Final
Playoff hopefuls square off AT&T Park
Aug 24, 2012 - 3:04 PMVideo
Coming off a three-game sweep of the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, the Giants won Thursday's opener with the Braves 5-2, moving three games ahead of the idle Dodgers for first place in the NL West.
Barry Zito pitched into the ninth inning, giving up two of his five hits in the game to begin the frame. He was charged with two runs after Atlanta's Freddie Freeman hit a two-run double off reliever Jeremy Affeldt.
Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo combined to record the final three outs, with Romo logging his sixth save of the season.
"When you do it by committee that's the way it goes," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We have four really good guys we're comfortable with to go out there to finish off a game."
Hector Sanchez went 2-for-4 and hit a two-run double for the Giants, who will try to win five straight for the first time since July 13-18.
Sanchez got the start at catcher in place of Buster Posey, who sat out his second game in a row due to a tight right hamstring. He was available to pinch-hit and could start tonight.
Tommy Hanson took the loss in his second start since returning from the 15-day disabled list. He was charged with five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings.
"The good thing is we came back and they used (three) guys there in the ninth inning so we got into their bullpen a little bit," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said, looking ahead to Friday's game.
The Braves, who own the first wild card spot, have lost five of their last six games and trail the NL East-leading Washington Nationals by 6 1/2 games.
Friday's pitching matchup will feature a pair of hurlers looking to avoid a third straight loss.
For the Giants, Ryan Vogelsong has lasted just a total of 5 2/3 innings over is two-game slide, giving up 11 runs, 17 hits and three walks while striking out 12. He was charged with three runs over three-plus innings of a loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, logging 96 pitches before his exit.
"My stuff was OK today," Vogelsong said. "Once again, I can't control where the ball goes after it comes out of my hand."
The 35-year-old righty is 10-7 with a 2.85 earned run average in 23 starts, up from a 2.27 ERA prior to his slide, and is 5-4 with a 2.29 ERA in 12 home outings.
Vogelsong did not factor into a July 18 start in Atlanta, giving up a run over six innings with seven strikeouts.
Ben Sheets gets the call for the Braves and has lost three of four since winning his first three starts with the club.
The 34-year-old has allowed 10 earned runs in back-to-back losses to the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, lifting his season ERA from 1.41 to 3.07. He gave up a career-high four homers versus the Dodgers on Saturday.
Sheets, a right-hander is 4-3 with a 2.34 ERA in 10 career starts versus the Giants and has gone at least six innings in all seven of his starts in 2012.
- ATLANTA: 3
SAN FRANCISCO: 5
Final
Aug 25 1:10 AM - Freddie Freeman one-out, solo Home Run 2 (17) to right. Brian McCann due up.
Braves 3, Giants 5 Top 7, 1 OutAug 25 12:21 AM - Buster Posey doubled to left scored Marco Scutaro. Runner on second with two outs and Hunter Pence due up.
Braves 2, Giants 5 Bot 6, 2 OutsAug 25 12:14 AM - Marco Scutaro single to right scored Angel Pagan with two outs. Runner on first and Pablo Sandoval due up.
Braves 2, Giants 4 Bot 4, 2 OutsAug 24 11:25 PM - Angel Pagan triple to right scored Gregor Blanco with two outs. Runner on third and Marco Scutaro due up.
Braves 2, Giants 3 Bot 4, 2 OutsAug 24 11:23 PM - Pablo Sandoval scored on Ben Sheets wild pitch with two outs. Hunter Pence advances to second on a wild pitch. Runner on second with two outs and Brandon Belt at the plate.
Braves 2, Giants 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsAug 24 11:11 PM - Buster Posey flied out to right. On the play, Pablo Sandoval advances to third. Runner on third with two outs and Hunter Pence due up.
Braves 2, Giants 1 Bot 3, 2 OutsAug 24 11:02 PM - Brian McCann flied out to center. None on with one out and Dan Uggla due up.
Braves 2, Giants 0 Top 2, 1 OutAug 24 10:36 PM - Jason Heyward two-out, solo Home Run (22) to left center. Chipper Jones due up.
Braves 1, Giants 0 Top 1, 2 OutsAug 24 10:19 PM - ATLANTA: 0
SAN FRANCISCO: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 24 10:19 PM
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