As the second half of the season opened, the local paper and the sportstalk radio hosts on the Giants’ flagship station trumpeted the necessity for the team to do well at home this weekend against the Dodgers. Because if they didn’t, there would be a fire sale. The trading deadline is coming up at the end of the month, and while the team as a whole sucks, there are several players who might be of use to some teams still in contention — and some of the them aren’t even pitchers.

Judging by the team’s performance tonight, the Giants better start getting those SALE tags ready.

I attended the sold-out game tonight. It was a lovely warm sunny day, but fog was forecasted for the night. Matt Cain started the game and, typically, held the opposing team to three runs while his team was scoring him exactly none. Even by the top of the 9th the score was still 3-1 — the Giants’ sole run coming during a botched rally in the bottom of the 8th when Barry Bonds grounded into a double play with two on and no outs. A run scored, the double play cleared the bases, and Ryan Klesko obligingly made a quick third out.

It was the second time in the game Bonds grounded into a double play. He also walked twice.

In the top of the 9th, with fog swirling in the ballpark, the bullpen imploded. The Dodgers got seven consecutive hits off relievers Vinnie Chulk and Jack Taschner, culminating in a three-run double by Andre Eithier. What had been a 3-1 headache became a rout, with a final score of 9-1. Here’s the game log.

But frankly, the game was unwinnable long before the absurd 9th inning. The Giants had only 5 hits going into the 8th inning. They had failed to advance a runner even as far as third base. And as I said, their only run came on a double play.

It was another game in which Matt Cain pitched decently — if not as brilliantly as some of his fine losses this season — without run support. (See previous entry The pain of Cain.) I wonder how the hitters can look him in the face every day.