Phillies 2, Giants 1

Tim Lincecum didn't deserve to lose this game. He was brilliant tonight, going 7 innings, allowing only 2 runs on 4 hits with 11 strikeouts against a deep Phillies lineup in a small ballpark. Not to take anything away from Pedro Martinez, because he was fantastic too, but it's a lot harder to do what Lincecum accomplished tonight than Pedro shutting down this pathetic Giants lineup. The Giants' pitching was stellar all series, but what would have been a three game sweep with a half-decent lineup turned into losing 2 out of 3. It's unbelievable how poorly this team plays on the road.

What has been one of the most glaring weaknesses of the 2009 Giants? They're inability to have quality situational at bats. On Tuesday against Cole Hamels, the Giants couldn't get Ryan Garko to third base after a leadoff double. Tonight, Eugenio Velez, with the game still tied 1-1, hit a leadoff double off a seemingly-unhittable, but then Edgar Renteria grounded out to shortstop on the first pitch, unable to advance Velez to third. It's always hard to play the "what-if" game, but it certainly would have helped Lincecum to have a lead. They cannot waste such great starting pitching like this, or Lincecum is going to not want to be a Giant anymore. Lincecum's starts are win days, and the Giants cannot squander his starts anymore.

Milwaukee hasn't been a kind place to the Giants as of late, especially to Barry Zito. If the Giants really want to be a playoff team, it's time to wake up on the road.