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Bochy was OK, but he wasn't the only Giant feeling a little woozy after they concluded a frustrating six-game trip with a 5-4 rain-soaked loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
After three mostly encouraging games (but two one-run losses) at Philadelphia over the weekend, the Giants had little go right while being swept by the previously scuffling Pirates. The Giants led for a total of three innings -- all on Thursday -- and blew a two-run seventh-inning lead in Thursday's finale.
The Giants have lost eight of 11 and find themselves seven games under .500 for the first time this season.
"It was a tough road trip," said right-hander Matt Cain, who took a 4-2 lead into the seventh but got only one out in the inning and was pinned with his third loss in four decisions. "We lost a couple of one-run games. In different situations, we didn't get stuff right. I don't think it's going to do anything but help us down the road."
But it's not the kind of momentum the Giants were hoping for heading into their longest homestand of the season, which begins today against the Phillies.
"We can look back and shoulda, coulda, woulda, but the bottom line is we went 1-5," Bochy said. "That's not a good trip. We know it."
The loss was particularly maddening because if not
The Giants rallied from a 2-0 deficit with a four-run, fourth-inning rally fueled by rookies Emmanuel Burriss and Steve Holm, who collected the first RBI of their careers in the span four pitches, and an RBI single by Cain.
Provided with a rare lead, Cain breezed into the seventh when pinch hitter Nyjer Morgan led off with a bunt single down the third-base line.
Television replays showed that third baseman Jose Castillo's throw to first baseman Rich Aurilia arrived an instant before Morgan's foot hit the bag, but the speedy Pirate was ruled safe.
"It looked like he was out to us," Cain said.
Things quickly unraveled. Freddy Sanchez hit a ground-rule double into the left-field stands, then Nate McLouth hit a sacrifice fly to center to cut the Giants' lead to 4-3. Jason Bay's double tied the score at 4-4 and knocked out Cain.
The call was particularly frustrating to the Giants because they thought they were snubbed on another close play at first base Sunday at Philadelphia. That call, also on the first batter of an inning, ignited a two-run rally in a 6-5 loss.
"Those are huge calls," Bochy said. "Instead of getting the first out there, they have a rally going."
Reliever Jack Taschner took over and got a quick ground out but was unable to end the threat. After an intentional walk to Xavier Nady, Taschner fell behind 3-1 to Adam LaRoche (after throwing a first-pitch strike), then allowed a go-ahead single to right. It was the first time this season Taschner allowed an inherited runner to score.
"Just bad pitching, horrible," said Taschner, who had stranded a majors-best 18 inherited runners in a row to that point. "I had a chance to leave us in a tie. It was brutal."
The Giants got a scare in the third inning when Cain fouled a liner into the dugout. Bochy, who was leaning on the top rail, about 50 feet from home plate, dodged the ball but slipped on the wet steps.
"I just went down. It happened so fast," said Bochy, who was recovered enough three innings later to briefly argue with first-base umpire Ron Kulpa after Morgan's disputed bunt single.
Several coaches and players picked up Bochy and his cap, and trainer Dave Groeschner monitored Bochy for several innings.
"I saw him go down," right fielder Randy Winn said. "Any time you see somebody hit their head, it can be serious. My first thought was it hit him. I wasn't sure what to make of it."
Cain, making his first start since leaving in the eighth inning Saturday because of a sore hamstring, allowed five runs and nine hits in 6-1/3 innings.
Contact Laurence Miedema at lsmiedema@mercurynews.com.
PIRATES 5, GIANTS 4
