2009 San Francisco Giants season
The 2009 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 127th year in Major League Baseball, their 52nd year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and their 10th at AT&T Park. After four consecutive losing seasons, the team finished in third place in the National League West with an 88–74 record, 7 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following Peter Magowan's retirement, Bill Neukom served as general managing partner of the Giants. After a season with the fewest home runs of any team since the 1993 Florida Marlins, general manager Brian Sabean said the Giants would attempt to bring in a power hitter as well as strengthening a bullpen that held a 4.45 ERA in 2008, fourteenth in the National League. After leading the National League Wild Card race for most of the season, the Giants were ultimately passed by the Colorado Rockies. The team finished third in the NL West and second in the Wild Card. Though they missed the playoffs, the Giants surpassed most expectations for their season; for example, Sports Illustrated projected that the Giants would finish with a record of 77–85. Sports Illustrateds Lee Jenkins noted San Francisco's promising farm system (including products Pablo Sandoval and Madison Bumgarner) and the perceived weakness of the NL West as reasons to be optimistic about the Giants' potential. Additionally, the Giants' starting rotation boasted three Cy Young Award winners: Randy Johnson, Tim Lincecum, and Barry Zito. After the season ended, Lincecum won his second straight Cy Young. The Giants would build on their surprising 2009 season the following year, winning the World Series. It would be their first in San Francisco. Regular season Notable events June 4 — Randy Johnson joins the 300 win club with a 5–1 victory over the Washington Nationals July 10 — Jonathan Sánchez throws a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres, the first by a Giant since September 29, 1976 July 14 — Starting pitchers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are voted to the 2009 All-Star Game, with Lincecum being named the NL starting pitcher July 19 – Team majority owner Sue Burns dies of lung cancer July 27 — Giants trade pitching prospect Scott Barnes to the Cleveland Indians for first baseman Ryan Garko July 29 — Giants trade pitching prospect Tim Alderson to the Pittsburgh Pirates for second baseman Freddy Sanchez September 23 — Giants defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5–2, guaranteeing their first winning season since the 2004 campaign November 19 — Tim Lincecum wins his second consecutive Cy Young Award Season standings Record vs. opponents Game log |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || April 7 || Brewers || 10–6 || Martinez (1–0) || Suppan (0–1) || || 42,767 || 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 2 || April 8 || Brewers || 4–2 || Gallardo (1–0) || Johnson (0–1) || Villanueva (1) || 40,764 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 9 || Brewers || 7–1 || Cain (1–0) || Parra (0–1) || ||