Pirate Galaxy » 10 club legends, David Peachey suffered the torment

SAN FRANCISCO -- Jeff Samardzija is going to prepare as if he might pitch a potential wild-card playoff game Monday and stay ready in case he might be needed sooner if San Franciscos season is on the line.The Giants wasted Samardzijas latest stellar start with a chance to grab momentum after a big offensive outburst a night earlier, yet instead the playoff-hopeful Giants ended up with a costly dud in a 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.As long as they know Im ready, thats all that counts, Samardzija said. ... This is the time of year, man, this feels great to be out there pitching when the weather turns a little bit and the season comes to an end. I always love being able to see the finish line and it always allows me to go a little harder. I enjoy staring down the tube when its about to be done and just let it all hang out. Hopefully we get a chance to do that here a handful more times.The bats had better be ready the rest of the way, too.Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood (12-9) struck out nine in eight innings and outdueled Samardzija (12-11), shutting down San Francisco a day after the Giants pounded 19 hits in a 12-3 win.San Francisco dropped 1 1/2 games behind the Mets for the top wild card and remained a game up on St. Louis for the second spot after the Cardinals lost to Cincinnati.In a game that began with a hovering mist above the field on a cool Bay Area night -- with first-pitch temperature 55 degrees -- Samardzija struck out a season-high 11 in six-plus innings of his final regular season start. He allowed seven hits and two runs, walking one.Pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson doubled leading off the ninth against Rockies closer Boone Logan, who then allowed Brandon Belts two-out infield single. Adam Ottavino retired Buster Posey on a groundout to third to end it for his sixth save.The Giants lone runner to reach second before the ninth was Angel Pagan on a wild pitch in the second. What a contrast from San Franciscos free-swinging performance Tuesday, when it produced 10 extra-base hits with three home runs, four triples and three doubles.Two different teams, manager Bruce Bochy said of his club from one night to the next. Chatwoods been tough on us. He was good tonight. We just couldnt figure him out. We had a runner on second base one time through eight innings. Thats going to work. We pitched well, we played well, this offense couldnt get it going, couldnt figure him out.Twice baserunners were caught stealing and the Giants grounded into two double plays. They know they have serious work to do in order to keep alive a streak of World Series championships in even years this decade: 2010, 12 and 14.Samardzija has struck out nine or more in each of his past three starts against the Rockies. With runners on first and third and one out in the sixth, Samardzija induced an inning-ending double play by Nolan Arenado.Chatwood dazzled -- and that has been the norm for him away from Coors Field. He allowed three hits and walked two as the Rockies snapped an eight-game road losing streak.He is 8-1 with a majors-best 1.69 ERA in 13 road starts, and he is 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA in six career outings at AT&T Park. Chatwoods road ERA is the lowest in franchise history for pitchers with at least 80 innings.After allowing Conor Gillaspies leadoff single in the third, Chatwood retired the next 11 batters in order before Belt drew a leadoff walk in the seventh.He can put the ball on the ground with the best of them. He got two huge double plays. To shut that team down for eight innings, that was impressive, manager Walt Weiss said.Arenado and Gerardo Parra hit RBI singles for the Rockies.In Thursday nights series finale, San Francisco will try to win just its second home series since the All-Star break and fourth series overall in 22 over the second half.San Francisco was shut out for the 13th time, nine coming after the All-Star break.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: NL batting leader DJ LeMahieu, hitting .349, had the night off as Weiss went with Daniel Descalso. Weiss will pick his moments when to use LeMahieu over the final week.Giants: While INF Eduardo Nunez still hopes to return from a hamstring injury this weekend for the season-ending series against the NL West champion Dodgers, Bochy considers it questionable. Nunez has a mild right hamstring pull. ... RHP Johnny Cuetos strained left groin felt fine a day after his bullpen session and he is set to start Thursdays series finale.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Jon Gray (10-9, 4.45 ERA) has struck out 26 batters his past two starts, most in a two-game span in club history.Giants: Cueto (17-5, 2.79) is 2-0 with a 0.77 ERA in three starts against the Rockies this season.Bob Lilly Womens Jersey . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Bill Bates Youth Jersey . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. https://www.cowboyssportsgoods.com/Womens-Bob-Lilly-Inverted-Jersey/ . 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Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff.Its the most damning record in rugby league finals history and now Cronulla must smash a 43-year hoodoo to qualify for their first premiership decider since 1978.No club since preliminary finals were introduced in 1954 have lost six in a row in unified competitions, except the ill-starred Sharks.Falling a game short of a season decider for a seventh consecutive time since they lost the 1978 grand final replay against Manly doesnt bear thinking about for long-suffering Sharks fans.Super League aside, the Sharks last preliminary final win in a united competition was a 20-11 victory over Newtown in 1973 before they lost 10-7 - also to Manly - in the clubs first-ever grand final.Just as disconcertingly going into Friday nights showdown with defending premiers North Queensland, the Sharks managed to score just 30 points in that unprecedented run of six straight grand final qualifier losses - and never more than 10 points in one match.In another unwanted record, Cronulla are contesting their 16th finals series since last making the title match.South Sydneys 10 unsuccessful finals campaigns between their 1971 premiership triumph and return to the 2014 grand final is not a patch on Cronullas run of outs in playoffs.But perhaps the Rabbitohs 43-year wait between drinks is an omen for the Sharks to break their own 43-year grand final drought.Legendary coach Jack Gibson famously said that waiting for Cronulla to win a premiership was akin to leaving the porch light on for missing Australian Prime Minister Haroold Holt.ddddddddddddIn a spooky omen for the Sharks faithful grasping for hope, Holt was born in 1908 - the birth year of premiership rugby league in Australia - and is recorded as dying in 1967, the year Cronulla entered the competition.Cronullas preliminary finals curse has haunted some of the Sharks greatest players, with club Immortals Andrew Ettingshausen and Gavin Miller, Test stars Mark McGaw, Mat Rogers and current skipper Paul Gallen never having experienced the thrill of grand final week.Officially acknowledged as one of Cronullas 10 club legends, David Peachey suffered the torment of four preliminary finals defeats, including three in four seasons.Gallen is the lone survivor of the Sharks most recent preliminary final loss to Melbourne in 2008.But there is hope.Shane Flanagans class of 2016 at least features five players - Ben Barba, James Maloney, Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington and Michael Ennis - who have won preliminary finals and, whisper it softly, even grand finals with other clubs.Dont turn that porch light off just yet.CRONULLA CURSE: SHARKS PRELIMINARY FINAL WOES2008: lost 28-0 to Melbourne2002: lost 16-10 to Warriors2001: lost 18-10 to Newcastle1999: lost 24-8 to St George Illawarra1996: lost 24-0 to Manly1988: lost 9-2 to Balmain1973: BEAT Newtown 20-11*In 1978, the Sharks qualified straight for the grand final and didnt contest a preliminary final. 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