Henry Schulman SFGate/San Francisco Chronicle The stats can quantify Ryan Vogelsong's microscopic ERA, which dropped to 1.86. They can show he held a Twins lineup that can score prolifically to three hits, or that the Giants are 8-3 in his starts. Vogelsong's biggest accomplishment in a 5-1 victory Wednesday night, which snapped the Giants' five-game losing streak, requires words to appreciate.
One night after the bullpen threw 8 2/3 innings following Madison Bumgarner's epic first-inning collapse, Vogelsong gave the relievers most of the night off.
"We had the right guy out there," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's really done a great job pounding the strike zone. He had all his pitches working. There was no reason to think he wouldn't give us the innings we needed."
Vogelsong held Minnesota to one run, which scored in his seventh and final inning. That made him the first Giant since Jason Schmidt in 2006 to allow two or fewer runs in each of nine consecutive starts.
If Vogelsong does it again in Chicago next week, he will tie Juan Marichal's San Francisco record.
Vogelsong also is approaching the innings required to qualify for the pitching leaderboards. If he had them now, his ERA would match Josh Beckett's for lowest in the majors.
If only Vogelsong could showcase his talents to the manager who will make the final picks for the National League All-Star team (wink, wink).
"He's going to get real strong consideration," Bochy said. "He deserves that. We've still got a couple of weeks to go, but that's how well he's thrown, to have his name mentioned. I will say one thing: He's done everything he needs to do to go there."
Vogelsong is trying to dodge the issue, but when asked what it would mean to be an All-Star, he answered honestly.
"That would be amazing," he said, "especially with the path I've been on. An All-Star team at the major-league level has never been close to a chance for me. I don't think I've ever made an All-Star game in pro ball."
In reaching 40 wins, the Giants got a huge lift with Eli Whiteside's three RBIs. With a two-run triple and a scoring single, Whiteside single-handedly drove in enough runs to end the offense's streak of five games of scoring two or fewer runs.
Aubrey Huff added an RBI single in the seventh, and Pat Burrell's pinch double in the ninth led to a run. Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo struck out Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer, respectively, in the eighth. Brian Wilson finished the contest and Minnesota's eight-game win streak.
Romo hyperextended his left knee on his final pitch, but he is used to that.
"That's like No. 8 or something," he said before declaring he could pitch today.
Whiteside has taken a lot of grief for his hitting and defense since he became the primary catcher following Buster Posey's injury. Both seem to be better now, especially the hitting.
His second-inning triple against Nick Blackburn was his second extra-base hit of the series (he homered Tuesday night).
Whiteside claims not to read the papers, listen to talk radio or surf for baseball news on the Internet. He insisted he has not heard the clamor for the Giants to get a catcher who can hit.
"I come out here and the fans keep telling me I'm doing a great job," he said. "I don't worry about it. I just go out and do all I can do."
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