ATLANTA—After being swept by the Houston Astros in their 4-game series, the Giants could use some good news and they got it.   The Giants defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-1, on Sunday, August 17, 2008.   San Francisco was pounded by the Braves on Saturday, losing 5-11.   They got their offense off to a strong start, scoring two runs in the 1^st inning giving them the lead 2-0.   They maintained that lead throughout the game, keeping the Braves scoreless until the 8^th inning, where Atlanta star Yunel Escobar scored the team’s only run.   By that time, the Giants were still two runs ahead of Atlanta.

San Francisco pitcher Tim Lincecum gears up as he prepares to throw a ball. Photo by John Bazemore/AP.

The Braves captured a total of 4 hits during Sunday’s loss, while the Giants managed 9 hits in the game.   Atlanta players Yunel Escobar, Chipper Jones, Mark Kotsay and Kelly Johnson all contributed 1 hit each during the game.   Leading the Giants to victory where players Randy Winn, Aaron Rowand and Travis Ishikawa who all had 1 run apiece.   Ishikawa also had 2 hits and 2 RBI’s.   Players Winn and Rowand had 1 hit each, while teammate Emmanuel Burriss had 2 hits and 1 RBI during the game.

The team owes much of their success to pitcher Tim Lincecum, who gave a phenomenal performance in Sunday’s victory.   He only gave up 3 hits and 1 run during the seven innings he played.   He also managed to strikeout 10 Atlanta players.   Atlanta Braves pitcher Charlie Morton wasn’t at his best in Sunday’s game.   He gave up 7 hits and 3 runs (including a home run) during the six innings he played.    Morton did manage to strike out 6 Giants players though.  

Currently, the Giants hold a record of 52-71 in the NL West.   The Giants' chances of making the playoffs are slim, but the season is not over yet.   The Giants are only 4 games behind the Colorado Rockies, anything can happen.