#27

The probability of scoring four runs off the Giants bullpen is so low that the odds aren't worth calculating. Don't tell the Braves that, they did it last night and have probably been hearing it from everyone all day.

In the tenth when Billy Wagner went down trying to avoid Troy Glaus on an Edgar Renteria bunt, everyone on Braves country held their breath.

When bench coach Chino Cadahia managing for the ejected Bobby Cox made the call to the bullpen to bring in Kyle Farnsworth, hearts began stopping. As Farnsworth loaded up the bases on a hit batsman and a walk, the 2005 flashbacks begun. Especially when Buster Posey the Giants most dangerous hitter and rookie of the year candidate stepped to the plate.

But the rookie hit a sharp ground ball to the hardly mobile Glaus, who made a perfect throw to second baseman Omar Infante who flipped to first baseman Derek Lee to get out of the jam.

After a giant Derek Lee fist pump, the faithful could finally take a breath.

The Braves then came to bat in the top of the eleventh, and the Brave with the most home runs this season came up to bat. Shortstop and former playoff hero Alex Gonzalez, who bounced out to shortstop.

Then came Rick Ankiel.

Rick Ankiel whose career as a top flight starting pitcher had been derailed against Atlanta ten years previous. Rick Ankiel who had clawed his was back to the majors as an outfielder with a little thunder in the stick.
The Rick Ankiel who had played great defense, but failed to hit much since his trade to Atlanta at the trade deadline.

He didn't disappoint.

As your probably aware Ankiel knocked what would be the game winner into the bay beyond the right field wall at AT&T Park.

The momentum turned, Farnsworth got through the eleventh with just one base runner, and was forgiven by most Braves fans for his 2005 meltdown. That makes it 27 final at bat wins in 2010.

And now they head home to Atlanta, the place where they are the best in the league, with Tim Hudson going to the mound with another chance to prove everybody wrong.

They don't have Chipper Jones, or Martin Prado. They wont have Billy Wagner. They may not have Jair Jurrgens, or Takashi Saito. But they have the guts, and sometimes thats all you need.