The Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants shine bright in primetime as they hook up on ESPN a 8 p.m. ET. It's Father's Day and if you want to watch the rubber game of this series, check out the live stream available as both of these National League contenders go head-to-head one last time.
The Braves won the previous game, Saturday night, as Freddie Freeman drove i the game-winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning. What a way to snap a four-game losing streak, no? The Braves had been struggling, losing three games in a row against the San Diego Padres, who are at the pit of the N.L. West.
For Atlanta, it was a huge win and they finally get on the win column. The Giants dominated the first game of the series. Thanks to a great performance by Madison Bumgarner, the Giants were able to shutout the Braves, allowing just three total hits. In fact, Bumgarner had a no-hitter going through the fifth inning. Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford and Gregor Blanco (who was facing his old ballclub) carried the thunder with their bats as they each had at least two hits in this game.
The Pitching Matchup:
Tim Lincecum: 4-6 4.70 ERA
Julio Teheran: 4-3, 3.62 ERA
It will be a dissipating star against a rising star on the mound. Teheran, after struggling early on int he season, has settled down and pitched extremely well in his most recent starts. The Braves expected Teheran to hold down the fifth spot in the rotation until Brandon Beachy returned, but he has exceeded those expectations. Teheran struggled in his last start where he surrendered five earned runs to the Padres. The Braves almost came back in that game, but Teheran wound up taking the loss.
Lincecum has been a great disappointment as it seems as though his pitching motion has caught up to him. He has no bite on his delivery and has struggled in 2013. However, in his last two starts, Lincecum seems to have found his old self. He's gone 11.2 innings allowing just three earned runs with three walks and 10 strikeouts.
The Giants need a win more than the Braves do as they are currently in third place in the West. Click here to watch the rubber game of Braves vs. Giants.
