Giants 4 - 5 Braves
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Braves use ninth-inning rally to dispatch Giants

Aug 16, 2011 - 3:08 AM

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Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Freddie Freeman capped a ninth-inning rally with a two-run single off Giants closer Brian Wilson, as the Atlanta Braves notched a 5-4 victory over San Francisco in the opener of a four-game series at Turner Field between contending clubs.

Down 4-2, the speedy Jose Constanza beat out an infield single to start the Braves' ninth. After pinch-hitter Eric Hinske walked, Michael Bourn moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.

An RBI single to left field by Martin Prado trimmed the deficit to two, and Brian McCann walked to load the bases for Dan Uggla, who struck out swinging. Freeman then worked the count full before bouncing a single up the middle to plate pinch-runner Julio Lugo and Prado with the tying and winning runs.

"So far, yes," Freeman said when asked if his game-ending hit was the biggest thrill of his young career, "especially when you're in a playoff race and playing a team right behind you in the wild card."

Wilson (6-4), who was unavailable on Sunday because of back spasms, suffered his fifth blown save in 40 opportunities this year.

"They won the battle," Wilson said.

The Giants fell 2 1/2 games behind idle Arizona for first place in the NL West and five back of wild card-leading Atlanta, which avoided a third straight loss.

The teams were deadlocked at 2-2 until Nate Schierholtz belted a tie-breaking home run off Braves starter Tim Hudson to open the sixth inning. Two frames later, Hudson served up a leadoff blast over the center field wall to injury substitute Mike Fontenot.

Fontenot replaced Pablo Sandoval in the bottom of the first inning after the Giants third baseman fouled a ball off his right foot during his lone at-bat.

Hudson gave up four runs -- two earned -- on five hits in eight innings. The comeback made a winner out of Cristhian Martinez (1-2), who tossed a perfect ninth.

San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner allowed two runs on eight hits over seven innings. The Giants were trying to win three games in a row for the first time since July 17-19. They now have lost 12 of 17 overall.

Activated from the disabled list on Sunday, McCann gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the first when he drove his 19th home run to right field. The All-Star catcher had missed 16 games with a strained left oblique muscle.

Three singles in the second -- the last one by Constanza -- produced another run for the Braves.

San Francisco loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth. The inning began with Bourn misreading Aubrey Huff's liner to center for an error. Schierholtz walked and Hudson hit Brandon Belt with a pitch. The Giants got a pair of sacrifice flies from Orlando Cabrera and Eli Whiteside to pull even.

Game Notes

Hudson has now gone at least seven inning in eight straight starts...The Giants have lost each of their last eight series openers...San Francisco entered play with a 49-1 record when leading after eight innings this season.






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