Forgotten Edgar Renteria, Aaron Rowand Deliver in Giants' Game 3 Win

SAN FRANCISCO -- Once upon a time, Edgar Renteria was a slick-fielding shortstop with a big arm and a dangerous bat, a guy who sat at the top of the order and flicked base hits all over the field.

Aaron Rowand was a Gold Glove center fielder who could pop balls out of the ballpark.

Seems like a long time ago.

Now, Renteria and Rowand are highly-paid bench players, the inverse of the feel-good story of guys like Andres Torres who come out of nowhere to take the jobs of everyday players. So it is an eye-opening afternoon when both of them sneak into the Giants starting lineup, and even more so when both of them contribute.

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This was one of those days, as the veterans provided the hits that sparked the Giants to a 3-0 victory over the Phillies in Game 3 of the NLCS on Tuesday afternoon at AT&T Park.

The Giants got their expected outstanding pitching from Matt Cain, who worked seven innings, and relievers Javier Lopez and Brian Wilson. They also got a big hit from Cody Ross, which is hardly even noteworthy anymore. (Expect the statue of Ross to go up this winter.)

The pleasant surprise for Giants fans was that Renteria and Rowand had two of the biggest hits of the afternoon. In the clubhouse, where both players have earned admirers for the way they have worked hard and handled their shrinking roles with poise, the Giants were thrilled that Renteria and Rowand could take turns driving this bus.

"Both of them have been great all year," Aubrey Huff said. "They are great clubhouse guys. It's great to see them both contributing."

Added Freddy Sanchez: "Both those guys are true professionals. They've been around the game a long time. They've been in this position before and they've both come through. The thing about them is obviously they haven't played a lot, but those guys prepare as if they are playing every day, and I think that's what helps them."

Renteria, 34, who lost his job because of a series of injuries that led to a second consecutive season of subpar production, only got into the lineup this time because Torres, the usual leadoff man, was stuck in a 3-for-25 rut. Manager Bruce Bochy could have put Sanchez or Ross at the top of the lineup, but he picked Renteria, who played shortstop with Juan Uribe moving to third. (The Giants are on their third third baseman of the postseason, with Pablo Sandoval and Mike Fontenot both scuffling.)

"Both of them have been great all year. They are great clubhouse guys. It's great to see them both contributing."
-- Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff on Renteria and Rowand Bochy saw just enough of a hint of the old Renteria to give the guy a shot.

As for the 33-year-old Rowand, who lost his job because he simply wasn't hitting or fielding as well as he used to, there really wasn't much choice about putting him back in the lineup when Torres slumped. Rowand is one of only two other outfielders on the roster, and left-handed swinging Nate Schierholtz wasn't an option against Phillies lefty Cole Hamels.

Both moves came up smelling like roses for the Giants manager. Renteria singled into right for the Giants first hit of the game, sparking a two-run fourth inning. Rowand led off the fifth with a double, and he scored on Sanchez's bad-hop single.

"You feel good for them," Bochy said. "They're pros, and they've done a great job of setting aside their ego."

Rowand, who is making $12 million, and Renteria, who is making $9 million, have not complained publicly or privately (by all accounts) about their diminished roles.

"It's hard, but it's not time to think about that," Renteria said. "It's time to think about how we can win ballgames. What can I do to be in baseball for the big guys?"

The big guys?

"Everybody is a big guy. I'm a small one."

Not to Rowand.

"I'm a little biased because I love Edgar," he said. "You are not going to find a better professional, a better guy than Edgar Renteria. ... I consider it a real privilege to have played with him."

That goes back a long time. Not only is Renteria admired because of the way he's conducted himself at the end of his career -- he is strongly considering retiring -- but because of one swing he took at the beginning of his career.

Go back 13 years, to the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. Cue the highlight video in your mind, the one of a young, vibrant Florida Marlin stroking a single then then flipping off his helmet and raising his arms as he bounded to first base, the ultimate walk-off.

A swing like that labels a guy forever. Only nine players in baseball history know the feeling of a hit to win a World Series. Even though this Renteria is not the same as that one, not by a longshot, the Giants still appreciate that he is, in a way, baseball royalty.

"We're all probably in awe about it," Rowand said. "He's one of the best teammates, a great guy, a great player. He's a guy you want up there in the clutch, because he's done it before, been there before, come out on top before."