San Francisco Giants get caught by Braves, play extra innings

Aug 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) shakes hands with shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Two out thunder my great Aunt Fannie. It’s pure, unadulterated, genuine Giants torture. It may be passé, but calling the Giants brand of baseball—where the fans are on the edges of seats, chewing their fingernails to the bone—”two out thunder”, trying to pretty it up, is like putting lipstick on a pig.

It is what it is. And what it is, is torture.

The Giants followed the first unwritten rule of baseball: they scored early, they scored often. The Braves didn’t follow that rule. In fact they did the exact opposite, they scored frequently and late.

Bomb, tater, long ball, shot, blast, going yard, big fly. You might not recognize these words–they’re all slang terms for a home run. Why aren’t they familiar? We don’t have many opportunities to use them. But for the second time in three days, the Giants have hit four home runs in one night.

In the second inning we got back-to-back Brandons. With two out, Brandon Belt knocked out a solo shot. Brandon Crawford followed with his own one run blast.

Crawford, who was tied with St. Louis Cardinals shortstop, Jhonny Peralta, for most home runs by a shortstop in the MLB going into the game, added to his total–now 17. But wait! There’s more! In the fourth, with Belt on board, Crawford hit a two run home run, boosting his total to a more than respectable 18.

Buster Posey, who is jockeying with Crawford for position as San Francisco Giants home run leader, came into Monday’s game with 15. He added to his total in the third. With two outs and Aoki on board, Buster went yard, scoring two.

Aug 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants sailed through the first few innings, putting up a six run lead. Matt Cain’s pitching and the Giants defense kept the Braves scoreless until the sixth. That’s when they started swinging those darn tomahawks. I hate that chant.

Bruce Bochy took Cain out in the sixth after facing four hitters with no outs. Three runs had already come in and one runner was in scoring position. After pitching five innings and four hitters in the sixth, Cain allowed four runs on 10 hits and one walk, while striking out one.

The bullpen took over from there with mixed results. The Braves, added on, the Giants scored again, the Braves caught up…as Duane Kuiper said after the game ended, the Giants squandered the lead three times.

Adding insult to injury, it was the Giants fans’ least favorite former Giant, A.J. Pierzynski, that hit the home run to tie the game. Santiago Casilla was pitching and he was one out away from the promise land when he gave up a base hit and Pierzynski’s  home run.

The game went to extra innings.

In the top of the 12th, Bochy brought in the newest Giant to pinch hit in the pitchers spot. Kelby Tomlinson arrived in Atlanta that afternoon from AAA ball to fill the spot left vacant by Joe Panik, who was placed on the DL with back soreness.

With one out, Tomlinson came to the plate for his first big league at bat. It almost seemed like something straight out of a Hollywood script. With a 1-1 count, Tomlinson hit a line drive up the middle for a base hit.

Gregor Blanco was up next and was hit by a pitch, moving Tomlinson to second. Tomlinson advanced to third on Duffy’s sac-fly and Buster plated him with a line drive single. Think about it, Tomlinson was the go-ahead run, so if the Braves don’t score, Tomlinson is the Giants winning run.

But this is where they tore up the script, and took away our happy ending. Still, Tomlinson got his first big league knock and first big league run. It was a big night. Welcome to the bigs Kelby Tomlinson!

Aug 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Braves hit a walk off home run. The final score was: Giants 8, Braves 9

Ok, I’ve said it before, and I’m gonna say it again. We need a closer! I’m glad we picked up starting pitcher Mike Leake. I think he’s a good addition to our starting rotation.

We have hitters, we have starting pitchers and our defense is sharp. We look great until it’s time to finish it off. That’s where we fall short. It’s kind of like getting a bride ready for her wedding. Her make up is perfect, her hair is done beautifully, then we put her in raggedy sweat pants and an old t-shirt and send her down the aisle. Does that make any sense?

Buy her a nice dress for Pete’s sake.