Giants doomed by bad inning vs. A's

Two errors, wild pitch contribute to three-run sixth frame

GIANTS awful in 6-2 Loss

Mychael Urban - MLB.com

Giants at the plate: In the middle game of the annual preseason Bay Bridge series, second baseman Eugenio Velez opened the scoring when he reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the first inning and scored on a double to right field by Randy Winn. Velez added a single and his 16th stolen base of the spring in the third inning.

A's at the plate: Outfielder Emil Brown, who hit his first regular-season homer Wednesday in Japan, hit his first Spring Training homer in the fourth inning to give Oakland a 2-1 lead. The A's added three unearned runs in the sixth, taking advantage of two Giants errors, a wild pitch and an RBI single by third baseman Jack Hannahan. Reserve infielder Donnie Murphy chipped in with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Giants on the mound: Right-handed starter Matt Palmer, who'll start the season at Triple-A Fresno, was solid through his five innings of work, allowing two runs on two hits while walking two and striking out two. Palmer made three starts this spring and appeared in a total of five games, posting a 2.57 ERA (14 innings, four earned runs). Relief prospect Merkin Valdez gave up a run on a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning.

A's on the mound: Righty starter Justin Duchscherer, in his final tuneup of the spring, bounced back from a shaky first inning and held the Giants to two hits over his next five frames of work, retiring the final 10 batters he faced. Duchscherer, who will make his 2008 debut Friday at home against the Indians, struck out two and walked one. Righty Keith Foulke, who pitched a shutout inning in each of Oakland's regular-season games against the Red Sox in Tokyo earlier this week, issued a leadoff walk in the eighth before quickly retiring the next three batters.

Spring Training records: Giants 9-22-2; A's 17-8

Up next for the Giants: Righty Kevin Correia will start the series finale for San Francisco, set for 12:35 p.m. PT at AT&T Park. Correia, the Giants' No. 4 starter, is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA (16 2/3 innings, 12 earned runs) in five Cactus League appearances, including three starts.

Up next for the A's: Rookie lefty Dana Eveland, acquired in the December deal that sent Dan Haren to Arizona and recently named Oakland's No. 5 starter, will get the start Sunday in San Francisco. In addition to posting a 1.20 ERA (15 innings, two earned runs) over five Cactus League starts this spring, Eveland pitched well in an exhibition game against the Hanshin Tigers of the Nippon Baseball League last weekend in Tokyo.

Comment: This is going to be a long season my fellow Giants fans. I hope I am wrong, but this team, unless there is some player movement real soon, I am afraid this team could rival the 1962 Mets. Watching this game on television, was almost embarrassing. This team is devoid of credible offense, the defense is atrocious, and there is a big question concerning the quality of the bullpen. If the Giants had signed Aaron Rowand prior to the Alex Rios, Tim Lincecum trade rumors, I think I would now support that trade to get the added offense. This team should play its prospects and have them gain experience. The Giants should play Velez, Ortmeier, and Lewis and be done with it. They should also trade or release Kline and Yabu keep both Threets and Merkin Valdez.