by Jeremy Kahn

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants had the laugher on Friday night in their 15-2 thrashing over the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park. The Giants got it out of their system with the thrashing but the Giants almost went the other way on Saturday as Ryan Howard and the Philadelphia Phillies took a 4-1 lead on the Giants in the top of the sixth but the Giants roared back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and took a one run lead in the sixth for the comeback eventually to win a 8-5. For Sunday the Giants will start Chris Heston (8-5 3.51) for the Giants and for the Phils Chad Billingsley 1-2 ERA 6.67.

Hunter Pence who hit a grand salami on Friday night is making a nice return since coming back from his injury Tuesday he’s hit for 20 RBIs in just 21 games a great number considering the Giants have played 88 games thus far. Pence feels like he’s in midseason form and his RBI production shows he hasn’t missed a step. The Giants look like they’ve been given a shot in the arm with Pence’s return. While Pence has missed the first 21 games of the season he’s looking to get into that mid season form and with his presence in line up.

Ryan Vogelsong made his first appearance on the mound since getting ejected in Washington for arguing balls and strikes. Vogey also faces the Phillies and he’s from the Philadelphia area and wanted to perform well in front of the Phillies fans who are watching back in Philadelphia. He lives less than five miles from Philadelphia. For Saturday night Vogelsong went 5.2 innings, five hits and four runs, five strike outs and two home runs.

Giant All Star selections: Buster Posey (third All-Star game selection) you saw what he did in post season last year offensively and he was in the national stage starring in the World Series. He had a great game seven against Kansas City in the series last year and catching pitcher Madison Bumgarner (third selection) pitching five innings of relief to win the series.

Bumgarner is going to the mid summer classic, he had that MVP season and got the Sports Illustrated player of the year award and has had himself a season never mind the pitching job he’s been effective with the bat with four home runs. Bumgarner goes to the All-Star game 9-5 ERA 3.33.

Brandon Crawford what a first half .255, 12 home runs, 50 RBIs and 39 runs scored and says he’s looking forward to the All-Star game his first appearance and part of that great double play combination at short stop with his key stone partner Joe Panik (first selection) whose gloving it out there with solid defense and swinging a hefty batting clip of .313, 7 homers, 33 RBIs, 46 runs scored.

Jeremy Kahn is a beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com listen to the podcast below