Ramirez at third base with two outs in the ninth and couldvebeen ruled an error. Cabrera accounted for three of the top half of thelineups five strikeouts for his first hat trick as a Giant.Cabrera had just one strikeout and hit .364 as the Giants reeled off threestraight shutout wins over the Dodgers at AT&T Park from June 25-27. Butthat series is ancient history now that Don Mattinglys club has returned thefavor.They pitched well, they played great, just the opposite oflast time we played them, Bochy said. Thats baseball.

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