Let's start by going over my expectations...
Expect the Giants to:
- Ground out a lot; a few double plays...
- Bunt
- Walk a lot
- Strike out a lot
The Giants hit 15 groundballs...I was right.
The Giants only made one bunt attempt, and it was a failed bunt attempt...I was wrong.
The Braves walked once...I was wrong.
The Braves struck out 12 times...I was right.
Andres Torres was not a key in the game...I was wrong.
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The Giants offense had its typical failed opportunities. In the first, they loaded the bases, only to have Juan Uribe hit a grounder to end their threat. In the second, though, they were able to get on the board -- Mike Fontenot led off with a triple, and Brooks Conrad failed to catch a Cody Ross pop-up.
A one-run lead was enough for Jonathan Sanchez for most of the game. He retired 14 straight hitters until -- in the sixth inning -- Tim Hudson singled off of him for the first Atlanta Braves hit. Sanchez finished his outing with an extremely impressive line: 7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K.
In the eighth, Alex Gonzalez led off with a single, and Conrad followed by failing to lay down a bunt (bunt flyout). Sanchez was then replaced with Sergio Romo, who served up a pinch-hit two-run homer to Eric Hinske. He got the next two out and the Giants came up to bat.
In the ninth, Travis Ishikawa took a pinch-hit one-out walk. Andres Torres promptly struck out swinging for the next out, and the Giants were down to their last out, losing 2-1. Freddy Sanchez battled and was able to single up the middle to continue the threat. The Braves interim closer, Craig Kimbrel, was then replaced with Mike Dunn, a left-handed pitcher, who was brought in to face Aubrey Huff. Huff, too, battled and was able to bloop a single into shallow right field to tie the game at 2-2. Buster Posey then hit a grounder to second base, where none-other-than-Brooks Conrad was there to once again fail to make the play. It was Conrad's third error of the game -- his fourth mental error, if you include the failed bunt -- and it gave the Giants a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Brian Wilson came in, shut the door, and the Giants took a 2-1 series lead.
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This was pure, vintage, Giants torture. Jonathan Sanchez had pitched a gem, and Sergio Romo promptly came in and gave the Braves the lead. Eric Hinske appeared to have pulled a Rick Ankiel, the second game-winning home run of the series for the Braves, but the Giants somehow managed to battle back and win the game. At one point Freddy Sanchez was within one strike of losing the game.
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| The Giants turned the game around completely with their ninth inning rally. |
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Sergio Romo should not pitch again for the remainder of this series -- maybe even the postseason. He's not a bad pitcher. He's actually been a stud as the Giants setup man, striking out opposing hitters at a rate of 10.2 K/9. He just has no confidence right now. After two consecutive horrible appearances (0.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER; 0.2 IP, 1 HR, 1 ER), he just won't be able to bounce back. He doesn't have that mental strength. The Giants simply can't afford to risk putting him in a critical playoff game at this point. I'm all for using Romo...as long as he has the ability to forget about his previous appearances. I just don't think he can get the job done at this point.
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| Right. down. the. middle. |
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Playing Mike Fontenot over Pablo Sandoval was a no-brainer, but it was still a brilliant decision...the Giants probably would have lost had they not done that. Fontenot was solid with his defense, but more importantly, his second-inning triple supplied the one-run lead that the Giants kept for nearly eight innings. Play him again tomorrow...
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How 'bout Aubrey Huff? He's starting to settle down and play good baseball. He had two hits, one of which essentially saved the game (had he gotten out, the Giants would have lost).
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I said before the game, "[Jonathan Sanchez] has recently risen to elite status." He confirmed this with his beautiful start, one of the best in Giants postseason history. He became only the second Giant in postseason history to go 7+ innings, allow two or fewer hits, and record 10+ strikeouts. The other Giant? Tim Lincecum did it three days earlier on October 7, 2010.
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It should be noted that Brian Wilson had an easy ninth inning. If he had come out in this game and blown the save, fans would be extremely worried about him for having back-to-back poor performances. He displayed mental toughness with his ability to come in and pitch like he has for most of the year -- lights-out, despite not faring so well in his previous outing.
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Needless to say, the Giants are in prime position right now. They can send their rookie stud Madison Bumgarner out tomorrow, and if they don't win, they can fly home and play the rubber match in AT&T Park, behind their ace, Tim Lincecum, the guy who struck out the Braves 14 times on Thursday. Yeah, they're in good shape.
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Needless to say, the Giants are in prime position right now. They can send their rookie stud Madison Bumgarner out tomorrow, and if they don't win, they can fly home and play the rubber match in AT&T Park, behind their ace, Tim Lincecum, the guy who struck out the Braves 14 times on Thursday. Yeah, they're in good shape.
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