Renteria, Rowand Rock and Roll

The longest home opener in San Francisco history came down to a two-out 13th inning head-first slide. Aaron Rowand followed an infield single with a safe slide into first base as Juan Uribe scored from third to lift the Giants over visiting Atlanta, 5-4. Uribe walked, stole second and reached third on an error to set up Rowand’s RBI opportunity in the 13th inning. The four hour game gnawed away at San Francisco’s roster, but the Giants remain the only undefeated team in baseball at 4-0. Manager Bruce Bochy utilized his entire bullpen and bunch during the contest. The last time a Giants’ home opener went over 13 innings was against the Boston Braves. San Francisco won that 1917game 4-2. Ninety-three years later, the Giants were victorious again, and in dramatic comeback fashion.
Braves’ rookie sensation, Jason Heyward struck out four times against San Francisco pitching for his first hitless outing in the majors. The Giants’ pitchers issued nine walks and the offense did not draw one until Uribe’s key pass in the bottom of the 13th. It was all Atlanta in the early goings. The Braves totaled three runs off San Francisco starter, Jonathan Sanchez. The 27 year old former no-hit hurler fanned 6 of the 22 batters he faced. Sanchez scattered seven hits through just over four innings. The visitors scratched out two runs in the top of the third on a pair of singles. Braves’ first baseman, Troy Glaus, knocked in the first run on a smack to left and Matt Diaz’s infield shot made it 2-0 in favor of Atlanta. Thirty-two year old left fielder, Diaz collected another RBI in the top of the fifth off Sanchez. The Giants finally got on board in the seventh following a dazzling season debut from Atlanta pitcher, Tim Hudson. Edgar Renteria’s base hit in the fourth marked the first baserunner for San Francsico. Hudson’s 77 pitch outing was impressive. He went seven innings and allowed three hits and two runs. The runs came off the bats Pablo Sandoval and first year Giant, Aubrey Huff. Rowand singled to lead off the frame, and Renteria’s double put two on base with no outs. Sandoval’s ground out sent Rowand home. Renteria scored the second Giants run on a Huff groundout.
Heyward walked on four pitches in the top of the eighth inning with Dan Runzler on the hill for the Giants. Waldis Joaquin threw a wild pitch and Runzler issued a pair of walks in unproductive relief roles for Bochy’s pen. Runzler’s base-on-balls to David Ross provided an RBI for the Atlanta catcher. Glaus scored on the walk to give the Braves a 4-2 edge. The San Francisco bullpen salvaged the inning but not before Runzler finished with three walks. Billy Wagner was sent in to record the save for the Braves in the bottom of the ninth. Wagner, the famed former closer for Philadelphia and New York, gave up a leadoff double to Eugenio Velez. He followed up the extra base hit by striking out Rowand for the first out. Renteria socked a slider to the fences off the new Atlanta closer, good for two runs and a tie game. Renteria is hitting .388 with three multihit games so far this season.
San Francisco closer, Brian Wilson, sent the Braves down in order during the 10th. The Giants managed one hit off Atlanta reliever, Eric O’Flaherty in their half of the 10th. Wilson struggled as the Braves threatened to score in the 11th. He loaded the bases before Sergio Romo was summoned from the bullpen. Romo got Glaus to flyout to end the inning and escape the jam. Sandoval slugged a single to start the 12th for San Francisco. He reached third on a sacrifice by Andres Torres but the Giants wouldn’t convert off Kris Medlen until the next frame. Brian McCann was charged with the significant throwing error in the bottom of the 13th. It was one of four errors during the epic opening game of the series that concluded with a rolling Rowand sliding and uncontested Uribe scoring. Jeremy Affeldt earned his second win of the season for the Giants. Braves manager, Bobby Cox, was ejected for arguing a call during the 13th. It was the record 154th time Cox has been thrown out of game. The seething skipper departed just before Medlen served up the game-winning stroke.

Parting Points: Song of the day- “If You Could Only See” by Tonic