Major League Baseball

Cain comes up huge for Giants

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:15 a.m. ET

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SAN FRANCISCO - From his shortstop position, Edgar Renteria had a terrific vantage point of Matt Cain's pitches.

And after the burly righthander quickly put away the Phillies first three hitters, Renteria had a strong feeling Tuesday was going to be the Giants' day.

"He was unbelievable," Renteria said after Cain rendered the Phillies hitters useless with seven shutout innings, holding them to two singles in the Giants' 3-0 win in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series at AT&T Park. "When I saw him in the first inning I knew it would be a good game for us. Cain was locating his pitches perfectly."

The hype machine for this series centered on the three top-of-the-rotation starters for both clubs. So far, the Giants Big Three have proven to be better.

Tim Lincecum outpitched Roy Halladay in Game 1. Roy Oswalt got the Phillies even by getting the better of Jonathan Sanchez. Cain had to be very good against Cole Hamels, and he was.

"We've got a Big Three, too," said first baseman Aubrey Huff, who singled home a run in the fourth inning. "These guys have been attacking all year long. If we get a lead early, I think our record speaks for itself."

No Phillie reached third base, and any trouble Cain got into was of his own doing. There were Phillies on first and second after he drilled Shane Victorino in the ribs with a fastball in the third inning. But he solved the problem by getting Chase Utley on a grounder to short.

In the fourth, Ryan Howard singled, and Cain walked Jayson Werth to put runners on first and second with one out. But he induced a weak fly out from Jimmy Rollins and struck out Raul Ibanez.

"He had command of four pitches and was able to move the ball to both sides of the plate with all four of them," catcher Buster Posey said.

After Cain glanced a fastball off the arm of Carlos Ruiz and walked pinch-hitter Ross Gload with two out in the seventh, manager Bruce Bochy went to the mound for a chat.

"He was just asking how I was feeling, just kind of instilling that he had confidence in me," Cain said. "It was like, make your pitches, and we can get this guy out."

Cain made his pitches and put away Victorino on a grounder to second to end his day. The Giants pitchers limited the Phillies to a .194 average through the first three games. They've held them to 18 hits and struck out 29.

It was by far Cain's best performance against the Phillies. He was 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA before Tuesday. He said the difference this time was simple: He put the Phillies on their heels by getting ahead early in the count.

"I was . . . trying to make them a little more defensive," he said. "That's what we kept trying to do from the start to the end."

Cain had help from a couple of former Phillies - Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell. Benched the first two games, Rowand led off the fifth inning with a double and scored the third run. Burrell drew a critical two-out walk in the fourth, saving an at bat for the torrid Cody Ross, who drove in the game's first run with a single.

"This has got to be the top one, really," Cain said when asked where the victory ranked in his career. "To be able to go out there and throw the ball well and help your team win is a great feeling."

Contact staff writer Ray Parrillo at 215-854-2743 or rparrillo@phillynews.com.

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