Major League Baseball

Wilson's aura not enough

Published Oct. 9, 2010 11:04 a.m. ET

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Giants fans held up their "Fear the beard" signs. Brian Wilson trotted in from the bullpen, orange shoes glowing and foreboding facial hair in place. Wilson looked mean. He threw hard.

Alex Gonzalez didn't care.

Manager Bruce Bochy asked Wilson to become Mariano Rivera on Friday night - and maneuver out of the eighth inning of a pressure-packed playoff game before reaching his comfort zone. But it didn't work, mostly because Gonzalez got in the way with a two-run, game-tying double.

Wilson is no stranger to the eighth inning. Ten times this season, he earned a save by collecting more than three outs. That was the highest total among all major-league relievers.

Then again, in all of those cases, Wilson pocketed four or five outs. He didn't record any six-out saves all season. He twice pitched two full innings without picking up a decision or save.

Wilson found no excuse in the extra work Bochy requested.

"The job is to go out there and get three outs in the eighth and worry about the next inning when it comes," Wilson said. " ... When I'm called upon, I enjoy being the stopper. Regardless of the situation, I feel like I should be able to get out of it."

Bochy needed Wilson earlier than expected because Sergio Romo didn't handle the eighth with his typical efficiency. Romo, inheriting a 4-1 lead, allowed singles by Derrek Lee and Brian McCann to open the eighth.

So Bochy, knowing Wilson had not pitched since Sunday's division title-clinching victory over San Diego - and knowing today is an off day - summoned his closer. Based on his postgame comments, Bochy had no doubt it was the right move.

"The game's on the line there," he said. "They had some pretty good hitters coming up, with a couple of guys on base. ... Brian was fresh. We're trying to stop it there. At that point, we're going with our closer to try to get out of the eighth. I have no concern getting two innings out of Brian."

Melky Cabrera quickly made it clear this would not be easy. Cabrera fouled off several Wilson pitches, then hit a slow bouncer toward third baseman Pablo Sandoval. His throw pulled first baseman Aubrey Huff off the bag - Cabrera might have been safe, anyway - and Sandoval was charged with an error.

That sliced San Francisco's lead to 4-2. Wilson still had some breathing room.

Not for long. Brooks Conrad set down a sacrifice bunt, advancing McCann to third and Cabrera to second. Wilson unleashed a howling fastball down the middle - he had noticed Gonzalez struggling with fastballs earlier Friday night - and Gonzalez lined it to the gap in left-center to score both runners.

"We'll take Brian out there every day," Huff said. "He's been our guy all year long."

Wilson soon righted himself, retiring the next two batters to escape the eighth and setting down the Braves in order in the ninth. By then, the lead was gone.

Brian Wilson's appearances of 1.2 or more innings this season.

* Giants' result. ^Wilson decision.

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