Giants waste solid Vogelsong comeback

AT&T PARK — Never intentionally walk the go-ahead run. Even if the pitching matchup stacks in your favor.

Bruce Bochy did, taking a page from the Buck Showalter school of managing.

He paid for it.

The Orioles scored three times in the 10th, highlighted by a two-run double from Chris Davis to crush the Giants 5-2.

With the score tied 2-2 in the 10th, Manny Machado hit a one out double to shallow left. With two outs, Bochy elected to have Javier Lopez (1-2, 2.25) intentionally walk Adam Jones to face Davis who bats left-handed.

The logic — with a lefty-lefty matchup — ideally would see Davis strike out or fly out.

Sure enough, Davis hit a fly ball to deep right center — over the drawn in outfield — and both runners scored. Matt Wieters added some insurance with an RBI single for a three-run 10th for the Orioles.

Bochy defends his decision to pitch around Jones to face Davis:

Giants manager Bruce Bochy

Video: CSN Bay Area

“You got a matchup that you like, a lefty on lefty there. That’s a good matchup and he got a fly ball. He just hit it where we couldn’t get to it. That’s a tough break but the way Lopez is throwing I had the right guy out there in a matchup that you would want.”

When any starting pitcher gives up two earned runs or fewer over six innings, more often than not they’ll earn a win or a no-decision.

After missing 69 games, a span of nearly three months with a fractured right hand, Ryan Vogelsong pitched a quality start and was on the hook for the loss until the Giants came back to tie it in the ninth off Orioles closer Jim Johnson (3-7, 3.31)

After a leadoff single by Brandon Belt and a walk to Buster Posey, Hunter Pence singled to center bringing in the tying run. With three outs to work with, the Giants failed in order after Pence to score the winning run and another night of failure to get a clutch hit, resulted in another defeat.

The Giants were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position leaving six men on base.

Vogelsong pitched six solid innings, giving up six hits and two runs while walking three and striking out four:

Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong

Video: CSN Bay Area

“It felt good. It’s hard not to do something that you love doing. I missed it and it felt great to get back out there and to pitch again.”

The Orioles got an RBI single by Adam Jones and a solo homer from J.J. Hardy. Chris Tillman pitched eight innings scattering four hits and a run, one walk with nine strikeouts.

The Giants scored their first run in the sixth on a solo blast from Belt — and it was impressive — a towering fly ball just to the left of the yellow line in deep right center.

It’s been a frustrating season for Vogelsong after 13 wins in 2011 and 14 victories in 2012.

In 2013, Vogelsong hasn’t been able to get on track.

After winning his second start, Vogelsong endured a three-game losing streak over six starts. He finally seemed to find his groove when his was hit by a pitch from Washington’s Craig Stammen on a bunt attempt.

The pitch dislocated the joint in his pinky finger and it was broken above and below the finger.

In that outing, Vogelsong got the win, pitching five innings and allowing only three hits while walking one with two strikeouts.

But this game, he pitched well and unfortunately, Tillman was just a little better.

Notes

The Giants are only 12-43 (.218) when getting only one hit with a runner in scoring position. … SF starting pitchers have tossed 12 quality starts in the last 14 games. … Belt is batting .458 (11-for-24) wih three home runs, six RBIs and nine runs scored in the month of August. … Giants’ leadoff batters have combined to go just 9-for-82 (.110) with seven runs scored since the All-Star break. … Machado leads the Majors with 42 doubles. He hit a pair of two-baggers on Friday night. … Hardy hit his 20th home run, his third straight 20 homer campaign. He is the third Orioles shortstop to have three consecutive 20 homer seasons joining Miguel Tejada (2004-06) and Cal Ripken Jr. (1982-91).