The Atlanta Braves picked up their first win in San Francisco on Saturday, defeating Madison Bumgarner and the Giants by a score of 7-3. Jason Heyward continued to hit baseballs a long way in AT&T Park, while Mike Minor pitched well against a red-hot lineup.
Heyward got things going for Atlanta in the third inning with a three-run blast that just cleared the high wall in right field. It was the first homer Bumgarner had surrendered to a left-handed hitter at home this season and just the fourth of his career.
Brandon Belt drove home a run with an RBI groundout in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 3-1. Minor was able to work out of the jam though, striking out Francisco Peguero and then getting Bumgarner to line out to left.
With the Braves holding a 4-1 lead in the seventh, Fredi Gonzalez pulled Minor after just 91 pitches. It was an odd decision, especially given Atlanta's lead and how well the young lefty had been pitching on Saturday. Chad Durbin entered and promptly surrendered a two-run double to Gregor Blanco, cutting the lead to 4-3.
Atlanta responded nicely in the top half of the eighth inning with back-to-back bases loaded walks from Michael Bourn and Martin Prado. Eric O'Flaherty then worked a perfect bottom half of the frame to keep the score at 6-3.
Reed Johnson doubled home an insurance run in the top of the ninth to give Craig Kimbrel a 7-3 lead. Kimbrel worked a scoreless ninth, forcing a fly out from Joaquin Arias to secure the victory.
The Braves will try and salvage a series split on Sunday evening against Tim Lincecum. It'll be Tim Hudson on the mound for Atlanta. First pitch will be on ESPN and is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET.