The Giants resembled a minor league team Friday night -- both logistically and competitively.
They lugged their own equipment from San Francisco to the Oakland Coliseum, getting to the park much later than normal, and looked a little lost in a 4-1 loss to the A's. It was nothing new. The A's have beaten the Giants seven straight games.
Because they played a night game Thursday in Cleveland that included a 1-hour, 42-minute rain delay, the Giants' flight touched down in the Bay Area after 3 a.m. Friday.
So manager Bruce Bochy told his guys to sleep in, suit up at the Giants' park and then catch the team bus at 5:15 p.m. A few players took batting practice before the bus ride, which arrived in less than a half hour, thanks to a police escort.
For the most part, they got off the bus, did some stretching and throwing and then played.
Yes, they seemed tired. But over six months, sometimes the travel isn't to blame as much as what's looking back in the mirror.
A'S 4, GIANTS 1: The Giants managed five hits in Dana Eveland's 7 1/3 innings, and they went hitless off two relievers the rest of the way. Randy Winn drove in the Giants' only run with a third-inning single. The A's have beaten the Giants seven in a row and 10 of 11. The Giants are 4-12 in interleague play this year.
