Game 1 - October 1 - Candlestick Park
Giants 7, Braves 5
Marichal Vs. Smoltz
Atlanta built a 5-1 lead behind HRs by Marquis Grissom and Ryan Klesko. But San Francisco fought back to tie the game with 4 runs in the bottom of the 7th. The key to the comeback was a Jeff Blauser error that allowed 3 unearned runs to cross the plate. The game remained tied until the bottom of the 9th when Willie McCovey blasted a 1-out, 2-run homerun off Pedro Borbon to give the Giants the walkoff victory.
(Interesting sub-plot: For most of this series the Braves seemed to play defense as if they were wearing their gloves on the wrong hand. Let’s keep track of the Braves HRs Vs. Braves Errors scoreboard for each game. Game 1: Braves Errors 3, Braves HRs 2).
Giants lead Series 1-0
Game 2 - October 2 - Candlestick Park
Giants 1, Braves 0
Sanford Vs. Maddux
A classic pitcher’s duel. Jack Sanford yields only 4
singles and a double, with no walks, in 7.1 innings. Larsen and Buffalo shut the door the last 1.2 innings. Maddux’s only mistake was a 1-out triple to Giants catcher Ed Bailey, who scored the game’s only run moments later when Atlanta shortstop muffed a groundball, his 3rd error of the series. Maddux allowed only 5 hits and an uncharacteristic 5 walks in 7 innings of work. Yet always managed to get out of trouble, aside from the lone San Francisco run in the 4th. But regardless, this one belonged to Sanford.
(Interesting sub-plot: Game 2: Braves Errors 1, Braves HRs 0).
Giants lead Series 2-0
Game 3 - October 4 - Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Braves 8, Giants 0
Glavine Vs. O’Dell
With their backs against the wall, the Braves responded with a stellar pitching effort from starter Tom Glavine and 2 relievers, plus solid hitting to shut down the Giants. Glavine gave the team the lift it needed, scattering only 4 hits and 3 walks over 7 innings. Not only did Jeff Blauser manage to keep the ball in front of him on the field, but his 2-run shot in the 3rd inning gave the Braves all they would need to win this one.
(Interesting sub-plot: Game 3: Braves HRs 1, Braves Errors 0).
Giants lead Series 2-1
Game 4 - October 5 -Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Braves 9, Giants 5
Bielecki Vs. Pierce
Both teams turned to their #4 starters for Game 4. And
while San Francisco starter Billy Pierce was giving up 3 Launching Pad home runs in 6 innings of work, Atlanta starter Mike Bielecki pitched well and game the team the5 strong innings it needed. His only mistake was a 2-run blast by Orlando Cepeda that gave the Giants a short-lived 2-0 lead. But by the end of the 7th innings Atlanta was on top 8-3 thanks to Chipper Jones and Fred McGriff back-to-back long balls in the 5th and a Jermaine Dye solo shot in the 6th. San Francisco tried to come back in the 9th. But it was too little, too late.
(Interesting sub-plot: Game 4: Braves HRs 3, Braves Errors 1).
Series tied 2-2
Game 5 - October 6 - Candlestick Park
Braves 7, Giants 3,
Marichal Vs. Smoltz
The Game 1 starters returned for the 5th and final game of the series. The Atlanta infield did its best Brooks Conrad impersonation by committing 5 errors and making life very difficult for John Smoltz. The Braves struck first in the 3rd inning, scoring 2 runs on a Fred McGriff double. But Jeff Blauser’s error in the bottom of the 6th inning, his second of the game and 5th of the series, led to 3 Giants runs, 2 of which were unearned, and San Francisco was now on top 3-2. However, Atlanta answered with 4 runs in the top of the next inning, as 4 consecutive Braves reached base after 2 were out. Marquis Grissom’s 2-run single was the big blow, as it became clear that Marichal had not brought his A-game to the stadium this day. After the 5th, a poised John Smoltz and 3 relievers allowed San Francisco only 3 singles and a walk to close out the game, and a 0-2 comeback series win.
(Interesting sub-plot: Game 5: Braves Errors 5, Braves HRs 0).
Braves win Series 3-2 (despite committing 10 errors)
--submitted by Douglas Zaner--