Saturday, April 23
(10-12) Atlanta Braves - 5
(10-10) San Francisco Giants - 2
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The Braves took advantage of a career-worst type of day by Tim Lincecum, scoring five runs off him for a 5-2 win. Lincecum had a career-high six walks to go along with five runs allowed in 6.1 innings.
The two teams actually battled back and forth for the first six innings, as the Braves led 2-1 through six. But first, the Giants started the scoring in the second when Cody Ross singled up the middle to plate Pat Burrell, who had doubled as the previous batter, worth .098 WPA.
The Braves answered in the third when Nate McLouth singled, moved to second on a Tim Hudson walk and scored on a single by Martin Prado, worth .122 WPA.
With the game tied in the fourth, Burrell singled to lead off the inning. After Cody Ross struck out, Burrell advanced to second on an error by Prado that allowed Miguel Tejada to reach. However, Eli Whiteside grounded into a double play to end the inning, worth -.103 WPA.
The Braves took advantage in the fifth by taking the lead. With one out, McLouth walked and moved to second on a Hudson sac bunt. With two outs, Prado singled to plate McLouth and give the Braves a one-run lead, worth .149 WPA, the biggest swing in the game.
Again, the Giants couldn't take advantage of a baserunner in the fifth. Lincecum singled to start the inning, but Aaron Rowand grounded into a double play to erase the threat, worth -.113 WPA.
Lincecum's struggles finally caught up to him in the seventh. Alex Gonzalez doubled to lead off the inning, McLouth walked and Hudson moved them both into scoring position. Prado grounded to second base where Freddy Sanchez threw home, but the throw was late and Gonzalez scored, worth .076 WPA. The big blow came with two outs when Brian McCann singled in two runs off Javier Lopez for a five-run lead, worth .103 WPA. Both runs were charged to Lincecum.
The Giants didn't lay down, however. Burrell reached base for the third time with a double to lead off the ninth. Ross singled for the second time to move Burrell to third, worth .052 WPA. But Tejada's sac fly RBI was worth -.052 WPA, and Nate Schierholtz followed with a strikeout to pretty much end the threat.
Despite 8.2 innings of two-run ball, Hudson wasn't without his own concerns. He gave up several hard hit balls and line drives that found gloves, and a .290 BABIP helped his case some. The two double plays he induced were turning points in the game, as well, and awesome control - 78 strikes over 113 pitches - certainly was a major help to his cause.
Stat of the Day:
Lincecum's six walks are a career-high, yet he has touched five walks 13 separate times in his career.
The Game Changer:
Martin Prado's RBI single in the fifth put the Braves ahead 2-1, worth .149 WPA.
WPA Winners:
(ATL) Martin Prado: .326
(ATL) Tim Hudson: .277
(SF) Cody Ross: .097
WPA Losers:
(ATL) Freddie Freeman: -.187
(SF) Tim Lincecum: -.167
(SF) Aaron Rowand: -.129
Courtesy of FanGraphs: 
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Giants fans check out McCovey Chronicles.