Atlanta Braves Win First Game From San Francisco Giants, 5-0

Apr 13, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates with left fielder Justin Upton (8) after defeating the Washington Nationals 10-2 at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Though Ryan Vogelsong pitched well for the San Francisco Giants for five full innings, the Atlanta Braves strung four hits and a walk together in the sixth, to score three runs and extend their lead to 4-0.  They went on to defeat the Giants, 5-0.  Mike Minor started for Atlanta and after a one-out double to Hunter Pence in the first, went on to retire the next sixteen batters in a row, before Angel Pagan broke the string with a sixth inning, two-out walk.  Hunter Pence followed with a double but Buster Posey struck out on a half-swing, to end the threat.

Evan Gattis drove in the first run of the game for the Braves in the fourth inning with a screaming liner down into the right field corner, which   scored Freddie Freeman, who had singled.  In the fourth Freeman doubled in Jason Heyward, and then B.J. Upton and Andrelton Simmons each added an RBI-single.  Vogelsong made it through the sixth and then was replaced by David Huff.

Vogelsong, who had strung three consecutive superb starts, had spectacular stuff through five, striking out eight batters in all during his six innings.  But the Giants did nothing to support him, even though they actually had four doubles among their five hits.  Unfortunately, all of the doubles came in separate innings.

Huff allowed a lead-off single in the seventh but got a couple of groundouts and thought he was out of the inning on a nice play by Hector Sanchez at first.  Sanchez snagged a ball off the bat of Justin Upton, threw the lead runner out at second, and then got Upton at first on the Crawford’s return throw.  But a review via instant replay saw Upton called safe at first and the Braves collected their fifth run.  Freeman struck out to end the inning.

The fascinating thing to me is how common replay has become, and how many of the calls are being overturned.  And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I love it so much.  Why baseball would continue to exist in a vacuum, and not include instant replay, defies reason.  The umpires do a good job most of the time, but why shouldn’t players and fans alike, be allowed to see it get done right all the time?

The victory was the first by the Braves over the Giants this year.  When it comes right down to it, I really did not think the San Francisco Giants would sweep the Atlanta Braves this season, so what are you going to do?  What the Giants need to do now is have Madison Bumgarner make a quality start tomorrow and the Giants need to get the third game of the series.  It goes back to “one series at a time.”