San Francisco Giants ring up Braves 6-1, take two out of three games in the series

Aug 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) celebrates a victory with second baseman Kelby Tomlinson (37) against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Giants defeated the Braves 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants played rookie ball Wednesday night. Really, they did. But that’s a good thing.

The star of the show was none other than our newest rookie‒Kelby Tomlinson. He didn’t score any runs, but he had a two hit, three RBI night. Not bad for a kid who just got called up. Starring along with Kelby was Matt Duffy, our “veteran” rookie. He scored one run, had two hits and two RBI’s.

The Giants started putting runs on the board in the second inning. With two outs‒ok, ok, so maybe there is something to this “two out thunder” I keep hearing about‒Brandon Belt took first base when he was hit by a pitch.

Ehire Adrianza hit a line drive to center field moving Belt over to third base. Adrianza advanced to second base on an error by the Braves centerfielder. Kelby singled on a line drive to right, scoring Belt and Adrianza. The Giants scored another run in the fourth when Adrianza doubled and came home on Kelby’s base hit.

More Giants runs scored in the seventh. Nori Aoki led off the inning with a walk, Gregor singled and Aoki moved to third. Duffy doubled, plating Aoki and Gregor. While Hunter Pence was at the plate, the Braves pitcher tossed a wild pitch, advancing Duffy to third. He scored on Hunter’s base hit.

So there we were in the middle of the seventh, and the Giants had a six-run shut out going. As Yogi Berra put it, it was like “déjà vu all over again” and I was more than a little nervous. Remember Monday night? The big difference was the Braves started scoring in the sixth inning Monday night.

So naturally, when the Braves knocked in a run in the bottom of the seventh, I felt like screaming. Come to think of it, I might have actually screamed.  Monday night I watched as the Giants took a six run lead and threw it away with both hands. It was there one minute, and then‒poof! just like that, it was gone. When I talk about magic, that is so not the kind of magic I have in mind.

Madison Bumgarner got the first hitter out quickly, then came back-to-back hits, a base hit and a double, allowing that one run. But the next guy to the plate struck out swinging and the one after him ground out. Whew! Just six outs to go and we’re in the clear.

Bumgarner got another quick first out in the eighth, then gave up a base hit to end his night. Hunter Strickland took over from there. Bumgarner had great stuff on the mound, he pitched seven and a third solid innings, allowing just the one run on seven hits and striking out nine.

Santiago Casilla was lights out in the ninth.

The final score was:  Giants 6, Braves 1

When it comes to Giants baseball my BFF Vickie and I agree on just about everything. Tonight, though, it seemed like we were sharing a brain when we said, at the exact same time, when Kelby knocked in the third run: “I like this kid.”

Giant minds think alike.