This Giants-Braves series has something for everyone.
After a true pitchers’ duel on Monday where both teams combined for three runs, San Francisco and Atlanta put 22 on the board in a wild rematch on Tuesday, SF edging the high-powered Braves 12-10 at Truist Park.
The game consisted of 26 hits, five lead changes and six home runs, with 11 of the game’s runs coming via the long ball. Twenty Giants reached base, and it was just the second time this year San Francisco has given up four home runs in a game.
In addition to an incredible game from Austin Wynns, the difference proved to be a two-RBI single by Wilmer Flores in the top of the ninth inning to extend San Francisco’s lead 12-8. Without it, Matt Olson’s two-run shot off Camilo Doval would have tied it in the bottom of the ninth.
Reliever Tyler Rodgers was also huge. His two shutout innings in the fifth and sixth were the only time Atlanta didn’t feel like a juggernaut at the plate.
Until further notice, however, the story of the game had nothing to do with the final tally.
Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford left the game in the fourth inning after an awkward collision at home plate that saw his right leg crunched and his left knee twisted under Atlanta catcher Travis d’Arnaud.
The contact between the two was caused in large part by Crawford’s curious decision not to slide. Ironically, Crawford’s foot still made it under the bag before the tag, leading umpires to overturn the original call and determine Crawford safe, giving the Giants a 6-5 lead.
Still, the shortstop limped off the field and exited the game shortly after.
The Giants announced later in the game that Crawford sustained a left knee contusion, which sounds positive assuming there is no structural damage.
While the Crawford injury proved most newsworthy, the story entering Tuesday’s contest was the return of Giants starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. DeSclafani’s assignment was about as difficult as it gets, facing the team with the best offense in baseball after a two month layoff with an ankle issue.
Things got off to an encouraging start when DeSclafani needed only seven pitches to get out of the first inning. After giving up a single on the first pitch of the game, the right-hander got the excellent Dansby Swanson to hit into a double play and then struck out the red hot Austin Riley on three consecutive strikes. The fastball touching 94 mph was also a good sign, after some velocity issues in DeSclafani’s first two starts of the season.
But things soon took a turn. DeSclafani gave up a two-run shot to Marcell Ozuna and a three-run shot to Matt Olson in the second and third innings respectively, both on first pitches that were left right over the middle of the plate.
DeSclafani only walked one but struggled with control throughout, allowing six hits and five runs in his three innings of work. Amazingly, Tuesday marked only the fourth time this season a Giants starter has given up multiple home runs.
The Giants also left the yard a couple times on Tuesday beginning with Wynns, who’s first homer as a member of SF got out in a hurry, and gave the Giants an early 4-0 lead.
The three-run shot was San Francisco’s first solo homer in two weeks. It began a four RBI day for Wynns — the No. 9 hitter — who finished a triple shy of the cycle. Joey Bart’s replacement has hit the ball extremely well since being acquired from the Phillies.
In large part, the game was decided by the Giants doing a better job against the Braves bullpen than vice versa. Mike Yastrzemski had a huge a two-run double off Collin McHugh that gave San Francisco an 8-7 lead in the sixth, SF clawing back after blowing their early cushion.
Unsurprisingly, the defense tried to give it away. After Joc Pederson extended the lead 9-7 with a solo blast, the Gaints gave up a needless run thanks to back-to-back mistakes in the seventh.
First there was a passed ball by Wynns, who looked like he just closed his glove too quickly when trying to catch a seemingly routine slider. The gaffe allowed Acuña Jr. to advance to third with two outs.
Then Thairo Estrada had perhaps the most baffling error of the season, dropping a short toss from Evan Longoria at second base for what would’ve been the third out on a routine grounder from Olson. The error allowed Acuña Jr. to score and cut SF’s lead to 9-8.
The Giants were charitable again in the eighth, when Dominic Leone failed to touch first base when covering on a ground ball for what would’ve been the third out. After giving up a single, Acuña Jr. stepped up to the plate with two on.
Pitching coach Andrew Bailey visited Leone on the mound, and may have mentioned that Acuña Jr.’s three hits in the game all came on the first pitch. Leone began the at-bat by throwing a cutter low in the zone. Acuña Jr. grounded to short, ending the inning.
Estrada would eventually make up for his poor error, adding an insurance run with a bases-loaded single in the ninth.