Maybe the Giants have a decent chance now.
Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension, which began Thursday, could benefit other teams in the NL West. The Dodgers owned the best record in the majors at the time of the suspension and were 6 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Giants. Ramirez won't be back until July 3. Can the Giants, with their deficient offense, make a run against the Manny-less Dodgers?
Barry Zito's Twitter response: "Manny's gone for 50 games, time for the Giants to capitalize."
The first day of Ramirez's suspension, the Giants beat the Rockies 8-3, and suddenly Bengie Molina might be the most feared hitter in the NL West. Molina, the cleanup hitter, homered twice.
The Giants play their next three games in L.A., and it'll be much more comforting pitching to a lineup with Juan Pierre in left field instead of Ramirez.
GIANTS 8, ROCKIES 3: Matt Cain went six innings, giving up one hit, and Bengie Molina homered twice. Brad Hawpe homered off Jeremy Affeldt in the seventh to break up the shutout. Ian Stewart added a two-run homer in the ninth. The Giants remain undefeated (12-0) in games in which they have scored first.
