The Giants lost big yesterday, but it fit just fine into our hopes for walking between the rain drops in the NL West because the Bums and Padres both lost, too, which keeps us in first place.

Amazingly, predicted by almost no one, and pointed out by Friend of GBC, Marc: the Giants ended the month of April in first and now have ended the month of May in first, as well. If June Swoon is due, the way to come into it is in first, and wrestling to stay there. Check.

Game one against the Angels was Johnny Cueto’s real return from the IR. The shimmying, fast-moving Cueto allowed five hits, just one run, struck out five and walked no one. He was good under pressure and looked like his old self cruising to victory. Cueto is now (4-1).

The Giants backed him with homers and big hits. Longoria, LeMonte Wade, Jr., and Mauricio Dubon all went yard. The Giants are raining long balls. According to STATS, it’s the first time they have hit 78 home runs and had six straight games with multiple homers since July 24-29, 2001 – peak Bonds.

Giants 6, Angels 1

Game two by contrast was a Rendon coming out party and the first blowout of Alex Wood in what has been a troubling slide in an otherwise brilliant start to the season. Wood gave up seven runs on four hits with four walks in just 3 2/3 innings and lost his third straight start to move to (5-3).

Donovan Solano had an RBI single, but that was it for the offense which had been blasting so many homers in recent days. Anthony Rendon drove in five runs and Max Stassi returned from a concussion and hit an RBI double for the Angels.

Giants 1, Angels 8

The Giants now welcome one of our oldest rivals, the Chicago Cubs, to town for four games. One of my all time favorite games at the new park was the Turn-Back-the-Century Game in 2012 against the Cubbies, when we both wore jerseys from 1912 and had announcements made by megaphone. Epic throwback day.

The Cubs just did damage to the red hot San Diego Padres, winning the first two games of a three-game set at Wrigley, and helping us stay in first place. The third game is today, an off-day for the G-men, and if the Pads avoid the sweep, they’ll be tied with the Giants for first. So Go Cubs! (for just one game).

I will post an off-day post with some summary and conjecture and commentary tomorrow.

Let’s Rest Giants!

Chill Out, Giants!

Relajate!

NL West Standings

Giants (34 – 21)

Padres (34 – 22)

Bums (32 – 23)