Grand Slam - Brandon Crawford's Slam In Debut Lifts Giants

(05-28) 04:00 PDT Milwaukee

As Brandon Crawford circled this bases, slapping his / her arms concerning first along with second, he possessed zero vision what exactly his / her singular good results meant for his teammates, organization and a fan base nonetheless within shock - no, mourning - about Buster Posey's damaging injury.

With time, he could know your catharsis he / she provided. In that light with the moment, a 24-year-old shortstop which had been using Class A ball a couple nights previous recognized exclusively that will your dog accomplished a accomplishment this even a kid's imagination won't conjure.

In his first major-league game, and 3 rd at-bat, Crawford reach a awesome slam within the seventh inning Friday night in opposition to Shaun Marcum, among baseball's stingiest pitchers, presenting the actual Giants a new two-run direct and ultimately a 5-4 victory. Their shedding talent lost from three games.

"That seemed to be a big moment regarding him, nevertheless a bigger minute for that group considering precisely what we now have ended up through," succeeding pitcher Tim Lincecum said.

How could Crawford recognize the big-picture relevance connected with his slam, when your dog labeled the minute "unreal" and explained following the game, "I nonetheless types of have jitters about it."

Crawford is that sixth player using a grand bust in his primary major-league game. One with the some others had been Bobby Bonds, throughout 1968.

Crawford's slam hasn't been the sole "are everyone kidding me?" moment. The Giants conserved the win whenever Posey's replacement, Eli Whiteside, won a crash at your house dish using Milwaukee's semi-truck of an first baseman, Prince Fielder.

The Giants encouraged 5-3 from the eighth if your Brewers full your bottoms along with a couple outs. When Jonathan Lucroy singled to help left, Ryan Braun jogged home from next and anyone in packed Miller Park suspected that will Fielder could be routed residence in the bid to be able to link the game.

Whiteside knew it, since did Cody Ross, who made an ideal one-hop throw. Ross admitted into a Posey "flashback," but that play was a great deal different.

With the particular toss on its way from left field, Whiteside could discover the whole picture. The throw was hence quick acquiring home, and the hop so high, Whiteside in addition might remain vertical and get ready regarding Fielder.

Whiteside had been correct for the plate, too, so Fielder had simply no solution nonetheless for you to slam into the catcher, which often your dog does which includes a deep shove. Whiteside then revealed a edge not really observed before, in public, anyway. With his uncovered hand possessing his baseball glove shut, they criticized his hands and wrists straight into Fielder's chest.

After this "out" call, Whiteside thrown your shot recent Fielder toward that mound dismissively, with attitude. Fielder walked away wearing your sly smile.

"If he has on its way from you, you'll be able to come at your ex boyfriend some sort of little," Whiteside said. "There's no principle while in the e-book in which claims you can't rise to him."

If Crawford's slam made possible the particular Giants to exhale, Whiteside's tag allow them exult. Or around Aubrey Huff's words, "That let go us up."

Huff terminated up the succeeding rally that has a leadoff dual recent initial base. Nate Schierholtz's individual to core in addition to Miguel Tejada's walk, only their seventh that year, charged this bases.

Brewers pitching private coach Rick Kranitz stopped at the pile seeing that Crawford stepped to the plate, 0-for-2. Marcum threw a single pitch, some sort of curveball, plus Crawford sent the item into this Giants' bullpen in right-center, where Javier Lopez retrieved them with the kid.

With your tying run from second, Brian Wilson minted out Rickie Weeks having a slider in order to bring in his / her 14th save, within a online game of which administrator Bruce Bochy departed with your fifth-inning ejection on the "safe" call in your house plate, extra aggravation about recent events. He publicly stated because much.

Before your game, Bochy offered his online players the "we have to jewellry on" speech.

"We mentioned a couple of things," he or she said, "the diminished Buster, how critical it will possibly be to advance forward. That's what Buster might want. We really need to determine how good you can easlily become without having Buster. We ought to response that question."

Buster Posey

Catcher states they've likely executed for season, but would not transform positions. A1

GM Brian Sabean says San Francisco isn't aiming to earn innovative catcher. B5

Big beginning

Players having a grand slam in their primary major-league game:

Bill Duggleby, Phillies, April 21, 1898

Bobby Bonds, Giants, June 25, 1968

Jeremy Hermida,* Marlins, Aug. 31, 2005

Kevin Kouzmanoff,* Indians, Sept. 2, 2006

Daniel Nava,* Red Sox, June 12, 2010

Brandon Crawford, Giants, May 27, 2011

* Grand bust throughout first major-league at-bat

Source: Elias Sports Bureau

This document made an appearance on internet page B - 1 belonging to the San Francisco Chronicle