SAN FRANCISCO — The pressure is on Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong in Game 4 of the National League Division Series.
If San Francisco loses with Vogelsong on the hill Tuesday, it will have blown the entire 2-0 advantage it gained in Washington, with the series heading east for a winner-take-all Game 5.
But truth be told: The pressure more squarely falls on the shoulders of the Giants’ hitters, who have scored only six runs and hit a cumulative .208 in the series.
“We’ll talk about … what we’re going to do,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of possible lineup changes in Game 4 against Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez. “I’ll get with the staff and decide which way we’re going to go with this lineup.”
Pretty much no matter who Bochy has trotted out there, it hasn’t worked at AT&T Park with Vogelsong on the mound. He received the least run support at home of any National League pitcher this season, an average of 2.81 runs per game.
It’s the main reason why he went 3-7 at AT&T Park despite a fine 3.06 ERA.
“It’s an honor to take the ball,” Vogelsong insisted. “I’m going to do the best I can for all the guys in that room and all the fans in the stands.”