Ankiel’s splash HR lifts Braves over Giants in 11

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO

Two of the newest Braves produced the key plays to keep Atlanta from the brink of playoff elimination.

Kyle Farnsworth induced a double play in the 10th inning to thwart a rally, Rick Ankiel splashed a home run into McCovey Cove in the 11th for his first postseason clout, and the Braves rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Friday night. The best-of-five NL division series is tied at 1-1 and resumes today.

Farnsworth and Ankiel joined Atlanta together at the trade deadline from Kansas City.

“The two guys we got in the trade won us the game tonight,” catcher Brian McCann said. “This was the best win I’ve ever been a part of. You don’t want to be down 0-2 in a best-of-five series. That was huge. I’m in awe of what we just did.”

Another midseason acquisition, Alex Gonzalez, hit a tying, two-run double in the eighth against 2010 majors saves leader Brian Wilson. Gonzalez came in a swap with Toronto in mid-July.

The Braves pulled this one out with manager Bobby Cox watching the final nine innings from the clubhouse after his third career postseason ejection. The skipper told his team a victory in Game 2 would swing the momentum to the Braves as they headed home to Turner Field.

“The biggest homer of my career by far,” Ankiel said. “To be honest with you, I wanted to go from the batter’s box to the dugout and be with the guys and not run the bases. What a cool thing to do and what a cool way to win.”

Farnsworth pitched 1 2/3 shutout innings for the victory, relieving in the 10th after closer Billy Wagner injured his left oblique. Farnsworth escaped a bases-loaded jam when Buster Posey grounded into an inning-ending double play that was started by late-inning replacement Troy Glaus, who had played only nine games at third base the past two seasons.