"Uncharacteristically, Matt Cain dug a seven-run hole for his teammates in the first three innings Thursday. The hapless Houston Astros spent the rest of the afternoon lowering ropes and inviting the Giants to escape.

But the Giants mostly stayed grounded in a 7-5 loss at Minute Maid Park while completing a disappointing trip. They certainly let an opportunity slip in Houston, losing the last two games even though the Astros committed three errors in each contest.

The Giants bounced into four rally-stifling double plays, giving them a whopping 78 this season. They're on pace for 177, which would break the major league record of 174 set by the 1990 Boston Red Sox.

That is not the distinction the 2010 Giants hope to carve into history. But to reach greater goals, they will simply have to play much better — especially against the major leagues' tougher teams.

The softest portions of their schedule are over. They won't face the Astros again after dominating the season series, 7-2.

Instead, the powerful Red Sox come to AT&T Park today for a three-game interleague series. Then the Giants have three home rivalry games with the Los Angeles Dodgers before making the first of three visits to Coors Field, a house of mile-high mayhem in recent years, for a four-game set against the Colorado Rockies.

In other words, it's time for the Giants to raise their game."