Matt Cain, San Francisco’s longest-tenured player and de facto leader, pitched a 1-hit shutout today against the Pirates. Cain cruised for the entire game, surrendering just a single to the left side of the infield by the opposing pitcher, James McDonald. It was amazing. The home opener, the pitcher the Giants rewarded a monster contract to, the return of Buster Posey, but most of all: Matt Cain has saved the Giants.

Amid all the turmoil in the Giants’ world right now, amid Lincecum’s bad starts, amid Cain’s bad first start, amid the losses despite the offense, amid Brian Wilson’s tortuous inning yesterday,  #18 came out and pitched an absolute gem today. He cemented himself as the rock in the Giants’ rotation. Lincecum may be the ace, but ace’s are apparently prone to some pretty bad starts. Even Zito’s shutout in Colorado isn’t nearly as reassuring as Cain’s, and that’s mainly because it’s Zito. But Cain’s outing really justified the Giants’ price tag they placed on the man. Without him, the Giants would be listless right now. Sure, the offense is clicking. And sure, Zito and Bumgarner and the bullpen are doing relatively well. But Cain is the glue that holds this team together.