A shot heard round the (internet) world

Tom Davis brings his Giants into Atlants to face terry Priest's Braves.

Game 1 Jim Hearn (0-2) would face John Smoltz (1-0) in the series opener.
The Giants started the scoring in the top of te first when Don Muellar singled home Whitey Lockman who had opened the game with a single, avancing to second on Matt Diaz' error. The Braves got to Hearns in the bottom of the second when he gave up a lead off single to Diaz and then walked Adam LaRoche. After getting two outs, Hearns lost any semblance of control and walked Smoltz and Marcus Giles, forcing in a run. Then Edgar Renteria drove home the go ahead run with a single. The two run lead stood up into the fifth when Brian McCann added two more with a two run homer, his first of the season. Smoltz was never in any real trouble and the Giants only managed a meaningless run in the 9th. Bob Wickman earned his fifth save of the season.

Game 2. Ruben Gomez (2-0) faced Horacio Martinez (1-0).
In Gomez' previous two starts he had thrown two complete game one hit shutouts. That would not be the case in this game as the Braves would have more hits in the bottom of the second than Gomez allowed in his previous 19 innings including a two run Diaz homer, his second home run of the season. The lead would not stand up as the Giants would get two runs in the 4th and two more in the fifth for a 5-2 lead. Two rain delays forced Gomez to the sidelines after 6 innings but Hoyt Wilhelm would come in and throw three scoreless innings, contributing to the Giant offense wih a leadoff triple in the 8th and a single in the 9th. Gomez wins his third (all three Giant victories), 8-2 and Hoyt Wilhelm picks up his first save.

Game 3. The rubber game of the series switched to the Polo Grounds with Chuck James (2-0) facing Larry Jansen (0-2, 11.00 ERA).
Atlanta struck first in the 4th when Chipper Jones doubled home Renteria. The Giants tied the game in the bottom of the 7th when Lockman singled home Monte Irvin. Both starters were now gone and the game was in the hands of the teams' relievers. Macay McBride was on the mound for the Braves when Irvin doubled home BobbyThomson for a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 8th. Wilhelm, who had thrown a hitless 8th, opened the 9th by walking Chipper Jones and LaRoche. After striking out Diaz, A Wilhelm knuckler danced away from Wes Westrum and the runners advanced. Andruw Jones was intentionally passed and Wilhlem got the ground ball he was looking for from Jeff Francoeur. However Al Dark could only get one out and the Braves tied the score. And that score, 2-2 would stand through the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th innings. The modern day propensity of major league teams to use relievers in very short outings hurt Brave manager Terry Priest and the innings ate up his bullpen. Meanwhile, the Giants used only two relievers, Marv Grisson (2 innings) and Al Worthington (4 innings). The game ended in the bottom of the 15th on a homerun by, fittingly enough, Bobby Thomson off John Thomson. Not a shot heard round the world, but his second of the season (and only the second homer of the season by the Giants). Worthington got the win in his first appearance of the season. And with only one pitcher left in his bullpen capable of throwing any innings, Braves manager Terry Priest was last seen making a phone call to the Braves' affiliate for some rested arms. --submitted by Tom "Crash" Davis--