Atlanta @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2010 ) Atlanta 0, San Francisco 1
Tommy Hanson averted disaster in a batting practice incident prior to Thursday’s opening game of the National League Division Series. Now he’ll look to help the Atlanta Braves avoid a two-game deficit in the best-of-5 playoff series.
Hanson, who was hit above the eye by his own foul ball, hopes to leave the San Francisco Giants in a foul mood when he takes the mound for the Braves on Friday in the second game of the NLDS.
Hanson hit a ball off the plate that bounced up and smacked him above the right eye. He was examined by team trainers and is expected to be fine for his pivotal Game 2 start.
The Braves need a big outing from Hanson after losing 1-0 in the opener. San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum handcuffed Atlanta to the tune of a two-hitter while striking out 14.
Cody Ross singled in Buster Posey in the fourth inning for the game’s only run. The Giants had just five hits off losing pitcher Derek Lowe and four Atlanta relievers.
Hanson understands poor run support. The Braves often struggled to score runs during his starts, the prime reason why he went just 10-11 despite a 3.33 earned-run average in 34 starts.
Hanson didn’t get any decisions in his last three outings of the regular season even though he allowed just one run and 13 hits in 18 2/3 innings. The Braves were blanked in two of those three games.
The 24-year-old right-hander allowed just one run and three hits in seven innings in his lone start of the season against San Francisco. Naturally, he took a no-decision.
Right-hander Matt Cain will be on the mound for San Francisco. Cain went 13-11 with a 3.14 ERA in 33 starts.
Cain lost to the San Diego Padres on Oct. 1 - his 26th birthday - after experiencing a fabulous September in which he went 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA. Today’s outing will be the first postseason start of his career.
Cain lost his lone start against Atlanta this season, allowing three runs and six hits in five innings. He is 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA in five career starts against the Braves.
Reliability and pitching deep into games are Cain’s specialties. Cain pitched seven or more innings 18 times this season and compiled four complete games. Only Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay (nine) and St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright (five) went the distance more often among NL pitchers.
Posey had two of San Francisco’s five hits in the opening contest. Atlanta’s two hits off Lincecum were both doubles – by Omar Infante and Brian McCann.
The Giants made news with their finalized playoff roster by leaving off pitcher Barry Zito. The left-hander, who is making $18.5 million this season, was left off the roster after losing 10 of his last 11 decisions.
Outfielder Jose Guillen (neck) also was left off the roster, opening a spot for veteran outfielder Aaron Rowand.