Bobby Cox managed his final game last night and like the first three games of the NLDS series, Game Four between the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants went
down to the final batter and was decided by one run.
Madison Bumgarner and Derek Lowe both threw quality starts before the bullpens eventually determined the outcome of the game. Aided once again by the Braves shoddy defense, the Giants scored the winning run following Alex Gonzalez’s second error of the game in the seventh inning.
Another dramatic ending was set up in the bottom of the 9th inning when Giants reliever Brian Wilson allowed two base-runners before getting Melky Cabrera to ground out to end the game.
The series was filled with drama. Tim Lincecum turned in one of the most dominant playoff performances in Game One of the series; the Giants won the game 1-0 after umpire Paul Emmel erroneously called Buster Posey safe on a stolen base attempt in the fourth inning.
The Giants seemed in complete control in Game Two with a 4-0 lead until a late Braves rally off Brian Wilson tied the game at four. With the game tied, Troy Glaus started a key double play in the bottom of the tenth setting up Rick Ankiel to send a game-winning shot over the fence in the 11th inning for the Braves win.
With the series moved across the country to Atlanta, Giants’ starter Jonathan Sanchez dominated the Braves before giving way to reliever Sergio Romo who allowed pinch hitter Eric Hinske to hit a two run homerun in the bottom of the eighth.
The Braves, who appeared ready to win another game in their last at-bat, were victims of Brooks Conrad’s terrible defense as the Giants scored the winning run on his third error of the day.
At the conclusion of the fourth game today, fans and the entire Giants team gave a standing ovation to Bobby Cox, who is retiring now that the Braves season is over. The future Hall-of-Famer walks away as one of the most accomplished and well respected men in all of baseball.
The win punches the Giants tickets to Philadelphia for the NLCS. While the Phillies will be heavily favored, we could get to see some amazing pitching matchups in the series. Game One will feature Tim Lincecum and Roy Halladay, who have combined for 18 shutout innings and 22 strikeouts in their two postseason starts.
Used with permission of the author.
Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.
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