Tim Lincecum

A freakin' bad call by the second base umpire and a freak on the mound spoiled the Braves return to the postseason. Tim Lincecum only needed one run to dominate and completely shut down the Braves anemic offense and get the win for the Giants. The two-time Cy Young winner struck out 14 Braves hitters in his first postseason game, while only allowing two doubles and a walk.

The real sour grapes was that the Braves pitching was also really good tonight, and a blown call allowed the Giants to score their only run. Buster Posey singled in the fourth and stole second, but replays showed he was clearly out. That missed call was huge for both teams as Posey came around to score the game's only run on a single that seemed to go right through Omar Infante's glove -- another missed defensive opportunity for the Braves.

The Braves bullpen kept the Giants at bey after Lowe pitched really well through the first five and a third innings. Yes the bad call at second base was a killer, but the Braves were swinging wildly at anything Lincecum threw near the plate, and their defense didn't do a good job of backing up Lowe. The problem of lack of offense and poor defense for the Braves late in the season plagues this team in the first game of the postseason. Braves must find an answer for these two problems, and fast.