It didn’t take 12 innings, like Saturday’s game did, but the Giants edged the Astros 3-2 for the second straight game Sunday, with Matt Cain picking up his 10th win in the process.
Cain, facing the Astros for the first time since he pitched a perfect game against them last month, allowed two runs -- one earned -- in 6 1/3 innings.
The Giants are now 49-40 this season, even though they’ve been outscored by three runs.
They’re one of three teams playing on the opposite side of their run differential:
Giants: 49-40 - 346 RS, 349 RA - (3)
Orioles: 46-42 - 361 RS, 400 RA - (39)
Indians: 45-43 - 395 RS, 425 RA - (30)
The big factor there: the Giants are 20-13 in one-run games. In fact, the Orioles, Indians and Giants (in that order) have MLB’s best winning percentages in one-run games this season.
There aren’t currently any teams under .500 with a positive run differential, though the Red Sox have fit that description for much of the season. They’re currently 45-44 with 438 runs scored and 395 runs allowed (+43). The Diamondbacks have exactly as many runs scored as runs allowed (377) and they’re 42-46.
The Rangers, at +73, have baseball’s best run differential, with the Yankees second at +68. Those are also the two teams with the best records in baseball. The Twins have the worst run differential at -96. The Astros, with baseball’s worst record, are second at -77.