A Giant Loss

Last night everything was setup for a heroic SF Giants Victory Classic. They'd erased a 4-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings against the Atlanta Braves. The atmosphere of AT&T Park was bustling with Barry Ball excitement. Bonds is on 753 and only needs two to tie and three to surpass Hank Aaron on the career home run list. Commissioner Bud Selig was at the game surprisingly. He'd said earlier in the season that he probably wouldn't make it for Barry's shot to be heard around the world.

Pitcher Tim Hudson (Former A's) had kept the Giants hitting into groundouts and double plays throughout the first six and two-third innings or so, while Matt Morris pitched well for the Giants despite four scores by the Braves.

Forget trying to recap the game though, let me get to the exciting finish. With more than half the house leaving or gone in the bottom of the ninth, the Giants rallied. After watching the game outside the park in the knothole, I spied the back entrance gate wide open, probably in anticipation of a no run ninth for the Giants and another loss.

I walked right in uncontested, found a great viewing spot in the bleachers and watched the Giants bats and pitching come to life. The Giants were the Giants of yesteryear in those four extra innings. They did everything with the exception of scoring a run. Even Barry, looking like the young Pirate that he was years ago, came up with a sliding catch that most thought he couldn't get to.

Give credit to Randy Messenger for stepping in and pitching like a true closer. He kept the Braves hitless and gave the Giants plenty of opportunities to win the game. Not to blame the umpire for the loss, but there were some odd calls in those extra innings. Unfortunately, it wasn't Sanchez's night as he gave up the winning runs. I still can't understand why Bochy left him in after seeing he didn't have his good stuff. By the time Vinny Chulk came in to relieve in the 13th, the Braves damage was done.

The Giants did rally one more time in the bottom of the 13th. but in the end, with the crowd still on their feet, with children asleep in their parent's arms, the clock struck twelve and the Giant Lewis was called out looking at a Tyler Yates fast ball with the bases loaded. Who the heck is this Tyler Yates anyway? He's a Beast of a pitcher.

Hats off the the Atlanta Braves for winning a competitive game 7-5. With two more games left in this four game series, the Giants best shot at winning one may have been last nights close one. The Braves seem to have everything the Giants didn't last night. But we've still got the one thing that no team in MLB has, that's Barry Bonds. And though Bonds didn't deliver last night, the anticipation and excitement of watching him come up to the plate is priceless. It's Historic!