John bracket: Giants (09) defeat Pirates (09) in four games

Game One: 09 Giants 8, 09 Pirates 3
WP: Lincecum (3-0)
LP: Duke (1-2)
HR: R Cedeno (1), Rowand (2)

Game Two: 09 Giants 3, 09 Pirates 1
WP: Cain (2-0)
LP: Morton (0-2)
Save: B Wilson (3)

Game Three: 09 Giants 9. 09 Pirates 0
WP: Zito (1-1)
LP: Maholm (1-2)
HR: Rowand (3), Sanchez (1)

Game Four: 09 Giants 5, 09 Pirates 3
WP: Medders (2-0)
LP: Ohlendorf (1-1)
Save: B Wilson (4)
HR: Uribe (2), Lewis (1), Doumit (2)

The 2009 Giants never trailed in the four games of this series.

They opened the series with a two-run bottom of the first, collecting a double, two singles and a sac fly. Nate Schierholtz added a three-run double in the third inning, and that was more than Tim Lincecum and a pair of relievers needed. Pedro Sandoval, Jose Uribe and Aaron Rowand scored two runs apiece, and Rowand and Schierholtz each had three RBIs. Lincecum struck out 10 in 7.1 innings.

The Giants score another first inning run in Game Two, with Sandoval hitting a two-out triple and Uribe following with a double. The Pirates tied it in the top of the third, with Andrew McCutchen singling, stealing second, taking third on Andy LaRoche's single and scoring on Garrett Jones' fly ball. But the Giants reclaimed the lead when Freddy Sanchez doubled home Fred Lewis. Matt Cain and three relievers shut out the Pirates the rest of the way.

The series moved to PNC Park for Game Three, and it was a rout. Barry Zito threw a four-hit shutout, facing just four batters over the minimum. For the third straight games, the Giants scored in the first (double by Rowand, single by Sandoval). Paul Maholm allowed three runs in six innings, but the Buccos bullpen allowed six more in the final three innings. Rowand had four hits, including a homer, scored four times and drove in three. Sanchez hit a homer and scored twice, while Sandoval and Uribe each had a pair of RBIs.

The Giants wrapped it up in Game Four. Again they scored in the first inning, with Lewis bopping a leadoff triple and scoring on Sandoval's sac fly. The Pirates tied it in their half of the inning, but Lews homered in the third. The Pirates tied it again in the fifth, but Uribe's three-run homer in the eighth was too much for Pittsburgh to overcome, even through Ryan Doumit homered in the ninth off Brian Wilson. Lewis had three hits -- homer, triple and double -- and scored three times.

Player of the series: Plenty of Giants hitters had big series, but we'll go with Aaron Rowand. He went 8-for-13 with six runs, six RBIs and a pair of homers.

Player availability: No injuries, and plenty of time off before Round Three. The Giants can use their pitchers in any order.
 
Projected rotation: Lincecum-Cain-Zito-Sanchez-(Lincecum)-(Cain)-(Zito)