Buster Posey powers San Francisco Giants' 1-0 victory

Andrew Baggarly
Mercury News

This is how a Rookie of the Year award is won. But Buster Posey is aiming for so much more than that.

Posey delivered a complete performance in the eye of a playoff storm Tuesday night, catching four pitchers in a combined shutout, throwing out a runner at second base, and yes, dropping his home run over the ivy-covered wall in dead center that earned the Giants a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The 23-year-old could become the Giants' first position player to win top rookie honors since Willie McCovey in 1959. But Posey would prefer another place in history.

No team with a rookie catcher has won a World Series since Joe Garagiola and the 1946 St. Louis Cardinals.

The best part: Posey doesn't just consider this a one-shot deal.

"You hear people say, 'You don't know how many opportunities you'll have to get into the playoffs.' I don't know if that's true," Posey said. "God willing, if we're healthy, I think we have the guys to be there for a lot of years to come."

Matt Cain is among them. He teamed with Posey to spot his fastball while holding the Cubs to two singles, one a check-swing roller, in six innings. But with Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano's lively fastball proving just as tough, Giants manager Bruce Bochy lifted Cain for a pinch hitter in the seventh.

"The bullpen makes that decision so much easier," said Bochy, who has watched his relievers post an impossibly small 0.59 ERA in 18 games this month.

Posey gave them the lead in the eighth. He anticipated a fastball from Andrew Cashner and a light breeze pushed it past the basket as center fielder Marlon Byrd watched it carry over his head.

Ramon Ramirez, Sergio Romo and Brian Wilson retired all nine hitters they faced, and the Giants improved their position in two playoff races. They remained a half-game ahead of the San Diego Padres and widened the gap to 2 ½ games over the Colorado Rockies in the NL West. The Giants also are just a half-game behind the wild-card leading Atlanta Braves.

Braves right fielder Jason Heyward might have an advantage with some voters because Posey didn't debut until May 29. But Posey's candidacy is gaining ground.

"I can easily make the argument," said Wilson, after nailing down his 44th save. "Catchers have more responsibility than anybody on the field. We're asking a 23-year-old rookie to take that leadership role -- and it truly is a leadership role. On the teams I've been on, most guys who speak out are catchers.

"It doesn't matter that he hasn't been here the whole season. The fact he can go out there, keep the game tempo, hit the way he has, know everybody on the staff "... To me it's a no-brainer.

"Really, you're not doing much in the outfield or the infield. The game is from the mound to home plate. That's where the game is."

Posey owned his space Tuesday. He threw out rookie Starlin Castro trying to steal second base in the first inning. And when Cain had trouble getting over his off-speed pitches for strikes, the battery improvised by adding and subtracting off the fastball.

"To catch a shutout is probably as satisfying as anything," Posey said. "Cain was really, really, really good."

If riding a rookie catcher is rare in a pennant race, what about a rookie catcher who's also asked to bat cleanup?

Posey flied out with the bases loaded in the fifth. But his all-field approach served him well when he got in a fastball count against Cashner.

It was his 15th home run, the most by a Giants rookie since Chris Brown hit 16 in 1985. His 62 RBIs are the most since Chili Davis (76) in 1982. And Posey has seven game-winning RBIs.

Although Posey won't get enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, he's hitting .324 and his .522 slugging percentage would tie him for ninth in the NL.

"He's the guy you want up there with the game on the line," Bochy said. "But he's also such a good thrower and has done a great job handling this staff. I'm just so impressed with the growth of this kid. "... He doesn't panic."

Posey's patience has its limits, though.

"It's almost like you want to skip ahead to the last two or three games," Posey said. "You feel like it's going to come down to the end, whether it's us and San Diego or us and Colorado or whoever."

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