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Pablo Sandoval is helping a relatively light-hitting Giants offense by batting .333.

By Eric Young, ESPN

Since we're almost at the All-Star break, it's not a bad time to talk about the team that has been the biggest surprise of the first half of the MLB season.

This team was looked at as just another NL West also-ran that would get knocked around by the Los Angeles Dodgers. But now, even with a 7-1 loss against the Astros on Sunday, they are in first place in the wild-card race and are close enough in the NL West race (seven games back) for the Dodgers to have to keep the pedal to the metal.

The key to the Giants' surprising start began last season, when they signed legendary starting pitcher Randy Johnson and shored up their middle relief by signing Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry. Most thought those signings wouldn't be enough because of the lack of offense. At the start of the season, it looked as though those critics were correct, as the Giants finished April with a 10-10 record, and of those 10 games they scored four or more runs in only nine games.

But four members of their starting rotation (Tim Lincecum, Johnson, Barry Zito and Matt Cain) have pitched very well this season. After a slow start, Lincecum has more than regained last season's Cy Young form with 23 consecutive scoreless innings, an ERA of 2.23 and 141 strikeouts in 121 innings to accompany his 9-2 record. Cain has been phenomenal with a 9-2 record and a 2.48 ERA. What's really tremendous about how these two have pitched is that Cain is 24 and Lincecum just turned 25. For these two guys to light up the National League like this at such an early age is simply astounding. In addition to those two, Johnson (8-5, 4.70 ERA, 78 strikeouts) has pitched well after some early troubles. Sure, Zito (4-8, 4.82 ERA and 73 strikeouts) hasn't been the superstar the Giants expected, but he has been good enough in his role near the back of the rotation.

Also, the bullpen has been effective as closer Brian Wilson has converted 21 of 25 chances with 39 strikeouts in 31 innings. Howry and Affeldt also have pitched well: Affeldt has 16 holds and a 1.44 ERA, while Howry has seven holds with a 3.72 ERA.

Offensively, this team hasn't been great, but they've been good enough to get the job done. They're led by the young Pablo Sandoval, who is fourth in the NL with a .333 average and 12 homers. Aaron Rowand has started to play to the level the Giants expected when they signed him as a free agent last season. This year he's jumped out to a good start, with a .299 average, nine home runs and 37 RBIs.

This team has the ability to earn that NL wild card, and with those four pitchers on the mound, the Giants could prove quite troublesome if they make the playoffs.

Past Baseball Tonight Clubhouses: July 2 | July 1 | June 30 | June 29 | June 28

WEB GEMS SCOREBOARD

This season, "Baseball Tonight" will be tracking Web Gems. We'll publish a leaderboard on the Baseball Tonight Clubhouse page each Monday. In addition to listing the leaders in appearances (both players and teams) on "Baseball Tonight," we'll offer up the leaders in Web Gem points.

Web Gem points will be calculated by awarding five points for the night's top defensive play, four points for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth. Scoring will be based on the Web Gems from the last "Baseball Tonight" show to air on a given night.

Web Gem points leaderboard
Brandon Inge	24
Carlos Gomez	22
Ryan Zimmerman	20
Robert Andino	20
Ryan Sweeney	19
Jack Wilson	19
Michael Bourn	18

Web Gem appearances leaderboard (players)
David Wright	New York Mets	Third base	8
Brandon Inge	Detroit	Third base	8
Ryan Zimmerman	Washington	Third base	7
Carlos Gomez	Minnesota	Center field	6
Eight tied			5

Web Gem appearances leaderboard (teams)
Washington	22
Philadelphia	22
New York Mets	19
Pittsburgh	19
Cincinnati	19

TOUCH 'EM ALL

Who went deep? Keep track of all the home runs hit each day on "Baseball Tonight" and on the Baseball Tonight Clubhouse page.

For more, check out the Home Run Tracker page.

Home Run Tracker
NAME	HR	OPP	PITCHER	SITUATION
C. Rasmus, StL	10	Cin	Arroyo	Top 1: 1-2, 0 Outs. 1 on.
D. Pedroia, Bos	3	Sea	Morrow	Bot 1: 1-0, 1 Outs. None on.
J. Rollins, Phi	7	NYM	Santana	Bot 1: 1-0, 0 Outs. None on.
D. Ortiz, Bos	9	Sea	Morrow	Bot 1: 1-1, 2 Outs. None on.
A. Lind, Tor	18	NYY	Chamberlain	Top 3: 0-1, 2 Outs. 1 on.

The complete list of Sunday's homers

ON DECK: MONDAY'S MATCHUPS

Blue Jays at Yankees, 1:05 p.m. ET

Ricky Romero had a strong June, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.36 ERA. After an 0-2 May with a 9.64 ERA, a move back to some middle ground would be expected for the rookie in July, right? Except Romero opened the month by tossing eight shutout innings in a win against the Rays. Now he tries his hand at hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium.

Braves at Cubs, 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

Randy Wells and Jair Jurrjens, the two pitchers set to go in the series opener, both enter with ERAs lower than 3.00. Wells (2.43) has won his past three starts; Jurrjens (2.73) ended a string of four losing decisions with a win his last time out.

Marlins at Giants, 10:15 p.m. ET

Matt Cain usually doesn't leave the mound early. The Giants' starter, second in the NL with nine wins, leads the league with three complete games and has gone at least seven innings in each of his past four starts.

For the rest of Monday's schedule, click here.