San Francisco, CA – It started off great, everything seemed to be in place for the Giants. Matt Cain pitched OK, nothing comparable to Lincecum the night before but he definitely improved from his last start at the end of the regular season.
San Francisco got the runs they were looking for early yet it wasn’t enough to go up 2-0 in the series. The Braves forced the game into extra innings and Rick Ankiel’s tie-breaking home run in the eleventh lifted Atlanta to a 5-4 win over San Francisco.
“It’s hard to describe or put into words,” Ankiel said. “The biggest homer of my career by far, and to be honest with you, I wanted to go from the batter’s box to the dugout.” “I didn’t want to run the bases, I wanted to be with the guys but what a cool way to win.”
The Giants jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings but struggled to produce more runs throughout the game. Their offense shut down leaving four runners in scoring position and delivered none. Pat Burrell’s three-run homer in the first frame gave them a 3-0 lead. By the second Cain hit an RBI single bringing in Cody Ross who doubled right before adding their final run of the night.
“We needed to shut them down but missed our opportunities with less than two outs and runners in scoring position,” said Aubrey Huff. “We’re not a team that’s going to keep hitting three-run homers.” “Obviously, that was a big home run early and it’s like we put it in cruise control.”
The ejection of Bobby Cox and the loss of closer Billy Wagner might have sparked the Braves to rally back from a four run deficit. During the regular season Atlanta led the National League with 46 come-from-behind wins including 25 in its final at-bat. Tonight, they did it again and it began in the sixth inning.
Derek Lee leadoff with a single and advance to second on a fielding error by Burrell. Next at bat was Brian McCann who hit an RBI single giving the Braves their first run of the night.
“This team never gives up,” Lee said. “Our backs were against the wall, this pretty much was a must win game.” “It seems like every time we come into that situation, we find a way to get it done.”
A few costly mistakes allowed Atlanta back in the game and it continued in the eighth inning. Lee and McCann both singled, which put them in position to score with no outs. Melky Cabrera singled left field, Pablo Sandoval’s wild throw to first made Huff take his foot off the base to bring in the Braves next run.
Brooks Conrad sacrifice bunt advanced both runners before Alex Gonzalez’s two-run doubled off Brian Wilson’s fastball tied the game. Both McCann and Cabrera scored leaving the largest sellout crowd of 44,046 at AT&T Park speechless.
“The eighth inning can’t happen in the postseason,” Wilson said. “I’m the only one on the mound, I need to get six outs and I didn’t…” “It’s already past me, game’s over.
San Francisco had an opportunity to win in the tenth inning when Edgar Renteria hit a bunt down third base to advance to first. Andres Torres sacrificed Renteria to second. Kyle Farnsworth hit Freddy Sanchez with a pitch on his middle right finger that took him down immediately. Grimacing in pain Sanchez jogged to first, Huff walked loading the bases.
Rookie Buster Posey was at bat but grounded into a double play to end the inning. A rare disappointment from the catcher whose had a spectacular season. Ankiel’s splash home run in the eleventh sealed their victory and the series goes to Atlanta split on Sunday for game three.
“Right now the plan is to focus on Game 3,” Bochy said. “We go to Atlanta and we know we’re facing a good pitcher.” “We’re going to do all we can to win Game 3 and that’s where our concentration is now.”
Written by: Malaika Bobino
