Giants Rout The Atlanta Braves – The Decisions and The Reasons
By Fred Owens
Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (33) looks on pondering what he do. his options are limited and his choices always questioned. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Last night the Giants exploded for six runs in the eighth against the Braves bullpen. Were the decisions managerial malfeasance or good team exposing a weak roster?
What happened – Just the facts
You can find a full game recap here and the box with detail here. This is simply a look at one inning and what caused it; first the timeline
Top of the eighth:
- Andrelton Simmons led off the top of the eighth with a single.
- Pedro Ciriaco pinch hit for Shelby Miller and hit into a fielders choice.
- The Giants brought in LHP Jeremy Affeldt replacing Chris Heston.
- Jonny Gomes pinch hit for Jace Peterson and struck out.
- Sergio Romo replaced Affeldt
- Cameron Maybin ground out ending the inning.
- Ciriaco replaces Peterson at second base.
Bottom of the eighth:
- Brandon Cunniff now pitching for the Braves.
- Matt Duffy Walks.
- Gregor Blanco pinch hits for Romo and singles sharply up the middle. Ciriaco dives and gloves it keeping the runners at first and second.
- Nori Aoki bunts and beats it out for an infield hit loading the bases.
- Roger McDowell visits the mound.
- Joe Panik doubles into the right field corner off the glove of Nick Markakis scoring Duffy and Blanco
- Hunter Pence triples scoring Aoki and Panik.
- Buster Posey lines out to Maybin in center for the first out.
- LHP Donnie Veal replaces Cunniff
- Veal throws a wild pitch allowing Pence to score.
- Brandon Belt doubles to left.
- Brandon Crawford doubles when his line drive to left bounces into the stands scoring Belt.
- Angel Pagan hits a sharp groundball single that bad hops Simmons.
- Matt Duffy strikes out ending the inning.
That’s what happened but why did it happen?
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