Braves blow a golden chance with Conrad's third error

The Atlanta Braves had victory within reach. Make-shift closer Craig Kimbrel had two strikes on the San Francisco Giants' "last hope" but alas the Giants were able to put the tying run on second with a base hit off Kimbrel and Bobby Cox went to his bullpen for Mike Dunn to try and close out the game. The Braves led 2-1.

Just how the Braves got the lead was a story in itself. Jonathan Sanchez was on his game for the Giants, striking out eleven Braves batters before leaving the game in the eighth with a runner on first base. The Braves were held without a hit until starter Tim Hudson managed a soft liner to rightfield in the sixth with one out and then Sanchez retired each batter until Alex Gonzalez led off the eighth with a shot to right-center. Sergio Romo came in and promptly surrendered a two-run homer to pinch-hitter Eric Hinske to give the Braves a 2-1 lead.

It looked for a while like Sanchez would only need the one run, given to the Giants care of a Brooks Conrad error in the second. Conrad failed to squeeze on a pop fly to shallow right field and the Giants were able to scamper home with a runner from third. Conrad would have another error to his name before the top of the ninth.

With runners on first and second belonging to Kimbrel, Dunn allowed an Aubrey Huff single to rightfield to tie the game at 2-2, and then Buster Posey managed fight off a grounder to second base that should have retired the side. Unfortunately for Braves fans, Conrad let the ball slide under his glove and the Giants' Freddy Sanchez scored the eventual winning run. Brian Wilson would not blow another save as he did in game two and now Derek Lowe, the Braves game one starter, will be called upon on short rest to extend the series back to San Francisco, where Tim Lincecum would be waiting in game five.

Prior to the game Billy Wagner was deactivated and replaced on the roster by Takashi Saito in a move that will make Wagner ineligible for the NLCS as well, should the Braves make it that far. Wagner hurt his left oblique muscle while fielding a ball in Friday's game two.